G6 and Canon FD 50mm 1.4 at DVinfo.net

Darren Ruddock · October 22nd, 2013, 10:15 AM

Hi guys,

Just bought my first non kit lens. I went with the Canon because I heard they give a nice video image.

Just wondered if there are any settings on the camera that I should know about to optimise this lens's performance...bit of a newb on this front!

Many thanks

Bill Bruner · October 22nd, 2013, 09:32 PM

Welcome to the world of lens adapters and manual lenses, Darren. You probably already know this, but before you start shooting with your new lens, you'll want to make sure to go to the Custom menu and set "Shoot w/o lens" to ON.

When you're done, and want to go back to system lenses, reverse the process.

Good luck!

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

Jeff Harper · October 23rd, 2013, 01:58 PM

Darren, you got a nice lens, but the 45mm F/1.8 would have given you the option of auto focus and no need for an adapter. It's really a very nice lens, I loved it. I used the auto focus constantly and it was amazingly fast performer, really quick to lock focus, almost instant, even in low light conditions.

I had a Canon 50mm F/1.4 and it was nice, but I actually liked the Panasonic uch better, but I guess it's all about preference.

Best of luck, enjoy your new lens, it is fun playing with a new piece of gear.

Pete Carney · October 23rd, 2013, 10:26 PM

Hey Bill, you don't need to reverse the settings for "shoot with no lens". Don't know why they even have that function as it doesn't change anything on my G6 when using a m43 lens.

Cheers,
Pete

Nigel Barker · October 24th, 2013, 01:55 AM

I know that lots of people rave about the quality and look of old FD lenses but I have been through a load of them including expensive 'L' lenses and always been rather disappointed not least because they always seem a bit soft. Like Jeff I prefer to have proper modern MFT lenses that are sharp & have AF.

Matt Harvey · October 24th, 2013, 05:04 AM

It depends on many factors, what could be a weakness in one situation could be a strength in another. Pick the lens that enhances the shot. Sometimes that means AF, sometimes it means accurate and repeatable focus pulling, sometimes it means clinical sharpness, sometimes it means softness, etc.

Noa Put · October 24th, 2013, 06:29 AM

I was surprised how sharp mft lumix lenses where, even the cheap 14mm f2.5 pancake, but for my personal projects I prefer my vintage Tamron adaptall II lenses (a 35-80 and a 80-210mm), they somehow look less "video" then the lumix lenses do, it might have to do with the fact the images are not so tacksharp and that it's not so contrasty or colorful. I do like the 12-35mm f2.8 or any lumix lens more for weddings though.
I also have a 28mm f2.8 nikon nikkor that gave also a different and more pleasing look on my canon 550d but still have to try it with mt gh3, the latest personal film I did with the gh3 ("https://vimeo.com/73974687") was done with tamron adaptall lenses mainly with a occasional shot of the 14mm lumix and that's the only lenses I"ll be taking with me when I shoot for fun.

Darren Ruddock · October 24th, 2013, 11:22 AM

Hi guys,

Thanks for the responses. Shot some stuff today....blown away. I heard that the kit lens is good but I'm loving the dof with this Canon! Looks miles more filmic.

I'm not so worried about auto focus. I come from using a Sony Ex1 so I try to go full manual all the time, gets the best results.

Anyone got any other recomendations for any other cheap vintage lenses?

Noa Put · October 24th, 2013, 11:36 AM

I think it was 12 dollar that I paid for my Tamrom adaptall II 80-210 f3.8-4 on ebay, the sending costs to Belgium where more then the lensprice, It was in mint condition. My 35-80 adaptall II f2.8-3.8 was around 90 dollar. Both lenses have separate iris rings.

Matt Harvey · October 25th, 2013, 04:34 AM

Pentax Takumar in M42 can often be had for bargain prices (I have 50m F1.4, 28mm F3.5, 105mm F2.8), Olympus OM lenses are generally very good, but prices are higher, Tamron SP 90mm F2.5 is a great lens, there's a fairly large selection of old former soviet rangefinder lenses on leica thread mount (m39) and m42 some of these are superb. Plus Nikon lenses, though it's harder to a good deal as there is some demand for them. Minolta rokkor have some great lenses available and can be found at good prices on occasion.
If you have more money, then Leica R and M mounts lenses are generally excellent, but very expensive (though there are a few bargias to be had, Elmar 90mm F4 for example).

