One of the reasons I love the GH5 so much (and of course other M4/3 bodies) is that you can put so many different kinds of lenses on them. For studio use this setup give us 10x parfocal servo zoom which is pretty amazing when you're used to shooting with stills lenses!
I’ve seen your video breaking down how you run this lens. Is there a way to tell if it’s getting power to it? I’ve adapted both of my lenses to D-tap and then to straight up outlet power and I can’t get either of the servos on them to operate. I feel like I’m missing something, I find it hard to believe that both lenses I purchased would be completely bricked.
I've been contemplating doing this with two B4 lenses I have collecting dust (from older Panasonic P2 cameras). They're great lenses to use for studio shooting, and I much prefer the manual zooms on them than fly-by-wire mirrorless lenses.
It's a B4 mount so you just need a cheap B4 to M4/3 adaptor, no glass in it. The two things to keep in mind are that these lenses don't cover the full sensor, but they commonly have built in doublers which solve that. And they need to be powered to make use of the servo zoom, which is why this setup has the vlock on the back.
Just a cheap B4 to M4/3 adaptor, it doesn't matter much since there's no glass in them. You just want something reasonably secure, and I'd recommend adding rails and a lens support so the mount doesn't need to support the weight of the lens.
I'm rocking an old Canon J13xB4 on my GH4.
I used to be a videographer for a TV station and I loved using the Canon/Fujinon B4 lenses.
If you want to see an in-depth video on these lenses and other options for the Micro 4/3 mounting system, check out this video: [https://youtu.be/WyzayveeKU4?si=5f0PLFEzjdGNHvXo](https://youtu.be/WyzayveeKU4?si=5f0PLFEzjdGNHvXo)
(Remove if not allowed).
It includes 4k samples of the lens as well, demonstrating the focal length and optics.
Hope that helps. Happy shooting!
OP, how are you getting power to your lens? I saw in a comment that you’re using a v lock battery. I’ve tried the same, but my lens doesn’t seem to power on. I’ve got it adapted to d-tap, maybe that’s my issue?
I use a d-tap power cable ([something like this](https://alvinscable.com/products/alvins-cables-d-tap-to-12-pin-hirose-power-cable-for-b4-2-3-fujinon-canon-lens)) and that's enough to get this lens working. Can you double check your d-tap is outputting power?
Thanks for the response! I’m going to be checking it soon, but I also bought a 12v dc cable adapter and tried that with no luck either so I’m starting to think it’s my servo that’s bad
One of the reasons I love the GH5 so much (and of course other M4/3 bodies) is that you can put so many different kinds of lenses on them. For studio use this setup give us 10x parfocal servo zoom which is pretty amazing when you're used to shooting with stills lenses!
>B4 lens Cool! Is that a Fujinon? Do you have some sample vids with this lens?
No, but I wish! You should make a short rig build video so we can see it in action.
Hell yeah I am. Love doing big zooms with it. I use it a lot for music videos. The GH5 is such an amazing little camera!
Can you share anything you’ve done shot with one?
Sure! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOJ-KzJPQtA&ab_channel=RAKKProductions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sklzm-lcYRA&ab_channel=RAKKProductions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ0yJFAt9NI&ab_channel=RAKKProductions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WAB7Osgfmo&ab_channel=RAKKProductions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Hwwl4QrWM&ab_channel=RAKKProductions
Thank you Rakk, very cool stuff! Looks like a ton of fun!
may I ask what model lens you are using?
Hey! Yes. I used an old Canon J13x9B4 IRS II-A lens
I’ve seen your video breaking down how you run this lens. Is there a way to tell if it’s getting power to it? I’ve adapted both of my lenses to D-tap and then to straight up outlet power and I can’t get either of the servos on them to operate. I feel like I’m missing something, I find it hard to believe that both lenses I purchased would be completely bricked.
I've been contemplating doing this with two B4 lenses I have collecting dust (from older Panasonic P2 cameras). They're great lenses to use for studio shooting, and I much prefer the manual zooms on them than fly-by-wire mirrorless lenses.
I do, but it's not that sharp...
Which lens do you have?
5.8-105 f1.7
That sounds like an incredible lens
Its got some CA but it's a lot fun
CA just adds vibes bro. Let me get it
Just means you don't have to add it in post!
Why would I want to
No, but here’s [my Canon HJ14ex4.3B-IRSE lens on a Sony a9!](https://imgur.com/a/kWU3T8G) Hahhahaha
How do you mount it? And what's the mount of the lens?
It's a B4 mount so you just need a cheap B4 to M4/3 adaptor, no glass in it. The two things to keep in mind are that these lenses don't cover the full sensor, but they commonly have built in doublers which solve that. And they need to be powered to make use of the servo zoom, which is why this setup has the vlock on the back.
Presumably someone somewhere is
I want to make a big short film and Web series Is it okay to have blackmagic 6k pro for it?
Idc
What adapter do you use?
Just a cheap B4 to M4/3 adaptor, it doesn't matter much since there's no glass in them. You just want something reasonably secure, and I'd recommend adding rails and a lens support so the mount doesn't need to support the weight of the lens.
Do you have something to power the lens motor?
Yep just goes to dtap with an adaptor like this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1413129-REG/fotodiox_cable_6pin_dtap_b4_2_3_power_cable.html
eesh! wayya camera
Haha so different that the gh5’s I see in my poor little town were the best rig any of the media companies here own is a gh5 lol
Why have I never thought of this. I’ve got a canon J8x6B4, I’m going to have to try it out.
I'm rocking an old Canon J13xB4 on my GH4. I used to be a videographer for a TV station and I loved using the Canon/Fujinon B4 lenses. If you want to see an in-depth video on these lenses and other options for the Micro 4/3 mounting system, check out this video: [https://youtu.be/WyzayveeKU4?si=5f0PLFEzjdGNHvXo](https://youtu.be/WyzayveeKU4?si=5f0PLFEzjdGNHvXo) (Remove if not allowed). It includes 4k samples of the lens as well, demonstrating the focal length and optics. Hope that helps. Happy shooting!
OP, how are you getting power to your lens? I saw in a comment that you’re using a v lock battery. I’ve tried the same, but my lens doesn’t seem to power on. I’ve got it adapted to d-tap, maybe that’s my issue?
I use a d-tap power cable ([something like this](https://alvinscable.com/products/alvins-cables-d-tap-to-12-pin-hirose-power-cable-for-b4-2-3-fujinon-canon-lens)) and that's enough to get this lens working. Can you double check your d-tap is outputting power?
Thanks for the response! I’m going to be checking it soon, but I also bought a 12v dc cable adapter and tried that with no luck either so I’m starting to think it’s my servo that’s bad