Cheap fixed focal length lens for Pany GM1? Goal: low light capable portraits w/ creamy bokeh

As some of you know, I recently acquired a Panasonic DMC-GM1 (japanese only) for a good price. I am considering getting some kind of fixed focal length lens that would be:

- low light capable (preferably 1.8 or less, better yet 1.4, etc)

- cheap

- deliver delicious creamy bokeh

- be good for portraits

In this case, I am willing to deal with manual-only focus, to keep the cost down. I've done enough reading through tons of reviews to know that I could get a Sigma or similar for $150-200 that would fit the bill and have auto-focus, but ... well ... I'm cheap And it would be nice to have such a lens that I would not worry about, if anything happened.

To this end, I've been looking at various options like cctv/security lenses from Fujian, Holga and others. Then I started to think CRAZY thoughts. It could be the lack of sleep or too much coffee. But, I keep wondering "why can't I pair up one of those wonderful legacy lenses from Canon, Olympus, Nikon, Minolta, Sigma (etc, etc) and simply match it up to the GM1 using an adapter.

I'm not sure what mm is the best choice: 30mm / 35mm, 45mm, 50mm, 60mm, 70mm etc.  But, in my fever, I started to postulate why I couldn't I have it all (sans auto-focus): A really high quality lens that - today - goes for very little money on eBay, etc, and get what I want?

For example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sigma-EX-50-f1-4-Canon-mount-perfect-working-condition-/131602936543?hash=item1ea42572df

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SIGMA-30mm-f1-4-EX-DC-HSM-Lens-for-Nikon-Lot-7414-/371440535226?hash=item567b94c6ba

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sigma-AF-ZOOM-LENS-70-21-F-1-4-5-6-Multi-Coated-Made-Japan-Starting-at-1-00-/252094349299?hash=item3ab1fe7ff3

Don't worry about snapping one of these up in my place - there will always be more ...

Ok ... so I have tried to find info on such a combo here and other places, and am reasonably good at searches so perhaps I'm crazy or inane, or I'm just missing something ...

Would some of you very fine people please lend your wisdom and experience? Why are people buying Fujians, etc instead of using an adapter with a quality legacy lens? Some of you wonderful people have certainly tried it already ...

Thank you, in advance, for your sage advice and shutter-buggery.

Regards,

Jeff

I'm not sure how those AF lenses work on an m4/3. You might need a rather specialized, expensive mount which would negate some of the advantage of the low money that these lenses cost. I use an old Nikon manual 50mm 1.8 lens with a cheap, very simple type adaptor on my camera and it works very well. I haven't used it for portraiture exactly, but mostly for musical performance stuff and I really like the look that I get with it. It doesn't seem to be quite as sharp as native m4/3 lenses, but it's still pretty good. It also doesn't seem to focus well at infinity, but if you're using it for stuff like portraiture that's not going to matter anyway. It's definitely possible to get some really nice blur/separation with this lens and a 1.4, if you can get one would allow for even more of that.

Some other folks will know better than me which are the very best 50mm lenses to use, but those old 50mm lenses were the ones that came standard on 35mm cameras back in the day and are really common... and fairly cheap. it's a bit short for a portrait type lens on the 35mmm format, but for m4/3 where it works as a longer focal length, it's perfect for that kind of thing. Most of those old 50mm lenses are 1.7 or 1.8 but there are of course 1.4 and 1.2 lenses as well... and you might luck out and find one of those for cheap, but typically they sell for quite a bit more. The more standard 1.7 or 1.8 lenses will probably work fine for you though....

Jeff Kling wrote:

As some of you know, I recently acquired a Panasonic DMC-GM1 (japanese only) for a good price. I am considering getting some kind of fixed focal length lens that would be:

- low light capable (preferably 1.8 or less, better yet 1.4, etc)

- cheap

- deliver delicious creamy bokeh

- be good for portraits

I have used my Olympus 45/1.8 to good effect on the GM1. It doesn't have OIS, but I can't say that I've missed it a lot. If the Panasonic 45/1.7 had existed at the time, I might have considered that instead.

Don't bother with adapted lenses, this range is so well covered within the m4/3 system that there is no point.

