X Vario lenses

Alan Halfhill · August 15th, 2012, 12:03 AM

I have just bought the Panasonic Lumix X Vario 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH Power O.I.S. Yes, there is nirvana. I have been very excited about two new lenses from Panasonic. One of them has been introduced and it is just now becoming available in the US. It has not been left off of the camera. I have to say this is one of the best lenses for video there is for any platform.

Being a video guy who likes to take stills, this lens fills a big gap for me. I have wanted a F2.8, O.I.S. wide lens for shooting video. O.I.S. really combats the shakes and helps eliminate rolling shutter. Being a zoom is a plus, or should I say variable prime. I wanted that on my Canon but never really found it. I liked the EFS 17-55 F2.8 IS but it was large, heavy, not ruggedized or weather sealed. My search is over.

I have to say it has ben worth the wait. This lens will get a lot of use by me. Panasonic pulled out all the stops one this one. It is as good as we thought it might be. What more could you ask for? Some are saying the price is to high, but this is a “luxury” lens like the one from the other guys. Their’s is much bigger, heavier and expensive. What we got for that expense is a lens that bring MicroFourThirds into the big leagues with it professionalism.

I have done a video review of the lens.
No Need To Resist – The Panasonic Lumix X Vario 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH. » FrugalFilmmakers.com

Dennis Vogel · August 21st, 2012, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Hohauser

The Oly 12-50 has some very positive user reviews for it's power zoom mechanism which more than I can say about the Panasonic zoom mechanism. Unfortunately it does not have OIS which is a hindrance for handheld video work.

Even if you use this (or any other power zoom lens) on legs, how hard is it to zoom without moving the cam? I'm not familiar with how big the zoom buttons are. Can someone with non-petite fingers operate them without moving the camera?

D

Nate Haustein · August 22nd, 2012, 08:46 PM

Alan, thank you for the review. The 12-35mm looks amazing for the type of work I do. Can I ask, did you add a vignette filter to the footage of your garden and backyard? It seems as if the corners are quite soft, and dark for that matter, so wondering if that's a characteristic of the lens or something that got added in post. Thanks!

Alan Halfhill · August 24th, 2012, 11:06 PM

No. I think the vignette was caused by a cheap ND filter. The lens does have some vignetting on the wide end.

Here is another video with the lens. No ND.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Haustein

Alan, thank you for the review. The 12-35mm looks amazing for the type of work I do. Can I ask, did you add a vignette filter to the footage of your garden and backyard? It seems as if the corners are quite soft, and dark for that matter, so wondering if that's a characteristic of the lens or something that got added in post. Thanks!

Nate Haustein · August 25th, 2012, 12:10 PM

Aha, much better. Looking at the trees in the corners of the shots proves its all pretty crispy! Then again, I'm just going to add a vignette in post anyways.... :)

August 15th, 2012, 12:03 AM	#16
Alan Halfhill Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sequim, WA Posts: 127	Re: X Vario lenses I have just bought the Panasonic Lumix X Vario 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH Power O.I.S. Yes, there is nirvana. I have been very excited about two new lenses from Panasonic. One of them has been introduced and it is just now becoming available in the US. It has not been left off of the camera. I have to say this is one of the best lenses for video there is for any platform. Being a video guy who likes to take stills, this lens fills a big gap for me. I have wanted a F2.8, O.I.S. wide lens for shooting video. O.I.S. really combats the shakes and helps eliminate rolling shutter. Being a zoom is a plus, or should I say variable prime. I wanted that on my Canon but never really found it. I liked the EFS 17-55 F2.8 IS but it was large, heavy, not ruggedized or weather sealed. My search is over. I have to say it has ben worth the wait. This lens will get a lot of use by me. Panasonic pulled out all the stops one this one. It is as good as we thought it might be. What more could you ask for? Some are saying the price is to high, but this is a “luxury” lens like the one from the other guys. Their’s is much bigger, heavier and expensive. What we got for that expense is a lens that bring MicroFourThirds into the big leagues with it professionalism. I have done a video review of the lens. No Need To Resist – The Panasonic Lumix X Vario 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH. » FrugalFilmmakers.com __________________ Alan FrugalFilmmakers.com

August 22nd, 2012, 08:46 PM	#18
Nate Haustein Trustee Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,313	Re: X Vario lenses Alan, thank you for the review. The 12-35mm looks amazing for the type of work I do. Can I ask, did you add a vignette filter to the footage of your garden and backyard? It seems as if the corners are quite soft, and dark for that matter, so wondering if that's a characteristic of the lens or something that got added in post. Thanks! __________________ Nate Haustein PXW-FX9 / FCPX www.flightcreativemedia.com

August 25th, 2012, 12:10 PM	#20
Nate Haustein Trustee Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,313	Re: X Vario lenses Aha, much better. Looking at the trees in the corners of the shots proves its all pretty crispy! Then again, I'm just going to add a vignette in post anyways.... :) __________________ Nate Haustein PXW-FX9 / FCPX www.flightcreativemedia.com