Smooth Iris

OK, so let's just cut to the chase here.

Are there any zoom lenses in existence that can be made to work with the GH2 that have both auto-focus/iris, as well as a mechanical focus/iris?
 
I think I found one possibility. The Leica Vario-Elmar 14-150mm. It's auto and manual focus. Has the required OIS and a real Iris ring. It's a 4/3 mount, but it looks like Panny makes an adapter that will allow the auto functions to work.

Anyone ever use this lens?
 
@Jim

Alright, I just saw that the idea with an adapter to control the iris manual was posted already and isnt a solution. But again, what about adjusting the exposure with an ND vario filter ?

Here is an article about de-clicking lenses in general
http://philipbloom.net/2012/01/26/declick/

I actually did read at the end the same suggestion which I thought could be used:

"There is one other way to get smooth iris change, and this will not effect your DOF like changing an IRIS will, and that is a Variable ND. I have been using them since I started with DSLRs and they have been a godsend. No good in lower light conditions as even at their minimum setting you are looking at losing well over a stop of light, and be careful of cheap ones. They often are soft and give you a colour shift."
 
The ND filter won't work because it looks like none of them them go down to 0 stops. I need this functionality indoors in very low light.

But thank you for that article. THAT guy gets it.

So...the hunt continues for a fast zoom lens that will give me both auto and mechanical focus/iris on the GH2, either out of the box or after modification. If anyone has a favorite, please chime in.
 
Jim Simon said:
So...the hunt continues for a fast zoom lens that will give me both auto and mechanical focus/iris on the GH2, either out of the box or after modification. If anyone has a favorite, please chime in.
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And I can tell you straight away: No such lens exists. Simple as that. As you need AF and smooth iris, no, there is no lens that can do both, especially not in your pricerange.
Do you only shoot events? Or do you do narrative work too (where DSLRs are more useful)? If you are an event only shooter, I'd sell the GH2 and try to see if you can pick up something like Canon XHA1s (or other prosumer cams) which are going really cheap. The GH2 is an amazing cam... For narrative work. I have made mine into a mini-cine rig. But I would never shoot any kind of events with it. It's not good for that at all. There you would want a proper camcorder. What you are doing now is basically polishing a turd, trying to do a camera to do something it cannot do well, where you have high demands for lenses that are non-existent in a low price range. I want to use the expression "get real", as it is sort of how I feel. There is no way to get all that you want with the GH2, end of story.
 
Jim Simon said:
Disappointing, but somehow not surprising.
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Well, not really once you think of it. The big culprit here is the fact that you need AF and as such a native M4/3 lens. There exists fast zooms like you need without AF, like cine-zooms or B4 mount ones.
 
Exactly- the OP is looking something quite specific.

Most camera operators who are looking for smooth manual iris operation are even more concerned with smooth manual focus operation as well. But perhaps he knows this, and that is why it is not surprising.

Personally, I'd like to see more native zooms with constant aperture so that one can zoom and still have OIS, without the iris getting smaller as you zoom down the barrel. But that's starting to happen- because there is very much a desire for it!
 
Gabel said:
you need AF and as such a native M4/3 lens.
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Not necessarily. Panasonic makes a Micro to Full 4/3 adapter which allows the electronic features to work. And it only costs $100. I see no reason the same can't be done for other mounts as well.

But that aside, given that shooting video with DSLRs is pretty well established these days, you'd think glass makers would fulfill the needs of folks using such by creating "video" style lenses for DSLRs, and that means both servo and mechanical zoom, focus and iris.
 
M. Gilden said:
I'd like to see more native zooms with constant aperture
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Definitely. And I'd add the qualifiers "Fast, long and affordable" to that list as well. A 14 to 280 constant T2.8 parfocal lens with full auto and manual costing less than the camera body is what's needed and wanted here.
 
Jim Simon said:
Not necessarily. Panasonic makes a Micro to Full 4/3 adapter which allows the electronic features to work. And it only costs $100. I see no reason the same can't be done for other mounts as well.
Click to expand...

Because micro 4/3rds is derived from full sized 4/3rds mount. The functionality and signals between the body and lens are nearly identical, and very easily adapted. Also, companies like Olympus already spent a lot of R&D on full sized 4/3rds glass, so there was plenty of incentive to keep the mounts compatible. But this symbiotic relationship is exclusive to m4/3 and 4/3, and aside from this there are not ANY adapters that bring full electronic functionality across mount types. And there is no incentive to, as each manufacturer would much rather you buy their own lenses.

