GH2 Which lens would you recommend?

Absolutely maybe.

Sometimes you might like one. Sometimes you might like the other. There is no right answer, just your personal preference.
 
I was going to say the two lenses I'm itiching to buy...Sigma 30mm 1.4 and the Voightlander (two totally different price ranges)...but both have been mentioned. I went to double check prices on the Sigma on EBAY. Found a Sigma 30mm 1.4(nikon mount) for $289 free shipping with a bunch of extra accessories (cheap tripod, camera bag, lens cleaning kit, useless usb 2.0 card reader, uv filter, ect..). Excellent deal. I couldn't resist. It is from a reputable video/photo place too.
 
What about the Panasonic 25mm f1.4? Good focal length and still very fast. On top of that it is still very detailed and sharp at f1.4 unlike some of the other m43 lenses opened up to f1.4 or faster. If you ever do need the auto focus and image stabilization I heard it is much better then the 20mm pancake. Overall I heard a much better lens then the 20mm although 5mm tighter which it sounds like the OP wants anyway. Price is amazing as well for around $500.00. Not bad for a f1.4 lens. Surprised nobody ever talks about this lens. Amazing lens but it seems like nobody here uses it. Those very few people I know that did buy it quickly sold their 20mm and never looked back.
 
Thomas Smet said:
What about the Panasonic 25mm f1.4? Good focal length and still very fast. On top of that it is still very detailed and sharp at f1.4 unlike some of the other m43 lenses opened up to f1.4 or faster. If you ever do need the auto focus and image stabilization I heard it is much better then the 20mm pancake. Overall I heard a much better lens then the 20mm although 5mm tighter which it sounds like the OP wants anyway. Price is amazing as well for around $500.00. Not bad for a f1.4 lens. Surprised nobody ever talks about this lens. Amazing lens but it seems like nobody here uses it. Those very few people I know that did buy it quickly sold their 20mm and never looked back.
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Myself and many others included do not like focus by wire lenses..... Manual lenses that have their aperture on the barrel mean everything, also a great focus ring. A lot of Panasonic lenses simply work different. Image quality they are great, but me personally I am not a fan....
 
craigbuckley said:
where can you pre order this lens or can you pre order this lens yet? Do you think it would be silly to be one of the first to order this lens?
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Yes, my advice is to practice simple patience and cautionary principles.

I am pretty much expecting the SLR Magic 0.95 to turn out to equal their usual outstanding workmanship - and innovation.

However, I have concerns about the way the product campaign has been launched using the dubious practice of social media alone : in this case some bloggers have specifically posted comparisons to the SLR Magic's chief rival lens, the Voigtlander 25mm 0.95.

There's nothing wrong in that *per se*; it's just that the comparisons are limited in number - and, in my opinion, either seriously flawed or, in the worst case, could even have been falsified (perish the thought).

With that in mind, I'd not be tempted by their introductory offer. I'd wait for serious benchmarked tests and for the first purchasers to start reporting their results.

I will seriously consider buying this lens. My money will remain safely in the bank until confirmation.
 
People have been misled by the Voigtlander-SLR Magic "Sharpness" comparison at Hugh's http://www.beeldlab.nl/voigtlander-versus-slr-magic/

The best way to get an image sharp with any lens is to first get it in focus. An f/0.95 lens has very little in focus (with the subject at 1 meter, you get 1 centimeter in front and 1 cm behind).

I find Hugh's shots show too much stuff in focus for the SLR-Magic to have been set at a true 0.95 f-stop. Hyperfocal physics' laws don't change.

Now, I'm not saying there might be sharpness which might still be observable with valid testings. It's just that this test is seriously flawed or else SLR-Magic have some explaining to do.
 

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wow didn't realize that... ok

Wouldn't it be a good idea to buy the lens early to get the discount? You save $150 and if its not a good lens you could always sell it on ebay for the current price its selling for (more than the pre-discount).

I'm eager to get a 25mm and a $300 difference is big, so my fight between the slr magic 25mm VS voigtlander 25mm continues.
 
I have seen several complaints of mechanical deficiencies on the SLR Magic 12mm f1.6, looseness of parts, that sort of thing. Voightlander, on the other hand, is legendary for the quality of fit and workmanship in their products.

My advice: In the 25mm arena go for the Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm f1.4, which is only about 1 1/3 stops slower than the f0.95 on the SLR Magic and Voigtlander. In a very practical sense this will be of little import as Depth Of Field at f0.95 would be so razor thin focusing could be a problem (except at longer distances). The quality and workmanship on the Pana/Leica is outstanding, the optical performance of that lens is superb, and the price right now is lower than ever with it being only $499 at B&H.

This lens is crisp and sharp, even wide open it exhibits far fewer flare and aberration faults that many other f1.4 lenses have. Should these things be desired for effect, diffusion filters can add that for you. You can always "soften" lens rendition on a sharp lens, but you can NEVER "sharpen" softness in a lens.

And it works with all the features of the GH2 body.
 
craigbuckley said:
Wouldn't it be a good idea to buy the lens early to get the discount? You save $150 .
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No. It would be a gamble. In order to clarify: the only tests of this lens have either been mistakes or else faked to make the lens appear sharper. Now, not to put too fine a point on it ;-)

Hugo has either accidentally let the aperture ring on the SLR Magic prototype lens slip from a (shallow depth of field) f/0.95 around to a deeper depth of field f/1.4, thereby making the image look sharper as well as the background;

OR

He has deliberately faked the test, using a tighter aperture, more light and/or higher ISO;

OR

SLR Magic are onto something big, seemingly defying the laws of optics;

OR

SLR Magic lent Hugo a copy of the lens with the F-stops wrongly marked.

