My take on several of the Lumix lenses on the AF100 and GH2

OK, working now. Thanks.

And thanks for the reviews. I really like the m4/3 format overall. It should evolve into the "super 16mm " format of digital cinema as it matures. Just needs better more video oriented optics and no doubt those will come with time.
 
Now is there truth to the rumor of Panny making some glass just for the AF100?
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I have heard no such rumors, and I would sincerely doubt it. Panasonic Broadcast has never made an interchangeable lens, they've always relied on third-party lens manufacturers. I don't know why that would change now. But hey, I'd definitely welcome some purpose-driven cine-oriented lenses, sure!
 
Razz16mm said:
OK I really like the m4/3 format overall. It should evolve into the "super 16mm " format of digital cinema as it matures. Just needs better more video oriented optics and no doubt those will come with time.
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It's twice as big as Super16. Not 100% the same size as 35mm cine film, but it's 81% the size of 35mm cine film. I think m4/3 should evolve into the "35mm" of digital cinema; other formats will evolve into the "S35" of digital cinema... :thumbsup:
 
No review of 14-45mm? :(

Barry, Please give your review on it if you have used it?
I have just ordered it because its Light for my glidecam.

I don't have stock lens 14-140, but few vintages and 20mm Pancake.
 
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As I wrote in the article, I haven't used any other Lumix lenses. I do have one more that I've ordered that should be here next week and I'll update the article after I've had a chance to get some good information on using it.
 
Barry_Green said:
It's twice as big as Super16. Not 100% the same size as 35mm cine film, but it's 81% the size of 35mm cine film. I think m4/3 should evolve into the "35mm" of digital cinema; other formats will evolve into the "S35" of digital cinema... :thumbsup:
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I meant that more as M4/3 becoming the established intermediate format between 2/3" and S35.
 
Regarding the 14-140; since some of the characteristics that you liked about the lens was removed with the update, can that be reversed? Can a previous update be loaded and are they available?
Do you think we are likely to get any more updates? Looks like v1.3 to 1.4 took about 2 months.

Oh and is it normal for the 14-140 to be a little stiff from about 100 to 140? The action is smooth then mine sort of gets harder to turn there.
 
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Jockomo said:
Regarding the 14-140; since some of the characteristics that you liked about the lens was removed with the update, can that be reversed?
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Well, I am not 100% sure about that. It SEEMS to me like the most recent update has changed the behavior. But I also acknowledge that I might well be crazy and it was always that way! :thumbsup:

Oh and is it normal for the 14-140 to be a little stiff from about 100 to 140? The action is smooth then mine sort of gets harder to turn there.
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Mine is pretty even the whole way through.
 
I considered to buy a pair of 7-14 and 14-140... but the rumored 12-50mm 2.5-3.3 could be what I need. 12mm is wide enough for me. If I need longer than 50mm, use ETC. I wish it's parfocal and 2.8 constant aperture. That could be better and cheaper than having Tokina 11-16 and Tamron 17-50 and adapters. If Panny makes it as GH2 kit lens, I will be happy to buy the kit. Then carry around 20mm 1.7, 50mm 1.4, and 12-50... drool....
 
I got the Lumix 14-42 kit-lens that came with my GH2 and while its sharp, the build and zoom and manual focus are abysmal! it feels cheaper than the pancake, is fully made of plastic, the zoom feels like its going to fall apart anytime, it scratches some plastic parts when you move it. I would give it a 4/10.
 
The 7-14mm is great. I picked up an open box one @ JR and love it.

If you watch the "Verse" short, during the dream sequence, it is used in the shot of the well on a steadicam Merlin.
 
Panasonic Firmware FTP Download Site containing previous official release versions

Panasonic Firmware FTP Download Site containing previous official release versions

Jockomo said:
Regarding the 14-140; since some of the characteristics that you liked about the lens was removed with the update, can that be reversed? Can a previous update be loaded and are they available?
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I've always kept any released firmware version for the GH1 and also the 14-140 kit lens I own. So, as far as I know, I myself have a complete history of them.

There is a Panasonic Firmware FTP Download Site on which, next to the current officially released firmware version, also the version previous to that is available for the GH1 body and the H-VS014140 kit lens. The site offers the binary files (.BIN and .LIN), so there is no need to unpack them.

ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/Panasonic/call_center/firmware/DSC/

-> DMCGH1
---> Body
-----> GH1__121.bin 2009-09-18 08:09
-----> GH1__132.bin 2010-04-23 15:33

-> H-VS014140
---> OTHERS
----> ES100313.lin 2010-09-10 18:22
----> ES100314.lin 2010-10-28 19:43

Be quick, if Panasonic is reading this and they do not like this, they may remove those.

... Just had a thought for a moment... For the GH1, when it's hackable, you can regress to a previous version.

I do not know of the same ability for the lens firmware, though. Is this possible, or could it be made possible, Vitaliy?
 
I noticed the Pana 45 - 200mm didn't make the list. Personally for outdoor use, i'm loving this lens. lpowell has said in another thread he actually prefers it to the 14-140. I don't have the 14-140, but what i love about the 45 - 200 is during recording i can whip pan numerous times, frame, half press the shutter button and the lens instantly snaps into focus FAST on what the focus marker is aimed at, all this while exposure is locked. I realize this won't appeal to everyone, but hand held for a long zoom with OIS, this is great for capturing video of multiple fast moving subjects without a tripod. My HMC 150 is slower to focus then this, so to my Canon camcorders.

Don't try this with the Pancake though.
 
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Barry,

Great review thanks. But I won't be buying any of them... Because I already bought them. :) I've been saving my pennies for the last year waiting for the GH2. After I paid for the GH2, I had a few extra pennies, so I went a bit crazy.

Although I've only had the camera and lenses for a couple of weeks, based on my minimal experience I agree with your assessment almost completely. The 20mm/1.7 is a nice indoor and walking around lens. The 7-14 gives you a view of the world that is pretty wonderful. This post has a very nice still from a G1 using the 7-14: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1041&message=37325557. I love that perspective. And the 100-300? I bought it specifically to shoot birds. Excellent stuff... That is except for the 14-140.

I think the 14-140 is a very nice lens. However I think it's usefulness depends on where you live as much as anything else. I live in the Seattle area. During the winter months, days are short, nights are long, and it's pretty cloudy most of the time. Even though it's the kit lens and even though it's range should make it very useful, I've only shot a couple of dozen images. It's just too slow for this time of year in Seattle. While the quality is there and range are there, I'd only give it a 6/10 for usefulness.

When (if) Panasonic comes out with the new 12-50 f2.5-3.3, that will probably be the walking-around lens of choice for many of us in the cloudy Pacific North West.

Regards,

Dan.
 
rambooc1 said:
I noticed the Pana 45 - 200mm didn't make the list.
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Well, remember, these are lenses that I laid out cold hard cash for. I can't buy 'em all, nor would I want to, so I chose a specific range of 'em. Well, actually, I didn't really choose the 14-140, I got that with my GH1, but I kept it for use with the newer cameras and then added lenses that made for what I think is a pretty robust kit. I didn't start this article as a review of all the Lumix lenses, this was just -- "heck, I've been using these for months now, and I know that GH2/AF100 buyers are just now getting their cameras so, if you were considering any of these, this is what I think of 'em." Doesn't make me "right", it's just -- I plunked down the cash for these, and I'm pretty happy with 'em, but hey, there may be others that are better, too...
 
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