mercer

Thanks for this, this is cool as shit. Not exactly what I need now, but I will definitely be buying one in the near future.

I understand the concept and that foot zooming isn't the same... it's just a figure of speech videographers tell other videographers when they want zoom lenses instead of primes. And again, they are 100% not the same lens. The Rollei's were based on a Zeiss design but never manufactured by Zeiss and I don't think they even used Zeiss glass. They were made in Singapore by Voigtlander and Rollei. The Contax Zeiss glass are official Zeiss lenses made in West Germany and then in Japan by Yashica. Some Yashica ML lenses are purported to use leftover glass from the Zeiss runs since they were made in the same factory.

I'm fairly sure they're not. The ONLY similarity are reports that some batches used the same glass, but the other construction elements could be and most likely are entirely different... otherwise they would all fetch the Contax prices. Plus with the Contax, some were made in Germany and some were made in Japan... so they were not all made in the same factory. Either way, the Contax Zeiss Planar 50mm 1.7 is an inexpensive lens that is excellent for video, some would say the Contax Zeiss is a legendary lens. Why fight it when it so reasonably priced? I wish I had these suggestions when I started out, I wouldn't be sitting on a couple dozen lenses I never use.., I'd have either a set of Nikkors (which I have now) a set of Minoltas (I have a few) or a set of Contax Zeiss (I want them but don't particularly need them) If you want to go a little cheaper, there's always the Zeiss Jena M42 lenses. The 35mm f2.4 is another legendary lens. And the 50mm f2.8 is one of the cheapest, most stunning lenses you'll ever find. Pair them with a Turbo II and you're set. They also have a 20mm f2.8 that is very highly regarded.

Not really... without a doubt the Contax Zeiss is the best of the bunch. And quite frankly one of the best lenses I've ever used. In all honesty, with the GX80 you'd be better off with the Contax Zeiss 50mm 1.7, the 25mm or 28mm f/2.8 and a Turbo II, than with the Sigma 18-35mm. That lens is going to be big, heavy and unbalanced on the GX80 and you can always use your feet to zoom.

@cantsin man I love your posts. I always learn so much from them and see your points. My reasoning for getting a GH2 stems from two things really... I want a second camera, but I didn't want to spend a lot on one. I'm loving my 5D3 too much to heavily invest into another system. However, as I started watching a lot of the old GH2 videos and then looking at the filmmaker's other works, I started noticing an interesting trend. It seems that a lot of the GH2 filmmakers went one of two ways after upgrading... they either stayed with Panasonic, or they went with BlackMagic. It makes sense since they already owned the M4/3 lenses that one of those two would be a logical upgrade path, but I'm also interested in seeing if a certain patch was predominantly used by the people who went with BM over Panny. Within 6 months to a year, when I have a little more cash to spend, I will probably upgrade to one of the two better options you suggested... a GH4 with an external recorder... or a BM to shoot ProRes with. I was very concerned with IBIS and features, so much so, that I was banging my head against the wall. So I have decided to go back to basics and shoot one or two, very small stories with a tripod/Monopod, a slider, a camera, and one lens. There's an acronym in screenwriting called KISS. As you may know, it stands for Keep It Simple Stupid and that's kind of my intention here... rather than throw a ton of money into a bunch of cameras to test, as a second camera, over the next 3-6 months, I'm going back to a legend of the DSLR revolution and see where it leads me. Of course, since I am only a hobbyist, I can indulge myself in these flights of fancy... I am not recommending anything I pursue to others. But I'm looking forward to it.

That looks great!!! Funny thing is, that was one of the first videos I saw from the GH2, the other week, when I first started to contemplate getting one. Thanks for the links too... it seems I have a ton of reading to do.

Good to know, thanks. I saw a rip off version of the Wing on eBay... interesting design. I love Edelkrone's products, but don't love the price tag... for this anyway. I really don't want to spend more than a hundred dollars for this slider but there aren't many quality sliders for that money.

Yeah... gorgeous. Every time I watch Curiosity, I want the E-M5 Mark II and that song on my iPod. I almost bought one twice over the past week.

Thanks I'll check that one out too.

Thanks for the tips. Keep 'em coming. As of now, I really want to test Flowmotion because I read it has a darker, cinematic look, Moon, Drewnet and that Latin one... Canis Majoris that @anonim suggested. I will probably just roll with Sanity X my first day, as not to overwhelm myself. But I am pretty excited... I feel giddy like a schoolgirl similar to when I got the 5D3 and every time I've shot with it since.

