Invest in m4/3rd lenses or plunge into the PL world?

Phenixone said:
Invest in Nikon, and rent PL. This is the best secured and future proof way to go. IMHO
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+1

I bought some M43, but Nikon is more future-proof and better for professional applications.

The only odd lens that I bought that I won't sell is the Olympus 14-54 because I loved the IQ. And the 20mm 1.7 is also very nice for personal use.
 
One great thing about using PL lenses on the GH2 is that most come with in built lens gears, and the adapters come with tripod mounts so it takes the weight off the GH2, as well as offering a more secure connection - i.e. Less chance of that 'nudging' when using standard adapters.
Personally speaking, i think your Pro's for PL lenses are out-dated.
Quality wise, PL's don't necessarily mean better quality. It's just a type of mount after all. But you do find some really ultra cool and rare lenses (and anamorphic) in PL mount.
Nikon mounts are just as interchangeable.
As for looking good in front of clients? Just slap a cheap matte box onto your lens!
 
I guess I'm gonna be the voice of dissent... and say plunge into the PL world. Maybe I've been spoiled by using cine lenses for a couple of years, but the deeper I'm getting into HDSLRs, the more frustrated I get. A big part of that is the lenses & mounts, with their cramped ergonomics and ill-fitted design. Every step of the way I encounter new problems, the latest of which is problems doing something as fundamental as pulling focus on a locked-off shot.

It's been said before (and the aforementioned B&H guide is pretty thorough), cine lenses have all the film-oriented functionality that SLR lenses do not. Sturdier build, tighter tolerances, meaningful focus marks, built-in gears, long ring travels (iris & focus throw), etc. When I have the choice, I go for PL.
 
I started the move to PL glass with the RED Pro Zoom 17-50. Why? Great value and a great lens. Picked one up used from reuser.com marketplace.
But the BIG reason is it holds focus through the whole range. I get multiple shoots without having to refocus and for a lot of what I shoot its a blessing and a timesaver. The first PL lenses I used was the Zeiss Compact Primes. I rented a set and fell in love with them. They are very light for a cine lens and the mechanics are smooth as butter. I feel I have what I need in the Nikon mount as well as MFT so moving forward I'm looking for some good deals on used PL's.
 
Instead of PL why dont you try the Leica R range. Get them de-clicked and your ready to turn over! These will work with cameras all the way up to the high end of Reds and Alexas. When you get to your digital cinema cameras, you'll probably be wanting to rent the glass instead of owning, and the production your working on will foot that bill.
 
^^^ There has been a lot of buzz as of late about Leica R mount lenses. While it is true that they can make some very pretty pictures, the truth is they can breath as heavily as a sumo wrestler running wind sprints. Once you start using PL mount cine glass it's hard to go back to the limitations of shooting with lenses designed to capture still images instead of motion pictures.

All the Best!

Dave
 
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