GH4 Panasonic 12-35 or Metabones Adapter?

brettsherman

brettsherman

Well-known member
I'm ready to upgrade the optics on my GH4 and get better low-light capabilities, I currently use the 14-140mm. It primarily serves as a B-cam to go with my Canon C300 and needs to pack in the camera bag that can fly with me. Two options I see are: #1 - get the Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 lens. #2 get the Metabones speed booster to use with my existing Canon glass. The lenses I could use on it would be the 24-100mm f/4 and the 70-200mm f/4. Because of the speed booster they'd end up being close to the 2.8 aperature.

Pros for the 12-35mm are faster AF, less weight. Cons are one more lens to carry around, not much zoom range.

Pros for the Metabones are more zoom range, two lens options. Cons are more weight, slow AF.

I'm wondering if anyone has both options and which they find themselves gravitating towards.
 
The 12-35 is a very sharp and good looking lens. It is good if your shooting style is to get a shot framed and focused. Rack focusing is harder because it is a fly by wire system, but it is possible and I do it, but harder than a true manual focus lens like a canon. I have the same dilemma because I have both several L lenses and both of the Panasonic 12-35 and 35-100 lens. I don't have the metabones yet, and am trying to decide if I would use it. If portability is important, Id do the 12-35 personally, as it is in my case.
 
If autofocus is critical for you, then go Panasonic. I have Metabones and 24-105 - it's a very practical and sharp lens and I find no problems doing manual focus with it
 
I own the 12-35mm

Autofocus for video is not really useable on the GH4

The 12-35 is not good enough for low light

Focus by wire is kind of annoying


To me I would start with Metabones and the Sigma 18-35mm if video is your primary medium

The 12-35 is a nice photo lens and is a decent video lens but I think you can find better for the GH4
 
True North said:
To me I would start with Metabones and the Sigma 18-35mm if video is your primary medium
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THIS! 18-35 is simply amazing with GH4 and Metabones. I just shoot a wedding this weekend and I was using ISO 400 for the most of the night with some 800 here and there. When you have f/1.2 zoom on your disposal, you simply can't go wrong
 
AndrewTaran said:
THIS! 18-35 is simply amazing with GH4 and Metabones. I just shoot a wedding this weekend and I was using ISO 400 for the most of the night with some 800 here and there. When you have f/1.2 zoom on your disposal, you simply can't go wrong
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Wouldn't you need to get the non-Speed Boosting Metabones adapter to use with this lens? That's an interesting lens and I may think about it to add to my C300 arsenal. But, for this particular purpose I don't know if it has enough reach for me. Of course that highlights that there are more options with the Metabones adapter.
 
Miklos Nemeth said:
Very interesting that this Sigma DC (APS-C) lens works well with Speed Booster without vignetting on m4/3 cameras. Thank you for the information.
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Some notes:

-In 4:3 stills mode the 18-35mm + EF Speedbooster will vignette at the wide end of the zoom.

-Tested my copy of the lens on a 7D & it was not parfocal, but seems other owners' copies may be.

-The EF>m43 Speedbooster does not provide Autofocus.

-You mentioned limited zoom range (3:1) on the 12-35mm. The 18-35mm's range is even less (2:1).

-If possible consider renting a GH4, Lumix 12-35/2.8, Olympus 12-40/2.8, Sigma 18-35mm, & EF Speedbooster.
 
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Go and find a good used 12-35 Lumix. It belongs paired with every gh3/4 because it enables you to shoot great video and great stills. Then save up for the metabones solution.
 
The only downside for video work is that the Speedbooster + Sigma 18-35 is a heavy beast in comparison with the 12-35mm Panny.
 
@Bern - my understanding is that the adjustment screw on the Speedbooster can be used to correct non-parafocalness (if that's a word) for a selected lens.
 
I'm a big fan of the MB SB and the Canon 17-55mm lens. Similar range to the 12-35 in 4K and very easy to pull focus handheld.
 
Get a Speedbooster. Specifically from Metabones and not some cheapo knockoff. They are nothing less than revolutionary for m4/3 users.

For a little more $ the Sigma 18-35 is the way to go....let me explain:

IMHO the panny lens aint that "Fast". It's tack sharp and very light....but consider this: When shooting 4K (if that's your thing) the panny is going to be a 27.6 to 80.5 because of the 2.3X 4K crop. 1920x1080 is the normal m4/3 2X crop and that would be 24 to 70. But here is the kicker....Always keep in mind that stated 2.8 constant aperture must ALSO doubled on M4/3 systems because aperture and focal length are always represented in full frame equivalents....even on pannys own m4/3 lenses!!!! So the reality is that that 12-35 F2.8 is actually a 5.6!!!! It's an absolutely ridiculous practice in this industry and is rather misleading because they now "fast" lenses sell. But man it causes SO much misunderstanding to buyers.

