Native micro 4/3 lens at DVinfo.net

Chris Bryan · March 8th, 2012, 12:30 PM

Hello again,

Just wondering what is the fastest native micro 4/3 lens that you are using? I'm replacing some gear and going 100% GH2 this season and I've got to pick up a couple of lenses.

Thanks!

Steve Slattery · March 9th, 2012, 11:03 AM

Prime or zoom?

Jeff Harper · March 9th, 2012, 11:54 AM

See post below for correction, left out the Voightlander in this post.

Based on my limited knowledge, I think the the fastest prime is the Pana 25mm F/1.4 followed by the Panasonic 20mm F/1.7, then the 45mm F/1.8, and lastly the wonderful Olympus/Zuiko 12mm F/2.0.

Olympus makes two F/2.0 zooms that will work with beautifully with the camera, but they cost around $2500 each. Used with a Panasonic adapter these lenses work as if they were made for the camera, but focus will not be as fast as with the primes. See the Olympus website for more information. If you''ve got the money, they superb lenses, I would love to have either one of them.

I have owned and used all of the primes listed above, and they are all excellent choices. The 25mm is the logical choice for wedding work, but I couldn't live without any of them, except the 20mm which I sold recently. The 12mm is best for handheld work and is my favorite.

Jeff Harper · March 9th, 2012, 11:55 AM

Isn't there a Voightlander 25mm F/0.95 for m/4/3? I do believe there is. I forget if it's 4/3 or M4/3s, but that would be the fastest lens, and the others I listed would then fall in line.

Also check the lens chart here http://panasonic.jp/support/global/c...nnect/gh2.html to investigate third party lenses such as the Sigma for Olympus mount 30mm F/1.4. I personally don't recommend anything but M/4.3 lenses and some Olympus 4/3 lenses, but there are other shooters that will disagree.

Chris Bryan · March 9th, 2012, 04:56 PM

Thanks Jeff,

With the Pana 25mm F/1.4 don't you have to be right on top of the couple for the shoot if you want anything besides a full body shot? What would you say is the lens that ends up staying on your camera for most of the day?

Chris Bryan · March 9th, 2012, 04:58 PM

I see the voigtlander here:

Voigtlander Voigtland ba259m Nokton 25mm F/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens

Chip Thome · March 9th, 2012, 08:53 PM

Chris the 25mm is the other way around. You have to be further away if you want a full body shot. With the 2X crop factor it's a 50mm on FF. I've got the 25 and love it, also the 45 f2.8 and love that one too. The 25 is more useful, as the 45 makes a great portrait lens, if you have the room.

Jeff Harper · March 10th, 2012, 01:55 AM

Chris, the 25mm is my most used lens.

Josh Swan · March 20th, 2012, 07:24 AM

My top lenses are the Nokton 25mm f/0.95, Olympus 14-35 f/2.0, Olympus 35-100 f/2.0 and Nikon 50mm f/1.4

Andrew Klokow · March 21st, 2012, 09:16 PM

Can i ask why you are going full GH2 and not say full Canon or another brand... Just wondering what your thoughts are on why you like it better verse the competition out there. Also are you hacking your gh2's?

Josh Swan · March 22nd, 2012, 01:01 PM

Outside of the Nokton, there aren't many native m4/3 lenses to choose from that are fast. It is probably a safer bet to go Nikon mount or something that will future proof your lenses, or at least have a better chance at re-selling them down the road if needed. Nikon lenses can be used on just about any other camera out there besides Canon's. A huge plus of m4/3 is that you can use pretty much any lens available with the right adapter. In my opinion the lumix lenses don't really make the footage pop either. Say you decided to go fs100, F3 or d800 down the road, you'd be covered with the Nikon lenses. Lenses are one investment that actually hold their value, so it's always a safe bet to invest in good glass. Bodies come and go, but lenses will last for years and years if you purchase the right ones.

Jeff Harper · March 22nd, 2012, 01:18 PM

You're right that there aren't "many" Josh, but the 12mm 25mm and 45mm are all fast and cover a lot of ground. The color rendition of each of these three lenses are natural and excellent.

I've used expensive legacy lenses like the Canon FD 85mm F/1.2L, and yes it's a nice lens, but other than that specific focal length, which is useless 99% of the time for my purposes, the Lumix fast primes are a much more effective and sensible solution for the average shooter.

For specific reasons third party lenses can fill a gap, and save money too, but I believe the original poster shoots weddings, which I suspect why he inquired about M4/3 lenses. They just make sense for run and gun situations, at least in my experience.

No electronic controls with a lens = useless to me, but as I've said before there are plenty of people using fully manual lenses with great results.

March 8th, 2012, 12:30 PM	#1
Chris Bryan Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: New York, NY Posts: 78	Native micro 4/3 lens Hello again, Just wondering what is the fastest native micro 4/3 lens that you are using? I'm replacing some gear and going 100% GH2 this season and I've got to pick up a couple of lenses. Thanks!