Here in the UK I can get the 45mm f1.8 for £179, but the Panasonic 42.5mm f1.7 is £349. The Panasonic may be a bit better (especially on a Panasonic body), but I doubt it is nearly twice as good. At those prices I would still get the Olympus.

I tried adapting my old Pentax 50mm f1.8. It was OK, but the Olympus is far better, especially if the subject moves!

Mark

I am no expert but I do have a couple of old MF "nifty fifties" which translate into portrait lenses on M43. My favourite is an old M42 SMC Super Takumar 55mm f1.8. Picked it up on ebay for £14 plus £10 for an M2 to M43 adapter. Pentax forums has a really good lens database of legacy lenses with ratings for sharpness, bokeh etc...

Probably a bit chunky (built like a tank) on a GM1 but there are a few old Pancakes out there - Hexanon and Minolta - I think - in the 40-45-50mm ball park - which seem to be rated highly. Again I think you can pick these up for £10-30.

I enjoy the manual focus and aperture rings - and if you're shooting portrait the slower time is less of an issue.

I have a GX7 so use MF assist (I find magnified image more useful than focus peaking) - not sure if GM1 has this - but essential I think.

If you pick up a full frame 50 1.4, you will wind up with a 100mm on the GM1, hardly a pancake by the time you add a converter to mount the lens.  Your best bet is to try to find a used M4/3 lens from either Panasonic or Olympus.  Going to an older manual lens will result in a front heavy, possibly less sharp lens (coatings have improved over the years) package.  Good luck with your search.

nothing crazy about what you suggests -- plenty of folks use legacy manual focus lenses with adapters on m4/3.  I had a Minolta 50mm 1.7 MD for a while and took some pleasing images with it.  Something like it would do just fine as a portrait lens -- a 1.4  even better and there are plenty in a variety of makes.  but at the end of the day, the size (lens plus adaptor) and the lack of AF got annoying when there are perfectly good native m4/3 lenses (like the Oly 45 1.8, etc.) that are smaller, lighter (some of the reasons I shifted to m4/3).  And in my experience the rendering and IQ is better overall with the native fast lenses.  admittedly it is more money and if you are cheap no reason not to pursue the MF legacy options.

The size of the blur from a single point directly tracks the diameter of the front lens element.

An old FD50mm F1.4 will be good (36mm dia) but an 85mmF1.8 (47mm) or 100mmF2 (50mm dia) will give bigger creamier blur.

Mark Thornton wrote:

Here in the UK I can get the 45mm f1.8 for £179, but the Panasonic 42.5mm f1.7 is £349. The Panasonic may be a bit better (especially on a Panasonic body), but I doubt it is nearly twice as good. At those prices I would still get the Olympus.

Same here (Sweden), the Panasonic is 2x the price of the Olympus. I don't think that's justified and if Panasonic want to sell their lens the price will eventually have to come down.

I tried adapting my old Pentax 50mm f1.8. It was OK, but the Olympus is far better, especially if the subject moves!

Or in low light. The old nifty fifties were OK back in the day but wide open they can't really compete at all with modern lenses.

Tom Caldwell wrote:

Mark Thornton wrote:

Here in the UK I can get the 45mm f1.8 for £179, but the Panasonic 42.5mm f1.7 is £349. The Panasonic may be a bit better (especially on a Panasonic body), but I doubt it is nearly twice as good. At those prices I would still get the Olympus.

I tried adapting my old Pentax 50mm f1.8. It was OK, but the Olympus is far better, especially if the subject moves!

Mark

Yes but the Takumar 50/1.4 in M42 is brilliant. Get two.

I have one, and it is fun on a reducer as a 35/1.0, but can't compete with the 45/1.8 on the latter's turf.

Cheers Jeff.

I think this is your best bet: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3663617

It's cheap, fast, a bit wider than all those 50mm, and it's by far the smallest you'll find within these constraints.

The only cons I found with this lens is that it will show more severe CA when wide open in high contrast situations when compared to most of the 50mm lenses.

If you plan on shooting B&W, low contrast or if your converter can correct for CA, this might be a non issue.

I bought mine for 4.5€. Seems I got lucky as they are selling for 20£-50£. Good luck hunting.