Pancake lenses

[Benjamin Eckstein]

I should have my cam early this week and could probably get my hands on a pancake lens to try, but curious if people who have tried this combo (like with the 20mm 1.7) if it's a challenge to grab the focus ring so close to the camera body. It certainly is a funny looking combo, but if it works, that's great. I figure it'd really be tough with a follow focus, but that's not a huge concern.

Thanks,
Benjamin

 

[bgundu]

Just tried the 20mm pancake with Durus FF. The problem I found was the lens focus ring is very sensitive to pressure and I can't focus because the Durus focus gear is preventing a smooth focus. But I didn't find it too difficult to focus by hand. I would get a lens hood which should help keeping your hand out of frame. I am using this one.

http://www.astronomy-pictures.net/t...46mm-metal-vented-Lens-Hood_150453138730.html

I should have my cam early this week and could probably get my hands on a pancake lens to try, but curious if people who have tried this combo (like with the 20mm 1.7) if it's a challenge to grab the focus ring so close to the camera body. It certainly is a funny looking combo, but if it works, that's great. I figure it'd really be tough with a follow focus, but that's not a huge concern.

Thanks,
Benjamin

 

[Barry_Green]

The 20mm works fine on the AF100, for what it is -- a great sharp bright tiny lens. Grabbing the focus ring is not really any problem, as the focus ring makes up about 50% of the lens.

Using it with a follow focus, though -- that's just laughable. Don't bother. If you want to use a follow focus with any of the Lumix lenses, I strongly heartily recommend ignoring the idea of using a physical follow focus, and instead get something like the FoXi. It's not perfect, but it's infinitely better than trying to use some sort of pressure wheel on the focus ring, or trying to use a physical follow focus with a lens gear on a lens that isn't designed for that and doesn't have repeatable focus ring positions!

 

[take2visualmedia]

I'm so glad I found this thread. I was about to pull the trigger on the Redrock Micro follow focus. I'm using the Lumix 14-140 and was planning on getting the 20mm pancake. So you're saying that follow focus rigs aren't good for Lumix lenses? I have a Varizoom focus controller that I use on my HVX200 and it works with the 140 but I was hoping to get the FF for more precise feel etc.

The 20mm works fine on the AF100, for what it is -- a great sharp bright tiny lens. Grabbing the focus ring is not really any problem, as the focus ring makes up about 50% of the lens.

Using it with a follow focus, though -- that's just laughable. Don't bother. If you want to use a follow focus with any of the Lumix lenses, I strongly heartily recommend ignoring the idea of using a physical follow focus, and instead get something like the FoXi. It's not perfect, but it's infinitely better than trying to use some sort of pressure wheel on the focus ring, or trying to use a physical follow focus with a lens gear on a lens that isn't designed for that and doesn't have repeatable focus ring positions!