Lumix G Vario 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 on BMPCC?

The Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. Micro Four Thirds Lens gets great reviews, is light and reasonable small -- has an OIS switch -- and yet it is not listed as a supported BMPCC lens. It has a zoom and focus rings, and supports electronic focus and aperture.

Does anyone know why it's not listed?

Is anyone using the Lumix 14-45mm on their BMPCC? Comments please.

I have the lens. It works perfectly on the BMPCC. Make sure it has the latest firmware (you'll need a Panasonic camera to update it) as it won't Autofocus with the earlier firmware.

http://instagram.com/p/hMUFatthb0/ & http://instagram.com/p/f2ptDENhWp/

Is it just the autofocus or also the stabilizer?

I had mine updated by my local camera shop. Before the update the only thing that did not work was the Autofocus. After the update that also worked.

It's might not be on the BM list of lenses because they don't have one in house to test.

Hi Adam, I'm planning on buying it for my BMPCC too and I was wondering : can we focus manually with it ? I'm not a big fan of autofocus. And also because I don't know anyone who could update the lens for me. Thanks !

Yes you can focus manually with it the same as you can on an other MFT camera.

The focus ring turns infinitely so it's difficult to get a feel for it and do repeatable focus pulls but it'll cost you under £100 on ebay so it's a pretty good starter lens for walking about outdoors.

This is my "always on like a lenscap"-lens for the pocket when i'm abroad to shoot street scenes. This way the camera is easy to bag, easy to use, and looks cheap enough not to be taken seriously... which greatly helps in getting genuine life-like footage.

I just got back from Paris, I only brought this lens with me + BMPCC, no tripod... it's awesome... well except when it gets dark. When you zoom out you start to get microshakes, even with the OIS switch so I would still bring a tripod or hold your breath when you shoot

Hopefully I'll have a video up soon

I have the lens. It works perfectly on the BMPCC. Make sure it has the latest firmware (you'll need a Panasonic camera to update it) as it won't Autofocus with the earlier firmware.

Adam,
You might have answered this before but how do you know if this lens has the latest firmware? Is it just testing to see if Autofocus works? Is there a minimum revision level on the lens one should look for?
Thanks.
Steve

I have the lens. It works perfectly on the BMPCC. Make sure it has the latest firmware (you'll need a Panasonic camera to update it) as it won't Autofocus with the earlier firmware.

http://instagram.com/p/hMUFatthb0/ & http://instagram.com/p/f2ptDENhWp/

Hey, does anyone who owns this lens want to comment on how they like it and, if possible, how it compares with the Lumix 12-35mm with Mega OIS?

On Panasonic bodies, I really can't notice much difference between Power OIS (12-35) and Mega OIS (14-45) even though Panasonic claims Power OIS offers improved stability. But others seems to have mentioned micro-jitters... which I did not really notice with the 12-35 (when standing still, the shaking actually translates into more of a long smooth movement, like a person breathing sort of Steadicam-eque actually. The micro-jitters come with the OIS switched off.)

I have the 12-35 and am quite happy with it, but it's a rather large fat lens compared to the BMPCC body.

Would like to get something a bit smaller and lighter with OIS... making the 14-45 the ONLY choice actually. Heard great things about the lens and it seems quite sharp even at the wide end at 3.5. Any input would be appreciated.

You might have answered this before but how do you know if this lens has the latest firmware? Is it just testing to see if Autofocus works? Is there a minimum revision level on the lens one should look for?

The only way to check is to connect the lens to a Panasonic body.

You can test it on the BMPCC but there is no way of checking what firmware it's running. I found that if I pressed the focus button the white square would appear but it would not do anything. When we checked I think it was on ver 1 firmware, we installed ver 1.3 if I'm not mistaken and the lens now focuses just fine.

You might have answered this before but how do you know if this lens has the latest firmware? Is it just testing to see if Autofocus works? Is there a minimum revision level on the lens one should look for?

The only way to check is to connect the lens to a Panasonic body.

You can test it on the BMPCC but there is no way of checking what firmware it's running. I found that if I pressed the focus button the white square would appear but it would not do anything. When we checked I think it was on ver 1 firmware, we installed ver 1.3 if I'm not mistaken and the lens now focuses just fine.

Adam, thanks very much for the quick response.

