It is with the new Canon 70D, with its dual-pixel CMOS technology. Works a treat.

<<I think I can get some lenses that I would use on both cameras if I get the right ones. >>

You are 100% correct. Nikon's midrange and top line cameras can use the older AI (Auto Indexing) lenses. You can also use older, non-AI lenses but they will need a slight modification first, else they could damage your camera body.

I have purchased Nikon and Minolta lenses for my Panasonic cameras. Minolta's older MD mount manual lenses are terrific optically and are very inexpensive to buy. In my experience with the GH1 and GH2, some Nikon lenses added a purplish tinge to my images, whereas the Minolta lenses do not. Both of my Nikon lenses are pre-AI and have the brownish tint and (with the GH1/2/3) produce MUCH nicer skin tones than the newer versions of the same lens. I'm fortunate to have a local shop with a huge selection of used lenses so I was able to directly able to compare them. The nice thing is that the pre-AI lenses are less expensive. I picked up a 1958 vintage Nikkor 105mm/f2.5 and have used it on several interviews. I've also used the old Nikkor lens on our D7000 and the results have been excellent.

The sequence 30 seconds in was shot with the Nikon 105mm (GH3):

The sequence 50 seconds in was shot with the Minolta 50mm (GH3):

I use a Photodiox adapter ($30 Amazon) with both lenses. Comprehensive info. on Nikon lenses, mounting compatibility, and mods can be found here: http://legacy2digital.com/nikon/convert-my-lens

@Guy S. Thanks so much for all that. Wonderful to know. Just what I hoped. You do work for Rigid? Wow. Nice stuff!

>>So to conclude this wonderful discussion (kind of.. for now) I bought a GH2 used with a Panasonic Lumix Original 14-140mm lens (may get another lens down the road). I got it for $450 with the lens which seemed really fair and about all I could afford from the sale of my last camera. I am so happy with it.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! I would never have made such an educated, well informed decision and bought this camera. I would have ended up with some other good-for-nothing random DSLR. Lol. Appreciate all the kind advice and comments. Thank you all so very much.

Now I just have to figure out how to use it, what the heck all this stuff it says in the manual means, then how to hack it, and how to shoot stunning time lapse and get pro-quality landscape video's and short films with it and of course edit it all to perfection with Sony Vegas. ...But *phew* at least the hardest part is over. LOL!

thanks again everyone,

J

Good choice. Now go to personal-view.com and learn how to hack your camera. Moon T7 is the hack of choice for cinematic looks. Using the right SD card and this hack can produce amazing results. (There is a learning curve on understanding how and what the hack does, but once you've done it it's no different than the normal cam mode).

Yea, the hack is really important with the GH2. It is a piece of cake to do and to use so don't be scared at all.

For lenses, if you are comfortable with manual focus, and for video you should be, and it is DEAD easy on the GH4, consider Nikon lenses. Old manual focus Nikon lenses can be had for a song and a couple of beads on a thread. They are fantastic quality, and with a cheap (or less cheap if you go metabones) they fit the GHx series (any M4/3) great.

You can get an excellent quality 100mm f/2.8 for $100, a 300mm at twice that. A 50mm f/1.4 would set you back something similar.

GHx, with an adapter an manual focus Nikon lenses are a match made in heaven for video.

I've used Sandisk Extreme 32GB cards with my GH2 for a couple of years, (I have 3 of the cards) and have had no issues at all, it's 45MB/sec, and about 3+ hours each of video. If you hack it, then I would suggest going with the Extreme Pro, which is waterproof, guaranteed for life, and runs at 95MB/sec, with 64GB.

And buy a couple extra batteries. Pretty cheap now, I think I paid about $60 each, but should be much less now.

[I]>  For lenses, if you are comfortable with manual focus, and for video you should be, and it is DEAD easy on the GH4, consider Nikon lenses. [/I]

I am not that comfortable with manual focus. I wear pretty strong progressive bifocal glasses and by the time I've squinted things roughly in focus, whatever it was that I was trying to shoot will have come and gone.

I typically let the camera do as much as it can and only set things manually in situations where the camera will mess it up. The Panasonic mirrorless cameras are awesome for this approach. You can go full manual, full auto, intelligent modes for specific types of shots, and dedicated one button controls to override anything you want to take over.

>GHx, with an adapter an manual focus Nikon lenses are a match made in heaven for video.

Terje, I have some nice Nikon glass, but they are auto focus. Since they can also be used in manual focus mode, will they work with the GH4 and the metabones adapter? If so, do you recommend the standard or speed booster adapter?

/jerry

So I got it hacked with the Moon T7 and so far so good. Wow! Just incredible video. You guys were so right. This camera (hacked) is phenominal.
I did get some extra batterys (four chinese ones) some filters and an intervalometer. I even shot some timelapse today and am so excited. Wow. I cant believe I can do this. Two weeks ago it seemed like a nother world to me.

The camera I bought included a Nikon lens adapter so I am going to keep an eye out for one of those. Right now the 14-140 is working great! Beautiful results.

So so much every one. I look forward to posting a video with it here later this summer. Hopefully. :)
You guys are the best.

J

>>Right now the 14-140 is working great!

Don't forget ETC mode will give you a X4 additional zoom should you need it.
Also if you work in 1280x720P check that your camera spans correctly. If not you can always drop the bitrate a tad using the hacktool. I suspect most of the hack development time was devoted to the 24P mode.

Enjoy.

>> I have some nice Nikon glass, but they are auto focus. Since they can also
>> be used in manual focus mode, will they work with the GH4 and the
>> metabones adapter?

Yes.

>> by the time I've squinted things roughly in focus

Not an issue with the GH4, once stuff is in focus it gets a nice blue shimmer around it. If you can see blue you are good.