GH3 Strange Panasonic 12-35mm shakiness -- possible lemon? Any others see this?
- Thread starter jbklynnyc
- Start date
Barry_Green
Moderator
I know nothing about the jittering issue, but ... the notion of a lens causing more moire, is simply down to that the lens is sharper. A sharper lens will cause a moire-prone camera to show more moire, by definition. A softer lens hides moire, just like de-focusing the lens does.
If there's a problem with the stabilization, let's get Panasonic to look at it. But let's not start some witch-hunt that "this lens causes moire" because ... that's silly. Any sharp lens on a GH3 will cause the same amount of moire as any other equally-sharp lens.
If there's a problem with the stabilization, let's get Panasonic to look at it. But let's not start some witch-hunt that "this lens causes moire" because ... that's silly. Any sharp lens on a GH3 will cause the same amount of moire as any other equally-sharp lens.
Thanks. What are the letters that follow XT2? I think it will be something like XT2JD....
Let us know if you see the jitter on any further tests that you do. If you don't then a few of us would be curious to know if this is something that is related to a particular batch or batches of this lens.
Again, thanks very much!
Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
I've also got the 12-35mm Panasonic lens. The SN# is XT2FD…
I'll try it on my GH3 tonight to see if it exhibits this issue.
I'll try it on my GH3 tonight to see if it exhibits this issue.
Yep, well said. Point well taken. I certainly did not want to start a witch hunt. I was just pointing out my personal findings -- which, until I'm proven wrong, may or may not also in part be related to the jitter issue, in addition to the sharpness of the lens. I hope everyone here performs their own tests and draws their own conclusions.
As for the moiré, this is in part what got me curious:
https://vimeo.com/55215642
password : jitter
Look at the second shot. Yes, I know that we are seeing the screen refresh rate. But in my years of seeing screens in my footage, I haven't seen that patten before.
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Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
I downloaded the file and viewed it at 200%. Unless there's a strong amount of wind, I see the jitter. Thanks.
Yes, I see the rotating pixel jitter too. ( you have to enlarge the footage to make the movement obvious )
Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
I checked my copy of the 12-35 and it also has this issue. It only occurs when the camera is pointing downward. I also tested my 35-100 and it does not exhibit this problem.
Here is a short video of my lens:
http://youtu.be/AcbA-GDB5V4
Here is a short video of my lens:
http://youtu.be/AcbA-GDB5V4
Hi Larry, it looks like your camera was basically level when you shot that video. I've noticed on my copy that the problem doesn't seem to occur unless the camera is pointing down about 45 degrees. You might want to try that just to make sure yours is fine.
Tried to duplicate I'm not seeing any jittering.
I used the GH3 w/ the 12-35 at f2.8 @ 35mm, manual focus on my computer screen to get an aliasing moire pattern. It was angled down about 30 degrees. I stayed about 15 feet from the tripod to avoid inducing my own floor vibrations. At the end of the clip (at about 20 seconds), I walked back to the camera inducing the shake to show this wasn't a static clip.
With IS on, there is a small bump (at about 7 sec), as I might expect. With IS off, it's absolutely steady until I walk back to the camera to turn the video off.
I repeated with all my lenses (35-100, 14-140, 100-300) and they all look about the same.
Serial is XT2LD0013xx
I did a quick edit in Premiere Elements CS6 and put the file on my server here:
http://www.ricksastro.com/temp/GH3.mp4
Rick
I used the GH3 w/ the 12-35 at f2.8 @ 35mm, manual focus on my computer screen to get an aliasing moire pattern. It was angled down about 30 degrees. I stayed about 15 feet from the tripod to avoid inducing my own floor vibrations. At the end of the clip (at about 20 seconds), I walked back to the camera inducing the shake to show this wasn't a static clip.
With IS on, there is a small bump (at about 7 sec), as I might expect. With IS off, it's absolutely steady until I walk back to the camera to turn the video off.
I repeated with all my lenses (35-100, 14-140, 100-300) and they all look about the same.
Serial is XT2LD0013xx
I did a quick edit in Premiere Elements CS6 and put the file on my server here:
http://www.ricksastro.com/temp/GH3.mp4
Rick
That's great news. Thank you for testing and sharing. Can you post your serial number prefix? (Something like "XT2xx".)
I only personally tested two lenses, and only 2/3rds of my shots showed the jitters. Some people might not ever encounter this problem enough for it to be offensive, even if their lens is faulty. I didn't notice this until I had already owned the lens for three weeks.
Ah, okay. I assumed it was a level shot. Well, it's good to hear not all the lenses have this issue. Thanks!
-Ken
I'm really happy to hear that this problem is only limited to some lenses. I plan on re-purchasing the lens if I can determine which batch(es) are good. I went to B&H Photo with my GH3 and 5.6" monitor and asked to try out a few samples with the intent to buy a good copy but very understandably they don't allow customers to try lenses out of the boxes without purchasing them first.
Sounds a bit risky. I'd rather wait until Panasonic fixes the issue, or at least comments on it. Reason? Until we know the exact cause of the issue, how can we be sure that a lens that initially doesn't have that problem might not develop it later? You might buy (or have a lens) that doesn't have the problem NOW, only to find that it has it a month, two, three or six down the road. If however Panasonic explains what the nature of the problem is, then you'd know if it's the kind of thing that can develop on its own, or whether it's something that the lens either has or not and is not going to change. Bottom line - we need to hear from Pana first, before going on fishing expeditions and serially buying lenses. IMHO. YMMV.