craigbuckley

Trying to find a good focal length for my gh2 and its sensor crop.  I have the 12mm but its too wide and the 50mm is too much of a close up. I am either thinking the samyang 24mm or 35mm, and would like to some feedback on these two lenses with the gh2.

I hear the 25mm slr magic is coming out soon, I may wait for that. Anyone know its exact release date?

DefInItely. I will put up some screen shots later but I didn't have access to the stage before. It happened quick and I tried to avoid the white paper but the band was right next to it. I have the setting on my gh 2 where it flashes in the area where there's white spots. I messed around with the aperture/iso but whenever I made the white spots less bright the band would be too dark, and when I tried to make the band less dark the white paper got too bright. It was brutal, I chose to keep it overly brig ht and hopefully fix it in color correction. But as far as sharpness goes, say on my slr magic nokton 12mm, what would be the sharpest point of the aperture? It's hard to see what's sharp at the moment when I'm filming with the LCD or evf screen.

Ok wow thanks a lot guys. Thats exactly what I needed, and that makes much more sense. I'm a dumb ass. I had the impression that when filming with a DSLR you should always have the aperture as wide as possible (unless too bright out) and the ISO as low as possible, for the best quality image. I was wrong, right?   Any good suggestions to read up on something like this? I have been reading about aperture in photography. I understand how with the widest aperture on a lens a very small part of the image would be in sharp focus, and that there is a sweet spot in the middle of aperture spectrum. I just am wondering how to figure this out for my lenses, because I don't know if my eyes can tell.. and I am definitely going to start shooting a lot more and doing more tests.

I was wondering if anyone could point out a good link to read about shooting with the sharpest aperture. I shot a concert last night and the footage looks ok. I ran into two problems. One- there were white pieces of paper on the wall that gave off a bright white glare that I tried to reduce by lowering iso and fiddling with the aperture, but this made the band's faces too dark so I had to leave the bright white area in the shot. How would you have dealt wi th this? Two- I always thought having the widest aperture would give you the sharpest shot but I've been reading that's not true. Some people say F 8 is the sharpest point of the aperture but doesn't it depend on the lens? if someone could just point me in the right direction to learn about this that would be great.

Yeah that video seems really nice.. Makes me more into the samyang or rokinon 35mm 1.4 - I just need one more strong lens that I can use for alot of my shoots.   I thought 12mm would be my primary lens but its just too wide so I figured a 25mm or 35mm would be great.   I'm leaning towards the samyang 35mm ($400), Leica 25mm ($500), or the more expensive voigtlander 25mm .95 ($900)   Any help deciding between these three?

Thanks guys. So you would vote against the samyang 35mm? I can't imagine the nikkor 35mm f2 would be as sharp as the samyang. I do need something pretty cinematic and sharp, thats why I was thinking the samyang. But I will check out the Nikkors more...   Other recommendations are still welcome. Deciding on a medium focal length prime lens for my collection around $500 budget. Something good for video like the slr magic 12mm.

Whats a good lens (under $500) 35mm for my gh2?   I was thinking between -   Carl Zeiss 35mm 2.4 flektogon Nikon 35mm F2 Samyang 35mm 1.4 (most expensive) Canon FD 35mm F2     I know its all about taste but is anyone out there to throw around some ideas? I like the idea of having a carl zeiss because of its quality and I read in the EOSHD book how the 45mm Carl Zeiss f2 is one of the sharpest lenses for its price range but I already have a canon fd 50mm, and Im guessing having a 45mm and 50mm wouldn't be too smart.    

What about something like this   http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tamron-SP-90mm-f2-8-1-1-Macro-Adaptall-2-lens-Boxed-Exc-72B-Japan-701158-/290849419815?pt=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item43b7f9f227   How does it compare to say something like that Nikkor 55mm 2.8 you recommended?

Can anyone recommend a macro lens for shooting video in particular? I need it for a scene in a short film and probably will shoot more in the future. My budget is around $200.

I ordered some fotodiox extension tubes from amazon for my gh2. Unfortunately, they won't be here for a couple weeks and I need to start shooting macro footage this week. So I will wait until those come but for now...   I looked into your recommendation and researched the Raynox DCR250. Its in my price range and has got great reviews, besides the shallow DOF,  but before I order one, I was wondering if anyone has used one or can recommend a better method.   You can get macro filters on amazon for $10 bucks- I have a feeling they wont be quality. The raynox is around $90, so is it worth it to spend the extra $80 bucks on the raynox 250? Or do I just get the cheap macro filters to hold me off until the extension tubes come in?   And last but not least, should I just spend the extra $100 dollars on top and get a macro lens like the tamron sp 2.5 or the sigma super wide II (something in that range)? Is the quality that much better with a $200 macro lens compared to the raynox? ( I can't afford an expensive macro lens)... And if so, which  macro lens is the best bang for the buck?   Thanks a lot everyone.

