S lenses on SL2s/3/3s or Panasonic bodies as video lenses.

[ben446]

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I've seen pieces of info on the above combo but was wondering if anyone has tried a serious / profession video or 'film' shoot with the S Lenses.  Seems like it could be a great 4k 12bit + setup. Even adding a gear ring for focus pulls.  Am correct that with the Leica S Adapter L there is no autofocus on the Panasonic bodies but there is albeit slow on the Leicas?  On a side note and probably very unlikely, but if the S4 or S4s was a video monster, they might sell more of them as it would set it apart from the X2D and they could co market Leitz/Leica Cine Lenses to folks used to spending big $ on gear.

 

 

[John McMaster]

I think most current S body users have no interest in video 😉

john

[Pieter12]

Although I see that there is a lot of video being shot with the SL3 (maybe the 2 as well).

[BernardC]

17 hours ago, ben446 said:

I've seen pieces of info on the above combo but was wondering if anyone has tried a serious / profession video or 'film' shoot with the S Lenses.  Seems like it could be a great 4k 12bit + setup. Even adding a gear ring for focus pulls. 

Unfortunately, none of the S bodies so far have offered the level of video performance that would justify using S lenses in anything more than a short film. The lenses are certainly up to it, Leitz Cine offers the same lenses under the Thalia brand. They are one of the main options if you are shooting a potential blockbuster with a large format cine camera (Arri 65, or some Red cameras).

Maybe the S4 will offer better video options, but that's not a given. Fuji and Hasselblad medium format cameras are in the same boat: you'll see a few demo reels and shorts that use them, but nothing serious.

16 hours ago, John McMaster said:

I think most current S body users have no interest in video

We are all visual artists, many of us have an interest in video. Finding the time, and the right project, is another matter!

[Stuart Richardson]

They work great for video if you do not need AF. The AF motors are loud and slow, so not really suitable for on camera or near camera sound. Manual focus shouldn't be an issue. They work with AF on Leica SL bodies, and without AF on Panasonic bodies. The Panasonic bodies do connect electronically with the lenses though, so they can actuate the iris and transfer lens information. The only thing they don't do is autofocus. I believe this is probably because Leica was afraid that if Panasonic bodies cranked up the AF speed they might accelerate the number of AF clutch failures, but this is just a theory.