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

J

Julie_Freed

Member
I am torn on what to buy for my new GH2. After some advice on this board, I've decided to skip the zoom lens altogether and just go for prime. 3 of them for now. I would love recommendations for that cinema look. :)
 
Cinema look is more than just the lenses. You could get some old Nikon or Canon primes if you want something a tad more vintage looking. But if you want something sharp and contrasty go for the panasonic glass. If you really want cinema, rent some Zeiss PL mount lenses with adapter. :)
 
I use the Voigtlander Nokton 25mm F0.95 and the Canon FD 50mm F1.8 with my Gh1. Sometimes I'd like something a bit wider, but otherwise I find with these two primes I've got most bases covered

The Nokton is pretty pricey at around $1000 but the 50mm FD was only $50 so evens out.
 
Something in the 20-30mm region, a 50mm, and something long (I have a 105mm nikkor, but I'd probably rather have an 85mm lens)

I also really love the 20mm Panasonic lens... although people often say it's too sharp and video looking... I guess I haven't noticed...
 
And if you can find something in the 20+ range for the last $200 (not the easiest thing, but doable), you'll be set.
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I changed the totals a bit, because the 12mm is actually $499, not $400. But, still, $900 for three fast prime lenses is a sweet deal. As you said, throw on a 20-30mm lens in there and you have a complete working set for a little over $1000.

As for me, I went with the Voigtlander 25mm f/0.95 to fill that gap. Expensive (though I got it when it first came out for $850) but gorgeous.

EDIT - Well, look at that. I already have 1003 posts!
 
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is that SLR magic 12mm for sale anywhere? i would love to have that.

I'm currently working with panasanic's 20mm f/1.7, a canon nFd 28mm f/2.8, contax zeiss 50mm f/1.7, and rokinon 85mm f1.4. together the cost was under $800, and their cinematic qualities come from putting them to good use, not anything inherent to them.
 
- Minolta MD 28 f2.8
- Minolta MD Rokkor-X 45 f2
- Minolta MD 35-70 f3.5 Macro
- Olympus 0.8x wide converter

Total cost ~300 dollars including MD to m4/3 adapter. Full Big Picture lens set for cinema making.
 
The aforementioned 25mm Nokton is amazing - easily worth the money and one of my favorite ones to rent.

But the most inexpensive lens I like to use wide open (for a softer look) is the Rokkor 58mm f/1.4 for the MD mount. They are low-priced and look great.

If you look at the singing footage, that was shot 1080P wide open with that lens. The flower shots were shot at 1280 50P with the lens wide open (very narrow angle shutter, often 1/4000), then slowed-down in post.



P.S. Obviously the footage has been heavily graded. :)
 
The two lenses I use the most are the Panny 20 and the Olly 45. However, the Rokkor X 50/1.4, Vivitar 55mm macro, Nikon 85/2 and so on, these legacy lenses are so cheap!
 
Mercatus said:
is that SLR magic 12mm for sale anywhere? i would love to have that.
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Go to their website and email them. It's available for preorder. Mine was 6 weeks delayed due to large demand, but it's worth it. GREAT LENS

To answer the OPs question:

Noktor 12mm 1.6~$499
Lumix Panckae 20mm 1.7~$350
Canon FD 50mm 1.4~$90 on ebay
Samyang 85mm 1.4~$250

TOTAL= $1189, just over, but you're set. Upgrade panckake to Voightlander 25mm 0.95 down the track.

Don't forget a Fader ND!
 
I just clicked over to Amazon and looked at some I have and like, and might go with, assuming you're starting from nothing

Lumix 14mm used $213
Lumix 20mm used 380
Nikkor 35mm (f2) used $280 (I don't have any experience with the newer 1.8 which is 200 new

You could then get a 50 1.8 too for around 130. But that 1.6 12mm sounds pretty cool, so maybe move things around... blah blah blah. I will say I actually like the Lumix 14 (with exception of the awful focus by wire rings on the Panny lenses), and I know a lot of people don't seem to like it. I could live without a 50mm 90% of the time, and I just never grab an 85 anymore. I'm partial to Nikons myself, and love the F2 35. I have a 24 and 28, too, and again it depends on the focal ranges you think you'll use. My answer is completely non-definitive, but I'd err on the wide side, whichever brands you opt for.
 
[h=1]The Voigtlander Nokton F0.95 25mm, is it a sharp picture, like too sharp? I read one comment that it's not a "film like" image.[/h]
 
You may want to choose a lens that is manually focusable rather than electronic/autofocus. With the Nikons you can either rack focus by hand or attach a follow focus and do it that way. I'm not sure this is possible with some of the other suggestions.
 
Julie_Freed said:
The Voigtlander Nokton F0.95 25mm, is it a sharp picture, like too sharp? I read one comment that it's not a "film like" image.
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To my eye, the Voigtlander 25mm f/0.95 has an EXTREMELY film-like image. Especially when shooting with the aperture wide open, it's gorgeous. Not super-sharp and video-ish like some of the modern Lumix lenses. To me, this lens is THE cinematic lens on a GH2, and it cuts together very well with other vintage lenses, like the Canon FD 50mm f/1.4.

Here's a still from a test shoot I recently did with that lens. Straight out of the camera, no color correction or effects applied.

 
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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.
 
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