Anyone using Panasonic lenses? at DVinfo.net

Peter Rush · August 5th, 2013, 03:52 AM

So I was filming a wedding at the weekend and despite it being a nice sunny day most of the guests were in the very dark bar area - as was a photobooth/chocolate fountain/magician etc - so this was where it was all happening but was very dark and extremely crowded.

The kit lens was not going to cope and because it was very small and crowded my canon 24-105 was not going to be wide enough so I put on my 16mm pancake lens with VCL-ECF1 Adaptor. Now the wide angle was nice and f2.8 was still not really enough without turning on my LED but.. the results were ok except that the pancake lens has no stabilization and even though I have a steady hand - I personally think it looks shaky compared with footage using my stabilized lenses. Because it was so packed with people I was doing a lot of filming with the camera held up over my head and letting the auto-focus do it's thing.

So I've been on the hunt for fast wide angles with stabilization and the only one I've come up with so far is this Panasonic which might do the trick but has anyone found an adapter for Panasonic fit? It is four thirds format.

Panasonic 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5 MEGA O.I.S.

Pete

Chris Harding · August 5th, 2013, 06:00 AM

Hey Pete

I very much doubt it unless Metabones have an adapter than can also handle the stabilisation functions of Panny lenses. Let us know if you discover something. I don't even worry about stab on even the stock lens..with a shoulder mount the footage is usually good enough BUT I can see your point when holding it over your head. I have a painter's platform in my car!! It's an aluminium one with a 1 metre x 300mm top and lifts me up about 600mm off the ground ..I reckon that would work!! I use it to film the dancing cos I always seem to get all the tall couples standing in front of me!!! It's a useful addition!!

Chris

Rod Pike · August 5th, 2013, 03:20 PM

Hi Peter, I am all Panny with an AF102 and a 160A. I can certainly vouch for the Panasonic 12-35 and the 35-100mm both with constant f2.8- amazing to have a constant aperture, but not sure whether a 4/3 or m43 would cover the sensor across the full range on your Sony, so not much help really, other than to say that constant aperture has changed my life and I use the 102 in preference to the 160A because of it..

So search for constant aperture , you will not look back.
Cheers!
Rod

Chris Quevedo · August 5th, 2013, 03:47 PM

that lens is intended for a sensor thats 1.5x smaller right? i highly doubt it would work

Chris Quevedo · August 6th, 2013, 03:34 PM

i take that back, if the digital zoom is used, it would totally work

Noa Put · August 7th, 2013, 12:03 AM

I would not reccomend using the digital zoom unless you really have to, the image deteriorates once you start zooming and it's worse on a zoom lens then on a prime.

August 5th, 2013, 03:52 AM	#1
Peter Rush Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK/Yorkshire Posts: 2,069	Anyone using Panasonic lenses? So I was filming a wedding at the weekend and despite it being a nice sunny day most of the guests were in the very dark bar area - as was a photobooth/chocolate fountain/magician etc - so this was where it was all happening but was very dark and extremely crowded. The kit lens was not going to cope and because it was very small and crowded my canon 24-105 was not going to be wide enough so I put on my 16mm pancake lens with VCL-ECF1 Adaptor. Now the wide angle was nice and f2.8 was still not really enough without turning on my LED but.. the results were ok except that the pancake lens has no stabilization and even though I have a steady hand - I personally think it looks shaky compared with footage using my stabilized lenses. Because it was so packed with people I was doing a lot of filming with the camera held up over my head and letting the auto-focus do it's thing. So I've been on the hunt for fast wide angles with stabilization and the only one I've come up with so far is this Panasonic which might do the trick but has anyone found an adapter for Panasonic fit? It is four thirds format. Panasonic 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5 MEGA O.I.S. Pete

August 5th, 2013, 06:00 AM	#2
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Anyone using Panasonic lenses? Hey Pete I very much doubt it unless Metabones have an adapter than can also handle the stabilisation functions of Panny lenses. Let us know if you discover something. I don't even worry about stab on even the stock lens..with a shoulder mount the footage is usually good enough BUT I can see your point when holding it over your head. I have a painter's platform in my car!! It's an aluminium one with a 1 metre x 300mm top and lifts me up about 600mm off the ground ..I reckon that would work!! I use it to film the dancing cos I always seem to get all the tall couples standing in front of me!!! It's a useful addition!! Chris

August 5th, 2013, 03:20 PM	#3
Rod Pike Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: new zealand Posts: 52	Re: Anyone using Panasonic lenses? Hi Peter, I am all Panny with an AF102 and a 160A. I can certainly vouch for the Panasonic 12-35 and the 35-100mm both with constant f2.8- amazing to have a constant aperture, but not sure whether a 4/3 or m43 would cover the sensor across the full range on your Sony, so not much help really, other than to say that constant aperture has changed my life and I use the 102 in preference to the 160A because of it.. So search for constant aperture , you will not look back. Cheers! Rod __________________ "a set of high quality paintbrushes don't make you Rembrandt" www.voxvideoproductions.co.nz

August 5th, 2013, 03:47 PM	#4
Chris Quevedo Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Paradise, CA Posts: 158	Re: Anyone using Panasonic lenses? that lens is intended for a sensor thats 1.5x smaller right? i highly doubt it would work

August 6th, 2013, 03:34 PM	#5
Chris Quevedo Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Paradise, CA Posts: 158	Re: Anyone using Panasonic lenses? i take that back, if the digital zoom is used, it would totally work

August 7th, 2013, 12:03 AM	#6
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: Anyone using Panasonic lenses? I would not reccomend using the digital zoom unless you really have to, the image deteriorates once you start zooming and it's worse on a zoom lens then on a prime.