Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm F3.5-6.3 EZ on the AF-100?

Renee

Renee

Active member
Being a newbie to 4/3rds and the AF-100(My af-100 arrives Tuesday . . . ), can you tell me if this lens would indeed allow a servo zoom on the AF-100?

http://olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1582

I guess my question is nagging me because of the EOS body / EF lens electronically controlled aperture issues.

I'm not aware if the 4/3rd mount has an equivalent factor to consider- but I bet you guys know. :]

Thanks as always for your help.
 
Yes it's an interesting looking lens. It is a servo zoom, I believe using a power assisted zoom ring as opposed to the switch on the Panny version. Aperture will stop down as you zoom in obviously, but if you absolutely need a servo then this is one of your only options (the others being the Panny or a complicated setup with B4 ENG lenses). Just a shame it's so slow - I think that's why most people haven't shouted about it too much. FWIW, I thought I'd really miss having a servo zoom when I switched to the AF100, and in fact I hardly notice it :) Not sure what you mean by the EOS body / EF lens aperture issue though?
 
TomLenham said:
Not sure what you mean by the EOS body / EF lens aperture issue though?
Click to expand...

When using EF lenses with certain mount adapters, you cannot change the aperture because it's electronically controlled by the EOS body. I just know nothing about 4/3rd mount, and I wasn't sure if this was a similar issue!

Thanks for your input!
Maybe I won't miss the zoom. I won't be able to say for sure until Tuesday, but when we have budget around here we have to spend it fast . . . .
 
Hey Renee- it does sound like a servo of sorts:
A newly developed motorized zoom mechanism makes smooth, quiet zooming while shooting movies possible.
Click to expand...
Everybody has their own shooting style, and not to sound like a snob, but... (puts on snob hat), zooming is one of the dead giveaways of less than than pro video.
Not saying it's never done, or there's never a need for it, just sayin, you know?

Now using a zoom as a "variable prime" is something else.
Instead of mounting and removing wide, med and tele prime lenses, you can use a zoom lens and get a wide shot, pause, get a MS, pause, get a CU.

The other thing about this lens is it's not constant aperture- the more you zoom in, the more the aperture has to open.
Meaning you either have to be on auto iris (another sign of an amateur shooter), or slowly open the iris manually as you zoom in.

Also, this lens is incredibly slow, f/6.3 when zoomed in, meaning you'd either have to increase the ISO or use much more light.

I guess it's slightly faster than the Lumix 14-140 at the wide end and slower at the long end, but not near as long as the Lumix.

As far as the EF lenses and controlling iris, Birger still hasn't come out with their adapter, but RedRock has one- are you familiar with it?

Just a few things to think about...

But good luck with your new camera and have fun learning!!!
 
This Zuiko is a Micro 4/3 lens so no adaptor needed. Of course GroveChuck is right that auto iris is a sign of an amateur, but I don't necessarily agree about zooming - depending on what you're shooting. I used to do a lot of documentary interview and factual formats, and servo zoom was invaluable for creeping in on a subject as they started getting emotional or hitting on an important point. It all depends on what you're shooting of course.
 
groveChuck said:
Hey Renee- it does sound like a servo of sorts:

Everybody has their own shooting style, and not to sound like a snob, but... (puts on snob hat), zooming is one of the dead giveaways of less than than pro video.
Not saying it's never done, or there's never a need for it, just sayin, you know?

Now using a zoom as a "variable prime" is something else.
Instead of mounting and removing wide, med and tele prime lenses, you can use a zoom lens and get a wide shot, pause, get a MS, pause, get a CU.

The other thing about this lens is it's not constant aperture- the more you zoom in, the more the aperture has to open.
Meaning you either have to be on auto iris (another sign of an amateur shooter), or slowly open the iris manually as you zoom in.

Also, this lens is incredibly slow, f/6.3 when zoomed in, meaning you'd either have to increase the ISO or use much more light.

I guess it's slightly faster than the Lumix 14-140 at the wide end and slower at the long end, but not near as long as the Lumix.

As far as the EF lenses and controlling iris, Birger still hasn't come out with their adapter, but RedRock has one- are you familiar with it?

Just a few things to think about...

But good luck with your new camera and have fun learning!!!
Click to expand...

No, you aren't a snob at all! I get what you're saying. The reality of it is- I'm not an ENG cameraperson. I've got no formal training to be and I know it. ;]
So I do look for little tricks that might help me in a bind. Using the af-100, I'm leaving behind the servo zoom on the HVX.
Do I need it? I don't know.


I agree with TomLenham that there are moments where a very slow creeping zoom is nice, and because I'm not so skilled with that with my own hand, I wanted to ask about this lens. That's why I started the thread.

I'm great as a cameraperson with locked off shots where the subject is sitting down but um. Yeah. Who isn't?

I've got lenses on my t2i / 60D that aren't constant aperture and it's a pain. Thanks for pointing it out.

Yeah I've been reading about the adapters that can control the EF lenses, but I was just trying to make a parallel question. Would the zoom work, or would it be something incompatible? And I asked that for exactly what you pointed out- it's a slow lens when fully extended.
If the zoom is not ideal, I don't want this lens.
 
I don't miss a servo at all - if I want a creep in now, I just do a digital push in post. You can't zoom as dramatically of course, but it give almost the same impression. I'd go for a faster lens like a Nikon mount f/2.8 or similar. Nikon will need an adaptor, but the iris can be controlled manually via the adaptor with no problem.
 
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