Please forgive the slight "thread drift" of this question but it's a little related, if not incredibly basic. I'm thinking of getting the Hoya UV IR cut filter. Since I also have old Rokkors, I might as well get a 55mm size and use a 52 to 55mm step-up ring for the Panasonic 14-45. The use of a step-up ring doesn't wreck the Hoya filter functionality, does it? Thanks again.

Steve

You might read this first before jumping:

http://www.lenstip.com/339.1-Lens_revie ... .I.S..html

If the link is removed, you can find it under Reviews at the Polish retail/review site lenstip dot com.

They report after MTF tests &c that it has the IQ of a typical kit lens, if that; bad CA at the wide end and very week edges at the long -- those just for starters. Nice barrel, quick AF, small size. Seems to me like a bad match with a RAW cam. Good luck.

You might read this first before jumping:

http://www.lenstip.com/339.1-Lens_revie ... .I.S..html

...Good luck.

Jerry, that link jumped to info about the Panasonic 14-42. Is there info on the 14-45 somewhere there? I didn't pursue each section. This forum seems to validate the 14-45 as being quite a bit better than the 14-42, if memory serves.

Steve

Sorry Steve! I misread the 45 as 42. Lenstip hasn't got round to the newer one yet. You might find something useful in their existing MFT reviews; you can sort their archive by mount, brand etc. It's a well-respected source of lens reviews, but there's usually a longish lag.

Sorry Steve! I misread the 45 as 42. Lenstip hasn't got round to the newer one yet. You might find something useful in their existing MFT reviews; you can sort their archive by mount, brand etc. It's a well-respected source of lens reviews, but there's usually a longish lag.

No problem, Jerry. Thanks for the reference to their site.
Steve

The 14-45 has - in my opinion - slightly better optics than the 14-42, yet still it's a rather basic kit lens. It's OIS isn't quite es capable as the 12-35, but this one also has the benefit of the shorter focal length, which in itself reduces shakiness. And - again in my very personal opinion - the 12-35 has way better optics (of course they come with a price tag...).

IR/UV cut filters are always a good investment, especially with the pocket cam.

When you zoom out you start to get microshakes, even with the OIS switch so I would still bring a tripod or hold your breath when you shoot.

Did you mean zoom IN?

At about what focal length could one zoom to before the microshakes begin?

PS: IR/UV cut filters are always a good investment, especially with the pocket cam.

I thought that IR was only necessary when high levels of ND filtration were used. I haven't read about a UV filter.

Steve

Any filter you have is a good thing, even though you only need it at rare occasions.

The BM cameras are very susceptible to IR light, even without NDs you may find IR pollution in the shadows and blacks, especially when your lightsource is is mainly a heat source, as are all kinds of flames (bonfire, torches) and tungsten lights. UV cut filters are usefull to reduce UV sky light, making the skys bluer and less hazy, though i have not much experience whether the Pocket cam needs this (i have a IR/UV cut filter on my lenses as a protective cover anyway).

Don't I run into a problem with a mounting a filter on a filter?

Don't I run into a problem with a mounting a filter on a filter?

the furthest I've gone is 3 filters, and without a matte box you will run into some reflections but I haven't noticed any other issues (UV Protecter --> Vari ND-->Close up/IR Cuts)

Filters on filters is not ideal, but no deal breaker as well. Many screw on filters have threads on both sides, some are the same size front and back, others are larger at the front, so you need to think about their order, but you won't get into trouble with vignetting. Using a matte box is surely more flexible, but - in my eyes - defies the idea of the pocket cam: to be ultra portable. If portability is not your concern, go for a small rig and add a matte box, this will also help reducing flares from side lights.

I want my pocket cam to be as unobstrusive and portable as a common dslr (that's crucial for some of my work, i don't want to be "taken seriously" in public, people won't behave natural then, and officials can be a real p.i.t.a if you look like a filmmaker...), that's why i carry my camera, batteries and lenses all in one backpack. To protect the lenses i fitted all with an ir/uv cut filter (cheap one, it _will_ get scratched over time...) and the fast lenses (f/1.8 sigma 18-35 and nikon 50) also have a vari-nd fitted most of the time, for the slower lenses (which i use only rarely) i have one vari-nd and a set of step-up rings in case i need it.

Do you guys have any recommendation for an IR cut filter 52mm size which is not too expensive ?

With filters you usually get what you pay for. And even though i know i'll finally loose any respect from fellow board members: i just put the cheapest chinese uv+ir cut filters on my lenses as protectiv covers, and even though they may not be good, they improved my images.