Archive 2011 · Nikkor Lenses To Keep For GH-2 Use

jhinkey
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Nikkor Lenses To Keep For GH-2 Use

I'm planning on picking up a GH-2 some time in the next few months and besides using the kit lenses with it I also wanted to use it with some of my existing Nikkors (which actually have aperture rings), some of which I'll need to sell to finance other optical stuff.

Here's what I have for primes:

16/3.5 AI fisheye
20/2.8 AF-D
50/1.2 AIS
85/1.8AF-D
105/2.5 AIS
135/2 AIS
135/2 AF-D DC
200/4 AIS

and some interesting zooms:
17-35/2.8 AFS
28-105/3.5-4.5 AF-D

I'd be using this for mid-day and night time/available light landscape time-lapse videos when I'm out climbing/backpacking.

Which ones do you think will be useful? I suspect the longer focal length ones will not be so much and I'll likely need something wider.

My only DSLR body is my D700, which does not do video (and I plan on not replacing it anytime soon).

Thanks for any thoughts -

John

Dec 30, 2011 at 01:32 PM

JimUe
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Nikkor Lenses To Keep For GH-2 Use

i have a900 with 20/2.8, 35/1.4, 50/1.4, 85/1.4 & 200/2.8 primes and got a GH-2 last June.

i ended up getting the novoflex adapter that has its own aperature ring so all of my lenses were adaptable.

as the MFT system has a 2x crop factor, i ended up buying the panny 14/2.5 and i primarily use that, switching to 20/2.8 when i need 'normal' focal lengths, 35/1.4 when i need low light capability and the 50/1.4 when i need the reach.

the gh-2 with longer FF lenses becomes very very front heavy and very susceptible to minute vibrations, even with a good tripod head.

Dec 30, 2011 at 01:56 PM

hans98ko
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Nikkor Lenses To Keep For GH-2 Use

Hi John,
First, you need a good Nik to MFT adaptor to prevent free play and precise focusing for your shallow DOF 50mm f/1.2. I tried a cheap Chinese make adaptor but trade it in for a costly Novoflex.
Secondly, you need a LCDVF to use your LCD to focus because the EVF is almost useless because of its resolution and tiny size. I used one from www.lcdvf.com
Thirdly, you can only use lenses with aperture of no more than f/2.8 any smaller will make focusing almost impossible.
Fourthly, try not use lenses with FL of more than 100mm because it is almost impossible to hand hold without the OIS to focus.
Hope these info helps.

Edited: Seems like Jim also gave the same info while I was typing it.

Edited on Dec 30, 2011 at 02:04 PM · View previous versions

Dec 30, 2011 at 02:02 PM

jhinkey
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Nikkor Lenses To Keep For GH-2 Use

JimUe wrote:
i have a900 with 20/2.8, 35/1.4, 50/1.4, 85/1.4 & 200/2.8 primes and got a GH-2 last June.

i ended up getting the novoflex adapter that has its own aperature ring so all of my lenses were adaptable.

as the MFT system has a 2x crop factor, i ended up buying the panny 14/2.5 and i primarily use that, switching to 20/2.8 when i need 'normal' focal lengths, 35/1.4 when i need low light capability and the 50/1.4 when i need the reach.

the gh-2 with longer FF lenses becomes very very front heavy and very susceptible to minute vibrations, even with a good...Show more →

Ah, so there is an adapter that can use my AF-S/G lenses then. That brings into play my 50/1.8G.

When I'm climbing I usually take my 16/3.5 fisheye, 20/2.8D, 50/1.8G, 105/2.5 AIS, and 200/4 with me.

When I'm backpacking I usually take:
16/3.5, 20/2.8, 28-105, 200/4.

I'm still trying to figure out my Nikon still photography system + video system for hiking/climbing. The Nikon 1 system is attractive, but for me it's a bit immature at the moment while the GH-2 seems to be a great compact video solution (better than any of Nikon's DSLRs with video).

Thanks!

Dec 30, 2011 at 02:03 PM

Kingfishphoto
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Nikkor Lenses To Keep For GH-2 Use

John - contact Tony Semone, as he has a Novaflex adapter for sale. I find my Series E 50MM F1.8 works nicely on my G2 and GF2 bodies. Advice about tele lenses on tripod- was correct. They can get nose heavy, unless they have a tripod ring. My 85 Rokinon and Vivitar 135 close focus lenses both wook ok, but anything larger or heavier without support, i feel would be a problem. My 80/200, 300 and 500 lenses with tripod rings, woek fine and seem steady enough.
Happy New Year
Harry Palmer

Dec 31, 2011 at 01:07 PM

jhinkey
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Nikkor Lenses To Keep For GH-2 Use

Kingfishphoto wrote:
John - contact Tony Semone, as he has a Novaflex adapter for sale. I find my Series E 50MM F1.8 works nicely on my G2 and GF2 bodies. Advice about tele lenses on tripod- was correct. They can get nose heavy, unless they have a tripod ring. My 85 Rokinon and Vivitar 135 close focus lenses both wook ok, but anything larger or heavier without support, i feel would be a problem. My 80/200, 300 and 500 lenses with tripod rings, woek fine and seem steady enough.
Happy New Year
Harry Palmer

Harry -

Are there adapters that have tripod sockets built into them?

John

Jan 01, 2012 at 01:28 AM

Kingfishphoto
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Nikkor Lenses To Keep For GH-2 Use

Jojn.
I havent seen or heard of any. Guess the old Nikon PN11 extension tube with tripod mount, would put you into the macro range
Cheers
Harry

Jan 01, 2012 at 08:54 AM

Bifurcator
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Nikkor Lenses To Keep For GH-2 Use

What did you end up keeping?

Here's the ones I like from that list:

No:16/3.5 AI fisheye (But I don't really know this one well)
Maybe: 20/2.8 AF-D
No: 50/1.2 AIS
Yes: 85/1.8AF-D
Yes: 105/2.5 AIS
Yes: 135/2 AIS
No: 135/2 AF-D DC
No: 200/4 AIS

Yes: 17-35/2.8 AFS
No: 28-105/3.5-4.5 AF-D

Sep 02, 2012 at 03:23 AM


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