Affordable portrait lens for the GH2? Suggestions? at DVinfo.net

James Palanza · January 19th, 2012, 05:05 PM

The Olympus M.zuiko Digital 45mm F1.8 is too expensive for me at the moment, so I'm looking at some maybe older prime alternatives that would work? Even if I need an adapter?

Any suggestions? I've heard something about the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 with an adapter, though I'm not sure what kind if adapter to get. That lens is also rather expensive. Id love an old ebay 100 dollar lens and adapter combo that would work well.

Also heard something about a Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm which is around ~60 bucks on ebay.

Currently I have the 14-45, 20 1.7 and soon to get moderately priced 45-200.

Kevin McRoberts · January 19th, 2012, 05:30 PM

"portrait" usually means a fast telephoto... luckily the GH2's crop factor makes a whole lot of lenses telephoto.

Find a good quality "fast fifty" of any number of makes and models and you're pretty much there. Anything from 40-105 is a likely contender.

Here's a rundown of some Nikon options:
Nikon 50mm Lens Comparison

I've got a mess of the things... Olympus OM, M42, Leica, Nikon, and more. My two favorites? A Leica R Summicron 50/2 (not cheap) and a M42 mount Vivitar 50/1.7 (ultra cheap)... but the OM's and SMC's each have their charm as well. I can't tell you what you'll like, so just find a used camera/lens store and try out a few. Get some cheap adapters from someplace like Fotodiox and upgrade if you settle on a mount you prefer.

Don Bloom · January 19th, 2012, 09:20 PM

Years ago as a still photog doing lots of head shot for families and corporations, when I shot 35mm I always preferred something a bit longer than 50mm. I like 85 up to 135mm. When I shot 6X7 format I preferred a 150 which at that time was the longest lens available for the particular camera I was using.
I just felt the 50-55mm lenses to be a bit short for portraiture.

Kin Lau · January 20th, 2012, 08:11 AM

The EF 50/1.4 is not a good choice for a GH2, you have no builtin aperture control.

I have many vintage lenses from my photography days, so I have the Minolta 50/1.4, 50/1.7, 50/2, 45/2, 55/1.7, 58/1.4, Canon FD 55/1.2, 50/1.4, OM 55/1.2 50/1.4, SMC 50/1.4, 55/2, various m42 50's and 55's in f2, f1.9, f1.8, f1.7 and an old Biotar clone 58/2, Y/C mount Yashica 50's, Nikon 50's, and also Leica M and LTM mount 50's that I can put on my GH2.

With all these choices, I like my Minolta mount glass, the more modern MD's are physically lighter than most (doesn't feel lopsided on a GH), cheap, but very sharp. The older Rokkors and metal mount lenses have a lovely feel to the image.

With that in mind, except for the lenses that are hazy due to age (think of it as a builtin soft-filter) I would not hesitate to use any of them.

@Don... we're talking about the GH2, a 2x crop. The 50mm is a 90-100mm equiv.

Don Bloom · January 20th, 2012, 11:12 AM

Kin, thanks for that info. I honestly didn't realize the GH2 was a 2X crop. Wow, give me a good old 35mm lens then. ;-)

Josh Dahlberg · January 20th, 2012, 06:43 PM

Nice cheap portait lens for the GH2? I would suggest an old Nikkor 50mm 1.8 AIS with adaptor... the samples I've had were better at f2-2.8 than the 50 1.4 versions I've owned... and very affordable/easy to find.

Great build quality too and lovely focussing ring.

A lot of people really like the Pentax SMC Takumars/ Super Takumars... which are also cheap and very good in 50mm 1.4/1.8 variants... - personally I prefer the Nikkors.

James Palanza · January 20th, 2012, 09:47 PM

awesome advice everyone. thank you so much. love how much experience there is in this place

Chris Duczynski · January 20th, 2012, 11:38 PM

I think the Olympus 45mm you mentioned is great value. Yes, there's lots of cheaper second hand ones around but with Olympus you get good glass, full functionality and F1.8 for $350. Thats not bad!

Guy Smith · January 24th, 2012, 03:32 PM

I old have Minolta Rokkor lenses (used with MD to 4/3 adapter) and they are nice.

My favorite lens is a 1950's vintage Nikon 105mm f2.5. The camera shop had the newer ai version of this lens as well, and that's actually the lens I was planning to purchase because I wanted the newer, better lens coating. I'm not sure what prompted me to try the older lens, but I'm glad that I did because the difference was surprising: the older lens with its yellow-brown coating rendered much warmer and more natural looking skin tones. The lens was about $100 cheaper than the ai version: $95

I've used the lens on our D7000 and it looks great with that camera as well.

Info & pic here: Nikon Nikkor-P Auto 105mm f/2.5 Pre-AI Review

Roy Feldman · January 25th, 2012, 07:36 AM

Of course on the GH2 it's effecive view would be 210, a little long for a portrait, unless you're very shy:)

Thomas Smet · January 25th, 2012, 07:59 PM

I have a Canon FD 50mm f1.8 that I love to death. Paid about $30.00 for it and another $30.00 for a FD to M43 adapter. I love the creamy look of this lens. It is almost dreamy in a way.

Kevin McRoberts · January 26th, 2012, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy Feldman

Of course on the GH2 it's effecive view would be 210, a little long for a portrait, unless you're very shy:)

Fast ~200mm lenses work pretty darned well for portraits and interviews

January 19th, 2012, 05:05 PM	#1
James Palanza Major Player Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 310	Affordable portrait lens for the GH2? Suggestions? The Olympus M.zuiko Digital 45mm F1.8 is too expensive for me at the moment, so I'm looking at some maybe older prime alternatives that would work? Even if I need an adapter? Any suggestions? I've heard something about the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 with an adapter, though I'm not sure what kind if adapter to get. That lens is also rather expensive. Id love an old ebay 100 dollar lens and adapter combo that would work well. Also heard something about a Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm which is around ~60 bucks on ebay. Currently I have the 14-45, 20 1.7 and soon to get moderately priced 45-200.

