GH2 Is it worth upgrading from pancake 20mm 1.7 to Voigtlander 25mm 0.95?
- Thread starter dvxhutch
- Start date
Barry_Green
Moderator
I have both the Lumix 20mm and the Voigtlander 25mm. Should you sell the Lumix for the V? Depends on what you shoot.
Both lenses are extremely sharp. The Voigtlander has the benefit of an exquisite manual focus ring and it opens up 1.67 stops more than the Lumix (which means it lets in a tad over 3x as much light). That's a big advantage, and it also means shallower DOF. But, the V gets a little vignetty at wide open, and the contrast goes softer; it definitely benefits from being stopped down to at least 1.4. And at 1.4, the difference between the V and the Lumix is 1/2 a stop, so ... not so much.
The Lumix is 20mm, the V is 25mm, so the Lumix is wider. Does that matter? You decide.
The advantages of the Lumix is that it's much much smaller (about 1/4 the size, maybe smaller still) and that it has autofocus in addition to manual focus. The V is manual only. The Lumix can be used on an AF100 in "push auto" mode and you can use a remote focus controller with it, neither option is possible with the V. But if you need to manually focus, the V has the gorgeous smooth wonderful focus ring, whereas the Lumix has a chintzy little wheel.
And, of course, the Lumix costs 1/3 or 1/4 what the V does.
Decide what's important to you and if you need to upgrade (realizing that upgrading also means giving up some capability, such as autofocus).
Both lenses are extremely sharp. The Voigtlander has the benefit of an exquisite manual focus ring and it opens up 1.67 stops more than the Lumix (which means it lets in a tad over 3x as much light). That's a big advantage, and it also means shallower DOF. But, the V gets a little vignetty at wide open, and the contrast goes softer; it definitely benefits from being stopped down to at least 1.4. And at 1.4, the difference between the V and the Lumix is 1/2 a stop, so ... not so much.
The Lumix is 20mm, the V is 25mm, so the Lumix is wider. Does that matter? You decide.
The advantages of the Lumix is that it's much much smaller (about 1/4 the size, maybe smaller still) and that it has autofocus in addition to manual focus. The V is manual only. The Lumix can be used on an AF100 in "push auto" mode and you can use a remote focus controller with it, neither option is possible with the V. But if you need to manually focus, the V has the gorgeous smooth wonderful focus ring, whereas the Lumix has a chintzy little wheel.
And, of course, the Lumix costs 1/3 or 1/4 what the V does.
Decide what's important to you and if you need to upgrade (realizing that upgrading also means giving up some capability, such as autofocus).
Everyone's entitled to their own opinion; I personally think the Lumix lenses (at least, the ones I have) are amazingly sharp, especially given the price. At the AF100 Weekend Workshop at Abel Cine Tech we had two AF100s, one with the 14-140 and one with an Arri Alura 18-80 lens on them, pointed at the same subject, and switched back and forth. Nobody could see the difference. On a 4K camera maybe, but on the AF100 I think the Lumix lenses deliver a great image.
"Is it worth upgrading from pancake 20mm 1.7 to Voigtlander 25mm 0.95?"
I've been almost buying the Nokton for some time now, and so far I've concluded that, for me, keeping the Lumix 20mm is a must. It's not just that I like going off and doing pocketable stills with the GF1, it's that the little pancake is such a splendid lens in its own right.
Here's some great GH2 footage using the Voigtlander and Lumix.
http://vimeo.com/35494482
The Nokton is used delightfully well here, but it does occasionally show the reason I've hesitated this long. One main reason for having the V 25mm is the shallow depth of field offering lots of out-of-focus blur. Trouble is, wide open at least, the lens has fussy bokeh (to my appreciation) and this is distracting from the main subject. It's better stopped down, but then you're in Leicasonic 25mm f1.4 territory - which is good wide open and much cheaper. Trouble with that one is - plastic-electronic lens, one stop slower when it counts, and almost twice the close focus distance. Hmmm...
In that video link, the Lumix 20mm comes in at 6'51" - and suddenly there is storming sharpness and viceless bokeh. I love that.
To put this discussion in context, look what happens at 7'23". After the GH2 and glass have shown us behind-the-scenes and making-of to such a high standard, in comes the high-credibility pro equipment for the main event. :rolling eyes smiley:
I've been almost buying the Nokton for some time now, and so far I've concluded that, for me, keeping the Lumix 20mm is a must. It's not just that I like going off and doing pocketable stills with the GF1, it's that the little pancake is such a splendid lens in its own right.
