Suggested Canon FD and Nikon G lenses for GH2?

jbcon

Active member
Just curious as to any suggested super high-quality glass I should look at for video to use with a GH2 and the Canon FD and Nikon G adapters. I just ordered a new GH2 to compliment my GH13 I have been using for several years and since I had an old Canon AE-1 with a couple lenses (50mm JPC lens and 50-200mm Telephoto) and my wife had an old Nikon with a couple lenses I decided it was time to order the adapters to use those lenses on the Panasonic camera's I have (in addition the the GH1 and GH2 we have a GF1).

Up until now I have only used the kit lense (14-140), 20mm Pancake and the 14-42 lenseson the GH1 and GF1 and am just now venturing into experimenting with other brand lenses. Keeping in mind these two adapters that I have on order and what lenses I have, is there something I should focus in on for my next acquisition?

I shoot mostly travel and personal interest peices for personal use... i.e. vacation videos, and the occasional promo for local businesses to play on closed circuit systems in stores. While I don't plan on ever doing a full length cinematic peice, I enjoy the ability to get near film quality results with my rigs
 
For Canon FD 2 nice sites :
http://fdreview.com/
http://www.photozone.de/active/survey/querylenstxt.jsp?filter="brand='Canon FD'"

I didn't want to go the most expensive way, but it seems the best one are :
35mm F2 SSC, concave version (down to f16) or convex (down to f22) - around 200 USD
concave : http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=211
convex : http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=17

55mm F1.2 SSC Aspherical and AL -- around 800 USD
SSC Aspherical : http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=29
AL : http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=30

85 F1.2 SSC Aspherical and nFD L -- around 800 USD
SSC Aspherical : http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=31
nFD L : http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=74

100 F2 nFD -- around 300 USD
http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=76

135 F2 nFD -- ?
http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=79

200 F2.8 (FD SSC or nFD ?) -- ?
FD SSC : http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=42
nFD : http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=83

300 F4 nFD L -- around 300 USD
http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=206

A special one, a zoom, but really good one :
80mm - 200mm nFD L -- around 200 USD
http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=122

I took a cheaper way, and don't regret it so far :
35mm F2 SSC, concave version (down to f16) or convex (down to f22) - around 200 USD
Yep, the same, not very expensive

50mm 1.4SSC or nFD (lot of different version, I bought the Breech Lock version, better build quality, but heavier) - around 100 USD
or 55mm 1.2 (SSC or not, not sure there is really a difference) - around 250 USD

85mm 1.8 SSC - around 50 to 100 USD
http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=32

135mm 2.5 SC - around 50 to 100 USD
http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=38

80mm - 200mm nFD L (great one !) - around 200 USD
Yep, the same, not very expensive

I also have the 35mm - 105mm F3.5 nFD -- around 150 USD, really good for the price
http://fdreview.com/lens-review.php?itemid=110

A little of topic, but if you buy Canon FD lenses, I would advise you to buy a good old Canon F1 or new F1 body. Great build quality, quite cheap, and completely modular
 
I have a 19mm vivitar that I love, wide open, it's butter. but when I stop it down, it's pure magic! One of my favorite lenses, I paid around 150.00. they pop up on occasion on ebay. I got lucky, mine was brand new in box.
 
I went down for the Baja 500 this past weekend, finally got a chance to use the GH2 in the dirt. I used the 14-140 and a Canon FD 50mm F1.4 via a cicero7 FD adapter. Both lenses used a LCW Fader ND for the day shots and a collapsible rubber hood. I can't remember what I had the FD set to for the night shots....I think I was wide open. 50mm is cropped a little too much for action shots. I think a 35mm would be pretty decent, something like the Nikon 35mm G 1.8.


 
I just got a canon 50mm for $45 and a $20 adapter. i love it! I can't figure out how to change the aperture though. I have it set to filming without a lens and with manual focus. Any other settings i need to check? Do i just turn the f-stop on the lens to change the aperture?



http://youtu.be/BU2WBMt2dwE?hd=1
 
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The Canon FD 50mm only has manual aperture adjustment. You have to make sure the adapter is seated correctly to the lens, otherwise the aperture ring won't do anything.
 
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