GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?

Thomas Smet · March 11th, 2011, 10:17 PM

Personally I bought a Fotoiox off of Amazon. It was cheap and it was delivered within a couple of days. The box says it is made in Waukegan, IL.

I don't really have anything to compare it to right now but it is working for me. It was a bit tricky to get setup correctly. You have to put the lens on just right or else it will not work correctly but after a couple of tries I finally got it to work perfectly. I'm not sure if others are easier to hook up or not.

I should also point out that when I first hooked up the adapter to my FD 50mm I somehow managed to hook it up with the aperture half closed. So the ring would control the aperture of the lens but it was very dark even compared to my kit lens. I quickly however noticed by looking into the front of the lens that something was not right since you can see the aperture blades half closed. You can definitely tell when it is fully open just by looking through the front of the lens. Just make sure to check the aperture is full open when you attach the adapter. Again I'm not sure if this was something unique to the adapter I bought or if it is a common thing to occur.

Nigel Barker · March 12th, 2011, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Snow

My heart bleeds NOT for the poor souls with a lens problem on the GH2. Firstly, most kit lens on any camera are compromises with modest performance specs. Don't hold your breath waiting for a $2,000 kit lens on any camera. A friend of mine just bought a 5D Mk II with a kit lens which he promptly got rid of while muttering "it's not fast enough" under his breath. If you don't like the kit lens, don't buy it with a kit lens. For those where "only the best will do", it's available without a lens so you can use your beloved 'Craig's Snout 105' or whatever lens you want.

Here in the UK a quick search on Amazon, eBay & a couple of large photographic retailers reveals that the GH2 doesn't seem to be available for purchase without a lens. You can at least get it with the 14-140mm as the kit lens which is not a cheapie. I see that Amazon in France do sell just the body but it's only €30 more for the package with the 14-42mm kit lens.

Jim Forrest · March 12th, 2011, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas Smet

I totally love the Canon FD 50mm F1.8 I just bought online for $35.00. Night and day difference in terms of sensitivity compared to any kit lens. In my opinion F1.8 is a sweet spot for low light lens options. Anything faster and you spent a lot more then you did for your camera. Any zoom lens anywhere near fast enough for low light shooting is going to cost more then most lower end pro video cameras.

Lets face it shooting with DSLR's is going to be full of work arounds and compromises. Thats just the way it is. It isn't going to be cheap either. If you want to be able to cover the widest range of shooting conditions you will easily spend $5,000.00 on glass and you still will not be as flexible as a video camera.

I love the GH1 I just bought from Panasonic's killer Facebook deal but I know what it's limitations are which is why I will not be getting rid of my Panasonic HMC-40 anytime soon. It's the only way I can really cover all my bases. Anybody serious about video should not just depend on a DSLR to get by.

Hey what did you expect for a $1,000.00 camera?

In just the right conditions my GH1 and Canon 50mm F1.8 kills video cameras that cost $8,000.00+ In some conditions my HMC-40 kills the GH1 hands down. It all really depends on the situation and thats why I have both.

Where and what is the facebook deal?

Jeff Harper · March 12th, 2011, 08:42 AM

I wonder if there is an adapter without a built in iris? With the FD lenses, one does not need a built in iris, since the lenses have a exposure ring, right?

This is the only thing I hadn't thought through, apparently. The Panasonic adapter doesn't have the iris, since it communicates with the camera, but it doesn't work with Canons. Thereby it is shorter and no loss of light.

Jeff Harper · March 12th, 2011, 08:55 AM

Never mind, the Fotodiox doesn't have an iris, I was mistaken.

Jeff Harper · March 12th, 2011, 09:07 AM

What is the dial on the adapter for?

Nigel Barker · March 12th, 2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

What is the dial on the adapter for?

I have a different FD to MFT adaptor where the rotating ring is labelled Open/Lock. This operates very nicely as a smooth step-less aperture ring. There is a little pin on the adaptor that operates a lever on the lens to adjust the aperture.

Jeff Harper · March 12th, 2011, 03:30 PM

Nigel, is there a loss of light with these adapters, do you know? I've heard there is.

Nigel Barker · March 12th, 2011, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

Nigel, is there a loss of light with these adapters, do you know? I've heard there is.

I don't see how there could be any loss of light as it's just a tube the same size as the lens with nothing to obstruct the view.

Jeff Harper · March 12th, 2011, 05:59 PM

I have seen comments around here mentioning a stop or so of light loss, but I swear I've googled the crap out of that in a hundred different phrases and I can't find any evidence.

Thanks Nigel.

I'm deciding between the pricey Novaflex, your adapter, and couple of others. I've been all afternoon on this and I'm about to go with the Novaflex (Thanks David). The reviews are so uniformly positive, I'll probably be safest, though poorer, with that choice.

