plasticman Posted December 2, 2011 Share #1 Posted December 2, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm interested in replacing my partner's Nikon D90 with a smaller m4/3 camera - specifically for *video* capture (basically, want to film the kids). The D90 turned out to be too heavy for her to carry around, so she never, ever uses it. Now I'm thinking of a Panasonic GX1 - or possibly a Nex5n - and I'd like to try using either of these systems with Leica lenses. The m4/3 system seems to be better covered by adaptors, and so on - but I've read good things about the Nex system. However, there's relatively little about using totally manual lenses for video - one of the few useful examples I've seen was here: Panasonic LUMIX GF1 with Leica Noctilux F1.0 on Vimeo Any information or personal experiences gratefully received! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 2, 2011 Posted December 2, 2011 Hi plasticman, Take a look here Anyone used Leica lenses on m4/3 body *FOR VIDEO*?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stunsworth Posted December 2, 2011 Share #2 Posted December 2, 2011 I've tried it, I think I have an edited video I took with a 75mm Summicron and GF-1 somewhere at home. If I can find it I'll upload it to Vimeo or similar and post a link. It's pretty boring, just a couple of minutes of largely static shots in a local cemetery that I took with the lens wide open. As I've mentioned earlier the first thing I realised was that video and me were not a marriage made in heaven and I've not tried it since. Quality was fine, but camera shake was obvious if I didn't use a tripod. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
digi2ap Posted December 3, 2011 Share #3 Posted December 3, 2011 Yes, I've used the Leica D vario elmarit 14-50mm F2.8 - 3.5 (originally from my Digilux 3) on my Panasonic GH1. I also tried Leica R lenses but only for interviews as these lack the necessary wide angle on micro four thirds because of the crop factor. The Leica D is, in many ways, very successful for video being both the right focal length to be truly useful to gather a range of shots and suitably fast enough to get some interesting depth of field. The manual aperture control is a real bonus as is the OIS but note the OIS breathes in a noisy way if the sound from your camera mic is to be used. All in all it gave me beautiful looking footage, well, in my view. Here is a link to a video filmed exclusively with that camera and lens - Knucklas allotment open day. That said, I am currently changing kit as the Leica D is a fairly large lens. I minimally zoom when filming, enough to dispense with it, and I also prefer to film discreetly. I now have the lens for sale in the Buy and Sell (digital cameras) section and I am replacing it by using prime Olympus and Panasonic micro/four thirds lenses rather than zooms. Hopefully all food for thought? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted December 3, 2011 Share #4 Posted December 3, 2011 Two years ago I got a Panny GH-1 and adapter specifically to try my M lenses for video (previously I'd used a JVC camcorder). Ultimately, the one video I completed with the GH-1 was shot with the kit 14-140mm (link below). Try to do video of anything that isn't pretty static (i.e., not most kids) with manual-focus fixed-focal-length, non-stabilized lenses, and you find out fairly fast why Hollywood has camera crews of 3-5 people. Focus pullers, lens wranglers, etc. (Not to mention a separate sound crew). Parenthetically, I also tried a little video with my 5D and various R lenses and hit the same wall. Which is why I'm also cold to the idea of video in an M body. "Leica glass" won't save what is otherwise a half-assed approach to the medium (really very different from still photography). (NB, digi2ap's video does show that Leica Glass can definitely add something - IF everything else is done right! A nice little piece. My video is under nasty artificial light and far more compressed, so his is a better example of what the GH-1 itself can do.) ColoradoSeen - Denver Roller Dolls Bout 4/17/2010 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybob Posted December 7, 2011 Share #5 Posted December 7, 2011 I've used adapted Leica lenses on a NEX-5, for about 60 seconds, cumulatively, handheld. It's hardly a camcorder. It's mighty shaky if not stabilized, or tripodded down. The wider your aperture is, the more difficult it is to achieve focus. The lens signatures are definately recognizable, and the image quality can be pretty intense. Sound is acceptable, but can be sketchy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
*j-w-m* Posted December 8, 2011 Share #6 Posted December 8, 2011 Small cameras are shaky precisely because they're small...with a handheld camera, more weight (and more inertia) is good, at least to a point, because it's harder to move something heavy in a shaky manner. The crop factor of a smaller sensor also contributes to shake since your normal lenses become telephotos. Good handheld video requires the same type of practice and commitment as learning to take steady shots at 1/8 second. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
real_consul Posted December 8, 2011 Share #7 Posted December 8, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) here are two examples of GF1 with MATE (50 mm /f4), regrettably without tripod: Best, Alex Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.