Smooth Iris

[Jim Simon]

One of the issues I have using my producer's Nikon D7000 is that all the lenses he has for it are still lenses. This means the iris 'clicks' into the stops and there's no way to get a smooth iris change.

Do the lenses for the GH2 suffer the same fatal flaw, or are there models with a smooth, cinema lens-like iris ring?

 

[mcbob]

Most legacy stills lenses are fairly easily "declickable"

Aside from this, the Voigtlander 17.5/0.95 has selectable declick.

 

[brudney]

plus there are a couple of old, good and very cheap M42 lenses with smooth iris control (e.g. pentacon 30mm 3.5, helios 44 58mm 2.0, jupiter 85mm 2.0, jupiter 135mm 3.5, pentacon 200mm 4.0 - all of them also have a very nice ~10-and-more blade iris)

 

[Jim Simon]

Thanks guys.

Should have mentioned - zoom lenses only. No primes. (Event work, you know.)

How's the Panny 14 - 140? Smooth iris, or fixed stops?

 

[Barry_Green]

14-140 has noticeable iris changes. Don't remember exactly but it's maybe 1/2 or 1/3 stop increments.

 

[David W. Jones]

How often are you doing an iris pull during a shot?

Aside from cine lenses you could have the still lenses declicked.

 

[Jim Simon]

How often are you doing an iris pull during a shot?

With event work? Frequently, as I get to control nothing. Not the setting, not the lighting, not the 'participants'. It all has to happen "on the go", and it has to look right the first time.

So how does one go about 'declicking' something like the 14-140, or the newer GX lenses?

 

[alaskacameradude]

With event work? Frequently, as I get to control nothing. Not the setting, not the lighting, not the 'participants'. It all has to happen "on the go", and it has to look right the first time.

So how does one go about 'declicking' something like the 14-140, or the newer GX lenses?

I think Duclos 'might' be able to help you. I think they do 'cinema' modifications to lenses.
This is one thing I liked about the Sony FS100 (and now 700). The Sony 'kit/event' style lens
is the 18-200 (which is roughly comparable FOV wise to the Panasonic 14-140 because of the difference
in chip size between Micro 4/3 and Super 35). It has nice smooth iris changes so you can 'pull'
iris live without the viewer noticing the 'steps'. Not sure why Sony made their 'video style' lens
this way and Panasonic didn't. As someone who has to do lots of 'event style' shooting, that was
one thing that pushed me toward the Sony. But if I was you and already had a GH1 or 2 or even better,
an AF100 and wanted to do event style stuff, I'd try Duclos, I bet they could help you modify a lens.
I'd think if you could declick the 14-140 it would be the perfect 'event' lens on the AF100, especially
outside or on stages or other well lit areas.

 

[gonzo_entertainment]

'So how does one go about 'declicking' something like the 14-140, or the newer GX lenses?"

My info on this is far from definitive, but it's most likely impossible. Modern lenses hare controlled by electronics. "de-clicking" an older manual lens is possible because it's a purely mechanical device.

 

[David W. Jones]

Shutter priority mode?

 

[Jim Simon]

So no one makes a Micro 4/3 zoom lens without hard F-stops?

 

[M. Gilden]

You could always use a Nikon adapter with the lock/open ring to smoothly adjust iris.

 

[Boncrek]

You could always use a Nikon adapter with the lock/open ring to smoothly adjust iris.

This is what I thought of too.
Particularly this Novoflex Adapter.
It'll allow you to control any aperture on a Nikon Lens smoothly and without clicks.
I'm told that even the Nikon G lenses are supported without issue.

Hope this helps

 

[wgzn]

with my ast GH2 rig, i used the rayqual adapter.
http://www.cameraquest.com/adp_micro_43_fd.htm

set the lens then use the adapters f-stop to change the aperture. takes some getting used to, especially if youre simultaneously managing focus.

 

[Jim Simon]

OK, another possibility. Thank you.

But, from my reading so far, adapters generally do not support the needed auto-focus. What are your experiences on that front?

 

[M. Gilden]

OK, another possibility. Thank you.

But, from my reading so far, adapters generally do not support the needed auto-focus. What are your experiences on that front?

"needed" autofocus?

You are correct that the adapters don't interface with the lens (so none of the electronic features such as aperture control or autofocus work), but the general understanding around here is that we turn all that to manual anyway, even on native glass.

Perhaps I'm not understanding what you are trying to do, but are you really in a situation that you need to change aperture during a shoot, AND have the focus hunting in real time?

 

[Chris Adler]

I declicked a vintage 28mm f2.8. Very easy to do. Literally removed 3 screws and the mount and that was it. A single ball bearing caused the clicking so I removed it and added a layer of grease to keep things tights. Works perfectly and now I have a very smooth range to choose from, no more 1/2 stop limits.

 

[wgzn]

Do the lenses for the GH2 suffer the same fatal flaw

i wouldnt call it a flaw. its a feature. we have to remember, these things werent designed FOR video. they are still, at their core STILL CAMERAS.

But, from my reading so far, adapters generally do not support the needed auto-focus. What are your experiences on that front?

sounds like a good case for a proper VIDEO camera. as has been discussed previously and at length, ENG type work is NOT the strength of a DSLR. they just werent made for that.

 

[TheDingo]

Anyone know what the iris is like with the new Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 zoom lens?

( my understanding was that this lens was designed with video in mind )

 

[stoneinapond]

Anyone know what the iris is like with the new Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 zoom lens?

Electronically stepped.