View Full Version : What is the most versatile lens for wedding work?


Bill Edmunds
September 17th, 2011, 05:45 PM
I'm looking to buy a GH2 but wonder about lenses. Is the standard 14-140 lens the most versatile GH2 lens for wedding work? My only worry is its speed.

Paul Mailath
September 17th, 2011, 07:48 PM
The 14-140 is great - but slow, same with 14-45.

I tend to stick to the lumix while I can, daytime ceremony and switch to FD lenses the darker it gets. You can get some pretty good FD zooms that give you a bit of range 35-70 or Tokina 14-40 but there's nothing with the range of the 14-140 with OIS and auto functions if you want them.

If I had the money I'd look at the Olympus 14-35 f/2 & 35-100 f/2 but there's a few weddings to pay that lot back

Jeff Harper
September 17th, 2011, 11:34 PM
The 14-140mm is absolutely useless for wedding work, IMO, other than for outdoor stuff.

I have a Sigma F/2.8 zoom and it is too slow for my taste. It gets the job done, but that's about it. I used the 14-140mm for one paid gig and sold it immediately. Great lens, but not for weddings.

The Olympus 14-54mm F/2.8-3.5 is a nice lens, still not as fast as we would like, but better than the Panasonic, for sure. Paul's right about the fast Olympus', but as he points out, pretty expensive!

Jeff Harper
September 18th, 2011, 12:11 AM
I know a prime lens is limited in it's usefulness, but I have got to suggest if you can use a wide, look at the 12mm F/2.0. I shot a wedding today with it, and it's images were consistently the best of all four of my GH2s/GH1's. It is such a sharp lens. I have read review of the upcoming 25mm F/1.4 for M4/3, and it too is supposedly a great lens. The 20mm is good, for sure, but much more hit and miss with focus, a tough lens to work with, at least relative to the 12mm.

Bill Edmunds
September 18th, 2011, 07:14 AM
Do you have a link to the review of the 25mm F/1.4 for M4/3?

Kevin McRoberts
September 18th, 2011, 10:55 AM
Google "Leica DG 25 1.4" and a few should come up

Tim Akin
September 18th, 2011, 03:03 PM
Jeff or anyone, I wonder why lensrentals.com has this warning posted on most Olympus lenses?

VERY IMPORTANT: Due to a variety of problems we have encountered, we do not recommend using Olympus lenses for video use with Panasonic micro 4/3 cameras/camcorders. Rent at your own risk

Jeff Harper
September 18th, 2011, 10:15 PM
I have no idea. It sounds bizarre to me, but there must be some reason. My 12mm works better with my GH2 than any Panasonic lens so far, so I don't have a clue.

Tim Akin
September 19th, 2011, 05:55 AM
That warning is not posted on the 12mm, very odd.

Kevin McRoberts
September 19th, 2011, 06:49 AM
It probably has to do with AF and OIS not working uniformly amongst Olympus lenses, and the warning is to prevent a lot of grumbling from customers.

Tim Akin
September 19th, 2011, 07:06 AM
I bet that's it.

Is the 12mm the latest of Olympus lenses?

Jeff Harper
September 19th, 2011, 09:54 AM
I'm guessing they are talking about Olympus 4/3 lenses, not micro four thirds, but I could be wrong. With the 12mm the autofocus is light years faster than with any Panasonic lens, and the 45mm is supposedly very fast as well.

I can't tell you which review I read on the 25mm, but be aware there is an older 4/3 25mm F/1.4 Summilux lens that is a different lens.

John Griswell
October 1st, 2011, 05:29 PM
Jeff or anyone, I wonder why lensrentals.com has this warning posted on most Olympus lenses?

VERY IMPORTANT: Due to a variety of problems we have encountered, we do not recommend using Olympus lenses for video use with Panasonic micro 4/3 cameras/camcorders. Rent at your own risk

Here is the offical word on it:

Compatibilities of DMC-GH2 | Compatibility | Digital Camera | Product Support | Support | Panasonic Global (http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/connect/gh2.html)