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

I'm hoping Panasonic releases 20mm 1.7 ii with not moving filter thread, silent and fast focusing like the 14mm pancake. I'm happy with 20mm pancake, but they can make it better.
 
OK, seems like it is similar to the EX OPT Zoom of GH1 for Stills. Right?
Exactly, but in the GH2 it works for motion.

You get deeper DOF, but you also get to use smaller-format lenses (like fast/cheap S16 film lenses) and ETC mode has much better rolling-shutter performance, and there's practically zero aliasing and zero moire in ETC mode. And, it converts any of your existing lenses into a quite-telephoto version (the 20mm lens acts like it's now 50mm in 1080 mode, or 80mm in 720p mode, etc). So no wide-angle shots, but you can get extreme telephoto shots (my 100-300 lens results in an equivalent 2,340mm as compared to a full-frame SLR). Great for nature and wildlife, not so good for shooting indoors.
 
+1. ETC is primarily for outdoor. For indoor, 20mm 1.7. Hopefully Panasonic's upcoming 25mm 1.4 can top it. HD and OIS please!!!
 
Exactly, but in the GH2 it works for motion.

You get deeper DOF, but you also get to use smaller-format lenses (like fast/cheap S16 film lenses) and ETC mode has much better rolling-shutter performance, and there's practically zero aliasing and zero moire in ETC mode. And, it converts any of your existing lenses into a quite-telephoto version (the 20mm lens acts like it's now 50mm in 1080 mode, or 80mm in 720p mode, etc). So no wide-angle shots, but you can get extreme telephoto shots (my 100-300 lens results in an equivalent 2,340mm as compared to a full-frame SLR). Great for nature and wildlife, not so good for shooting indoors.

Great Function for GH2.

But talking about the GH1's Extended Zoom, which is (still) limited to stills only, I am curious if it's Hardware Limitation or Firmware?
Maybe, somehow it can get to Motion Picture..!!? Or the possible hack may result in some other Functionality Limitations?
 
Am I the only one who thinks that the non mechanical focus ring is a minus?
I want to know in which exact position the ring is...
 
No comments about the Panasonic Lumix 14mm f/2.5? Especially for Video? I have seen reviews that state it is a faster auto focusing lens. I have the kit 14-42 and the 20mm is on the way, but I'm worried that I won't have a solid video lens.
 
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FT5 rumors say 12-50mm 2.5-3.3 is going to have Power OIS. It's going to be nice for steady hand-held photo and video.

Just about everyone has had the experience of taking a photo at night and hoping to capture all the drama and beauty, only to be disappointed at the poor result. The newly developed POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer)* nearly doubles the hand-shake correction power of conventional MEGA O.I.S. You get bright photos without blurring even from handheld shooting at slow shutter speeds. Taking advantage of Panasonic's accumulated optical technologies, MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) has been incorporated into LUMIX from the early stage of digital camera development. This helped to show all digital camera users the absolute need for hand-shake compensation, and led to its prevalence throughout the industry. And now, Panasonic has worked on the low-frequency vibration hand-shake component, which is physically generated when pressing the shutter button or when shooting at night with a slow shutter speed.

Official announcement in Feb? Sales in Japan in April? Availability here around June?
 
+1. ETC is primarily for outdoor. For indoor, 20mm 1.7. Hopefully Panasonic's upcoming 25mm 1.4 can top it. HD and OIS please!!!

Oh wow there is a 25mm F1.4 coming out, that'll be perfect focus length for me, not to mention fast to boot.
Surely won't be as cheap or a kit lens package unless it comes with the rumoured GP1.

FT5 rumors say 12-50mm 2.5-3.3 is going to have Power OIS. It's going to be nice for steady hand-held photo and video.
Official announcement in Feb? Sales in Japan in April? Availability here around June?

Power OIS? wow sounds like the same differences in their camcorder lines.

Too many upcoming lens choices, not enough time and money :(
 
I was excited about the upcoming 25mm 1.4 from Panasonic, but it lacks OIS. That is a showstopper for me, but I'm sure many will like the focal length if it can compete with the Voigtlander 25mm 0.95.

Yeah Power O.I.S.!!! I presume the 12-50 will become Panasonic's flagship lens topping the 14-140. Yeah it's going to be pricey. I'm running out of cash, too. So I'm gonna start selling my old lenses. The only lenses I will keep are 20mm pancake, 50mm 1.4 Ai-s, and 12-50mm 2.5-3.3. All can fit into my small bag. Nothing but hand-held run-and-gun style.

The 14-140 has 62mm filter thread, and the 100-300 has 67mm. Hopefully this new upcoming 12-50 has 67mm to keep the size small and to avoid having vignetting with 62mm filter.
 
Just wrote up a new article detailing my experiences using yet another Lumix lens... this time, the 3D lens! Check it out here.

As ever, you da man. You lost me about 3/4 of the way through, but I appreciate your expertise, knowledge and dedication to go where most videographers fear to go.

Thanks, and I'm glad you're around!
 
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Just wrote up a new article detailing my experiences using yet another Lumix lens... this time, the 3D lens! Check it out here.

This is AWESOME! Thanks Barry. Wow. This is what i wish to do. I'll need to re-read it again though. Alot of details. You're on the cutting edge.
 
Hey Barry (and other users of the 20mm 1.7)... If I attach a 46mm to 67mm step-up ring and attach a non-slim ND on the 20mm 1.7, will it vignette? I'm not sure, since it's not that wide.
 
$257 at B and H



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

Last year PanasonicDirect for Partners had some crazy deal on the 45-200. The discount price along with a limited-time discount meant you could buy the 45-200 new from Panasonic for $20. Yes, $20. I bought two, one for me and one for my brother. It pays to check PD every so often.
 
My new f2.5 14mm lens has just arrived. I'm currently testing it. On first impressions, it is more contrasty and less sharp than my Nikon AI lenses. Has anyone done any testing with it? I love the FOV, but it also seems a little noisier than my nikons.
 
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