"Panasonic G series" Owners Thread

[Stephen L]

The IQ, not to mention the range of physically smaller excellent lenses (not saying the Sony's aren't impressive, just that because of the physics of FF they are larger and heavier) is why I've just swapped from the A7C to the GX9 and am in the process of building up a lens arsenal.

 

[trevorbray]

The IQ, not to mention the range of physically smaller excellent lenses (not saying the Sony's aren't impressive, just that because of the physics of FF they are larger and heavier) is why I've just swapped from the A7C to the GX9 and am in the process of building up a lens arsenal.

Crikey. Didn’t see that coming.

 

[Stephen L]

Crikey. Didn’t see that coming.

Ah well, it's mainly down to the size and weight of the lenses. Even if I'd gone back to the A6500, the choice of zoom lenses for that format is limited and in my opinion the FF versions just aren't suited to neither the camera nor my shoulders. I was in at the start of m4/3, and re-processing some of my original files in modern software, especially DxO PureRaw, showed me that m4/3 was more than adequate for my needs.

 

[Stephen L]

This taken this afternoon on my walk round the parish.

PLGX3962-RW2_DxO_DeepPRIME.jpg by Stephen Lee, on Flickr

 

[woof woof]

Ah well, it's mainly down to the size and weight of the lenses. Even if I'd gone back to the A6500, the choice of zoom lenses for that format is limited and in my opinion the FF versions just aren't suited to neither the camera nor my shoulders. I was in at the start of m4/3, and re-processing some of my original files in modern software, especially DxO PureRaw, showed me that m4/3 was more than adequate for my needs.

This is IMO one big advantage of shooting raw as as processing software improves over the years you can revisit any problem pictures and have another go at them.

I was gutted today as I wanted a GM5 and managed to get one but there's an issue with it so if I get my money back I think I'll give up and try and be happy with what I have.

 

[woof woof]

Thats pretty impressive for such a massive ISO.

There is noise which is clearly visible in the colour picture if you go looking for it but I doubt any normal person would comment on it and even us nit picking geeks would very possibly be perfectly happy looking at a whole picture on screen and I'm sure it'd make a nice print too.

 

[Stephen L]

Another from yesterday. I think I like this camera. Can't wait to get some more lenses.

From the High Way by Stephen Lee, on Flickr

 

[woof woof]

Yup they are nice and have some nice touches but I actually use my GX80 more.

What lenses are you looking at?

If only the A7c was a FF GX9

 

[woof woof]

Can anyone recommend anyone for Panasonic camera repairs?

 

[Stephen L]

Yup they are nice and have some nice touches but I actually use my GX80 more.

What lenses are you looking at?

If only the A7c was a FF GX9

If it were FF we would be back on the merry-go-round of larger and heavier lenses.

Should be getting the Oly 12-45 Pro in a few days, along with a Panny 25mm. Probably also grab an Oly 40-150 (not pro) and maybe a Laowa 10mm.

 

[tijuana taxi]

Another from yesterday. I think I like this camera. Can't wait to get some more lenses.

From the High Way by Stephen Lee, on Flickr

I agree Stephen, think its actually my favourite camera ever.
Did you get the eyecup I recommended in an earlier post?
Makes a big difference when using the evf, bit bulky in the bag so I turn mine back on itself.
Going out today with it and the 12-45, stays on there most of the time now.
Bought and returned the additional grip, didn't like it in use and it was annoying with no cut out for the battery / card compartment.

 

[Stephen L]

I agree Stephen, think its actually my favourite camera ever.
Did you get the eyecup I recommended in an earlier post?
Makes a big difference when using the evf, bit bulky in the bag so I turn mine back on itself.
Going out today with it and the 12-45, stays on there most of the time now.
Bought and returned the additional grip, didn't like it in use and it was annoying with no cut out for the battery / card compartment.

Yes, I got the eyecup (had difficulty finding one). It’s useful but with the camera on its strap over my shoulder the EVF keeps flipping up. Might tape it down. I’ve considered a 3rd party grip but I’m still on the fence.

 

[Snapsh0t]

I always recommend the JJC grip. I think the actual grip may be a bit smaller than the OEM version but it does have an opening for the battery.

