softdrinks
Active member
I believe the ETC feature will enable GH2 filmmakers to fully utilized the ENG and C-mount TV zoom lenses and vault the level of GH2 DSLR filmmaking to a higher level. To my understanding, it's essentially a pure output of the crop of the center of the sensor without processing like line skipping and what not.
Here are some of my thoughts of using the ENG and C-mount zoom lenses.
The advantages:
1. maintaining the awesome aperture size of f/1.2 - f/2.0 of the TV lenses throughout the zoom! Usually with the ENG B4 lenses, the 2x teleconverter had to be enabled compromising light gathering (1-2 stops), but now, with the ETC feature, it is no longer needed thus being able to keep the aperture and focal range without having to double it.
2. Zoom. Bringing back the smooth zoom nature of the TV lenses back into DSLR filmmaking. Zoom was always an issue and hard to do with still camera lenses. But now with the TV lenses, zoom operation becomes more fluid and natural. This just enables the filmmaker with more options when deciding on a shoot. Zooms can be annoying but there are times when it is needed.
3. Image quality. I believe the TV zoom lenses have different characteristics from still camera lenses. Images might be a little more soft but the quality of the overall picture might be more closer to broadcast images. And since the center of the images is being recorded no need to worry much about corner sharpness.
Problems:
1. Mounting issues? I'm aware that there is a B4 to m4/3 adapter out there in eBay but for C-mount TV zoom lenses I am not sure if it can be mounted to the GH2.
2. The need of a good tripod and steady movement. ETC, because of it's 2.6x nature, movement has to be very stable or it will show quite readily on the shot. (more pronounced jello and jitters)
3. Noise? I'm not a technical guru but the crop of the senor might bring up more pronounced noise patterns??
In conclusion, I'm excited about the GH2. The adaptability of the m4/3 system to a wide range of different lenses is absolutely fun and it enables us to have more creative freedom and choices.
Here are some of my thoughts of using the ENG and C-mount zoom lenses.
The advantages:
1. maintaining the awesome aperture size of f/1.2 - f/2.0 of the TV lenses throughout the zoom! Usually with the ENG B4 lenses, the 2x teleconverter had to be enabled compromising light gathering (1-2 stops), but now, with the ETC feature, it is no longer needed thus being able to keep the aperture and focal range without having to double it.
2. Zoom. Bringing back the smooth zoom nature of the TV lenses back into DSLR filmmaking. Zoom was always an issue and hard to do with still camera lenses. But now with the TV lenses, zoom operation becomes more fluid and natural. This just enables the filmmaker with more options when deciding on a shoot. Zooms can be annoying but there are times when it is needed.
3. Image quality. I believe the TV zoom lenses have different characteristics from still camera lenses. Images might be a little more soft but the quality of the overall picture might be more closer to broadcast images. And since the center of the images is being recorded no need to worry much about corner sharpness.
Problems:
1. Mounting issues? I'm aware that there is a B4 to m4/3 adapter out there in eBay but for C-mount TV zoom lenses I am not sure if it can be mounted to the GH2.
2. The need of a good tripod and steady movement. ETC, because of it's 2.6x nature, movement has to be very stable or it will show quite readily on the shot. (more pronounced jello and jitters)
3. Noise? I'm not a technical guru but the crop of the senor might bring up more pronounced noise patterns??
In conclusion, I'm excited about the GH2. The adaptability of the m4/3 system to a wide range of different lenses is absolutely fun and it enables us to have more creative freedom and choices.