GH2 What are the 3 best fixed lenses for cinematic look (under $1,000 total) ?

[maranfilms]

Contax Zeiss 28mm f/2.8. Hands down my favorite lens to throw on my GH2.

My 28mm (Canon fd ssc 2.8) is usually my goto lens for my gh2 as well. I also like the fd 24mm, 2.8 as well.

 

[Jaime Valles]

Very nice thanks for posting! Do you think the SLR Magic HyperPrime 50mm f/0.95 is comparible to this Voigtlander 25mm in film-like image quality? I noticed they are nearly the same price and the exact same Aperture (f/0.95).

Or, perhaps a more apples to apples comparison, what about the SLR Magic HyperPrime 50m f/0.95 -vs- the Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1 ? Again, nearly the same price.

Not sure. I read a review somewhere that didn't like it much. Let me see if I can find it...

Here it is:
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/03/03/the-noktor-50-f0-95-lens-review-diary/

But then Philip Bloom really liked it:
http://philipbloom.net/2010/03/10/review-of-noktor-f0-95-hyperprime-50mm-lens-for-micro-four-thirds/

So, tough for me to say without having used either one... But the Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1 is probably a better image than the Nokton 50mm f/0.95.

 

[Julie_Freed]

Not sure. I read a review somewhere that didn't like it much. Let me see if I can find it...

Here it is:
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/03/03/the-noktor-50-f0-95-lens-review-diary/

But then Philip Bloom really liked it:
http://philipbloom.net/2010/03/10/review-of-noktor-f0-95-hyperprime-50mm-lens-for-micro-four-thirds/

So, tough for me to say without having used either one... But the Voigtlander 50mm f/1.1 is probably a better image than the Nokton 50mm f/0.95.

You're great. Thank you very much for being so helpful.

 

[Per Lichtman]

@Julie_Freed The Nokton 25mm f/0.95 is one of my favorite lenses I have ever used. If I could only have one lens for my GH2 it might be that. The feeling I got using it was like the feeling I got when I strapped on a $10,000+ telephoto lens onto my Canon (the Canon 600mm f/4): this lens has got some special.

If you are shooting with it wider than f/2.0 it is a more on the soft side, but at f/2.8 and f/4.0 it is quite detailed.

In terms of how it compares to the Noktor and Nokton 50mm options, it is hard for me to say. But from the rather limited comparisons I checked out, I would give a definite edge to the Nokton 50mm over the Noktor.

 

[Per Lichtman]

There are some decent test pics in this one between the Lumix 20mm and Nokton 25mm f/0.95 but the reviewer leaves out critical comparisons.

http://matthewduclos.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/voigtlander-25mm-f0-95-nokton-teardown/

In the review we see how shooting wide open with each lens compares. But we do not see how the Nokton performs at optimal apertures. In my own testing, the resolution increases drastically as you stop down and by f/2.8 it may be sharper than the Lumix 20mm at the same setting.

 

[Per Lichtman]

If you shoot wide open with the Nokton, things tend to look intentionally soft and smooth and the bokeh is really nice. The bokeh on the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 (already decent) seems a little harsh by comparison.

 

[Per Lichtman]

Oh, and here are some shots I took using it at various apertures for comparison.

http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/comment/26743#Comment_26743

 

[daihard]

Cinema is not as defined as one would think.
Firstly, if you are going for a GH2... I think most people would agree, the Nikon lenses are the best bang for the buck and deliver a more "cinema look"
Personally, if your going primes. Then a 35mm f2, 50mm f1.8, and 85mm are the first lenses you should invest in. Also the 24/28mm are really nice, but awfully expensive.
So look at the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 pancake lens, and the newer 25mm f1.4 lens are really nice lenses to grab. Extremely sharp and fast focusing.
Mind you the crop factor of the GH2, so your looking at almost double everything you are using on the GH2. So the 35mm is closer to a 70mm lens. Which make the 20mm and the 25mm very valuable lenses for the money.

If you have the money, then a

Voigtländer​

and some Zeiss lenses are good investments.
Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | Products(Lenses)

 

[Per Lichtman]

The Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 is very easy to get detail and focus out of, even in auto modes, so it is a pretty easy one to use.