In many cases, it might not even be possible because the way the body and lens communicate is so very different on a technical level (relying on certain metering information from the lens or body, etc).

Anyway, even if you could, most DSLR lenses are not made for video. Try a 4/3 lens on an adapter, and you'll see why- the AF is so abrupt and noisy, the footage suffers. Sony and Panasonic make specific lenses designed for HD video for this very reason, and Canon is just starting to do the same (now that the t4i supports autofocus- interesting to note that the t4i will refuse to AF during video unless one of their lenses made for it is attached). Using a lens designed for AF stills won't do very well during video.

But that aside, given that shooting video with DSLRs is pretty well established these days, you'd think glass makers would fulfill the needs of folks using such by creating "video" style lenses for DSLRs, and that means both servo and mechanical zoom, focus and iris.
Click to expand...

Understand that DSLR video is not fully endorsed by camera manufacturers. Panasonic would much rather see you continue using their ENG cams for video, and leave the HD recording feature of their still cams as a gimmick. But, they have to offer more and more professional features to stay competitive, and that means adding functionality- but very slowly. They do have a servo zoom lens, buts you don't see anyone around here even discussing it. And you never hear people complaining that they wish those Nokton 20mm F/0.95s had autofocus! The real thing you need to realize, is that there may not be as much demand for a lens like this as you think. Most of us turn the auto features OFF when recording video anyway, and only turn them on for stills.

Jim Simon said:
Definitely. And I'd add the qualifiers "Fast, long and affordable" to that list as well. A 14 to 280 constant T2.8 parfocal lens with full auto and manual costing less than the camera body is what's needed and wanted here.
Click to expand...

Let me know when that one shows up. A 14-280 at f/2.8 could sell at any price they wanted, and still sell out instantly. Its just not that simple.
 
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Jim Simon said:
Not necessarily. Panasonic makes a Micro to Full 4/3 adapter which allows the electronic features to work. And it only costs $100. I see no reason the same can't be done for other mounts as well.
Click to expand...

No 4/3 lens will continuously autofocus in video mode with that adapter: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/connect/g1.html

As mentioned before, the Birger adapter (for Canon's EF Lenses) is the other one (besides Panasonic m4/3 lenses) that appears to have continuous autofocus in video mode.
 
M. Gilden said:
Because micro 4/3rds is derived from full sized 4/3rds mount. The functionality and signals between the body and lens are nearly identical, and very easily adapted. Also, companies like Olympus already spent a lot of R&D on full sized 4/3rds glass, so there was plenty of incentive to keep the mounts compatible. But this symbiotic relationship is exclusive to m4/3 and 4/3, and aside from this there are not ANY adapters that bring full electronic functionality across mount types. And there is no incentive to, as each manufacturer would much rather you buy their own lenses.

In many cases, it might not even be possible because the way the body and lens communicate is so very different on a technical level (relying on certain metering information from the lens or body, etc).

Anyway, even if you could, most DSLR lenses are not made for video. Try a 4/3 lens on an adapter, and you'll see why- the AF is so abrupt and noisy, the footage suffers. Sony and Panasonic make specific lenses designed for HD video for this very reason, and Canon is just starting to do the same (now that the t4i supports autofocus- interesting to note that the t4i will refuse to AF during video unless one of their lenses made for it is attached). Using a lens designed for AF stills won't do very well during video.



Understand that DSLR video is not fully endorsed by camera manufacturers. Panasonic would much rather see you continue using their ENG cams for video, and leave the HD recording feature of their still cams as a gimmick. But, they have to offer more and more professional features to stay competitive, and that means adding functionality- but very slowly. They do have a servo zoom lens, buts you don't see anyone around here even discussing it. And you never hear people complaining that they wish those Nokton 20mm F/0.95s had autofocus! The real thing you need to realize, is that there may not be as much demand for a lens like this as you think. Most of us turn the auto features OFF when recording video anyway, and only turn them on for stills.



Let me know when that one shows up. A 14-280 at f/2.8 could sell at any price they wanted, and still sell out instantly. Its just not that simple.
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Very well said. Everything is a compromise. Panasonic is not really established as a pro-camera in the stills field. As such their demands for lenses lies in the prosumer range and needs to work well for that field, so price is a factor. Their main market is still inside still photography and will be aimed there. While you would love all those functions, they're more in line for something like an ENG-zoom, which Panasonic would have no interest of doing for their stills cameras. Plus while people are shooting video with them, the big praise then comes from adaptability of using other brands anyway.
 
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