Lenses

What are the benefits of a constant aperture lens?

mpgxsvcd — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 08:01:39 +0000

It seems like all of the high end lenses are constant aperture. What are the benefits and drawbacks of a constant aperture lens?

The biggest benefit I can think of is that the exposure will stay constant as you zoom. You can fix the shutter speed, focal ratio, and ISO values and then zoom without needing to change them. That sounds great but do we really need that?

With cameras that have Auto ISO available in manual mode can’t you just let the auto ISO control the exposure while you zoom?

Also aren’t all lenses constant aperture, just not always at their wide open apertures? If you stop down to the minimum aperture of the lens then the aperture will remain fixed in aperture priority or manual mode while you zoom even if the lens isn’t a true “Constant Aperture” lens.

What happens as you zoom? Aren’t these lenses still changing the aperture in order to keep it constant? Doesn’t that mean that your depth of field will change as you zoom? If the focal ratio of a not constant aperture zoom lens increases as you zoom in could it then keep depth of field constant as you zoom if so desired? Would that ever be desirable?

Couldn’t a constant aperture zoom lens have a slightly wider aperture or slightly longer focal length if it wasn’t a constant aperture lens wide open? Aren’t they crippling the lens slightly in order to make it constant aperture wide open?

Also what about being parfocal. Isn’t maintaining focus as you zoom more important than maintaining focal ratio especially in cases where you can let Auto ISO solve the changing exposure issue?

I am just curious as to why we insist on having constant aperture lenses. To me the benefits of a constant aperture lens do not outweigh the benefits of a non-constant aperture lens as long as your camera allows auto ISO in the modes you are shooting with.

With that being said the 35-100mm F2.8 is pretty much the only lens I use on my GH4 now. However, I really don’t zoom that often while filming so I am not sure I use it to its full abilities.

special topic for wide angle mft lenses?

albertdros — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 06:03:45 +0000

With so many new wide mft lenses coming out, it would be nice to have a new topic for this, to compare them all to one another. Maybe Vitaly can make one? I just spotted this: http://www.43rumors.com/spectacular-lens-patent-olympus-designs-a-12mm-and-14mm-f1-0-mft-lens/

and with the kowa and voigtlander lenses coming I am very interested in comparisons.

Experiments in Super Wide Anamorphic CinemaScope 2.35:1

JohnBarlow — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 14:24:20 +0000

Experiments in Super Wide Anamorphic, ungraded footage, camera NEX 5N. (-3,1,-3) Including some tighter shots for comparison. Hyperfocal distance is tiny at these focal lengths. Cylindrical distortion is normal at these focal lengths. Ultra Wide Anamorphic will come later on Canon 5D

Small and lightweight zoom for S35 with good focal range?

Brody — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 20:34:05 +0000

Hi guys, I'm looking to buy a zoom that covers S35 with an f/stop of about 2.8 (ideally fixed) that would be small and lightweight more or less in the range of something like 20-85mm and/or 35-120mm.

I hope to avoid still lenses for mechanical reasons and also to get that "warmth" and organic nature one might get from older cine lenses. I might consider older still lenses that are all manual and have good mechanics.

Versatility, size and weight are my major concerns. I'm not trying to find optical perfection here. In fact imperfections (low corner sharpness, flaring, etc.) are welcomed as I prefer older glass with digital capture anyways if it gives me good center sharpness.

Modern cine zooms are huge and bulky and expensive and I'm not looking to rent. That's why I've been thinking about older lenses mostly. Ideally something that could be converted to EF mount. Flexible budget depending on the lens.

I've been digging the net for some days now and I've come mostly empty handed. Only option I found was this small 1kg Optar 25-80 T3.4 but I was hoping to widen my options. (http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?31664-Optar-25-80mm-PL-mt-Lens-for-sale)

Any suggestions?

Newbie looking for lenses recommandations

monks19 — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:50:41 +0000

Hi. I do some events filming with Lumix cameras (G6 & GH2) using Sigma (Nikon mounts) zoom lenses with RJ adapters. All lenses are at f2.8 max for speed and luminosity. I know that the lowest can go down to f1.4, but I havent been able, so far, to find zoom lenses like this, whatever the brand, especially at a good price (lower than 500 $, used or new).

Does any of you have any recommandations/suggestions on which zoom lenses (whatever the brand, as long as an m43 adapter is avalaible) I should get with my cams (and which adapters, if needed and unavalaible with the RJ m43 ones) ?

Thanks to answer.