 

[woof woof]

If it were FF we would be back on the merry-go-round of larger and heavier lenses.

Should be getting the Oly 12-45 Pro in a few days, along with a Panny 25mm. Probably also grab an Oly 40-150 (not pro) and maybe a Laowa 10mm.

Luckily for me I generally like shorter length primes so the size and weight of my A7+ any of the modern AF lenses I have isn't usually a problem for me. It'd only be an issue for me if I went for a long zoom or one of the new wave of top end f1.2/f1.4 primes. This is why when thinking about bulk and weight I generally only use MFT with my 45-150 and 100-400mm lenses as with anything else mostly I might as well use my A7 as there just isn't enough saving with MFT. Longer and heavier FF lenses just aren't for me either so MFT still has a place, also when I want to shoot silently.

 

[Snapsh0t]

I originally took this as a sales shot but, for some reason, I like it.

 

[CSB]

I originally took this as a sales shot but, for some reason, I like it.
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Looks cool. What are they?

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

Longer and heavier FF lenses just aren't for me either so MFT still has a place, also when I want to shoot silently.

The GM5 is the ideal M43 camera, so far as I'm concerned. Two of them fit into a titchy bag and no-one seems to notice them - not even the red one!

 

[Snapsh0t]

Looks cool. What are they?

High-pressure air connectors. Some years ago one brand of airgun used a valved version of the male on the gun and the female on the hose from the HPA supply. It then became the de-facto connector for making quick connects for other makes of airgun that use different connectors.


Oh, and high pressure means up to 300bar/4500psi.

 

[Stephen L]

Nipping over the border tomorrow to Clitheroe to the importers of Laowa lenses. Take a look at the 10mm and maybe even buy one.

 

[Cockney]

Nipping over the border tomorrow to Clitheroe to the importers of Laowa lenses. Take a look at the 10mm and maybe even buy one.

Maybe.

 

[Pete B]

I just popped in from the Olympus thread to say hello.

Just bought a GX9 mainly for street photos and am loving it so far, tilt screen rather than the rotatable one, and far less stand out than my black and silver Pen-F.

Almost bought an all black Pen-F but they are far more money, used, than a new GX9, and why not try something different.

Got the 20mm mk1, and the amazingly small 12-32 and 35-100 zooms and 2 spare batterys. that means my whole kit fits in 2 coat pockets.

My biggest annoyance atm is the screen focus. On both my Olys, when I touch the screen somewhere they will focus and take a shot. The GX only seems to focus. A bit annoying when I want to grab a fast shot.

And here's one I took on my first outing, but with my Oly 45mm
Arm in arm by Pete Banks, on Flickr

 

[Stephen L]

Maybe.

Well, made it over the border and back (luckily Lancashire is in the green zone). Lo and behold I bought the Laowa 10mm. Tiny wee thing. They took pity on me, being a native Lancastrian on missionary work in Yorkshire, and gave me a small discount. They had a vast array of both Panasonic and Olympus kit. I was sorely tempted. I may be back.

 

[Cockney]

Well, made it over the border and back (luckily Lancashire is in the green zone). Lo and behold I bought the Laowa 10mm. Tiny wee thing. They took pity on me, being a native Lancastrian on missionary work in Yorkshire, and gave me a small discount. They had a vast array of both Panasonic and Olympus kit. I was sorely tempted. I may be back.

Well done, we need people like you to push those boundaries. Enjoy the lens.

 

[Testudo Man]

A great season this year with the Adonis Blues, ive shot quite a lot at f/16 too!.....Panasonic G80/Panny 45-150mm/500D close up filter. f/16 1/250 ISO640 103mm. Single image.

A "wild" 2nd brood male Adonis Blue Butterfly, basking in late August. Image is not cropped, handheld, jpeg, tweaked the levels some, but not far from the original jpeg.
The reason for using f/16, is im always trying to capture as much of the butterfly in focus as possible, not easy to do this close to the subject, without cropping the image.

Male Adonis Blue Butterfly. No Cropping. by Tort Man, on Flickr

 

[woof woof]

f16 though? FF equiv of f32?

