Panasonic GF2 manual focusing

[lxmike]

Only had my GF2 a few days and was wondering how o rather which menu do I go through to use manual focus lenses on my GF2, I realise that I also have to use adapters

regards Mike

[russelljtdyer]

When attaching a Leica M-Mount lens with an adapter or other such lens to the Lumix GF2 (and GF1), the camera won't recognize that there is a lens present. It will think that there is not a lens attached to it when you connect one and therefore not allow you to take pictures. So you have to tell it to ignore that fact and operate normally.

Go to "Menu", then "Custom" menu. Look for "Shoot w/o Lens". Set it to 'On'. This will cause the camera to function without a lens, to function as if there is one present. It won't receive any information from the lens (e.g., aperture settings), but the image sensor will still receive the focused light coming through the lens. So, if you set the camera to Aperture priority, it will adjust the shutter speed for the light coming in.

Unlike a manual focus lens such as a Zeiss ZE lens on a Canon EOS camera, you won't have any confirmation when the image is in focus. So, you'll have to focus visually only. This can be very difficult with the LCD live view display or even with the EVF (electronic viewfinder) attachment. To make it easier, push in the rear dial to get an enlarged view on the screen so that you can judge better the focus. If you have the time for setting a shot, you could alternatively try to judge the distance to the subject and then use the measurements on the lens to set the focus. That sometimes is easier to get a focused shot.

Because the focal lens of a lens made for a 35mm film camera is a little more than doubled with the small image sensor of a micro four-thirds camera, camera shake is exaggerated--and the Lumix models don't provide any in-camera image stabilization; they expect stabilization to be in the lens. The Olympus models have in-camera image stabilization, but I've not tested that with a legacy lens. To get the image quality you expect from a Leica M or Zeiss ZM lens with your Lumix camera, you may either need to shoot in full sun light or to use a tripod or some other device or method to keep the camera still. You should use also use when possible either a remote shutter release cable (Hama makes an inexpensive one) or use the self timer to give the camera a chance to stop shaking after you press the shutter release button.

[JoeV]

Originally Posted by russelljtdyer

...Because the focal lens of a lens made for a 35mm film camera is a little more than doubled with the small image sensor of a micro four-thirds camera ...

Of course, the focal length of the lens doesn't change, focal length is a physical property of the lens. I think what you meant was that the angle of view of a legacy lens, adapted to a m-4/3 camera, is equivalent to that of a lens of about double the focal length when mounted to a 135-format camera.

It might also benefit the OP to know that he should set his camera to Aperture Priority mode ("A" mode) when using legacy lenses. This will cause the camera to set the shutter speed based upon the light passing through the stopped-down lens aperture and the camera's ISO setting.

As for general use of your new camera, I might also suggest that you don't use the spot metering mode, as you can get wonky exposures if, for instance, the spot happens to fall upon a dark patch in an otherwise bright scene, the camera will grossly over-expose the scene. I prefer to use my G1 in center-weighted metering, with the metering and AF box set to about 1/3 the width of the frame.

Good luck and show us some photos!

~Joe

[huyvuvn]

hello , could anyone know the answer : the lastest firmware of GF2 is 1.0 or 1.1 ? thanks

[lxmike]

many many thanks for the help chaps, this information is invaluable

[lxmike]

has anyone used any of the Pentax 110 lenses, especially the 70mm 2.8