Cheap lens for GH4

tinbeo — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 07:41:21 +0000

Is anyone used this lens http://www.ebay.com/itm/171435798985 Sound very interested and cheap

Macro lenses for GH2

Seethlaw — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 11:05:20 +0000

Has anyone shot any macro photography or video with the gh2? Any recommendations on some good glass?

Fast lens recommendation

jclmedia — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 02:44:56 +0000

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1039950-REG/rokinon_rk12m_mft_12mm_f_2_0_ncs_cs.html

lookin at getting that for my gh4, for first prime lens. any thoughts?

obviously i could go with voitlander 12.5mm 0.95, sigma 18-35 sb, tokina 11-16 sb, ect but those are all well over $600-700.

Parafocal, Controllable Iris Zooms for m4/3rds

Treetah — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 08:51:17 +0000

Hey guys. Had a question about lenses for my GH2 (hopefully soon to be GH4).

I'm looking for some parafocal zooms. Here's some criteria:

native or adaptable to m4/3rds
manual iris or adapter that includes iris control
hard stop focusing preferred
breathing I don't mind but nothing outrageous
no too-slow apertures like f8 or f16
need a few choices for cinema-purpose films
also some choices for live event/lecture shooting
zoom controls huge plus! (I plan on using my rigs FF)
under $5k
broader focal length range preferred

I've had my eye on the Nikor 50-300 f4.5 for example.

Thanks for the input!

treetah

Fixed f-stop, parfocal, image stabilized zoom for m43?

Mamumpofu — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 05:56:54 +0000

Looking for a fixed f-stop, parfocal, image stabilized, zoomable Zoom option for Panasonic GH2. After a month of searching I was wondering it this could be the one to work : Sigma 17-50 2.8 OS with "live" adapter. Which mount would be best to use EOS, Nikon, Pentax ? THX

Movie made with SLR magic 10mm T2.1 on GH4 4K

sebfarges — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 05:44:33 +0000

Hello my friends,

Here is my first hand's on with the SLR Magic 10mm T2.1 I just received on wednesday in premiere, and also with their new variable ND filter :)

SLR Magic 10mm T2.1 on GH4 4K and 96fps 1080p mode

My very first impressions : solid, heavy (420g), compact, sharp at full aperture T2.1, only 2cm minimum focus distance. The ND filter : good first impressions, and two great options on it : lever and hard stop ! Perfect for video !

SLR MAGIC 10mm T2.1 (f1.8 eq.), most of the clips @ T2.1
SLR Magic ND variable filter

GH4 4K cinema mode + 96fps 1080p mode
Vcine mode with Andrew Reid presets
No color correction

Music : Trentemøller « Come Undone (Trentemøller Remix) »

Just got my BMPocket, need a lens for specific use

rockroadpix — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 07:40:37 +0000

Ok, what I am looking for is a wide angle lens that has a low profile, preferably a wide zoom for when I go skiing. What is the best choice? 12-32, 14-42 or whatever? the power zooms? Inquiring minds. If it's fast, that's just gravy, but I don't really need 2.8 or the like.

As an aside, not so happy with the crop when using my Voigtlander 25, but that's another thread...

70-200mm F4 Tokina lens

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 02:53:46 +0000

Specs:

Filter size - 67mm
Image stabilization
19 elements in 14 groups
Works on full frame
Minimum aperture - f/22
Minimum focusing distance - 1.0m
Angle of view for FF - 34.45° ~ 12.42°
Lens length: 82mm
Weight - 1,020 g
Nikon F mount

Fast lens for GH4?

jclmedia — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 20:13:49 +0000

So I will be getting my gh4 soon and I already have my 14-140mm and the 7.5mm fisheye, I want somthing fast for good low light shots, I was looking at the

Voigtlander Nokton 17.5mm f/0.95 $1150

Sigma 18-35mm 1.8 With Speed Booster for nikon. $1200

I used to own a Hpx170 and the lens had good zoom and decently wide id like somthing like that, would i want the 17.5mm voidtlander or the other versions if I got that? Hpx170 (Leica Dicomar 13x Zoom 3.9-51mm f/1.6-3.0 (35mm Equivalence 28-368mm) 72mm Filter Diameter )

Thanks for any advice.

58mm f/1.2 Nikon "Noct-Nikkor", re-birth of the legend to come

tetakpatak — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:09:06 +0000

Good news for low-light videographers and photographers:
Nikon's optical wizzards have lately obviously been quite busy with creation of the successor for legendary "Noct-Nikkor" lens. After endless rumors and over 15 years of waiting, it seems to finally enter its final stage these days.

