GH4 Lens

I have the GH4 and the 14 to 140 Lens and I want more zoom but I understand non Pan and Zeiss Lens don't have full function with Panasonic cameras but they are too expensive for my budget.

Can someone tell me what function is missing and if there a work around.I was hoping to get 400mm or so

I appreciate any advice....Thanks...Jeff

The GH4 does not have the 'in body image stabilization' [IBIS] found in current Panasonic [and Olympus] bodies.  Instead the older bodies depended on in lens 'optical image stabilization' [OIS].

Image stabilization helps compensate for camera movement, but does nothing for subject movement.

Panasonic has two series of lenses - the Leica branded lenses are 'faster' and much more expensive.

There are 45-200 & 100-300 mm options - checking B&H the longer lens is almost double the price of the 45-200.

If you only need occasional use of the lens - rentals are a possibility. Otherwise, you may want to check for used and refurbished prices

Hudsonriver wrote:

I have the GH4 and the 14 to 140 Lens and I want more zoom but I understand non Pan and Zeiss Lens don't have full function with Panasonic cameras but they are too expensive for my budget.

Can someone tell me what function is missing and if there a work around.I was hoping to get 400mm or so

I appreciate any advice....Thanks...Jeff

We don't have a non adapted Zeiss lens yet... Do you mean the Panasonic Leica instead?

Are you talking about 400mm eq AoV to FF or 400mm physical focal length in native M43? If 400mm eq AoV, there are the cheap 45-200 f/4-5.6 and 100-300 f/4-5.6 that can have an eq AoV to FF of 400mm/600mm. Mark I of these 2 lenses are very cost friendly, even their Mk-II versions are not costly. But these 2 lenses have to be stopped down to f/7.1-8 for better result.

There are also the premium version 200 f/2.8 with a 1.4x TC to give 280 focal length or 560 eq AoV to FF, the 50-200 f/2.8-4 or Olympus 300 f/4, 40-150 f/2.8 w/ 1.4x TC etc...

If you need a physical focal length of 400, the expensive Pany Leica 100-400 is the only option recently.

Thanks DLevitt for that information

I did'nt know there was a !00 to 300 mm lens. I was going to sell my G4 at a huge loss but now I will check out that lens ...Thanks ...Jeff

Thanks alcelc for that great tutorial and yes its Leica not Zeiss and I see what you mean about the size of the sensor and the impact on the lens

I will go back to square one and rethink..Thanks....Jeff