October 22nd, 2013, 10:15 AM	#1
Darren Ruddock Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southend, UK Posts: 165	G6 and Canon FD 50mm 1.4 Hi guys, Just bought my first non kit lens. I went with the Canon because I heard they give a nice video image. Just wondered if there are any settings on the camera that I should know about to optimise this lens's performance...bit of a newb on this front! Many thanks

October 22nd, 2013, 09:32 PM	#2
Bill Bruner Major Player Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sunny California Posts: 513	Re: G6 and Canon FD 50mm 1.4 Welcome to the world of lens adapters and manual lenses, Darren. You probably already know this, but before you start shooting with your new lens, you'll want to make sure to go to the Custom menu and set "Shoot w/o lens" to ON. When you're done, and want to go back to system lenses, reverse the process. Good luck! Bill Hybrid Camera Revolution

October 23rd, 2013, 01:58 PM	#3
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: G6 and Canon FD 50mm 1.4 Darren, you got a nice lens, but the 45mm F/1.8 would have given you the option of auto focus and no need for an adapter. It's really a very nice lens, I loved it. I used the auto focus constantly and it was amazingly fast performer, really quick to lock focus, almost instant, even in low light conditions. I had a Canon 50mm F/1.4 and it was nice, but I actually liked the Panasonic uch better, but I guess it's all about preference. Best of luck, enjoy your new lens, it is fun playing with a new piece of gear.

October 23rd, 2013, 10:26 PM	#4
Pete Carney Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 65	Re: G6 and Canon FD 50mm 1.4 Hey Bill, you don't need to reverse the settings for "shoot with no lens". Don't know why they even have that function as it doesn't change anything on my G6 when using a m43 lens. Cheers, Pete

October 24th, 2013, 01:55 AM	#5
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	Re: G6 and Canon FD 50mm 1.4 I know that lots of people rave about the quality and look of old FD lenses but I have been through a load of them including expensive 'L' lenses and always been rather disappointed not least because they always seem a bit soft. Like Jeff I prefer to have proper modern MFT lenses that are sharp & have AF.

October 24th, 2013, 05:04 AM	#6
Matt Harvey Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 30	Re: G6 and Canon FD 50mm 1.4 It depends on many factors, what could be a weakness in one situation could be a strength in another. Pick the lens that enhances the shot. Sometimes that means AF, sometimes it means accurate and repeatable focus pulling, sometimes it means clinical sharpness, sometimes it means softness, etc.

October 24th, 2013, 06:29 AM	#7
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	Re: G6 and Canon FD 50mm 1.4 I was surprised how sharp mft lumix lenses where, even the cheap 14mm f2.5 pancake, but for my personal projects I prefer my vintage Tamron adaptall II lenses (a 35-80 and a 80-210mm), they somehow look less "video" then the lumix lenses do, it might have to do with the fact the images are not so tacksharp and that it's not so contrasty or colorful. I do like the 12-35mm f2.8 or any lumix lens more for weddings though. I also have a 28mm f2.8 nikon nikkor that gave also a different and more pleasing look on my canon 550d but still have to try it with mt gh3, the latest personal film I did with the gh3 ("https://vimeo.com/73974687") was done with tamron adaptall lenses mainly with a occasional shot of the 14mm lumix and that's the only lenses I"ll be taking with me when I shoot for fun.

October 24th, 2013, 11:22 AM	#8
Darren Ruddock Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southend, UK Posts: 165	Re: G6 and Canon FD 50mm 1.4 Hi guys, Thanks for the responses. Shot some stuff today....blown away. I heard that the kit lens is good but I'm loving the dof with this Canon! Looks miles more filmic. I'm not so worried about auto focus. I come from using a Sony Ex1 so I try to go full manual all the time, gets the best results. Anyone got any other recomendations for any other cheap vintage lenses?

October 24th, 2013, 11:36 AM	#9
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	Re: G6 and Canon FD 50mm 1.4 I think it was 12 dollar that I paid for my Tamrom adaptall II 80-210 f3.8-4 on ebay, the sending costs to Belgium where more then the lensprice, It was in mint condition. My 35-80 adaptall II f2.8-3.8 was around 90 dollar. Both lenses have separate iris rings.

October 25th, 2013, 04:34 AM	#10
Matt Harvey Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 30	Re: G6 and Canon FD 50mm 1.4 Pentax Takumar in M42 can often be had for bargain prices (I have 50m F1.4, 28mm F3.5, 105mm F2.8), Olympus OM lenses are generally very good, but prices are higher, Tamron SP 90mm F2.5 is a great lens, there's a fairly large selection of old former soviet rangefinder lenses on leica thread mount (m39) and m42 some of these are superb. Plus Nikon lenses, though it's harder to a good deal as there is some demand for them. Minolta rokkor have some great lenses available and can be found at good prices on occasion. If you have more money, then Leica R and M mounts lenses are generally excellent, but very expensive (though there are a few bargias to be had, Elmar 90mm F4 for example).