Late in 2012 two different patents by Nikon have been filed in Japan (numbers 2012-230133 and 2012-230340) for a new 58mm f/1.2 lens:
* Patent release date: November 22, 2012
* Patent filing date: April 4, 2011
* Focal length: 58.0220mm
* Aperture: 1.210
* Half angle of view: 20.81°
* Image height: 21.6mm
* Lens length: 108.8935mm
* Back focus: 38.0120mm

Mir-1 M39 Bussel Edition very blurry wide open

hilburger — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 05:39:13 +0000

Hi everybody!

I have got a Mir-1 M39 Brussel Edition on my BMPCC using a (Zenit)M39-ring -> M42 -> MFT adapter.

The Mir-1 is blurry like hell using it wide open (see image, sorry for the ugly shot, it's just for deomnstration)

As soon as I close the aperture a huge bit it becomes sharper and usuable.

The later M42 Mir-1B I have got looks great, no blurred areas at all.

Do you think the lens has got some problems or are ALL silver M39s Mirs so bad?

Thank you & best regards, Thomas

GH4 4K and Lumix 12-35 at 12mm puts my talent on a diet

RKM — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 04:53:28 +0000

I shot a few wide shots with my female talent walking from left to right along a stream at 12mm. While she is not the thinnest person the lens distortion seems to render an image with less attractive measurements. The image doesn't seem like a representative presentation of her body.

Maybe it had to do with my way of shooting. I used a horizontal leveled tripod at eye level and just did a horizontal pan. Maybe it's better to put the tripod lower because I framed her on the lower end of the image and therefor pointed the camera slightly upwards. Anyway 12mm on GH4 4K represents only like 28mm and I wonder if a 28mm on a full frame camera is also that sensitive to small angle changes. I know the lumix 12-35 rely strongly on lens correction and maybe it's not that great. I saw in a review that the slr magic 12mm 1.6 has far less optical distortion. Does that mean the SLR magic is a better lens for people in the frame?

Can someone confirm this or give me some tips to get better shots in the future? Especially wedding videographers could face this same problem.

Pentax to m4/3 lens adapter question

mrbill — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 13:20:25 +0000

Hi there. I have seen a Pentax K1000 + 50mm Pentax-M lens going cheap in my local store. I'm interested in the lens, but can't seem to find a Pentax-M to m4/3 adapter. Is it possible to adapt this lens for use on my GH4? Thanks in advance.

Suggest a cheap lens set

JayUKB — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 17:20:44 +0000

I have looked a many topics/posts on here.

However, I'm looking at getting a cheap (non-native M43) lens set. Kind of flipping between Nikon/Nikkor or a Zeiss Jena (or maybe a Takumar).

Any thoughts/advice?

will the lens CANON FD 17mm's 72mm front thread fit perfectly onto LA7200 72mm thread?

chinyew — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:44:26 +0000

will the lens CANON FD 17mm's 72mm front thread fit perfectly onto LA7200 72mm thread?

Sharpness and aperture

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:26:50 +0000

The truth is wide-aperture primes are usually not exceptionally sharp wide open. They appear to be sharper than they really are because the in-focus subject stands out so much from everything else (assuming the subject is near the center) given the narrow depth of field wide open. But if you measure the absolute resolution numerically, a prime lens shot at f/1.4 is no sharper (and in many cases less sharp) than a top quality zoom shot at f/2.8.

Let’s look at a very good wide-aperture prime, the Canon 35mm f/1.4 “L” lens. Here are the Imatest results for fifteen Canon 35mn f1/.4 lenses measured at both f/1.4 and f/2.8 apertures. (The number on the vertical axis is the MTF 50 weighted average for the entire lens, that on the horizontal axis is MTF50 at the center point).

More lenses compared:

Small conclusion:
1.Some lenses benefit greatly from being stopped down, others very little.
2.For those lenses that do benefit, stopping down just to f/2.0 provides the majority of resolution improvement. The difference between wide open and f/2.0 is generally much greater than the difference between f/2.0 and the maximum resolution.
3. Getting the edges and corners sharp requires stopping down to at least f/4 for most wide-aperture primes, and some really need f/5.6. Stopping down to f/2.8 may maximize center sharpness but often makes only a slight difference in the corners, at least on a full-frame camera.
4. None of the lenses performed any better after f/5.6 (for the center) or f/8 for the corners. Most were clearly getting softer at f/11.

