MIRRORLESS: Lumix GH6: would I like to replace Leica 12-60mm?

F

FoxAdriano

Well-known member
Hi,
I only shoot 4K videos. Unfortunately my Leica 12-60mm lens has suffered a blow and in wide angle it can't focus like before.
In other words with the maximum focal length it works well, but in wide angle I see clips slightly out of focus. I don't know if I should repair it.
I had thought about replacing it with a lens that has a slightly greater focal length excursion. I would settle for a 12-100mm.
But I'm afraid that I won't get the same video quality as the Leica 12-60mm and above all I won't get that stability option.
In fact 90% of my shots are freehand.Please can you give me some advice? I
s there a lens for a GH6 with the same quality as the Leica 12-60mm?
Thanks.
 
I would get it repaired or buy a new one. That Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm is a good multi use lens to have on the camera. The other leica combination ( also expensive ) is the 12-35 F2.8 and the 35-100 F2.8 but these all are about the same price. I have the 12-60, the 12-35 and the 14-140 that is not quite the same quality but good. I don't think you want to go changing lens with what you do so I would stay with the 12-60. The 12-35 would be much better in low light though.
 
Ron Evans said:
I would get it repaired or buy a new one. That Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm is a good multi use lens to have on the camera. The other leica combination ( also expensive ) is the 12-35 F2.8 and the 35-100 F2.8 but these all are about the same price. I have the 12-60, the 12-35 and the 14-140 that is not quite the same quality but good. I don't think you want to go changing lens with what you do so I would stay with the 12-60. The 12-35 would be much better in low light though.
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I thank you for your pleasant reply. I will think about it.
 
Ron, can I ask a question please?
I have no experience with Manual Focus with the GH6 and I would like some advice from you because I know you use MF with GH6.
Do you use that rectangle on the monitor that shows an enlarged area or you turned it off?
 
Yes I use the camera in manual focus but use autofocus to set focus most of the time. In other worlds I do not use continuous autofocus. Selector is set to manual focus, I touch the area on the screen I want in focus, move the focus box around, then touch the " AF On " button. The square corner indicators will indicate when in focus, mine turn red, and then let go of button. I have focus peaking on too so that I can check what is in focus.

No I do not use the focus assist that enlarges, I find that disturbing. Very useful if you are really going to manually focus the lens yourself. My shoots are in the theatre with the GH6 as the main full stage camera so also have aperture set to give me most of stage within the focus depth of field. Only need to set focus once at beginning of performance and check every so often. I use a GH5S more medium framing to track action and use the same approach for focus. Though for the GH5S is like the original GH5 you only have to touch screen to focus.

You can set the focus box to size you want and where on the screen you want to focus. Camera does not have to be in record to set focus this way so you could set focus and then frame to start recording.
 
Ron Evans said:
"move the focus box around"
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Opsssss.
Ron Evans said:
You can set the focus box to size you want and where on the screen you want to focus. Camera does not have to be in record to set focus this way so you could set focus and then frame to start recording.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your precious info. I understand everything but I don't understand "focus box". What do you mean with"focus box" precisely? Do I have to configure it in Menu?
Maybe do you mean this box? But if I try to drag it with my finger on the screen, it doesn't move. It's fixed at the top right.
 

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I have two 12-60mm lenses and like it a lot. I wish it went a little longer, but it is a beautifully clean lens. I'm usually in manual focus, and I've found that I can do a manual rack-focus with a little practice. If one of my 12-60mm lenses broke, I would replace it with the same thing (or get it repaired).

I also have a 35-100mm lens, which I don't use very often. The range just doesn't work for me, but the glass is clean. I have a project coming up in a couple of days where I expect to use it, but it is not my favorite lens -- the focal length just doesn't work well for me.

I have a 14-140mm lens, which I like a lot even though it does not have the contrast and clarity that the 12-60 lens has. The 14-140mm lens is small, lightweight and has a wonderful range. To me, it is the perfect hiking lens.

I used to have a 12-35mm lens, which I liked very much and used all the time. It was super clean, small, lightweight and just radiated quality. However, its focusing ability stopped working and it couldn't be fixed. I replaced it with a 12-60mm lens and am not disappointed. But I really did like (and frequently use) that 12-35mm lens.

I recommend that you repair or replace your 12-60mm lens. I assume you have the type 2 version, which is f2.8-4. The type 1 version is f3.5-5.6, and is not considered to be nearly as good as the type 2 version.
 
If yours had good optics get it fixed. However, they are pretty reasonable on MPB right now (never had a problem with MPB). I normally use the 12-60 PL on my Gh6 and the PL 8-18 on the G9II both do well in color and sharpness for video.
 
FoxAdriano said:
Opsssss.

Thanks for your precious info. I understand everything but I don't understand "focus box". What do you mean with"focus box" precisely? Do I have to configure it in Menu?
Maybe do you mean this box? But if I try to drag it with my finger on the screen, it doesn't move. It's fixed at the top right.
Click to expand...
That screen is to change size of box that is in yellow in your picture and will be in the centre of your monitor when you press escape, bottom right of your image. To use press and hold on your LCD and the yellow box will appear, move to the place you want the camera to focus on and let go. It will now change to just the corners of the box in white. To focus using auto focus, press the AF On button and those corners will not turn green focus is looked on, let go of button. Camera will now stay at that focus point until changed. With the box in the centre of your LCD you only have to point at what you want in focus and press AF ON button. No need to be recording. You can set Lens Focus Resume in the menu so even if you switch off camera it will retain that focus position when you switch camera back on.
 
Now I understand well, OK.
But if I press and hold my LCD screen, nothing happens. My screen is insensitive, my screen is not touch screen. I can move tha focusing rectangle on my screen only with the Joystick. But that's okay, it is sufficient. Maybe I have to configure this in the Menu. But I don't want to bother you too much, also because in this thread I'm off topic.
Anyway thanks.
 
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You have to set touch screen in the menu. I have just the Touch screen ON, Touch tab OFF, Touch AF AF, Touch Pad AF OFF
 
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