Here's some great GH2 footage using the Voigtlander and Lumix.
http://vimeo.com/35494482
The Nokton is used delightfully well here, but it does occasionally show the reason I've hesitated this long. One main reason for having the V 25mm is the shallow depth of field offering lots of out-of-focus blur. Trouble is, wide open at least, the lens has fussy bokeh (to my appreciation) and this is distracting from the main subject. It's better stopped down, but then you're in Leicasonic 25mm f1.4 territory - which is good wide open and much cheaper. Trouble with that one is - plastic-electronic lens, one stop slower when it counts, and almost twice the close focus distance. Hmmm...
In that video link, the Lumix 20mm comes in at 6'51" - and suddenly there is storming sharpness and viceless bokeh. I love that.
To put this discussion in context, look what happens at 7'23". After the GH2 and glass have shown us behind-the-scenes and making-of to such a high standard, in comes the high-credibility pro equipment for the main event. :rolling eyes smiley:
Since getting the Voigtlander I have not put my 20mm 1.7 back on my camera. I still keep the pancake just incase I want a small auto lens for casual use. The upgrade from the pancake to the nokton is dramatic and well worth it. A compromise between these two lenses would be the PanLecia.
Stevet
Veteran
Oh please..
Justyn
Veteran
YES>>>> YES>> YES.. Without a doubt. I like the 20mm, but I LOVE the voigtlander. I also love the 12mm 1.7 from hyperprime. The 20mm I really really don't love in the broad sense so it does not get used very much. Often times, it's the lens I give to my 2nd camera people....
It's just not in the same league but that's also manly due to how much I hate the manual focusing.. it really sucks. On the voigtlander, it's the absolute best.. it's beyond a good lens... BUT... If given the choice I'd buy the 12mm cause it's half the price and it's so wide and beautiful.. with no aperature stops....
Since I've had the GH2 for a year, I've acquired pretty much a full set of lenses for every situation and it's great to have so many options. now my next purchase will be to get some even longer telephoto lenses. I'd like to get everything atleast a 2.8...
It's just not in the same league but that's also manly due to how much I hate the manual focusing.. it really sucks. On the voigtlander, it's the absolute best.. it's beyond a good lens... BUT... If given the choice I'd buy the 12mm cause it's half the price and it's so wide and beautiful.. with no aperature stops....
Since I've had the GH2 for a year, I've acquired pretty much a full set of lenses for every situation and it's great to have so many options. now my next purchase will be to get some even longer telephoto lenses. I'd like to get everything atleast a 2.8...
Ha Ha thats the real reason I keep my 20mm 1.7 after I bought my Voigtlander. Rather them use that than the kit lens they show up with.
Dot worry there are snobs every where not only in the big houses.
Lucas Adamson
Well-known member
After deliberating over this "which standard (25mm-ish) aov lens to get?" question, I eventually went fot the Canon FD 24mm f2 and I have no regrets whatsoever. Sure, it is 2 stops slower than the Voightlander, and 1/3 of a stop slower than the Lumix, but it is excellent wide open, matches other Canon FD lenses, is well constructed and can be bought for about the same as the Lumix 20mm. This 720p video doesn't really do it justice, but you can see how nice and FD-ish it is. http://vimeo.com/21020556
joe1946
Veteran
The Voigtlander Nokton 25 mm f/0.95 @F1.4 is not that much softer than the Panny and is sharper @ F2.0 to F4.0 . And wide open @F0.95 it's sharper than the Canon 50mm F1.2 wide open.
[h=2]Panasonic Leica DG SUMMILUX 25 mm f/1.4 ASPH.[/h] [h=3]Image resolution :[/h]
[h=2]Voigtlander Nokton 25 mm f/0.95[/h] [h=3]Image resolution :[/h]
[h=2]Canon EF 50 mm f/1.2L USM[/h] [h=3]Image resolution :[/h]
dvxhutch
Well-known member
Thanks for all the responses guys, very helpful.
Wow, I haven't heard of the 12mm 1.6 hyperprime, that's just what I need. But where on earth do you get it? Can't find it anywhere.
Guess I'll stick with the pancake and get the 12mm. I like the image the pancake produces, it's a bit sharper and "less filmic" than my FD 50mm 1.4, but really nice nonetheless.
Sigh....one day, Voigtlander, one day.
Wow, I haven't heard of the 12mm 1.6 hyperprime, that's just what I need. But where on earth do you get it? Can't find it anywhere.
Guess I'll stick with the pancake and get the 12mm. I like the image the pancake produces, it's a bit sharper and "less filmic" than my FD 50mm 1.4, but really nice nonetheless.
Sigh....one day, Voigtlander, one day.
Just preorder the 12mm 1.6 at Adorama they will ship to you when they get it (a week or two) Or just message Noktor.com and order it direct from Hong Kong.
If I had to choose I would get the Voightlander Nokton first, since it would be your main lens.
Only thing I missed was ability to go wider, but Noktor 12mm should fix that to a large degree.