Is Jan hinting at a new lens at NAB?

Oliver Rush said:
There is none. The lumix lenses self-implode into little pieces in the presence of that piece of glass.
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The Arri costs 25 times more than the Lumix, so of course you would expect it to be better. But is it 25 times better? I would love to see the same scene shot with the Arri and a cheap lens like a Lumix or Nikon, Canon, Olympus, etc. Something that most of us indies can afford. Who knows, maybe the difference isn't so great in some situations.

Maybe Dino can indulge us with an experiment?
 
Yes, you get to the point of diminishing returns with lenses, especially when the camera is only capable of resolving 700TVL or so. The Arri Alura seems crazy expensive compared to an SLR zoom, but it's cheap compared to the Fujinon Premiere series 18-85mm T2.0($80Kish), smaller and lighter, but it won't look as good with a 4K camera. Or you'd need to buy two Angenieux Rouge lenses to cover a similar focal range, at almost twice the cost(although they're better for hand held).

What you get with a lens that has the focal range of an Alura 18-80mm is not having to change lenses all day, zooming without losing focus or exposure level, incredibly precise and subtle focusing, lens markings, build quality and feel that is on a different level compared to any 35mm SLR zoom. This can save time, when an AC can accomplish complex focus pulls accurately and repeatedly. When there are expensive professional actors, big crew, location costs, these little things that Cine glass allow add up to useful time savings.

In the context of rental, this lens is about the same cost as a set of Zeiss Compact or Standard or Super Speed primes, depending upon how many in the set. Very fast primes are still going to allow more options for depth of field and the camera is smaller and easier to deal with, but personally, I prefer operating a camera setup with some mass.

Having said all that, I love shooting with my Nikon AIS primes, Tokina 11-16mm zoom and the Lumix 14-140 is a sharp lens, just slow and without manual iris or focus stops/markings, but that doesn't mean anyone can tell the difference in a web delivered project shot with an AF100.

In the scheme of the total cost of a production, great glass doesn't cost very much to rent.
 
Well said. I can certainly appreciate the time savings in keeping one lens on your camera for a whole day of shooting. The 18-80 is the perfect range for a m4/3 camera.

Dino said:
Yes, you get to the point of diminishing returns with lenses, especially when the camera is only capable of resolving 700TVL or so. The Arri Alura seems crazy expensive compared to an SLR zoom, but it's cheap compared to the Fujinon Premiere series 18-85mm T2.0($80Kish), smaller and lighter, but it won't look as good with a 4K camera. Or you'd need to buy two Angenieux Rouge lenses to cover a similar focal range, at almost twice the cost(although they're better for hand held).

What you get with a lens that has the focal range of an Alura 18-80mm is not having to change lenses all day, zooming without losing focus or exposure level, incredibly precise and subtle focusing, lens markings, build quality and feel that is on a different level compared to any 35mm SLR zoom. This can save time, when an AC can accomplish complex focus pulls accurately and repeatedly. When there are expensive professional actors, big crew, location costs, these little things that Cine glass allow add up to useful time savings.

In the context of rental, this lens is about the same cost as a set of Zeiss Compact or Standard or Super Speed primes, depending upon how many in the set. Very fast primes are still going to allow more options for depth of field and the camera is smaller and easier to deal with, but personally, I prefer operating a camera setup with some mass.

Having said all that, I love shooting with my Nikon AIS primes, Tokina 11-16mm zoom and the Lumix 14-140 is a sharp lens, just slow and without manual iris or focus stops/markings, but that doesn't mean anyone can tell the difference in a web delivered project shot with an AF100.

In the scheme of the total cost of a production, great glass doesn't cost very much to rent.
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Dino,

Thanks for chiming in on the lenses. I agree that if we really need it, we can always rent the Arri lens.
 
Hmmm.. So, bottom line is, Panasonic shows up at NAB with another bag of new cameras, pushes a new codec, even gives DVCPRO HD a plug, makes an offhand reference to the AF100 (it's selling well - gee, no kidding) but doesn't introduce or even hint at anything new for it.

This, after months of people here and elsewhere begging for a small, efficient, affordable zoom that works well with the camera. Panasonic is the ONLY company that has the resources (ie still lenses that already exist) to fill this hole - with the exception of Olympus, who doesn't really have the same motivation.

So what do we get here, in this thread? - an extremely expensive (you CAN rent it - great!) massive lens from Arri? And everyone raves!!! Excuse me, but am I the only one who thinks this is unconscionable?
 
Panasonic Broadcast doesn't make lenses. Period. They buy lenses from Canon and Fujinon. If you were expecting them to introduce a lens, that expectation was misplaced.
 