The MB Speedbooster mated to a Sigma 18-35 F1.8 you get 1.62x crop @ 4K. So that would be roughly 29-57. Here's the best part though ....you GAIN a stop of light when you use a MB Speedbooster! So when the SB is on, the f stop improves from F1.8 to F1.3. You still need to DOUBLE that for M4/3 systems so you really have a F2.6! That's still pretty fast and will give you beautiful Bokeh wide open. What's also cool is that you can get a $20 Nikon or Canon Adapter (no optics) with an aperture control and now you have (again at 2.3 crop) a 41-80 @ F3.6. Still really fast! So for roughly $450 more you get two lenses in one! It's super HEAVY....but it's really sharp and built like a tank, plus in any configuration this lens is way faster than 5.6

It took me awhile to wrap my head around the Speedbooster math....but I will tell you that it is AWESOME once you figure out the SB and lens combos.

I WILL recommend two Panasonic lenses that are absolutely worth every penny:

Leica 25mm F1.4 (57.5mm F2.8 @ 4K)
Leica 42.5MM F1.2 (97.75mm F2.4 @4k)

the 42.5 is absolutely stunning.
 
F-stop is an optical characteristic of a lens that relates the diameter of the aperture to the focal length. It has nothing to do with the size of sensor the lens is used with. Panasonic is not being "ridiculous" - it is simply using the correct optical formula to calculate f-stop.
 
danielisaiah said:
Get a Speedbooster. Specifically from Metabones and not some cheapo knockoff. They are nothing less than revolutionary for m4/3 users.

For a little more $ the Sigma 18-35 is the way to go....let me explain:

IMHO the panny lens aint that "Fast". It's tack sharp and very light....but consider this: When shooting 4K (if that's your thing) the panny is going to be a 27.6 to 80.5 because of the 2.3X 4K crop. 1920x1080 is the normal m4/3 2X crop and that would be 24 to 70. But here is the kicker....Always keep in mind that stated 2.8 constant aperture must ALSO doubled on M4/3 systems because aperture and focal length are always represented in full frame equivalents....even on pannys own m4/3 lenses!!!! So the reality is that that 12-35 F2.8 is actually a 5.6!!!! It's an absolutely ridiculous practice in this industry and is rather misleading because they now "fast" lenses sell. But man it causes SO much misunderstanding to buyers.

The MB Speedbooster mated to a Sigma 18-35 F1.8 you get 1.62x crop @ 4K. So that would be roughly 29-57. Here's the best part though ....you GAIN a stop of light when you use a MB Speedbooster! So when the SB is on, the f stop improves from F1.8 to F1.3. You still need to DOUBLE that for M4/3 systems so you really have a F2.6! That's still pretty fast and will give you beautiful Bokeh wide open. What's also cool is that you can get a $20 Nikon or Canon Adapter (no optics) with an aperture control and now you have (again at 2.3 crop) a 41-80 @ F3.6. Still really fast! So for roughly $450 more you get two lenses in one! It's super HEAVY....but it's really sharp and built like a tank, plus in any configuration this lens is way faster than 5.6

It took me awhile to wrap my head around the Speedbooster math....but I will tell you that it is AWESOME once you figure out the SB and lens combos.

I WILL recommend two Panasonic lenses that are absolutely worth every penny:

Leica 25mm F1.4 (57.5mm F2.8 @ 4K)
Leica 42.5MM F1.2 (97.75mm F2.4 @4k)

the 42.5 is absolutely stunning.
Click to expand...

You may find this somewhat enlightening. Or not.

http://admiringlight.com/blog/full-frame-equivalence-and-why-it-doesnt-matter/
 
Kit, this has been repeatedly discussed and everyone should investigate the effect of crop sensors, focal lengths, etc.

Danielisaiah is correct that crop sensors, Speedboosters, 4k vs HD on the GH4 affect lens focal lengths and a given aperture's depth of field. What is NOT correct is the implication that f2.8 is f5.6 in terms of light gathering ability -- f2.8 remains f2.8 in terms of light. Yes, the addition of a Speedbooster increases both light gathering about a stop and modifies the crop sensor focal length of the lens by x0.7 and shallows the focal length of a given aperture.

That a crop sensor will have a greater depth of field at a given aperture relative to full frame is an advantage for me in terms of documentary -- I have the light gathering of a more open aperture and a greater dof for constantly moving subjects.

Also agree that autofocus in video on the GH4 is incomparable to what you get with the C300, the latter being incredibly functional. I've ended up only manually focusing which can be a distraction.

The GH4 and 12-35 is my primary combo for a documentary I am shooting. I've resisted the 18-35 due to the loss of IS which I prefer for the majority of handheld shooting.
 
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