Thinking of selling my Canon 550D and getting a Panasonic GH2

[funkytwig]

I guess people here would probably think this is a good idea. I do have a number of Canon lenses, so I guess I would need adapter rings, would the lenses work as well as on my 550D (i.e. does IS work).

I was thinking of getting a new lens for my Canon so I would be getting a Panasonic on instead. The lens I was thinking of getting was the Canon 18-135 STM witch is practicably parfocul. I did come across someone saying some of the Panasonic lenses ' electronically adjusts focus after zooming' which amounts to the same thing. Be good if someone could recommend a zoom similar to the Canon one I was going to get.

One of the things I really like about the GH2 is the fact that it has autofocus (can be useful for documentary), does anyone know how good it is, I have a Sony Z1 and its autofocus is excellent, never been let down by it.

Have heard a lot about the positive side of GH2 but what is the drawback (compared to 550D). i.e. can I get cheap aftermarket battery grip/batteries.

Any advice gratefully received,
Ben

 

[BitMaestro]

I do have a number of Canon lenses, so I guess I would need adapter rings, would the lenses work as well as on my 550D (i.e. does IS work).

Nope. Also no electronic control of the lens' aperture blades.

The lens I was thinking of getting was the Canon 18-135 STM witch is practicably parfocul. I did come across someone saying some of the Panasonic lenses ' electronically adjusts focus after zooming' which amounts to the same thing. Be good if someone could recommend a zoom similar to the Canon one I was going to get.

First, not sure why you'd get that lens since the STM won't work with the 550D. (No Movie Servo AF mode and no hybrid on-sensor phase detection.)

Second, that lens isn't parfocal. It's just within the DoF at f5.6 on a crop frame.

Third, no, parfocal isn't the same as refocusing after zooming. A parfocal lens will not lose focus, and thus will not need to be refocused, even while the focal length is being changed (zoomed). Also note that, by its nature, the contrast detect AF on the GH2 will "hunt", whereas a parfocal lens will already be in focus.

Fourth, the standard 14-140mm kit lens for the GH2 is relatively similar to the 18-135mm. (For the record, I own both a GH2 + 14-140mm and a T4i/650D + 18-135mm STM.)

One of the things I really like about the GH2 is the fact that it has autofocus (can be useful for documentary), does anyone know how good it is, I have a Sony Z1 and its autofocus is excellent, never been let down by it.

I have no experience with the Z1, so I can't compare them, but since you're already familiar with Sony products, have you looked into the VG30, VG900, a99 and/or FS100?

Have heard a lot about the positive side of GH2 but what is the drawback (compared to 550D). i.e. can I get cheap aftermarket battery grip/batteries.

There is an aftermarket battery grip available, but I prefer to just cycle two batteries--one in the camera, the other charging.

Mark

 

[Bruce Foreman]

I recently sold off Canon 7D, 60D, and a T3i, and the EOS lenses I had for them (well one left, EF 28mm f1.8 and it's still up for sale). Converted to a pair of GH2s and a fairly decent spread of m4/3rds glass.

The GH2 does have "continuous" autofocus with some lenses but as BitMaestro pointed out above it's problematic, so I don't even try to use it anymore. Single autofocus (light press on the shutter button) before you start recording works very well with Lumix and Olympus lenses, manual focus when coupled with MF assist is the best implementation I've found. You can even set it up for single AF plus manual assist (for focus "touchup").

The EVF is very good and pretty sharp, eliminates the need for a viewfinder loupe.

Cheap batteries: I'd forget those. I have a pair of Wasabi batteries that work but they don't last but about half as long as Lumix batteries do and with no communication of charge left you have NO IDEA of capacity left. And when they quit it's with no warning and you likely lose the "take" you were recording at the time.

And if you use any of the "hacks" and happen to have an aftermarket battery in while "updating", should the battery die with no warning it "bricks" the camera. Happened to one guy on this site and they had to replace a board in the camera to get it running again. Very expensive repair.

