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

timbook2 said:
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.
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I think that's a bit harsh. Yes, the build is not attractive and I don't know how long it will last. But optically it's decent and a good walk around lens. Although it could do with some improvement in the auto focusing. I don't get any scratching with mine.
 
Thanks for the summation Barry. I've been going back and forth whether i should buy the GH2 with the 14-140. I love the range. And when i see a video like the one by Bruce Dale, why shouldn't i buy it? Wow.
Well...., i could go with the Pancake and a 100-300mm too. Is the Pancake as sharp or even sharper then the 14-140? Only negative is the Panckage is not Mega OIS lens right? Would you go for the 14-140 or the 20/1.7 and 100-300 combo with the GH2?
 
Pancake doesn't have OIS. Doesn't really need it that much, as it's a reasonably wide lens; OIS really comes into play with the telephoto range.

If I had a choice of the 14-140 by itself, or a combo of the 20 and the 100-300, then no question I'd take the 14-140. The usable range is just so much better with that.
 
One more nice thing about the rumored 12-50. If Panasonic can optimize optical quality and AF speed of the lens to concentrate on the focal range, maybe we can start using GH2 as a strobist camera. Although GH2's x-sync speed is only 1/160s, it performs well in low ISO that is critical to strobists. I'm gonna sell some of my lenses to raise some cash. So long Nikkor 85mm 1.4 Ai-s, C-mount lens, Vivitar lens, etc.

BTW the lack of wireless flash support is.... arrrrrrr. It's not a showstopper, but Olympus E-PL series and new XZ-1 compact(!!!) support wireless TTL control up to 3 flashes. Panasonic, learn from Olympus... please.
 
Barry_Green said:
Note: the benefits of chromatic aberration compensation and barrel distortion correction won't apply to all cameras that these lenses could be used on.
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Do these functions work with either of the two cameras mentioned in the title of this thread in video mode?

Pretty nifty if so, but probably worth noting if not (given the overall context).
 
PJF said:
Do these functions work with either of the two cameras mentioned in the title of this thread in video mode?
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Yes, they all work that way on both cameras in video mode. Remember, the AF100 is only a video camera, it's not a stills camera. And the GH2's electronic processing of the lens data works in both video and stills.
 
rambooc1 said:
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.....
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From a wedding videographer/amateur photographer perspective....

I think the 45-200 is a great lens. I can't say I like it "better" than the 14-140, since it's a vastly different focal length, but when I do use it I like it better than the 14-140. It's an excellent lens for the price (especially considering how overpriced Lumix lenses are). For video I just use the 45-200 for church weddings, after the processional, but otherwise I mostly use it for taking pictures outdoors on bright days.

The 7-14 is a amazing lens! But, I find that you can cram so much detail into a shot that it's easy to shred the GH1's codec when shooting video. The hack helps a lot. But otherwise, I haven't shot much video with it...mostly just pictures. It cost almost as much as my car, but was worth the fun I've had with it. It hasn't earned me a dime of money...but still probably my favorite lens.

The 20mm is my wedding reception workhorse lens. I have two of them. I use one on my "wide" unmanned cam during the ceremony, and sometimes on my main cam if it's a small venue and the jerks turn off the lights. During the reception, I shoot almost ALL of the video with the 20mm's on both GH1's...by myself. One on a tripod, one on a light stand I drag around for B-roll during toasts. To me, the 20mm f1.7 is the only reason for a wedding videographer to use the GH1. Otherwise you're WAY better off with a regular video camera, like an HMC150...or even an HMC40.

The 45mm f2.8 is another overpriced favorite. I shoot very little video with it. Other than it being my favorite lens for taking amateur photos, it's what I use to take pictures at wedding of the cake, flowers, etc, all that crap, which I work into the video...because it's way easier to take photos than to setup video shots for all those detail items...and the photos look WAY better than video...when you're short on time. I just drop'em on the timeline and pan/crop'em to add some movement.

I don't shoot many photos with the 14-140...mostly just wedding ceremony video...which it's not very good at...since it's so slow and doesn't have the telephoto length anywhere close to a regular video camera. I don't have much use for it as a photo lens.

If they come out with a 25mm f1.7 for M4/3, I might grab one of those as well. I think it would be a great lens for shooting a big portion of wedding receptions, and for "general" amateur photography.

I could care less about OIS for video, since it just ruins my tripod shots...which is all I shoot with. But for photos, I love the OIS on Lumix lenses. More importantly, I like the auto-focus on all Lumix lenses for wedding video work...that's why I pay a premium for them. Yeah, AF-C sucks for video...but it does on ALL video cameras. I use the "fake" AF-S on the GH1...(focus/lock/switch to MF to maintain), and in this case the autofocus on all Lumix lenses works very well. People that complain about the autofocus on Lumix lenses probably just never realized that all their videos on their smaller-sensored camcorders was also out of focus...due to the larger DOF. Continuous AF fails in pretty much 100% of shots I've taken with every video camera I've ever used...including the GH1...and I've bought/rented quite a few video cameras. :D Focusing on the GH1 is light years ahead of every single camcorder I've ever used, using the adjustable focus point and a simple half-press of the shutter release...even while recording...or using the AEL/AFL button.

Okay, so there's my Budweiser fueled, post-wedding editing procratination, review of some Lumix M4/3 lenses. :D
 
swyzlstyx said:
I think the 45-200 is a great lens.
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$257 at B and H
swyzlstyx said:
:D Focusing on the GH1 is light years ahead of every single camcorder I've ever used, using the adjustable focus point and a simple half-press of the shutter release...even while recording...or using the AEL/AFL button.
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The half press while recording (on the 45-200) is a ripper, quicker than any auto focus on any camera i've ever had. Great for HH, or use the half press on the remote control if on a tripod, ripper.

R
 
100-300

100-300

Thanks for the info Barry.
You havn't mentioned the manual focus of this lens.
For wildlife, one realy needs to use manual focus, is it smooth enough on the lumix 100-300 ?
Or does AFC on this lens/camera capeable of tracking moving birds/animals ?
 
Can someone please explain what settings on the camera allow me to do the focus technique mentioned where I am manually focusing and then I can press the shutter half was to get instant focus while shooting? I have the GH2 and I do not see this explained in the manual. Thanks.
 
swyzlstyx said:
From a wedding videographer/amateur photographer perspective....
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I love to see a weeding videographer's perspective from somebody who actually works on wedding videos.

Especially one stating that the 14-140, the "must have lens for everybody that shoots weddings becuase it has autofocus" is not very useful for most night galas because it's - duh - dark.

:)
 
How different is the ETC of GH2 from Digital Zoom of GH13...?
Is there a huge quality difference?
 
Barry_Green said:
Pancake doesn't have OIS. Doesn't really need it that much, as it's a reasonably wide lens; OIS really comes into play with the telephoto range.

If I had a choice of the 14-140 by itself, or a combo of the 20 and the 100-300, then no question I'd take the 14-140. The usable range is just so much better with that.
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Thanks Barry. I will move forward then with the 14-140. ITs just a matter of waiting now. I am hoping the 100-300 will be the solution for me where it comes to birding/wildlife. I hope the sharpness and quality will pretty much eliminate the need for going with a shorter 70-200IS/2.8 on my Canon. Those are expensive....Kind of relieved with the choices available with the GH2.
 
I'm happy to be on M43 side. Panny will make more and better lenses as they sell more new bodies. HD and OIS!!!
 
Thanks for the great rundown swyzlstyx! You've chosen one of the hardest professions out there (weddings) but it's a very popular segment and it's great to get a working wedding photog/videog's take on this whole situation.
 
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