Lenses for GH1/GH2

L

Lez

Well-known member
Hi ..is anybody using the ZUIKO DIGITAL 14–54mm F2.8–3.5 ... does it fit without an adaptor and do the electronics work ie auto focus, iris etc...

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1454

Also does the lenses in the above link work with the GH series...

Cheers

PS... I'm heading to the USA next week and I'm thinking of only taking the GH13 and leave the 7D at home... I've only got a pancake lens for the camera (have been using Canon's with adaptors) I'm kinda looking for an all round lens.. I'm not convinced that the 10-140mm is the best all round lens...
 
The Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f2.8 is not a Micro-4/3 lens, and requires an adapter to be used on the GH1/GH2. It is a 4/3 lens, however, so it will retain some functionality over a totally manual lens (like auto exposure).

Here's a good info chart on lens compatibility between the two formats:

http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/connect/g1.html

IMHO, the 14-140 is an excellent lens for shooting travel video, outdoors in Sunlight with a FaderND. Indoors, it sucks in poor lighting. For general/home video use, the 20mm f1.7 makes a good companion to the 14-140 kit lens, for shooting indoors. But it all depends on how/what you prefer to shoot. :)

Good luck!
 
Lez said:
Cool... thanks... that knock's that series off my list...

The search continues...

If I could get a 14-140mm for a good price I'd get one but at $800 - $1000 seems a bit rich.. might as well look at some L - series glass if we're breaking the $1k mark...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/397662-USA/Canon_0344B002AA_24_105mm_f_4L_IS_USM.html


Cheers
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That lens would be even more useless than the 14-140, IMHO. ;) It's still slow, and you're probably paying for a LOT of functionality that you simply won't have via an adapter, as far as I know.

If you're looking to adapt lenses to your camera, you might as well just use cheap, fast, vintage Canon FD, Nikon, Olympus OM, etc lenses made for manual focus 35mm cameras. Just take into consideration the crop factor when used on the GH cams. I like my Olympus OM lenses for fun stuff, but I only use Lumix micro-4/3 lenses for run-n-gun wedding work.
 
I agree on the GH1 the Canon L series would be waste of time... (I've got a few FD's also ... 50mm and 28mm)...

I'm just thinking I'd take my 7D and buy a L series lens...

I'm using the GH13 with the Pancake lens and it's nice so if I'm starved of the Canon whilst overseas I'll get to learn it a bit better...

But looking at the price of lens... it's starting to feel better to invest in L series...

I still can't get a client to take the GH13 seriously... (although we all know better here)...

Cheers

(at the end of the day I'll probably just take both... one always seems to do better than the other depending on the situation)...
 
I too am considering this lens and would love to hear from anyone that actually owns one.
Anyone??
I shoot a lot of documentary, run-n-gun stuff and a fast zoom lens is essential to getting the shot. The Lumix 14-140mm doesn't cut it indoors.
 
I've done a fair amount of run and gun ENG work with the GH1 using both the Oly 14-54 mark ii and the 14-140. I've been fairly happy with both but each has a trade off. The 14-140 is slow. The Oly lacks IS, which I find useful when shooting on a shoulder rig, and pretty much necessary when shooting beyond 40mm or so.

The Oly is fine handheld on the wide end and it autofocuses in AF-S on the GH1 (and GH2.) It won't continuously autofocus but I find that to be an advantage since I find AF-C generally to be a liability and the 14-140, annoyingly, only works in AF-C mode with video (at least on the GH1, not sure about the GH2.)
 
Don't forgot pannasonic 45-200! Has is and af and is quiet and much cheap than 14-140! You will love and make you honey! Lol!
 
The lack of IS is annoying. And the shortage of fast m4/3 lenses is almost enough to make me wish I had gone the 60D/T2i route!
 
I don't necessarily think things are all that much better in the Canon camp when it comes to a run and gun set-up but people make do and you just have to find something that works for you. There are several Olympus 4/3 lenses that are about as fast as the Canon zooms, very good quality, and a whole lot cheaper than L glass. The setup I'm currently using is an Olympus 11-22 f2.8-3.5, mainly for interiors, the 14-140 for outdoors/handheld, a Canon FD 85mm f1.8, which I use on sticks for interviews where I want to get the camera out of the subjects face (not crazy about that lens tho and looking at other options,) and the Voigtlander 25mm f.95 for low light, shallow DOF or often just as an all around when I don't want to carry the rest of them. If a perfect run and gun lens existed -- something like the fabled 12-60 f2.5 -- that would replace the first two lenses. On paper, the closest thing is the PanaLeica 14-50 f2.8-3.3 for 4/3, which has IS but based on some reports here and videos I've seen also has some very funky manual focusing behavior. But some people seem happy with it, so that might be a lens to consider.
 
averan said:
I shoot a lot of documentary, run-n-gun stuff and a fast zoom lens is essential to getting the shot.
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For the GH1, the most useful zoom lens I've used is the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5. This is the fastest hand-holdable auto-focus lens that is fully compatible with the GH1 and GF1. In addition to being a very sharp lens, it is also weather-sealed.

For the GH2 and G2, the Panasonic/Leica 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 offers Optical Image Stabilization as well as auto-focus. Its OIS is one of the best I've ever used and combined with its speed, makes it my number one lens choice for handheld shots.

Both of these lenses breathe more than I'd prefer while focusing and their auto-focus behaviors are clunky compared to native Micro Four Thirds lenses. However, I find them far more useful than Panasonic's other zooms, which are suitable only for well-lit conditions.
 