Read full article at: http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/11/stop-it-down-just-a-bit

What lens to use for the combination of GH2+SPEEDBOOSTER+LA7200?

chinyew — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:36:43 +0000

hello everyone, i just bought myself the Panasonic LA7200. and i'm shooting on a GH2 with the speedbooster adapter.

i'm considering of buying these canon FD lens but afraid it might not work; Canon FD 17mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8

can anyone with experience of these combination share some advise?

thanks.

Who knows this anamorphic lens?

Manu4Vendetta — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 08:26:49 +0000

I found this in a little shop here in my country where sometimes I find interesting things for little money. He asks me about U$14, but above the price I want to know if I can take advantage on M4/3 or a waste of time.

Also the optical has a small stroke about an eighth of an inch over the glass. Unfortunately the photos a little kick fast and the front is out of focus.

14-42mm F3.5-F5.6 Panasonic kit lens, 2013 version

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 04:46:59 +0000

Specs:

Mega OIS stabilization (step back from Power O.I.S stabilization)
9 lens elements in 8 groups, 2 aspherical lenses
Minimum focus distance - 0.20 m (7.87″)
Maximum magnification - 0.34 x
Minimum aperture - F22
Number of diaphragm blades - 7, circular aperture
46mm diameter filter (does not rotate)
49mm height
56mm maximum diameter
110g weight
Inner Focus
Black and silver color
Release Date is March 08

Links:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/01/29/Panasonic-announces-Lumix-G-Vario-14-42mm-f3-5-5-6-II-ASPH-MEGA-OIS

2x nFD lenses giveaway

allenswrench — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 19:36:00 +0000

Canon 24,mm f/2,8 and 28mm f/2,8 nFDs for free! Not much else to say as I will probably be the judge and jury. https://www.facebook.com/mecande?focus_composer=true&ref_type=bookmark The criteria could not be more open; * best photography in natural light * most inventive workaround So good luck all!

GH2 w/ ISCO CINEMASCOPE ANAMORHPIC x2

joshuac — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 13:20:26 +0000

Hey guys, I recently purchased a big 35mm projector lens made by ISCO for cheap off Ebay. So far the image looks great, very cinematic with all the distinctive anamorphic characteristics. I would like to be able to have a closer focus though, as any close up shots always look a little fuzzy and out of focus. What kind of diopter would I need for this? Would the thread size be 82mm? Unsure of what would be the best option. And would I need to remove the diopter for other shots at longer focal lengths?

20mm GH2 lens similar to look of 20mm pancake

howardst — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 00:00:19 +0000

i use a gh2 for video. i love the look of the 20mm pancake. im considering the 2.8 12 to 35 but its very expensive. im using the kit 14 t0 45 and 14 to 140. does this faster than kit lense give u a similar shollow depth of the pancake? if it doesnt i dont understand why its so expensive. any insight most appreciated

Cohesive Lens Sets - Color, contrast, IQ, etc.

artiswar — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:24:21 +0000

Just wanted to get a consensus from the community here on the importance of having a matching lens set. I've been looking into getting some new glass and have been considering trying to consolidate into a single brand. Is it worth it? Looking into Leica R, Samyang, and Zeiss. Would love to get some feedback.

Get GH4 with Olympus 12-40 OR Panasonic 12-35?

Azo — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 23:26:00 +0000

I sold my Panny 14mm & 20mm primes as I really didn't care for those lenses. I really want to buy at least one decent native M/43 zoom lens. I would really appreciate some advice in regards to the pro's and con's of each lens on the GH4. So those of you that have the GH4 with either lens please chime in with your thoughts.

I am leaning towards the Olympus due to the build quality and manual focus mechanism but want to make sure I have all the facts first before purchasing this lens.

I have some questions for those that may have both lenses.

Olympus lens questions:

When shooting stills and video on the GH4 with the Olympus 12-40 lens does the GH4 correct for distortion, chromatic aberration, etc.
Is there a major difference in color rendition from the Olympus 12-40 compared to Panasonic lenses?
How does the manual focus feel on the Olympus in comparison to the Panasonic?

Panasonic lens questions:

When shooting video on the GH4 with the Panasonic 12-35 does the GH4 correct for distortion, chromatic aberration, etc.
Is there a significant difference in focus speed in comparison to the Olympus 12-40?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Sigma 30mm 1.4 (not art) or Nikon 35mm 1.8 (G) for GH2?

RdC — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 13:52:03 +0000

Hi folks. Anyone have experience with this two lenses (maybe with speedbooster too)? Which is better for video or ,,filmlook´´? Thanks