So I "bite the bullet" and buy only the Lumix batteries for mine.

I like the GH2 very much. It generally does sharper, crisper video than the Canons, and you have better "fast glass" options within the m4/3rds line of lenses. My basic "kit" is the GH2 with Lumix 14mm f2.5, Lumix 20mm f1.7, Olympus Zuiko 45mm f1.8.

I also have and use the Lumix 14-42mm "kit" lens, the Lumix 45-200mm when longer reach is needed, and today UPS will deliver the Olympus 12-50mm that was one of the options with the OMD E-M5. It's a 24-100mm full frame equivalent and has a very useful macro mode - see Robin Wong's pix of insects at the Butterfly Garden in Kuala Lumpur.

http://robinwong.blogspot.com/2012/03/olympus-om-d-e-m5-review-butterfly-park.html

 

[funkytwig]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

First, not sure why you'd get that lens since the STM won't work with the 550D. (No Movie Servo AF mode and no hybrid on-sensor phase detection.)
Mark

Interesting, where did you get this from, it does not agree with information I have seen in lots of other places, well as least in terms of the 18-135 being usable for video (bear in mind most people use manual focus for video so any issues with STM autofocus are not relevant for most people).

Regards,
Ben

 

[loomis2]

I don't know what cheap batteries Bruce Foreman bought, but they must have been cheap indeed. I have plenty of cheaper, 3rd party batteries for my GH1's and they work just as well as the Lumix batteries, including showing how much charge is left. I believe I bought them from Amazon for about half what an official Panasonic battery cost. There is a battery grip available which holds two regular batteries inside, but I have never used it. A normal battery will last 2-3 hours and it is an easy enough thing to just change it when it gets low.

 

[BitMaestro]

...in terms of the 18-135 being usable for video (bear in mind most people use manual focus for video so any issues with STM autofocus are not relevant for most people).

Um, that reinforces my point--if you're not going to use the STM, I don't see why you'd get that lens. Oh, wait ... you do know there's a non-STM version that's cheaper, right?

 

[Bruce Foreman]

I don't know what cheap batteries Bruce Foreman bought, but they must have been cheap indeed. I have plenty of cheaper, 3rd party batteries for my GH1's and they work just as well as the Lumix batteries, including showing how much charge is left. I believe I bought them from Amazon for about half what an official Panasonic battery cost.

Wasabi with charger. I ordered from amazon one set (2) for the GH2 and another set for the Olympus Pen E-P3. The pair for the Oly almost damaged the camera, one swelled in the camera so bad it took an hour and a half to work it out with a leather punch. The other failed totally after 3 use cycles and will not take a charge.

The pair of Wasabi's for the GH2 work but DO NOT report battery status or level, and do not give much run time. I use them only for "fiddling" around while the Lumix batteries are charging. I never put them in the bag I take out on projects. With 4 Lumix batteries and a charger that works in the vehicle I can keep up a schedule.

I had good luck with 3rd party batteries for the T1i, T2i, and T3i but at the time I had a 7D and 60D only genuine Canon batteries would "communicate" with the camera.

This is the way it is with the GH2. NO 3rd party batteries will report charge level or battery status. They run down and the camera "shuts down" with NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. That's just the way it is. If you happen to be updating firmware when a battery "gives up" you've just "bricked" a GH2.

Your experience with the GH1 and aftermarket batteries is relevant only to the GH1 and does not apply to the GH2.

So I will not take any chances and will use ONLY Lumix batteries in mine.

 

[P13]

This is the way it is with the GH2. NO 3rd party batteries will report charge level or battery status. They run down and the camera "shuts down" with NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. That's just the way it is. If you happen to be updating firmware when a battery "gives up" you've just "bricked" a GH2.

This is correct. I did with my GH2 have some compatible batteries but for video or firmware updating I wouldn't risk it. The legit batteries are overpriced but if you're using the camera seriously it's worth the money.