Nigel Barker · March 13th, 2011, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

I'm deciding between the pricey Novaflex, your adapter, and couple of others. I've been all afternoon on this and I'm about to go with the Novaflex (Thanks David). The reviews are so uniformly positive, I'll probably be safest, though poorer, with that choice.

These GD>MFT adaptors are reputed as the best & are hand made by a guy in Poland known on eBay as ciecio7. He only does short production runs & is out of stock at present but I will be ordering a couple. For $63 including shipping they look great value.
in my view ...: Ciecio7 - new FD micro 4/3 adaptor

Canon FD FL to G2,GH1,GF1 E-P1 E-P2 micro 4/3 adapter - eBay (item 250771075298 end time Mar-04-11 13:29:18 PST)

Jeff Harper · March 13th, 2011, 11:06 AM

Nigel, the adapter appears to be the best at any price. I've emailed him, hope to hear from him.

Brian Luce · March 13th, 2011, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

Nigel, the adapter appears to be the best at any price. I've emailed him, hope to hear from him.

These are indeed considered the best. I don't own one, I have a m43 to Pentax and m43 to Canon FD from a dirt cheap China guy. They were like $12 each and work perfectly.

Jeff Harper · March 13th, 2011, 07:15 PM

I'm probably going to end up with a Novaflex or whatever it's called, I can't play around during my wedding season,and they seem to be better than all others, with the possible exception of the cicero7. I'll need other's later, and I'll just get one or two of his then.

Joe Ogiba · March 14th, 2011, 06:28 PM

"The box says it is made in Waukegan, IL."
It does not say that, it says :
Fotodiox Inc. USA
91 Noll St. Waukegan, IL 60085

That is the address of the importer.

FOTODIOX INC.: Detailed Company Information, Imports & Exports

March 11th, 2011, 10:17 PM	#46
Thomas Smet Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,719	Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why? Personally I bought a Fotoiox off of Amazon. It was cheap and it was delivered within a couple of days. The box says it is made in Waukegan, IL. I don't really have anything to compare it to right now but it is working for me. It was a bit tricky to get setup correctly. You have to put the lens on just right or else it will not work correctly but after a couple of tries I finally got it to work perfectly. I'm not sure if others are easier to hook up or not. I should also point out that when I first hooked up the adapter to my FD 50mm I somehow managed to hook it up with the aperture half closed. So the ring would control the aperture of the lens but it was very dark even compared to my kit lens. I quickly however noticed by looking into the front of the lens that something was not right since you can see the aperture blades half closed. You can definitely tell when it is fully open just by looking through the front of the lens. Just make sure to check the aperture is full open when you attach the adapter. Again I'm not sure if this was something unique to the adapter I bought or if it is a common thing to occur.

March 12th, 2011, 08:42 AM	#49
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why? I wonder if there is an adapter without a built in iris? With the FD lenses, one does not need a built in iris, since the lenses have a exposure ring, right? This is the only thing I hadn't thought through, apparently. The Panasonic adapter doesn't have the iris, since it communicates with the camera, but it doesn't work with Canons. Thereby it is shorter and no loss of light. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

March 12th, 2011, 08:55 AM	#50
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why? Never mind, the Fotodiox doesn't have an iris, I was mistaken. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

March 12th, 2011, 09:07 AM	#51
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why? What is the dial on the adapter for? Attached Thumbnails __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

March 12th, 2011, 03:30 PM	#53
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why? Nigel, is there a loss of light with these adapters, do you know? I've heard there is. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

March 12th, 2011, 05:59 PM	#55
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why? I have seen comments around here mentioning a stop or so of light loss, but I swear I've googled the crap out of that in a hundred different phrases and I can't find any evidence. Thanks Nigel. I'm deciding between the pricey Novaflex, your adapter, and couple of others. I've been all afternoon on this and I'm about to go with the Novaflex (Thanks David). The reviews are so uniformly positive, I'll probably be safest, though poorer, with that choice. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

March 13th, 2011, 11:06 AM	#57
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why? Nigel, the adapter appears to be the best at any price. I've emailed him, hope to hear from him. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

March 13th, 2011, 07:15 PM	#59
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why? I'm probably going to end up with a Novaflex or whatever it's called, I can't play around during my wedding season,and they seem to be better than all others, with the possible exception of the cicero7. I'll need other's later, and I'll just get one or two of his then. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

March 14th, 2011, 06:28 PM	#60
Joe Ogiba Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 194	Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why? "The box says it is made in Waukegan, IL." It does not say that, it says : Fotodiox Inc. USA 91 Noll St. Waukegan, IL 60085 That is the address of the importer. FOTODIOX INC.: Detailed Company Information, Imports & Exports