@CRFilms The camera is gone by now. They supplied a card with it, a Sandisk Extreme (non Pro) 64 GB. The Pro version works too, as you'd expect. A Transcend 32 GB class 10 didn't work. But please let's reserve this thread to lenses, there's a general thread on the camera too.

@peaceonearth There must be big differences, mine was not as soft.

Could you do a few SD card tests or let us know what cards you're using? PBloom just twittered all his cards didn't work, and somebody else made a video showing the new cheaper Sony 95mbs cards did work well.

Now getting manual/vintage. Other than pro S-16 glass from Zeiss, Angenieux, there is not a lot of choice out there without vignetting. The S-16 certified lenses will cost you more than the camera in good condition and they won't be small or lighweigt, being PL-mount. So, I was looking into C-mount and found two nice lenses from Schneider and Zeiss (Jena) in 10mm (anything wider was vignetting). The Schneider Cinegon 10mm 1:1.8 is a wonderful lens, very well built and still small. Both focus and aperture operate smoothly. It is nearly free of distortion or vignetting and while a tad soft WO, it improves considerably when stopped down. BUT (there's always a but,right) it doesn't show that often in good used condition any more and I doubt you'll get it for less than 300,- €. Beware of the smaller version, it doesn't cover the sensor. The one that works has a huge front lens and the front part in silver, the rear in black. It fits most C-mount adapters without modification.

The only good alternative I found is the Zeiss Tevidon 10mm 1:2.0. It has very low distortion and covers, is even smaller than the Schneider and can be found in good condition for less than 200,- €. So, what to watch out for? Well, being a product from a communist era, the sample variation is massive. I found one that was even sharper than the Schneider in the corners WO, while another one was quite soft and even a bit de-centered (without showing any visible damage from the outside). So, go for a seller with a decent return policy. Then there is a bayonet version (no adapters that I know of) and a C-mount version. They are easy to replace with just three screws and there is one seller from China (Yeenon) offering a replacement that fits thin C-mount adapters right away (25,- U$ plus shipping). If you buy the original C-mount version, you'll need to get off about 1.2mm at the outer rim with a lathe. Not hard to do, since the ring can be separated from the lens. You'll need a very thin adapter, but they are easily available from China.

The focus rings are both nice, the aperture ring has nearly no dampening on the Zeiss, both are clickless. The Zeiss has a triangular bokeh at small apertures, even if there are more blades and is circular at large apertures, the Schneider's is square. In the photos you can see the version of the Cinegon you have to look for on the left and the modification on the rear of the Tevidon you'll need where the underlying brass becomes visible on the right.

A few observations on AF and IS:

Tested with various Panny and Oly lenses: AF is slow and tends to overshoot nevertheless, only useable for focusing before a shoot. Finally, it's spot on, though.

IS is great on the Lumix 12-35mm, no obvious side-effects like 'sticking' pans I know from some still lenses. This seems to be the best lens for handheld work until now.

Thanks.

Thanks. Is that possible to do a test on 8mm FE lens? I am thinking about using this combination underwater. Many thanks.

They won't add lens correction because that would make them slaves to Panasonic's system, and BM is about independence and breaking the existing paradigms.

Being a TV lens, the Computar 12.5 - 75mm should be parfocal when shimmed correctly.

But does it vignette at the wide end or not?

Sure, they work – apart from some needing modification of the rear diameter. But I never found one that is spot on regarding distance scales. They go all beyond infinity, some quite a bit, and the rest consequently isn't correct either. I found this with cheap Chinese no-brands for less than 10 € all the way to shiny Metabones adapters. And, yes, I know the difference regarding CS ;-)

It's no big thing for primes, you'll just loose some NFD, but no zoom will ever be parfocal that way.

If you found a C-mount adapter that is spot on, please tell us the source. BTW, all the top brands I tested like Schneider, Kern, Arri etc. were correct on a 16mm camera.

Thanks for lens update. I was wondering about the Lumix lenses w/o correction.

@TheNewDeal The Computar 12.5-75 vignettes in the GH2?

@IronFilm Doesn't the Panny 14mm distort too?

@tosvus I doubt it has the computing power for realtime corrections. Plus, the resolution of the sensor stays limited, so you'll loose some either way. It's a very different situation with a photo sensor.