Lenses

Lens basics for dummies

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 04:59:37 +0000

Via: http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/2011/08/15/oh-dear-the-viking-has-landed-and-uh-the-astronaut/

Iscorama Heads Up

B3Guy — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:00:50 +0000

Hey, Just thought I'd throw out a notification on this to anyone interested. There's an ISCORAMA on Ebay (not mine). It only has an hour or so left and its sitting at $700. I can't afford even that right now, but I figured someone else here might want to try and snag it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150642339824&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1287

GH2 Carl Zeiss C/Y 28mm/2.8 50mm/1.7 135mm/2.8 testclips

markussen — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 09:10:09 +0000

To whom it might be interesting I share my experiments for filming w Contax Carl Zeiss lenses adapted to GH2. I am still discovering the possibilities, always challenged by the difficulties and how to overcome these. I am impressed by the performance of these old lenses I bought way back in 1980 aprox. Especially for filming!! for stills I am still more impressed by the Lumix G 14-45
I am not a pro, but always on the run for better performance, techical and especially for the more artistic view and communication.
here a link to youtube where you will find more clips from my GH2-C/Y combinations. All filmed in Asia.

++

Thanks to all for the great knowledges shared here, especially to the team hacking!!!

Kurt

A cheap way to upgrade from 14-42 to 14-45

stoney — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:09:56 +0000

I own Lumix 14-42. A decent lens. AF-C works OK. But the zoom ring is... so cheap. No damping at all.

I just bought GH1 + 14-45 at $650 from Adorama. After 3% cashback from mrrates.com, net total is $630. I plan to sell a set of new GH1 body and 3 months old 14-42 around $500 + shipping. Hopefully higher price at ebay.

Basically $130 or less for replacing 14-42 with 14-45.

Mirror lenses

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 05:38:36 +0000

Anyone know manufacturer of this lenses?

500mm F8

Price - $127 shipped
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/designer-s-500mm-f-8-telephoto-lens-90990

500mm F6.3

Price - $182 shipped
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/designer-s-500mm-f-8-telephoto-lens-90990

900mm F8

Price - $256 shipped
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/designer-s-900mm-f-8-telephoto-lens-90967

All come with three read mounted filters (two ND).

Two first looks similar to Samyang produced lenses, but as I know Samyang do not use metal in housing of their mirror lenses.

Best m43 Zoom Lens?

brandonsouba — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:36:46 +0000

I'm currently shooting on a GH1. I feel like I have a pretty strong arsenal of prime lenses, but I feel like they are a bit restrictive when shooting video is spontaneous situations (parades, street shooting, etc). Here is a list of what I currently have:

- Panasonic 20mm 1.7
- Pentax 25mm 1/4 (C Mount)
- Canon FD 50mm 1.4
- Canon FD 50mm 1.2
- Canon 100mm 2.8

I would really love to test out the Panasonic 14-140 or the 14-45mm. Is the 14-140 worth the money?

Also, are there any good Canon FD zooms I should look into?

12mm f2.0 m4/3 Zuiko : Snapshot Focus

lenuisible — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 08:03:45 +0000

It seems that Olympus addressed one of the biggest downside of the usual m43 lenses for manual focusing, "focus-by-wire" :

"Olympus's take on the concept is to deliver a premium quality, large maximum aperture lens that becomes the first in the system to feature 'snap focus', a system by which the focus ring can be pulled back, engaging a modified manual focus mode. In this mode the lens is designed to feel much more like a conventional mechanically-operated manual focus lens, rather than the usual focus-by-wire behavior.

There are four major differences between 'snap focus' and conventional manual focus mode. Firstly, the relationship between the focus ring movement and the movement of the focusing elements is fixed - rather than being speed-sensitive. This direct relationship allows the focusing ring's movement to be stopped at either end of the focus travel which, in turn, has allowed Olympus to add proper distance and depth-of-field scales to the lens. The final difference you'll notice in snap focus mode is that the damping of the ring's movement has been modified to provide a little more resistance and more 'feel.' Such engineering touches don't come cheap, of course, but really do help make the lens feel like a high-end manual focus optic. Right up until you decide you want to re-engage the super-fast autofocus."

Choosing the Right Lens, short video

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 04:44:43 +0000

In most part it is for Canon owners.
But it also describes (in very simlified form) why you need primes.
And why you need follow focus.

