New Panasonic GH1 user at DVinfo.net

Jaime Espiritu · July 2nd, 2011, 11:20 PM

Hi, Everyone

I did photography 20 years ago on SLRs. Now...I'm back doing video with HDSLRs. I just got a GH1 camera. What is good starter 50 mm lens with this camera? What adapter do I need? I was thinking of buying a Canon f1.4 50mm FD lens.

Right now, I'm confused with all the tech terms and all I want is to get started.

If the Canon 50mm lens is a horrible choice, what brand of adapter and lens should I use? All I want to do is get started with the camera.

I come from the video world so be gentle in responses while I learn from you.

Thanks in advance!

Nigel Barker · July 3rd, 2011, 02:10 AM

If you are thinking in 35mm full frame SLR terms then you don't want a 50mm lens. The GH1 has a Micro Four Thirds sensor which is quite a bit smaller than a full frame & this gives an effective 2X crop factor. This means that a 50mm lens gives the filed of view of a 100mm. The best value lens around the 'normal' field of view is the Panasonic 20mm F/1.7 which is effectively a 40mm lens with decent low light performance. The luxury lens choice in this range is the Voigtlander 25mm F/0.95 (AFAIK the only sub F/1.0 lens made for any camera) which is an effective 50mm & obviously has amazing capabilities in low light. It is a totally manual lens unlike the Panasonic that 'talks' to the camera & has the usual automatic functions like AF & the aperture is controlled by the camera (there is no aperture ring).

Patrick Janka · July 3rd, 2011, 06:02 PM

The Voigtlander is my main lens, it's amazing. You could also check out the Canon FD 24mm f/1.4 Canon FD 24mm f/1.4 L

Jeff Harper · July 3rd, 2011, 11:01 PM

I second Nigel's recommendation for the Panasonic 20mm F/1.7. The Canon 50mm F/1.4 is too long for normal use, but is a fine lens.

The very best choice, if you could wait, would be what appears to an excllent value lens: the upcoming new Leica for $599: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/768816-REG/Panasonic_H_X025_LEICA_DG_SUMMILUX_25mm_F1_4.html

The Canon FD 24mm F/1.4 is usually found for $1200 or more and the Voightlander is being sold at hundreds over it's retail cost. The Panasonic is made to work with the camera, is F/1.7 and is only $399. It is an excellent starter lens, and suitable for event work.

Patrick's ideas are great, of course, but the Leica would be a better choice than the Canon, same F/stop and half the price, but that is just my uninformed opinion. I don't know of anyone who has actually seen or used the Leica, but I can't imagine it would be less than fantastic for the cost.

Patrick Janka · July 4th, 2011, 06:18 AM

The main reason I don't like the 20mm f/1.7 is because it's too small (focus ring too close to body) to use with the follow focus on my shoulder rig. Having auto focus is nice, however. The 25mm f/1.4 does seem to be the best of both worlds, provided the lens quality is great.

Bill Bruner · July 4th, 2011, 09:07 AM

Jaime,

If you don't want to wait until the $599 micro 4/3 Panasonic 25/1.4 is available, you can get a

$489 4/3 Sigma 30/f1.4

and a "

$100 used Panasonic 4/3 to micro 4/3 adapter

.

Here's what Philip Bloom was able to do with the GH1 and a Sigma 30mm:

http://philipbloom.net/2009/08/11/li...track-compact/

I am looking seriously at this lens for my GH1/GH2. I am tired of not having an autofocus option on my manual lenses (a Konica 40/1.8 and a Canon FD 50/1.8), and I don't want the 20/1.7 because of the diminutive size of its manual focus ring.

Welcome to the world of Panasonic GH filmmaking!

Hope this is helpful,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

Jeff Harper · July 4th, 2011, 10:18 AM

The 30mm F/1.4 is a decent lens, but the auto focus does not work with the GH1, I'm afraid, only the GH2.

If anyone knows how to fix that, let me know. My GH1s (3 of them) have the latest firmware, cause they were all bought new within the last few months.

This is an advantage of the GH2 over the GH1, the Sigma 30mm and 18-50 autofocus works on the newer cams, not the older, at least that has been my experience.

Bill Bruner · July 4th, 2011, 12:33 PM

Thanks for the caution, Jeff. Sounds like it would be useless for Jaime.

Guess I'll have to wait for the Panasonic with everyone else!

Cheers,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

Jaime Espiritu · July 6th, 2011, 10:14 PM

Thanks everyone on help of how to speak a little bit of the DSLR language.. I appreciate it.

