Olympus 12-60 -- requesting feedback

Jan_Crittenden said:
The 12-60, while being a nice lens does not have any auto-focusing.. [on the AF-100]
Click to expand...
Perhaps Jan could give us some insight on why Panasonic has been persistently unable to engineer full auto-focus support for both Olympus and Panasonic legacy Four Thirds lenses? While auto-focus support has improved with the Panasonic GH2, the AF-100 is even less compatible with premium Four Thirds lenses than was the GH1:

http://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/af100/lens_compatibility.html

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

Personally, I find it highly discouraging that Panasonic has not prioritized full automated support by the AF-100 for the Panasonic/Leica 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 lens. To date, this lens is the only option available in a compact, wide-aperture zoom with both auto-focus and Mega-OIS support. In addition, the Olympus 14-35mm and 35-100mm f2.0 lenses deliver an unprecedented combination of aperture speed and image quality and are available exclusively for Four Thirds-compatible cameras. Can we look forward to an AF-100 firmware update that will enable full remote-control functionality of these lenses?
 
Eithcowich said:
Any thoughts on this teleconverter for the 12-60? thttp://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/527568-REG/Olympus_261016_EC_20_2_0X_Teleconverter.html

I'm thinking if it worked well it would make this lens a 12-120 (without / with the teleconverter) and may allow it to completely replace the slower 14-140. But would it work? And the overall price (lens, mount and converter) is at $1360 so not so cheap either.
Click to expand...

You lose two stops and some quality. Using two adapters between the lens and the body is no good either.
 
Thanks nugat.

It looks like the 12-60 is the right lens for my budget, and my needs (basically faster than the 14-140.) I'm still worried about the clicking, because I'm usually working with a microphone on the camera, and I'm moving around so I can't lock the iris. Can anyone say how significant the clicking is? Would the mike pick up on it? And is it just a couple of small clicks, or a whole series of them?

Thank you very much for your help. I wish I could just drop in at B&H or another such store but I'm out of the country and nobody here has this lens.
 
Eithcowich said:
I'm usually working with a microphone on the camera, and I'm moving around so I can't lock the iris. Can anyone say how significant the clicking is? Would the mike pick up on it? And is it just a couple of small clicks, or a whole series of them?
Click to expand...
If the 12-60mm is anything like the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5, it probably sounds something like this:

 
Wow. Clicks like this whenever my character moves around?!!

I guess the neck mike won't catch it. And maybe I can lock the iris to something that would be fixable in post. But these are pretty bad hacks.

This is bad news. So I guess there's no perfect lens for the af100 in this range, and fast enough not to need ISO over 1600 in an average apartment. (I'm talking for a documentary while normally there are lighting shifts while moving around or panning.)
 
Eithcowich said:
This is bad news. So I guess there's no perfect lens for the af100 in this range, and fast enough not to need ISO over 1600 in an average apartment. (I'm talking for a documentary while normally there are lighting shifts while moving around or panning.)
Click to expand...

AF100 is not a best camera for documentary, ENG, run'n'gun. Ergonomics, lack of zoom servo/continuous aperture, range/highlight clipping are the main detriments. That's why ENG cameras are different from the film ones, they are optimized for one man show.
Controlled conditions/lighting drama etc. on the other hand should be served nicely by the Af100. That's why the main selling point is the large sensor/shallow DOF.
 
Eithcowich said:
Wow. Clicks like this whenever my character moves around?!!

I guess the neck mike won't catch it. And maybe I can lock the iris to something that would be fixable in post. But these are pretty bad hacks.

This is bad news. So I guess there's no perfect lens for the af100 in this range, and fast enough not to need ISO over 1600 in an average apartment. (I'm talking for a documentary while normally there are lighting shifts while moving around or panning.)
Click to expand...

You need a consumer camera for the way you operate. Documentaries have been shot with skilled camera-persons using film, that can rack their own focus and adjust their iris appropriately. Auto "everything" is killing the craft and in your case inhibiting you from making your documentary because of your reliance on it. Others will make great docos with the same gear.
 
@Shooter I'm not sure that's a fair response. I'm studying the craft as I go, and I appreciate the comments here which allow me to learn. I already got over the AF and happily doing manual focus. Are you trying to say that in manual iris this lens won't click?
 
You might consider the "Leicasonic" 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 for ENG use, but unfortunately, Panasonic has not yet built auto-focus support for it into the AF100:

 
Eithcowich said:
@Shooter I'm not sure that's a fair response. I'm studying the craft as I go, and I appreciate the comments here which allow me to learn. I already got over the AF and happily doing manual focus. Are you trying to say that in manual iris this lens won't click?
Click to expand...

Sorry...I did not mean to come out so un fair ( harsh) but I am trying to say that there are great and (even perfect) lenses for this camera.. but people need to move away from the paradigm that they need automatic / electronic controlled lenses to shoot motion picture work.

Yes I would be 99% sure that lens wont click in manual mode ( if it has a manual mode)
 
Shooter said:
You need a consumer camera for the way you operate. Documentaries have been shot with skilled camera-persons using film, that can rack their own focus and adjust their iris appropriately. Auto "everything" is killing the craft and in your case inhibiting you from making your documentary because of your reliance on it. Others will make great docos with the same gear.
Click to expand...

I have to agree with Shooter being spot on with his comments. I own and shoot with the 12-60 and I've never heard a single click like that while shooting in manual mode. No professional and talented operator would ever shoot anything in the 'auto focus' or 'auto iris' position.

The 12-60, 14-54, 14-140, 14-35, 17-50 and others from Zuiko, Lumix, Canon or Nikon that have been discussed here, are all optical gems that can produce cinematic results when treated as a variable prime in the right hands.

The only limiting factor is your imagination and, realistically, how much can you afford to spend on glass.
 
chervas said:
Shooter, what is your list of great and even perfect lenses for this camera?
Click to expand...

Perfect starts with most Cine Style PL mount lenses...including zooms....
followed... by cinevised Nikkors and Zeiss prime lenses...
followed by full manual still lenses such as Nikkors/Canons,Contax ( and I would include some Tokinas).

Still Zoom lenses are more difficult but there are excellent choices if they are used as Variable primes.

My issue is with lenses that I feel are design compromised. eg a lens with a motor in it (or OIS) is going to have lightweight and plastic components and circuit boards etc

Some people need that stuff but I have had a DP career that has never needed that stuff. Just solid , reliable lenses designed by optical engineers.
 
lpowell said:
You might consider the "Leicasonic" 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 for ENG use, but unfortunately, Panasonic has not yet built auto-focus support for it into the AF100:

Click to expand...

i thought that lens might be ok, and i tried it at the photo store. breathes like anything i have ever seen. awful!! not good for video.
 
any opinions on the olympus 14-54mm 2.8-3.5?

or the tamron 17-50mm 2.8? nikon mount w/ adapter.

Trying to deiced if i get an af100 to either get the olympus 14-52 2.8-3.5 or tamron 17-50mm 2.8, id really like a consistant aperture...
 
lennywood said:
i thought that lens might be ok, and i tried it at the photo store. breathes like anything i have ever seen. awful!! not good for video.
Click to expand...

I have this lens and it's very nearly not useable at all...if you want to pull focus while you're rolling anyway....

jb
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top