Hi Mac,

We are showing accessories from many manufacturers, lenses as well as controllers, mounts and many other things. Since the lenses for Lumix are made by another division, which is oriented to the consumer findustry, this show is not the timing or place for their product announcements. Look at CES or the photographic shows for that sort of announcement. Here at NAB we are looking at all of the vast support that we have from many manufacturers not just ourselves. If that is unconscionable then perhaps you don't know this business well enough, it is all about how well you play with others. A manufacturer that relies solely on itself for accessories to make their product popular is the sound of one hand clapping.

Best regards,

Jan
 
I don't know man. That was a lot of announcing by Panasonic. I particularly like the FCP supporting MST announcement.
The immenent demise of P2 appears to be premature (I love P2).

With all the lens options for the AF100 that one can slap on the front, I don't think this is
a need Panasonic feels they need to address. The Lumix 14-140 does a good job
for the money. Not cine glass.. Rent the Arri for the day :-)

Jeff

Mac said:
Hmmm.. So, bottom line is, Panasonic shows up at NAB with another bag of new cameras, pushes a new codec, even gives DVCPRO HD a plug, makes an offhand reference to the AF100 (it's selling well - gee, no kidding) but doesn't introduce or even hint at anything new for it.

This, after months of people here and elsewhere begging for a small, efficient, affordable zoom that works well with the camera. Panasonic is the ONLY company that has the resources (ie still lenses that already exist) to fill this hole - with the exception of Olympus, who doesn't really have the same motivation.

So what do we get here, in this thread? - an extremely expensive (you CAN rent it - great!) massive lens from Arri? And everyone raves!!! Excuse me, but am I the only one who thinks this is unconscionable?
Click to expand...
 
he Lumix 14-140 does a good job
for the money. Not cine glass.. Rent the Arri for the day
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Have you had to manually change iris in the middle of a shot with the 14-140? And, as for rental, I make films that often take upwards of two years to shoot. You want to front me the cash for the rental? Look, the AF100 has potential, but I've had the camera for only three weeks and already am glad that I haven't sold my HPX500.

Pansaonic doesn't make lenses? Well, maybe their various divisions should have a little conversation about that. It would certainly be easier for them than for every other manufacturer but Canon.
 
yes .. you mean the negotiation/"finger dance" you and the lens have regarding aperture and focus?

Mac said:
Have you had to manually change iris in the middle of a shot with the 14-140? And, as for rental, I make films that often take upwards of two years to shoot. You want to front me the cash for the rental? Look, the AF100 has potential, but I've had the camera for only three weeks and already am glad that I haven't sold my HPX500.

Pansaonic doesn't make lenses? Well, maybe their various divisions should have a little conversation about that. It would certainly be easier for them than for every other manufacturer but Canon.
Click to expand...
 
Mac said:
Have you had to manually change iris in the middle of a shot with the 14-140? And, as for rental, I make films that often take upwards of two years to shoot. You want to front me the cash for the rental? Look, the AF100 has potential, but I've had the camera for only three weeks and already am glad that I haven't sold my HPX500.

Pansaonic doesn't make lenses? Well, maybe their various divisions should have a little conversation about that. It would certainly be easier for them than for every other manufacturer but Canon.
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Then buy some manual Nikon glass like everyone else.

This camera uses just about EVERY lens made out there, and NO camera until the AF-100 came out could mount the huge variety of lenses it does.

Doesn't sound like you would like the price of a servo 4/3 cine zoom anyway.

Why should Panasonic "start making lenses" when there are two great manufacturers who already do and have a 75 year head start on the process?

That doesn't make any business sense at all.

I'd rather they continue to make kick-ass cameras with the features we users are asking for.
 
Then buy some manual Nikon glass like everyone else.
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Golly, this is real compulcated. I'm Jus' an ol' boy from the back woods what don't know nothing' about no simina cameras. 'Course, I been joined up with both those IA an' NABET unions back there s'while ago, but that was jus' fer the donuts.

******

To be serious - I have Leica "glass" - I have seven super16 lenses - I have a 2/3" Fujinon lens - What I don't have is a decent hand-holdable zoom lens for a newly introduced camera that is manufactured by a company the ALREADY DOES IN FACT MAKE LENSES... GOOGLE "Panasonic lenses" - Not to even mention their over 10 year relationship with Leica. They could have offered at least one decent zoom lens as a companion for the AF100.
 
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I'm not sure where this conversation is headed, but I will say that there are some good options out there, and for the last time, "there is no perfect camera" Make due with what you can afford.
 
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