July 2nd, 2011, 11:20 PM	#1
Jaime Espiritu Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: San Francisco CA Posts: 154	New Panasonic GH1 user Hi, Everyone I did photography 20 years ago on SLRs. Now...I'm back doing video with HDSLRs. I just got a GH1 camera. What is good starter 50 mm lens with this camera? What adapter do I need? I was thinking of buying a Canon f1.4 50mm FD lens. Right now, I'm confused with all the tech terms and all I want is to get started. If the Canon 50mm lens is a horrible choice, what brand of adapter and lens should I use? All I want to do is get started with the camera. I come from the video world so be gentle in responses while I learn from you. Thanks in advance! __________________ Creative Video. Excellent Service

July 3rd, 2011, 02:10 AM	#2
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	Re: New Panasonic GH1 user If you are thinking in 35mm full frame SLR terms then you don't want a 50mm lens. The GH1 has a Micro Four Thirds sensor which is quite a bit smaller than a full frame & this gives an effective 2X crop factor. This means that a 50mm lens gives the filed of view of a 100mm. The best value lens around the 'normal' field of view is the Panasonic 20mm F/1.7 which is effectively a 40mm lens with decent low light performance. The luxury lens choice in this range is the Voigtlander 25mm F/0.95 (AFAIK the only sub F/1.0 lens made for any camera) which is an effective 50mm & obviously has amazing capabilities in low light. It is a totally manual lens unlike the Panasonic that 'talks' to the camera & has the usual automatic functions like AF & the aperture is controlled by the camera (there is no aperture ring).

July 3rd, 2011, 06:02 PM	#3
Patrick Janka Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 623	Re: New Panasonic GH1 user The Voigtlander is my main lens, it's amazing. You could also check out the Canon FD 24mm f/1.4 Canon FD 24mm f/1.4 L

July 3rd, 2011, 11:01 PM	#4
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: New Panasonic GH1 user I second Nigel's recommendation for the Panasonic 20mm F/1.7. The Canon 50mm F/1.4 is too long for normal use, but is a fine lens. The very best choice, if you could wait, would be what appears to an excllent value lens: the upcoming new Leica for $599: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/768816-REG/Panasonic_H_X025_LEICA_DG_SUMMILUX_25mm_F1_4.html The Canon FD 24mm F/1.4 is usually found for $1200 or more and the Voightlander is being sold at hundreds over it's retail cost. The Panasonic is made to work with the camera, is F/1.7 and is only $399. It is an excellent starter lens, and suitable for event work. Patrick's ideas are great, of course, but the Leica would be a better choice than the Canon, same F/stop and half the price, but that is just my uninformed opinion. I don't know of anyone who has actually seen or used the Leica, but I can't imagine it would be less than fantastic for the cost. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

July 4th, 2011, 06:18 AM	#5
Patrick Janka Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 623	Re: New Panasonic GH1 user The main reason I don't like the 20mm f/1.7 is because it's too small (focus ring too close to body) to use with the follow focus on my shoulder rig. Having auto focus is nice, however. The 25mm f/1.4 does seem to be the best of both worlds, provided the lens quality is great.

July 4th, 2011, 09:07 AM	#6
Bill Bruner Major Player Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sunny California Posts: 513	Re: New Panasonic GH1 user Jaime, If you don't want to wait until the $599 micro 4/3 Panasonic 25/1.4 is available, you can get a $489 4/3 Sigma 30/f1.4 $489 4/3 Sigma 30/f1.4 and a " $100 used Panasonic 4/3 to micro 4/3 adapter $100 used Panasonic 4/3 to micro 4/3 adapter . Here's what Philip Bloom was able to do with the GH1 and a Sigma 30mm: http://philipbloom.net/2009/08/11/li...track-compact/ I am looking seriously at this lens for my GH1/GH2. I am tired of not having an autofocus option on my manual lenses (a Konica 40/1.8 and a Canon FD 50/1.8), and I don't want the 20/1.7 because of the diminutive size of its manual focus ring. Welcome to the world of Panasonic GH filmmaking! Hope this is helpful, Bill Hybrid Camera Revolution Last edited by Bill Bruner; July 4th, 2011 at 09:59 AM.

July 4th, 2011, 10:18 AM	#7
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: New Panasonic GH1 user The 30mm F/1.4 is a decent lens, but the auto focus does not work with the GH1, I'm afraid, only the GH2. If anyone knows how to fix that, let me know. My GH1s (3 of them) have the latest firmware, cause they were all bought new within the last few months. This is an advantage of the GH2 over the GH1, the Sigma 30mm and 18-50 autofocus works on the newer cams, not the older, at least that has been my experience. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

July 4th, 2011, 12:33 PM	#8
Bill Bruner Major Player Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sunny California Posts: 513	Re: New Panasonic GH1 user Thanks for the caution, Jeff. Sounds like it would be useless for Jaime. Guess I'll have to wait for the Panasonic with everyone else! Cheers, Bill Hybrid Camera Revolution

July 6th, 2011, 10:14 PM	#9
Jaime Espiritu Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: San Francisco CA Posts: 154	Re: New Panasonic GH1 user Thanks everyone on help of how to speak a little bit of the DSLR language.. I appreciate it. __________________ Creative Video. Excellent Service Last edited by Jaime Espiritu; July 6th, 2011 at 10:15 PM. Reason: add more words to clarify