Oly 14-35 2.0 is the ultimate option for run-n-gun style. No OIS is non issue with a shoulder rig for 50mm or wider lens.
 
stonebat said:
Oly 14-35 2.0 is the ultimate option for run-n-gun style. No OIS is non issue with a shoulder rig for 50mm or wider lens.
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If it were any situation except run-n-gun I'd definitely recommend both the Olympus 14-35mm f2.0 and its mate, the Olympus 35-100mm f2.0. However, they have three serious drawbacks in any uncontrolled environment:

1). Too heavy to handhold for very long.
2). Depth of field is just too shallow at f2.0.
3). Very expensive to replace if damaged.
 
+1... but is there better alternative for run-n-gun ENG style?

1) 14-35 + MMF-1 steel adapter combo is 40 oz. It's too heavy for hand-held. But not too heavy for a shoulder rig. A set of primes is another option. Nikkor 50mm 1.4 Ai-s + Voigtlander F adapter is 13 oz. then 28mm 2.0 and 14mm 2.8. Then the total weight is close to 40 oz. At 14mm, 14-35mm gives 2.0. No need to change primes. Some call it a prime zoom. 2.6x ETC covers 36-91mm in good lighting. The only drawback is the useless AF.

2) 2.0 might be a bit shallow but quite useful in low lighting. Actually I like the smoothness from 2.0. It's amazing that some can focus at 0.95. I can barely focus a moving subject at 1.4. 2.0 is good compromise. Not too fast. Not too slow. Not too sharp. Not too shallow. I like 20mm pancake at 2.0. I like Nikkor 50mm 1.4 at 2.0. I like 2.0. But YMMV.

3) 14-35 is expensive, but it has good resale value. It's been out for 3 years, and the price hasn't dropped much. See what happened to 7-14 and 14-140. Refurbished 14-45 is $1800. It has good build quality. Who knows? The resale price might go up as m43 format becomes popular.

GH2 + 14-35 + adapter + lens support + shoulder rig with two front handles setup would be at least 7 lbs. Add ext mic and sound mixer with batteries. Use EVF eyecup or Cineroid EVF. Total weight under 10 lbs for ENG style shoulder rig. That's not too bad. Not bad at all. Don't you think?

20mm pancake + nifty fifty 1.4 + 14-42mm for personal work. If I make it, great. If not, not a big deal. Just having fun. 14-35mm for commercial work. Just get it right each and every time.
 
stonebat said:
+1... but is there better alternative for run-n-gun ENG style?
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In my book, a fast, compact zoom with drop-dead OIS is a combo that can't be beat:


Handheld Panasonic G2 with Panasonic/Leica 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 lens in 720p30 AVCHD.
(Fast Action 3-Frame GOP Patch)
 
+1. I'm not disagreeing with you. That's why I got 14-42. Not as good as your 14-50. But I got GH1 & 14-42 at $400 including S&H. Hehe. I need m43 zoom to catch my kids. They move faster than the train. At home they move slower... thank gawd... so 20mm pancake is quite useful. Just lock the focus. Take 5 secs here and there. Nifty fifty 1.4 is for artsy stuff.

I thought about getting more lenses, but I've been selling all lenses except the pancake, nifty fifty, and 14-42. Some saw my m43 gears and called it expensive hobby. Yes or no. It depends. Some people made money using GH13 and GH2. I can't imagine changing primes during live-event. Slow zoom is big no no. Vari-aperture? Zoom in or out, adjust focus, adjust ISO... too much hassle. I would need a fast, constant aperture, silent MF zoom that can cover wide and normal range and give good color, details, and contrast. I can't think anything better than 14-35. I will wait for a while... hopefully there is better option.
 
Hi Stonebat and Gh1 crew, I've read all day about what lens Im getting for my Hacked GH1 camera house!
The purpose for the lens is just Video run and gun film so my priority wud be a good auto focus

not fully convinced with the 14-140 kit lens, not enough DOF and artistic enough.. but it seems 2 be the best for video ( Oly 14-35mm is to pricy for me at the moment)
somebody mentioned the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 ...seems great, but read that is very noisy on auto focus so you cant record directly into the camera, and lack of IS, so I have to rush into getting a shoulder rig .. hmmm

wish one do u guys recommend
 
if you're shooting exteriors during the day, Lumix 14-140mm all the way.

if you're shooting interiors or nighttime, Oly 14-54 is really the only available option. i still don't understand why OIS doesn't work on it even when you've got the Panny 4/3->m4/3 adapter on there....?

the reality though is that none of the AF modes are really fast enough for video and they all have that breathing effect typical of dslrs AF. i think you'd be better off with a good manual focus zoom lens, maybe even with a follow-focus attachment. you can get by without the FF for sure, but will want a lens with a physical/mechanical focus and not the electronic fly-by-wire focus ring like the 14-140 and the 14-54 have. don't get me wrong, AF can work, but it'll never be as smooth as doing it manually with a good lens. if you decide to go that route, i'd recommend the Oly 12-60mm.
 
averan said:
if you're shooting exteriors during the day, Lumix 14-140mm all the way.

if you're shooting interiors or nighttime, Oly 14-54 is really the only available option. i still don't understand why OIS doesn't work on it even when you've got the Panny 4/3->m4/3 adapter on there....?.
Click to expand...

Oly lenses don't have IS because it's built-in to their cameras.
 
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