March 9th, 2012, 11:03 AM	#2
Steve Slattery Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Lancashire Posts: 73	Re: Native micro 4/3 lens Prime or zoom? __________________ http://www.wedding-video.co.uk http://www.cedarhouseproductions.co.uk

March 9th, 2012, 11:54 AM	#3
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Native micro 4/3 lens See post below for correction, left out the Voightlander in this post. Based on my limited knowledge, I think the the fastest prime is the Pana 25mm F/1.4 followed by the Panasonic 20mm F/1.7, then the 45mm F/1.8, and lastly the wonderful Olympus/Zuiko 12mm F/2.0. Olympus makes two F/2.0 zooms that will work with beautifully with the camera, but they cost around $2500 each. Used with a Panasonic adapter these lenses work as if they were made for the camera, but focus will not be as fast as with the primes. See the Olympus website for more information. If you''ve got the money, they superb lenses, I would love to have either one of them. I have owned and used all of the primes listed above, and they are all excellent choices. The 25mm is the logical choice for wedding work, but I couldn't live without any of them, except the 20mm which I sold recently. The 12mm is best for handheld work and is my favorite.

March 9th, 2012, 11:55 AM	#4
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Native micro 4/3 lens Isn't there a Voightlander 25mm F/0.95 for m/4/3? I do believe there is. I forget if it's 4/3 or M4/3s, but that would be the fastest lens, and the others I listed would then fall in line. Also check the lens chart here http://panasonic.jp/support/global/c...nnect/gh2.html to investigate third party lenses such as the Sigma for Olympus mount 30mm F/1.4. I personally don't recommend anything but M/4.3 lenses and some Olympus 4/3 lenses, but there are other shooters that will disagree.

March 9th, 2012, 04:56 PM	#5
Chris Bryan Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: New York, NY Posts: 78	Re: Native micro 4/3 lens Thanks Jeff, With the Pana 25mm F/1.4 don't you have to be right on top of the couple for the shoot if you want anything besides a full body shot? What would you say is the lens that ends up staying on your camera for most of the day?

March 9th, 2012, 04:58 PM	#6
Chris Bryan Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: New York, NY Posts: 78	Re: Native micro 4/3 lens I see the voigtlander here: Voigtlander Voigtland ba259m Nokton 25mm F/0.95 Micro Four Thirds Lens

March 9th, 2012, 08:53 PM	#7
Chip Thome Major Player Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Green Bay Wisconsin Posts: 553	Re: Native micro 4/3 lens Chris the 25mm is the other way around. You have to be further away if you want a full body shot. With the 2X crop factor it's a 50mm on FF. I've got the 25 and love it, also the 45 f2.8 and love that one too. The 25 is more useful, as the 45 makes a great portrait lens, if you have the room.

March 10th, 2012, 01:55 AM	#8
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Native micro 4/3 lens Chris, the 25mm is my most used lens.

March 20th, 2012, 07:24 AM	#9
Josh Swan Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scarborough Me Posts: 186	Re: Native micro 4/3 lens My top lenses are the Nokton 25mm f/0.95, Olympus 14-35 f/2.0, Olympus 35-100 f/2.0 and Nikon 50mm f/1.4

March 21st, 2012, 09:16 PM	#10
Andrew Klokow New Boot Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Litchfield, NH Posts: 23	Re: Native micro 4/3 lens Can i ask why you are going full GH2 and not say full Canon or another brand... Just wondering what your thoughts are on why you like it better verse the competition out there. Also are you hacking your gh2's?

March 22nd, 2012, 01:01 PM	#11
Josh Swan Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scarborough Me Posts: 186	Re: Native micro 4/3 lens Outside of the Nokton, there aren't many native m4/3 lenses to choose from that are fast. It is probably a safer bet to go Nikon mount or something that will future proof your lenses, or at least have a better chance at re-selling them down the road if needed. Nikon lenses can be used on just about any other camera out there besides Canon's. A huge plus of m4/3 is that you can use pretty much any lens available with the right adapter. In my opinion the lumix lenses don't really make the footage pop either. Say you decided to go fs100, F3 or d800 down the road, you'd be covered with the Nikon lenses. Lenses are one investment that actually hold their value, so it's always a safe bet to invest in good glass. Bodies come and go, but lenses will last for years and years if you purchase the right ones.

March 22nd, 2012, 01:18 PM	#12
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Native micro 4/3 lens You're right that there aren't "many" Josh, but the 12mm 25mm and 45mm are all fast and cover a lot of ground. The color rendition of each of these three lenses are natural and excellent. I've used expensive legacy lenses like the Canon FD 85mm F/1.2L, and yes it's a nice lens, but other than that specific focal length, which is useless 99% of the time for my purposes, the Lumix fast primes are a much more effective and sensible solution for the average shooter. For specific reasons third party lenses can fill a gap, and save money too, but I believe the original poster shoots weddings, which I suspect why he inquired about M4/3 lenses. They just make sense for run and gun situations, at least in my experience. No electronic controls with a lens = useless to me, but as I've said before there are plenty of people using fully manual lenses with great results.