How it works: Image stabilization

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 01:25:20 +0000

The secret to an image stabilized lens is an internal lens element that is allowed to float off of the original optical axis. While the front and rear elements remain stationary, the internal floating lens bounces to and fro to compensate for the movements of our shaking hand. The scenario roughly unfolds as follows. Tiny gyroscopes and accelerometers detect subtle movements of the lens. They then trigger circuits which move the floating lens in equal and opposite directions to counteract the movement.

Read the rest at http://www.cameratechnica.com/2011/06/16/the-science-of-image-stabilization-technology/

Risk of owning mirrorless-system lenses

stoney — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:42:56 +0000

I guess there is a native risk of owning mirrorless-system lenses. Forget about resale value.

Oly is about to release new bodies with incredibly fast AF. Faster than GH2!!! Just a month ago I was complaining about Oly's slow shutter lag. But only if newly designed Oly m43 lenses like 12/2.0 and 45/1.8 are used. I wouldn't buy new Oly body since I can't get such fast AF from Panny m43 lenses I own. Resale value of older Oly m43 lenses are expected to nosedive.

I just canceled PL 25 preorder. I heard 14/2.5 price dropped a lot in Asia. It dropped to $340 in the States. Maybe going below $300 soon.

Any cheap AF zoom lens for GH1?

vishalrana — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:39:44 +0000

Thanks to Vitaliy - many of us have been able to hack a GH1 (even the recently untouchable unhackable model). So thanks to him first of all. For a DSLR nooB it's a great feat :-) Ok actually its a great feat by Vitaliy.

Now I gotta find a lens that is cheap, future-proof and hopefully able to keep focus during HD shoots.
I've just started reading a whole lot of stuff about adapters and different kinds of lens - nikon/olympus/tokina/canon FD and my head is spinning already.
So any suggestions for a good cheap lens adapter and a decent zoom lens upto 200/300/400mm?

Thanks in advance and for the great job Vitaliy and the community is doing.

Buying a lens is like opening a box of chocolates

stoney — Tue, 24 May 2011 09:52:08 +0000

Among many lens models claiming same max aperture, there are differences in light gathering. Also huge performance difference at max aperture. Different lenses breath differently. Supposedly same lenses actually vary in optical performance. It's like picking a tomato from a grocery store. They are all different.

When one asks me about a particular lens, I have no idea. Just take lots of pics and start pixel peeping before it's too late to return. If one has lots of money and he buys lots of gears, he would have to spend many hours on examining new gears. Spending creates lots of work. Thank gawd I'm not rich :)

Reviewing Lenses

kainekainekaine — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:45:04 +0000

Anyone know links to tutorials/guides on how to review lenses?

I want fast m43 zoom

stoney — Mon, 23 May 2011 12:23:19 +0000

More and more I want fast m43 zoom. Crispy sharp, silent fast continuous AF, OIS, no adapter. 2.5-3.3 or 2.8-3.5... fine fine. I will set it at 3.3 or 3.5 and use it like constant aperture.

Just make it. I will buy it.

1.4 bokeh

stoney — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:36:27 +0000

I use FD 50/1.4 and Ai-s 50/1.4 mainly for bokeh at max aperture. 7, 8, 9 or whatever blades don't matter at max aperture.

http://toothwalker.org/optics/bokeh.html the best article I read about quality of bokeh.

1.4 seems the fastest that shows circular bokeh. What's your favorite 1.4 lens for bokeh?

Using only two lenses

stoney — Sat, 14 May 2011 21:31:40 +0000

Originally lpowell's tip. Carrying two matching lenses seems working most of the time.

Lumix 20.7 and Hexanon 40.8
Vivitar 28/2.0 and Hexanon 57.4
Any 50.4 and either Lumix 25.4 or Nokton 25.95
Lumix 7-14 and Lumix 14-140
etc

I don't own half of them. Nokton.. ah... sad. A year ago I thought owning 3 lenses would do it... but I wanna own more lenses. Not to carry them all the time. To have more selections in dual lenses.

Nikon lenses sharpness comparison

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:36:56 +0000

Made by one of NikonRumors.com authors.

Only lenses with full frame sensor coverage are included.

Best prime lenses lineup

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Fri, 06 May 2011 23:26:09 +0000

Here we'll collect personal opinions about best complete lineups of primes.

My current view:

1) Samyang 8 mm f/3.5 Aspherical IF MC Fish-eye

2) Samyang 14 mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC Aspherical

3) Panasonic 14mm F2.5 pancake

4) Panasonic 20mm F1.7 pancake

5) Vivitar 28mm F2 Komine (28x)

6) Samyang 35mm F1.4

6) Pentax SMC 50mm F1.7

7) Samyang 85mm F1.4

8) Vivitar Series 1 200mm F3