GH2 How is this Nikon Lense?

I run them all the time they are great pieces of glass for little money. Here the non fish footage is all 50 1.8 nikon on the GH1. Samyang fish on the GH2. I didn't match the footage between the cameras as well as I should have though.


 
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I don't have a 14-42, I do have the 14-140 and it gives me a much faster lens that is somewhat easier to manually focus. It really depends on what you need. For short films we use it alot. For events I use it a lot too but it isn't super ideal a zoom would probably be better. I do a bit of band stuff like this where I will use a wide and then a 50 or 25 and cut between them both. Many times if find the 14-140 is just too slow for indoor band footage.

if you are going to use it with a follow focus you might want a different lens with a bigger focus ring
 
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Sorry fisheye footage in that video I posted. I ran a 8mm samyang right in front on a gh2 and then a 50 on a shoulder mount to the side on a gh1.
 
This was all shot with the Nikon 50mm 1.8 D .The only downside to the lens is that it wasn't really made for manual focusing, a very slight adjustment on the focus wheel has a big effect on the focus. Its a lot easier to manage when its on a rig with focus gears but your going to have to practice extra hard with it..compared to some cinema lenses. For the cash its absolutely worth it. In my example I was going for a softer look on purpose... I had sharpening at -2 and added no sharpening in post... but make no mistake this lens will give you super sharp images.

https://vimeo.com/39384879
 
Nikon glass is great and will get you good looking footage for sure. The only thing is the focus ring turns the wrong way... I would go with the CY zeiss 1.7 or a Pentax smc or takumar. At least as good if not better (the smc 50mm pentax is one of the sharpest 50s ever). The nikon glass is good though if it's your thing. Better than fd glass for sure.
 
The 50 1.8 is a good starter lens for the money but it does tend to fringe some when opened up past 2.8 at 1.8 it's ok but not the best but it's a $120 lens for crying out loud. So you don't end up spending your money twice, go ahead and save up for a manual focus 50mm. Since you'll be pulling focus anyway you might as well get something that was designed for it. The old manual focus lenses are so much easier to mess with all around due to longer throws and smoother action. A used 50mm 1.4 is never a bad buy. See if KEH has any in stock.

I've never used the Samyang or Rokinon lenses but these might be worth looking into if you want manual glass. Not sure if they make a 50mm but the 35mm might be better for the GH2 anyway if you were going for a look thats closer to a 50mm on full frame.

If you can afford it, go ahead and buy the better stuff since you'll want to in a year or two anyway.
 
ethan cooper said:
The 50 1.8 is a good starter lens for the money but it does tend to fringe some when opened up past 2.8 at 1.8 it's ok but not the best but it's a $120 lens for crying out loud. So you don't end up spending your money twice, go ahead and save up for a manual focus 50mm. Since you'll be pulling focus anyway you might as well get something that was designed for it. The old manual focus lenses are so much easier to mess with all around due to longer throws and smoother action. A used 50mm 1.4 is never a bad buy. See if KEH has any in stock.

I've never used the Samyang or Rokinon lenses but these might be worth looking into if you want manual glass. Not sure if they make a 50mm but the 35mm might be better for the GH2 anyway if you were going for a look thats closer to a 50mm on full frame.

If you can afford it, go ahead and buy the better stuff since you'll want to in a year or two anyway.
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Since we are in the GH-1/2 section... 25mm is the approximate 'normal' lens focal length. A 50mm would be double that and more like a 100mm on a full frame 35mm still image.

There is one Nikon 28mm f/1.4 that seems pretty 'popular'... given that on e-bay the now discontinued model commands prices ranging form $2-3K... However, one can get 24mm and 28mm f/2.8 lenses for something less than that.

As a note, since these lenses were made for 'full frame' 35mm, and some reviewers will mention certain distortions... those distortions may be relative to the full frame 35mm. Because the GH-1/2 is using the more central portion of the coverage, the distortions may be less visible, or nonexistant. Testing of course is always recommended... but it is something to keep in mind.
 
ethan cooper said:
The 50 1.8 is a good starter lens for the money but it does tend to fringe some when opened up past 2.8 at 1.8 it's ok but not the best but it's a $120 lens for crying out loud. So you don't end up spending your money twice, go ahead and save up for a manual focus 50mm. Since you'll be pulling focus anyway you might as well get something that was designed for it. The old manual focus lenses are so much easier to mess with all around due to longer throws and smoother action. A used 50mm 1.4 is never a bad buy. See if KEH has any in stock.

I've never used the Samyang or Rokinon lenses but these might be worth looking into if you want manual glass. Not sure if they make a 50mm but the 35mm might be better for the GH2 anyway if you were going for a look thats closer to a 50mm on full frame.

If you can afford it, go ahead and buy the better stuff since you'll want to in a year or two anyway.
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This is true. I do run manual focus FD and Nikon lenses almost all the time instead of the 50 1.8. I have the newer nikon 50mm mostly on my stills camera but i use it on the GH2 occasionally. For ease of VDSLR use the older manual focus glass is better you get the larger focus ring.
 
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