Switching to 4/3's, lens recommendations with the GH2 for video noob?

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peripatew

Well-known member
I've been digging around for a while learning about MFT and the GH2. I'm to the point where I'm ready to start selling my Nikon gear in order to pay for the switch. I'm moving from a D3000 + FlipHD to the GH2. I'm quite the noob when it comes to video, and as such, I'm not sure what lenses I should be considering for a balanced beginners kit.

I know that in the end, my skill matters more than what I'm shooting with, but give me some practical advice and suggestions for getting started.

Should I spring for the GH2 w/ the 14mm-140mm lens? It's quite a bit more expensive than the kit lens, is it worth it for the "movie" features of it (which I still don't understand).

I'd like a wide and fast lens, the 20mm 1.7/f and the 14mm 2.5/f seem reasonably priced. But again, I've got very little experience when it comes to video and different lenses.

I LOVE my 35mm 1.8/f compared to my D3000 kit lens, so I'm wondering if I should build up some fast primes rather than spend the money on the 14mm-140mm?

I'd like to be able to use autofocus if possible, but I realize I'll use it less as I become more proficient and attempt more complex shots.

THANKS!

L
 
14-140 is a great lens, video features include silent continuous auto-focus.

20mm f/1.7 is an amazing lens.

If your Nikon lenses have manual aperture rings (and even if they don't) the can easily be adapted to the GH1/2.
 
I only have one Nikon lens, a 35mm 1.8/f. Which I love, but I'd rather sell it to get a then Panny 20mm.

I'm still trying to decide if I should get the 14-42, or the 14-140. That's quite a bit of price difference. Would I be better off with something like the Olympus 70mm-300mm?
 
wide: Olympic zuiko 14 - 42 for $120
normal: kiron 28mm f2.0 for $100
telephoto: Minolta 50mm f1.7 for $50
fastest cheapest setup I could find. buy off eBay.
PS the wide lens is f3.5. but I find I only use it outside daytime. doesn't need to be fast
 
I'm assuming the Olympic doesn't require a converter, but do the others?

I wouldn't be upset keeping my 35mm, but I think I'd still prefer then Panny 20mm. But, if a converter allowed me to use the Nikon 35mm, and have options for inexpensive fast glass then that would be a plus.

I don't want to end up with 5 different converters though.

dabeave said:
wide: Olympic zuiko 14 - 42 for $120
normal: kiron 28mm f2.0 for $100
telephoto: Minolta 50mm f1.7 for $50
fastest cheapest setup I could find. buy off eBay.
PS the wide lens is f3.5. but I find I only use it outside daytime. doesn't need to be fast
Click to expand...
 
dabeave said:
wide: Olympic zuiko 14 - 42 for $120
normal: kiron 28mm f2.0 for $100
telephoto: Minolta 50mm f1.7 for $50
fastest cheapest setup I could find. buy off eBay.
PS the wide lens is f3.5. but I find I only use it outside daytime. doesn't need to be fast
Click to expand...

how well will the zuiko lens blend with my canon FD's? they're pretty soft.
i need to know because i need wider lens and i consider the canon fd 20mm 2.8 which are not cheap (250$)

* what about the zuiko 14-54 2.8-3.5 ? is that the same mount? will i have stabilization on video?

thanks
 
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The 14-54 f//2.8-3.5 is a standard 4/3 lens; thus you would need a 4/3 to micro-4/3 adapter. That lens does not have IS nor do any other Olympus lenses since the Olympus cameras have built-in IS.

I've used some FDs with Panasonic m4/3 lenses and it's definitely a different look. If you're looking at spending $250 on an 20mm f/2.8 FD lens I'd really recommend spending a bit extra for the Panny 20mm f/1.7.
 
mountainradio said:
The 14-54 f//2.8-3.5 is a standard 4/3 lens; thus you would need a 4/3 to micro-4/3 adapter. That lens does not have IS nor do any other Olympus lenses since the Olympus cameras have built-in IS.

I've used some FDs with Panasonic m4/3 lenses and it's definitely a different look. If you're looking at spending $250 on an 20mm f/2.8 FD lens I'd really recommend spending a bit extra for the Panny 20mm f/1.7.
Click to expand...

thanks ! but i would mostly use the canons so i can't have a different look..
 
