View Full Version : B4 to MFT adapter - anyone using it on the GH4?


Salvatore Privitera
July 17th, 2014, 01:49 PM
Hi All,

Has anyone here used a B4 to MFT adapter on a GH4 and if so which would you recommend?

Thanks,
Salvatore

Bob Richardson
July 17th, 2014, 01:59 PM
And a follow-up to the original poster's question with a question of my own: I currently own multiple GH2s, and I'm considering both adding a GH2 (for the benefits of 4K) and purchasing a B4 adapter with suitable TV zoom lens and power supply (to replicate to the best extent possible the versatile zoom capabilities of an ENG-style camera I no longer own).

I understand that most B4 lenses do not cover the full sensor area of the GH2 over the entire zoom range unless the built in doubler is engaged, which of course doubles the focal length and cuts down a stop or two on the received light.

However, the GH4, especially in UHD mode, has a smaller crop area than the GH2. Is that smaller crop area sufficient to work natively with a B4 lens without the doubler or further cropping/scaling in post?

Bob Richardson
July 17th, 2014, 02:17 PM
And I will answer half of my own question... After watching several videos of adapted B4 lenses, it's clear that without the doubler the image area is way smaller than any micro four thirds camera's crop, so scaling in post is required without the doubler, at least at wider angles. But that might not be a bad option with 4K/UHD raw footage.

Rob Hargreaves
July 18th, 2014, 03:41 PM
Be careful about trying to use a B4 lens on a micro 4/3 camera!
I bought tried one with a "standard b4 to m43 mount" and the image was soft.
You really need a something like a HDx2 Mark II B4/PL Optical Adapter which is really expensive to get a really sharp image...
(HDx2 Mark II B4/PL Optical Adapter :: Optical Adapters :: Lens Adapters :: Optical Solutions :: Equipment Sales :: AbelCine (http://www.abelcine.com/store/HDx2-B4-PL-Mark-II-Optical-Adapter))