Well let's start off slow... maybe dinner and a movie... a nightcap... you know... see where it goes.

Looks great!!! Gotta love ML Raw and you developers that make our jobs easier. I appreciate your work and look forward to trying it out. I haven't had the opportunity to look closely at your program, but does it have, or do you plan to offer Log output to ProRes like the Footage App and ML Raw Viewer has? I love the LogC output in ML Raw Viewer but the program hasn't been working that great since I updated my Mac to Sierra.

Thanks guys. Right now, the Rat Rig is my top pick. I love the design and video Mattias did of the Edelkrone but a little more than I want to spend right now... especially since I already have the Edelkrone Slider Plus small... which I love but it's just a little heftier than I am looking for with a Monopod. So to save the money with the rat rig makes sense. I just bought a GH2 to mess around with and I want a quick, easy set up that's small and portable... either will definitely work, I just like the price of the Rat Rig better and it seems completely smooth enough for my needs and definitely light and compact. Good idea to use it with a gorilla pod!!!

Thanks CG!! I saw the Rat Rig one on eBay and the design looked good, but I wasn't sure. Small and compact... it could be a winner!!!

I'm looking to buy a mini slider that will travel about 8-12" Something that will stow away in a camera bag fairly easily, or stay attached to my Benro Monopod without adding too much bulk. Any recommendations? Thanks!!!

I'm starting off slow and only allowing myself to post in two threads a day. Baby steps.

Hahaha... Marty you are one of my favorite members on this site... you crack me up. If you're ever in the States, or I'm in Germany, we've gotta collaborate on something. Thanks for the tips, Fritz!!! I just bought a mint GH2, with 2 batteries, a charger, a new Sandisk 32GB Extreme Card and the Sanity X Patch installed. So there's that.

Yeah, Musgo, Mandorla, and Upstream Color are the epitome of looks that intrigue me but even if I could get half of that, I'd be happy. The GH5 would be the best choice but I just can't spend that kind of money right now. I still love my 5D3 for my narrative work, I just want a smaller, get up and go camera to shoot some experimental short films with, not to mix with the 5D3. I was even thinking about a GH4 with a Ninja Star, but then I'm over a grand and for a little more I can just get a GH5... and then for a little more I can just get a 1DC... etc... etc... I have to get a micro 4/3 now because I just bought an SLR Magic 35mm 1.4... haha I have problems. Great info, thanks. I think I am going to jump in and buy one. I may be able to get a GH2 that's already hacked with Sanity X. Is it easy to test different patches?

Hey Fritz, thanks for the tip. Obviously, I am not trying to say that people should shoot with a GH1/GH2 instead of a modern 4K camera by Panasonic or any other maker. Unless they want to. I'm in need of a second camera, because quite honestly... I enjoy effing around with cameras. I tried to go back to the GX85 and was unimpressed and sent it back and remembered why I didn't like it the first time I had it. Obviously it's not a bad camera, it just isn't the look I want for the task and to me, it's kind of neither here nor there. I'm still considering an Olympus E-M5 Mark ii as my eff around camera because I do like the IBIS, but $700 is pretty steep for an eff around camera. So since I really love the look(s) that were obtained with the GH2, I figured it would be fun to give it a try since I never owned one.

Do poorly colored cat videos count?

That's not fair, every other person I've ever communicated with, on this site, will vote for that... hell a couple ex girlfriends may show up too just to ban me.

I know... I'm embarrassed by how much free time I spend here and how little I've learned and accomplished in the process. I'm thinking of starting a new profile to save my public humiliation. Has Ebrahim Saadawi been used. ??????

I totally agree. In a weird way, the limitations excite me. I'm even considering a GH1 or GH2 purchase just so I can be forced to produce something within some confines. In the end none of this matters and some kid is going to make the next best indie film in an iPhone, so shoot with what you have and make the best of it. Now I won't sell my 5D3, but I do like the challenge of shooting something with a 6-7 year old camera.

Good to know, thanks. A lot of hacked cameras pop up on eBay, so if I find one that's already been hacked, it may make my decision to buy one or not easier...

I had the G7 and the GX85 and although I agree they're great cameras and probably more useful for professional work, I feel they lack some of the "mojo" I'm looking for in a kick around camera. I'm a hobbyist so half the fun is pushing the camera around to see what it can do... or better yet what I can do with it. I have a better camera for what I consider more serious work that I do, the GH1/GH2 will just be for fun. Which patch did you like better? I've seen some nice videos with the Moon patch. But it seems like Sanity X and Flowmotion 2.02 were the most used.