 

[DPStewart]

Everything I've seen out of that Voigtlander 25mm was insane. I mean really nice - a super "artful" look - not like Panny sharp lenses at all, and what folks are doing with it in low light is nearly unmatched.

 

[Per Lichtman]

It is a really great lens. I have never tried the 50mm Noctilux (and it seems it handles coma much better) but at 25mm, there is nothing like it to date.

 

[mcbob]

It all depends what you define as "cinematic," since cinema incorporates all kinds of different looks.

If you want images with great color and contrast, you may be able to get a Leica R Elmarit 28, Summicron 50, and Summicron 90 for about that much.

If you want low-contrast mushy 5D-ish stuff, Canon FD and Olympus OM lenses seem to yield that.

 

[Julie_Freed]

@Julie_Freed The Nokton 25mm f/0.95 is one of my favorite lenses I have ever used. If I could only have one lens for my GH2 it might be that. The feeling I got using it was like the feeling I got when I strapped on a $10,000+ telephoto lens onto my Canon (the Canon 600mm f/4): this lens has got some special.

If you are shooting with it wider than f/2.0 it is a more on the soft side, but at f/2.8 and f/4.0 it is quite detailed.

In terms of how it compares to the Noktor and Nokton 50mm options, it is hard for me to say. But from the rather limited comparisons I checked out, I would give a definite edge to the Nokton 50mm over the Noktor.

I am very intrigued by the Nokton 25mm. Do you think it is far superior to, say, the Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4 Summilux? I have to admit, I do like the option of having autofocus if I needed it. But if the optics quality is far superior, I would be okay with the trade off.

 

[Jaime Valles]

I am very intrigued by the Nokton 25mm. Do you think it is far superior to, say, the Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4 Summilux? I have to admit, I do like the option of having autofocus if I needed it. But if the optics quality is far superior, I would be okay with the trade off.

Another tough question.

It will depend on your priorities. The Leica 25mm f/1.4 is probably sharper at all apertures than the Voigtlander 25mm f/0.95 and it has full autofocus features (and is much cheaper). But if you want to focus manually (like most video shooting requires) the all-metal Voigtlander has a terrific silky-smooth focus ring that the Leica can't match. It's also 1 stop faster, at the expense of sharpness and $$$.

So... my advice is: if you're going to be shooting mostly video, the Voigtlander is hard to beat in the 25mm range as far as build quality and aperture, and has that dreamy film look going for it. But if you'll use it primarily for still photography (autofocus), or if cash is a concern, the Leica is a great lens at a great price.

 

[ipcmlr]

14mm f2.5 lumix - $170 new on ebay there are a bunch of sellers
20mm f1.7 lumix - $350 new
58mm f2 Helios 44 - $30 + $20 adaptor

Total - $570

12mm f1.6 slr magic is probably better than 14mm lumix -- add $330
I would rather get a used panasonic 14-140mm which sells for $400-450 used on ebay. Add that to your $570 and you get everything from wide to telephoto.

 

[Julie_Freed]

Another tough question.

It will depend on your priorities. The Leica 25mm f/1.4 is probably sharper at all apertures than the Voigtlander 25mm f/0.95 and it has full autofocus features (and is much cheaper). But if you want to focus manually (like most video shooting requires) the all-metal Voigtlander has a terrific silky-smooth focus ring that the Leica can't match. It's also 1 stop faster, at the expense of sharpness and $$$.

So... my advice is: if you're going to be shooting mostly video, the Voigtlander is hard to beat in the 25mm range as far as build quality and aperture, and has that dreamy film look going for it. But if you'll use it primarily for still photography (autofocus), or if cash is a concern, the Leica is a great lens at a great price.

Is the Voigtlander hard to focus without a monitor?

 

[Jaime Valles]

Is the Voigtlander hard to focus without a monitor?

Any lens at f/1.4 or wider aperture will be hard to focus. That said, because of the long focus throw of the Voigtlander, it's probably a lot easier to manually focus than the Leica 25mm. Obviously, the autofocus on the Leica will be much faster than manual focus on the Voigtlander.