I have two different setups, one is with Canon FDs for soft images: 28mm f2.8, 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.8, 135mm f2.8, 200mm f2.8.
And for sharper video the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 and the 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5, have the kit lens 14-140mm and thinking to buy the panny 20mm.
If you have light with you the 14-140 is a nice all terrain lens.
 
xenogears said:
I have two different setups, one is with Canon FDs for soft images: 28mm f2.8, 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.8, 135mm f2.8, 200mm f2.8.
And for sharper video the Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 and the 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5, have the kit lens 14-140mm and thinking to buy the panny 20mm.
If you have light with you the 14-140 is a nice all terrain lens.
Click to expand...

with my budget i can't get 2 sets of lens ! (didn't buy the kit lens anyway)
i'll complete my canon set for now.. when do you prefer the soft look? i bought the camera only for narrative work.
 
The Canons are great for narrative work, them give you a kind of vintage cinematic look, i liked a lot, mostly because i´m very in sentimental touch with those lens for been from my dad as journalist work, two of them are older than me
 
xenogears said:
The Canons are great for narrative work, them give you a kind of vintage cinematic look, i liked a lot, mostly because i´m very in sentimental touch with those lens for been from my dad as journalist work, two of them are older than me
Click to expand...

i know- i decided on this look and i also agree it's "filmic" in a way..
but have you had a chance to see the canons on a very big screen?
i'm wondering whether the softness can look TOO soft on a very big screen, while sharp lens would anyway turn a little soft while screened big.. understand?
 
The 14-140mm seems to not be very fast? How important is it to have a fixed f-stop while zooming?

Since I don't have the camera yet, and don't have much video experience, I don't know. I'm going to wait until I get the camera and play with the kit lens, before making a move.

I'm curious how important auto-focus is? I've been researching old glass via mu-43.com.
 
I am eager to learn which lenses can easily be adapted to this camera. Do they work with the following lenses:

MIR 24m 35mm f2
Helios 44m 55mm f2
Takumar SMC 50mm f1.4
Nikon MF lenses
Ziess Planar T
Leica-R series lenses

What do I need to make them work on the GH2?
 
You can probably use any of those, it depends on what mount they are. Not sure what the MIR and Helios mount are. You can definitely get m43 adapters for Nikon and Leica R. Zeiss makes lenses in all sorts of mounts, so we'd have to know what specific mount you're talking about. The SMC Takumars used M42 mount, but they're a little tricky because Pentax added some sort of protruding lever onto the SMC lenses, so they may or may not fit a regular M42->M43 adapter.

In any case, yes you can use just about everything on your list, you just need the appropriate adapter; they run anywhere from about $29 to about $200 each.
 
If the Mir and Helios lenses have the more common M42 mount, you'll need an M42 to micro 4/3 adapter. Apart from being prone to flare, these lenses work flawlessly (even on EOS bodies) and are actually quite good.
 
They are both M42 lenses.

How good/bad is the 14-140 stock lens? I don't expect miracles but as there are no body only versions of the GH2 (the ones that are there are priced the same as the 14-42 in my country, I might get it as an all-round lens for travelling later on?
 
This video was shot with a GF1 + Nikon 30mm F1.4, Canon FD 55mm F1.2, and the glorious 20mm F1.7 pancake. I use m4/3s adapters with stepless aperture rings to vary the aperture even while filming. The Nikon and Canon lenses can be bought for under $200 with an adapter. Both are fantastic options for m4/3s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeRGcZwOwDs

For indoor video an F2.2 lens or lower is essential because Panasonic m4/3s cameras are limited to no more than ISO 1600 and no longer than 1/30 of second for video. You simply will not get good low light results with any of the kit lenses.

Here is what the video looks like in the same spot as the video above except with the 14-45mm lens @ 45mm. It is utterly useless in these conditions. The same will apply to any of the other m4/3s zoom lenses since they all have the same or smaller apertures than the 14-45.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-T4tm_8B_4&t=0m39s

If you want some other suggestions for legacy MF lenses for use with m4/3s then check out the videos below.

Normal Lenses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FPbqhFt_oY

Telephoto Lenses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cZ-w1qWdJY
 
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