If you needed to start shooting quality macro footage for a short film, which would you choose...   1. Hoya or Marumi macro lens filter ($50) 2. Extension tube from amazon ($10) 3. Tamron SP 2.5 macro lens ($200) (or something of this quality.. budget is $200 max.)   I know the tamron would be the best choice out those but is it worth trying or using the macro filters or extension tubes? If so, can you recommend a good brand and/or method?   Thanks for the help.

you say the fujian 35mm is no good but the 25mm is good? wondering if i should just go for the 25mm pentax 1.4

ah crap! Thanks Andy Lee. I will have to return the rainbow image once it gets to me.. I will order this one that you posted. But as for a macro lens, can you recommend anything under $300? Through some searching I found this but not sure how it would be quality wise on the gh2 http://www.ebay.com/itm/OLYMPUS-ZUIKO-DIGITAL-35MM-F-3-5-MACRO-ED-FOUR-THIRDS-LENS-USED-MINT-/170975384905?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item27ceed5549 or http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vivitar-Auto-Macro-55mm-f-2-8-SLR-Camera-Lens-for-Canon-FD-SN-28705588-/110788246042?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item19cb7e7a1a

Ah you are just making me jealous I want one of these... I ended up ordering the rainbow imaging 35mm cctv lens from amazon... I guess I'm anxious to see if its shoots as nice as the wesley 24mm or the pentax 25mm I am definitely still into getting another cctv or even a macro lens. Can you suggest a good macro lens ANDY LEE? Price range is below $300 and I am looking for a lens that can shoot clear, crisp macro shots. Thanks again! Best forum out there.

Holy crap those are nice pictures!! Honesly though, there is no wesley 24mm on ebay unless I am going crazy!

I do read every response very carefully, I promise you that,  just sometimes people don't hear my question and give me a totally different answer....   But I have a canon fd 50mm - so this would work?   http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-macro-extension-tube-FD-50-MINT-/221150727256?pt=US_Lens_Adapters_Mounts_Tubes&hash=item337d9c4c58   Would I need anything else for a macro shot? Would you recommend getting something like this instead of extensions?   http://www.ebay.com/itm/OLYMPUS-OM-SYSTEM-ZUIKO-AUTO-MACRO-50mm-f-3-5-LENS-w-FILTER-BACK-CAP-/380559304789?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item589b1a2855   Thanks again and all answers were read carefully!

OK FIRST off I just wanted to say sorry for all the questions... I just have anxiety about buying a lens and then not liking it, especially with my budget...   And  I do read through the forum and google for options before I ask a question, I promise!   But, I was trying to buy an old cctv lens, which I still am, but I also wanted to get a macro lens or a macro lens extension tube for my gh2... I know the extension tubes are cheaper (my budget is $200)  so I was thinking of going that route but I am SO confused on what I need to make this work.   Will this work with any of my lenses   http://www.ebay.com/itm/Macro-Extension-Tube-For-Micro-4-3-GH2-G1-G2-E-P2-E-PL1-/390315181266   Do I need an adapter or certain size tubes for different lenses? I currently have 12mm, a 24mm, and a 50mm...   Thanks again!

where the heck do you get that lens? I have beeen looking all over the web but I can't find any wesley 24mm...

I guess to better rephrase that, would you spend more to get the pentax? Or just go and get this fujinan? Is the pentax worth the $60 more? Would it be stupid to have both of these lenses? Thanks and again and sorry for all the questions.

would it be stupid to get that lens AND the pentax 25mm? Are they pretty similar? I just have heard such good things about the pentax 25mm and seen videos that look awesome so I guess I was sold on that but if you think this lens will be good as well then I will trust you.

Thanks Andy Lee How often do you see this lens online for 80 bucks because I may just wait because of my budget

This is the cheapest pentax 24mm 1.4 that I can find on the interweb http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546271-REG/Pentax_C22525KP_C22525KP_1_C_Mount.html should I wait for something cheaper?

I looked all over ebay but there are none that i can find for $80. They are all in the $200 range. I'm from the US too. The one you sent me, the seller can't recieve funds at this time so you can't buy it from him, and thats the only $80 one on their for pentax 25mm 1.4 Any other suggestionS?

I can only find the pentax 25mm cctv 1.4 lens for the price range of $200 on ebay.. is that too much for this lens? There are cheaper cctv lens on there but I have heard good things about the pentax 25mm 1.4.