But using the GH2's 1:1 focus assist works wonders. I routinely shoot stuff with that lens on my GH2 without a monitor and I can get focus tack sharp using the magnification feature. It just takes a few seconds.

 

[Peter J. DeCrescenzo]

Some additional lens resources, if they haven't been mentioned already:

Detailed evaluations of old manual Nikon Nikkor "F" (full frame SLR) prime lenses:
http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html#top1
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html

KEH is a long-time dealer of used & new camera gear, including old Nikkor lenses, graded & priced by condition:
http://www.keh.com/Camera/format-35...h-Lenses?s=1&bcode=NK&ccode=6&cc=80342&r=WG&f

I currently own the following Nikkor F prime lenses: 24mm f2.8, 35mm f2, 55mm f1.2, and 85mm f1.8 "HC". All are Nikon "AI" type except for the 55mm f1.2 which is "non-AI". Aperture & focus on these lenses are fully manual.

These Nikkors are fairly sharp, especially considering their cost & age, @ f2.8 or higher. The ones I bought are KEH "BGN" (bargain) grade, which KEH says are optically perfect but may have wear marks on the barrel, etc. KEH has very good customer service & return/exchange policies.

B&H also stocks some used lenses, but typically has a much smaller inventory of them compared to KEH. If you're inclined toward eBay, check there, too.

I use lens mount adapters from Fotodiox to mount these lenses to GH2 & Sony FS100 cameras:
http://www.fotodiox.com/product_info.php?products_id=476
http://www.fotodiox.com/product_info.php?products_id=727&osCsid=0b7e1fbadbdfa3e88644f6fe7ae0b085

Some new, modern lenses have their advantages, such as uber-sharpness, or improved anti-flare coatings, or resistance to internal reflections, and so forth. But so far I'm enjoying using these +45-year-old lenses. They have a certain warmth that helps take some of the "edge" off digital video. Plus, old Nikkor (and Canon FD & other) full-frame lenses can be adapted to almost all cameras.

There are various companies that can convert non-AI Nikkor lenses to AI, necessary for compatibility with newer cameras (including the new Nikon D800). Some of these companies can also de-click lenses to allow smooth, silent exposure changes. I haven't used the following service, but they come recommended. I'm sure there are many others:
http://www.aiconversions.com/images/AIOrderForm011026.htm
http://www.chr-breitkopf.de/photo/aiconv.en.html

For most shoots I find f2.8 provides plenty shallow (narrow) DOF, and in many situations too shallow. Obviously that's a subjective thing, and also depends on focal length, production design, light levels, ISO, shutter speed, etc.

I typically use individual Tiffen ND filters instead of a variable-ND (dual polarizer). Although less convenient, ND filters are generally less-expensive, and also much sharper than all but the most expensive vari-ND.

Cheers.

EDIT: I've attached an example frame shot using a Sony FS100 (in 1080p24 mode, 1/48th sec. shutter, with +9db gain) approx. 8' from the subject, with an old Nikkor 85mm f1.8 "H-C" lens @ f2.8, with black pro-mist 1/2 & polarizer filters in the matte box. In my experience a GH2 would look very similar to this, but a bit noisier (the much more expensive FS100 records very low noise video). The primary light source was a 650-w. tungsten fixture in a 32" china ball positioned about 5' from the subject. The grey background cloth was approx. 12' behind the subject.

 

[Julie_Freed]

Any lens at f/1.4 or wider aperture will be hard to focus. That said, because of the long focus throw of the Voigtlander, it's probably a lot easier to manually focus than the Leica 25mm. Obviously, the autofocus on the Leica will be much faster than manual focus on the Voigtlander.

But using the GH2's 1:1 focus assist works wonders. I routinely shoot stuff with that lens on my GH2 without a monitor and I can get focus tack sharp using the magnification feature. It just takes a few seconds.

Sorry for all the dumb questions, but I have another. Can the 1:1 focus assist work while recording? Or only before?

 

[Peter J. DeCrescenzo]

Only before. However, the GH2's EVF will display a slight shimmer (slight aliasing) when a detailed image is in focus, which helps a bit.