Apart from this and similar tests, we have nothing to go on. The SLR Magic HyperPrime is a pig in a poke.

They are aware of these criticisms, and while they dislike the poor publicity, SLR-Magic have done nothing to counter it.

It's strange to see such uncharacteristic behaviour from company with such a good track record. This could be a good lens! I am anxiously waiting for its release, as I have done for over a year.

Go by what your mother and your Bank manager will tell you. Don't buy a pig in a poke.
 
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The more I think of it, the more I'm amazed how easy it was to overlay these images onto one another to make the animation. Different manufacturers, a camera having to be moved so as to remove one lens then attach the other, the tripod adjusted.. the images didn't need to match perfectly so as to allow a comparison -

yet the registration between the two images is as perfect as a printer's 3-colour separation!

a) Fantastic work, Hugo!

or

b) Did he use the same lens with two different f-stop settings?

OR

c) [Like I could do], did he set up all the shots right, but get mixed up with the image files and accidentally post 2 pics taken from the same lens at two different apertures?
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I've seen that Hugo has posted a music video (he's one person I follow on Twitter), done with the SLR Magic 35mm (with a 2x anamorphic) and it looks very good, http://vimeo.com/57519947, I'm not sure I'd use an anamormphic myself with just one performer, but I think he's making a genuine effort to get to know these pre-production lenses and give some examples of them in use. So with luck we'll see a good example of the 25mm being put to a real use.

In the case of the 25mm trying to bash the Voigtländer is probably not the best way to go about engaging people as you’ll end up with forum arguments of my lens is better than your lens which is about as useful as a playground argument of my dad can beat up your dad. Andrew at EOSHD also engaged in a little bit of Voigtländer bashing on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EOSHD/status/292317593837109248

I have a declicked Voigtländer myself, with cash flow recently I almost sold it, but withdrew the sale in the end, I’ve put a follow focus ring on it, but it slips now and then so I like the approach the SLR Magic lens is taking of being declicked and with it being follow focus ready out of the box, being cheaper too, it should prove popular. If I was buying a 25mm lens now, given I’ve had a positive experience with the 12mm, I’d be looking forward to seeing what the SLR Magic can do.

The Voigtländer is too expensive for a lot of photographers that have photography as a hobby or are semi-pro, so more competition, especially at a lower price point is to be welcomed. Even for the pros, every penny saved, is more cash to use for buying even more gear. :D
 
I've just today sent off my SLR Magic 12mm to an ebay buyer.
I'll never buy another one of their lenses again. The picture quality of this lens that cost me £300 is comparable to a £20 CCTV lens I got from ebay.
 
I really enjoy my 12mm slr magic. I haven't found any problems with it. I am eager to buy the 25mm early because of the discount, and also it will be easy to sell if I dont like it, and I can sell it for more money than I paid for.... But it is risky...

As to Bruce on the Leica 25mm, I have looked into the lens but I have also had reviews of the Leica being not as cinematic as the voigtlander, and I know you can always take away sharpness and never add it, but something about the leica doesn't seem right for me. I don't use autofocus so that could be a waste of the money involved. I am also going by Andrew Reid's book saying how voigtlander is one of the greatest lenses for DSLRs...

I guess I could wait till the slr magic 25mm comes out and see how it looks.. But i may miss the discount!
 
If you need just one prime lens, the 25mm is a FOV within that range we can consider a "normal" and it might justify the investment. Some photographers have claimed they have the Voigtlander "practically glued" to their GH body; the same would go for the Summilux or the SLR Magic, if it turns out as promised.

The extra-fasts are good for night shots or interiors. I believe we're becoming a bit ho-hum about shallow DOF for the sake of it (using an f/0.96 with ND filters). I cheerfully go on trips with just my 25mm: firstly as a challenge - to make me look for the right shots. But with that FOV I can pretty much walk around all day (also walk in, out or away) and never miss my zoom.
 
This video I just recently did was Filmed with 3 lenses and two cameras......

GH3 & GH2
with Rokinon 24mm, Voigtlander Nokton 25mm, and the SLR Magic HyperPrime Cine 12mm

My experience is the Rokinon 24mm performed as good as the Voigtlander, maybe just a hair or two softer but still excellent. Also all of the Wide shots were done with the
Slr Magic HyperRime (beautiful artistic lens)

*Viewer discretion advised, mature profane content

 
Rokinon as good as the Voigtlander? Interesting... I would probably go with the voigtlander for $100 more... But if this SLR proves out, $650 would be a steal. Great vid.

And as to Roberto, great to know about the 25mm. I have been questioning that focal length but its the only one I don't have and I need a medium shot. Are you referring to using your 25mm with a gh2? Does that make it a 50mm?
 
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Fresno Bob said:
Great work. Superb image and very tight editing.

Approaching J.J. levels of fake lens flare though! :)
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Actually about 90% of the Flares were created in camera, very few in post which you can obviously tell (all intro scenes & a couple during main song , but honestly all of the cool color and one band flares were all created in camera) Thanks for the comment, also I did not post this video to derail the thread only to state that I have been really pleased with GH2/3. Both camera cut very good together, only problem is GH2 green tint and on certain shots I did not want to use the 720 60fps as the 1080 60fps from the GH3 looked a lot better.

Thanks for the kind comments.
 
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