January 19th, 2012, 05:30 PM	#2
Kevin McRoberts Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 700	Re: Affordable portrait lens for the GH2? Suggestions? "portrait" usually means a fast telephoto... luckily the GH2's crop factor makes a whole lot of lenses telephoto. Find a good quality "fast fifty" of any number of makes and models and you're pretty much there. Anything from 40-105 is a likely contender. Here's a rundown of some Nikon options: Nikon 50mm Lens Comparison I've got a mess of the things... Olympus OM, M42, Leica, Nikon, and more. My two favorites? A Leica R Summicron 50/2 (not cheap) and a M42 mount Vivitar 50/1.7 (ultra cheap)... but the OM's and SMC's each have their charm as well. I can't tell you what you'll like, so just find a used camera/lens store and try out a few. Get some cheap adapters from someplace like Fotodiox and upgrade if you settle on a mount you prefer. __________________ Freelance pudgy bearded lighting camera operator www.mcbob.tv

January 19th, 2012, 09:20 PM	#3
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Re: Affordable portrait lens for the GH2? Suggestions? Years ago as a still photog doing lots of head shot for families and corporations, when I shot 35mm I always preferred something a bit longer than 50mm. I like 85 up to 135mm. When I shot 6X7 format I preferred a 150 which at that time was the longest lens available for the particular camera I was using. I just felt the 50-55mm lenses to be a bit short for portraiture. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

January 20th, 2012, 08:11 AM	#4
Kin Lau Major Player Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 385	Re: Affordable portrait lens for the GH2? Suggestions? The EF 50/1.4 is not a good choice for a GH2, you have no builtin aperture control. I have many vintage lenses from my photography days, so I have the Minolta 50/1.4, 50/1.7, 50/2, 45/2, 55/1.7, 58/1.4, Canon FD 55/1.2, 50/1.4, OM 55/1.2 50/1.4, SMC 50/1.4, 55/2, various m42 50's and 55's in f2, f1.9, f1.8, f1.7 and an old Biotar clone 58/2, Y/C mount Yashica 50's, Nikon 50's, and also Leica M and LTM mount 50's that I can put on my GH2. With all these choices, I like my Minolta mount glass, the more modern MD's are physically lighter than most (doesn't feel lopsided on a GH), cheap, but very sharp. The older Rokkors and metal mount lenses have a lovely feel to the image. With that in mind, except for the lenses that are hazy due to age (think of it as a builtin soft-filter) I would not hesitate to use any of them. @Don... we're talking about the GH2, a 2x crop. The 50mm is a 90-100mm equiv.

January 20th, 2012, 11:12 AM	#5
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Re: Affordable portrait lens for the GH2? Suggestions? Kin, thanks for that info. I honestly didn't realize the GH2 was a 2X crop. Wow, give me a good old 35mm lens then. ;-) __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

January 20th, 2012, 06:43 PM	#6
Josh Dahlberg Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 513	Re: Affordable portrait lens for the GH2? Suggestions? Nice cheap portait lens for the GH2? I would suggest an old Nikkor 50mm 1.8 AIS with adaptor... the samples I've had were better at f2-2.8 than the 50 1.4 versions I've owned... and very affordable/easy to find. Great build quality too and lovely focussing ring. A lot of people really like the Pentax SMC Takumars/ Super Takumars... which are also cheap and very good in 50mm 1.4/1.8 variants... - personally I prefer the Nikkors.

January 20th, 2012, 09:47 PM	#7
James Palanza Major Player Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 310	Re: Affordable portrait lens for the GH2? Suggestions? awesome advice everyone. thank you so much. love how much experience there is in this place

January 20th, 2012, 11:38 PM	#8
Chris Duczynski Major Player Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: sydney Posts: 304	Re: Affordable portrait lens for the GH2? Suggestions? I think the Olympus 45mm you mentioned is great value. Yes, there's lots of cheaper second hand ones around but with Olympus you get good glass, full functionality and F1.8 for $350. Thats not bad!

January 24th, 2012, 03:32 PM	#9
Guy Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 48	Re: Affordable portrait lens for the GH2? Suggestions? I old have Minolta Rokkor lenses (used with MD to 4/3 adapter) and they are nice. My favorite lens is a 1950's vintage Nikon 105mm f2.5. The camera shop had the newer ai version of this lens as well, and that's actually the lens I was planning to purchase because I wanted the newer, better lens coating. I'm not sure what prompted me to try the older lens, but I'm glad that I did because the difference was surprising: the older lens with its yellow-brown coating rendered much warmer and more natural looking skin tones. The lens was about $100 cheaper than the ai version: $95 I've used the lens on our D7000 and it looks great with that camera as well. Info & pic here: Nikon Nikkor-P Auto 105mm f/2.5 Pre-AI Review

January 25th, 2012, 07:36 AM	#10
Roy Feldman Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Grosse pointe, michigan Posts: 189	Re: Affordable portrait lens for the GH2? Suggestions? Of course on the GH2 it's effecive view would be 210, a little long for a portrait, unless you're very shy:)

January 25th, 2012, 07:59 PM	#11
Thomas Smet Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,719	Re: Affordable portrait lens for the GH2? Suggestions? I have a Canon FD 50mm f1.8 that I love to death. Paid about $30.00 for it and another $30.00 for a FD to M43 adapter. I love the creamy look of this lens. It is almost dreamy in a way.