With MFT I apply the crop factor to aperture and generally shoot wide open to f5.6 with very occasional forays to f8-10. Do you see any real advantage going to f16?

 

[Testudo Man]

f16 though? FF equiv of f32?

With MFT I apply the crop factor to aperture and generally shoot wide open to f5.6 with very occasional forays to f8-10. Do you see any real advantage going to f16?

You will not capture everything in focus using f/5.6, f/8, f/10 etc. Not with all my variables taken into account, such as - always using a close up filter attached to lens, subject approx 30cms distance, filling the frame without the need to crop etc. etc. Closed wings shots are much easier, so i do drop down to f/8 to f/11. But when it comes to a basking open winged butterfly, its extremely difficult to capture all four wings, body/head, antennae etc. all in focus/on the same focal plane. Ive tried for years, using various camera setups...an failed for the most part!

 

[woof woof]

I'm familiar with the 45-150mm and close up filters but even so f16 seems a little extreme as you're camped well into diffraction territory. I'd have thought an open wing shot like that would require less dof than a closed wing shot as the subject is relatively flat, but you were there and I wasn't.

 

[Stephen L]

The trouble with the subject of diffraction is that, though the theory shows that blurring will occur, in practice how much of that you can get away with varies according to other variables, such as the use of supplementary lenses, subject, angle, etc. If it were a hard and fast problem then surely makers would not want their lenses to exhibit it and thus restrict the maximum aperture available.

 

[Testudo Man]

I'm familiar with the 45-150mm and close up filters but even so f16 seems a little extreme as you're camped well into diffraction territory. I'd have thought an open wing shot like that would require less dof than a closed wing shot as the subject is relatively flat, but you were there and I wasn't.

As youve said - "subject was relatively flat", but in this case (an most cases of butterflies basking/open winged) the butterfly is not really flat at all. The 4 wing tips will almost be on the same focal plane, then everything else will be on different focal planes, the rest of the wings, the body/head/antennea will be some depth/distance from wingtips, hence the need to go f/16, if i wanted everything in focus, with this subject posing in this manor.
On ocassion, butterflies will bask really opened winged, flattened right out(generally early mornings) if you are lucky enough to see this, perhaps with my same set up, you could get away with less than f/16?

An example of a male Adonis with wings closed, shot on the same day, with the same set up, but shot at - f/10 1/250 ISO500 103mm.
Note just how flat this butterfly is, but even at f/10, i couldnt get the furthest distance end of the antenna in focus!

Male Adonis Blue Butterfly. No Cropping. by Tort Man, on Flickr

 

[Stephen L]

Either way, they’re lovely photos displayed in context with little or no distractions.

 

[Testudo Man]

The trouble with the subject of diffraction is that, though the theory shows that blurring will occur, in practice how much of that you can get away with varies according to other variables, such as the use of supplementary lenses, subject, angle, etc. If it were a hard and fast problem then surely makers would not want their lenses to exhibit it and thus restrict the maximum aperture available.

You make some good points.
The Panny 45-150mm is not a "serious lens", i guess its a basic performer. By attaching a canon 500D close up filter(with a +2 dioptres) its changed the behaviour of that lens (especially at 103mm). The butterfly is very much alive, its contantly moving, im holding the camera in one hand, for this shot to work for me, for me to capture this much of the butterfly in focus, i need to go to somewhere in the region of f/16...ive tried to make these kinds of shots many many times (with less than f/16) but ive failed to get as much of the butterfly in focus.
No doubt, in a controlled environment, with a flat/dead subject, on a tripod/rail (with all the time in the world) then with my exact camera set up, using less then f/16, to obtain the same kinda results...would be a breeze/easy peasy.

 

[Testudo Man]

Either way, they’re lovely photos displayed in context with little or no distractions.

Cheers for that. Ive had a good butterfly year...but now the season is coming to a close, its a long wait (March/April 2022) before it re-starts once again.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

You make some good points.
The Panny 45-150mm is not a "serious lens",

It seems like a serious lens to me, so much so that I have two. Paired with the little GM5 it's an excellent walk about lens and I'm happy with the results,,,

 

[Testudo Man]

It seems like a serious lens to me, so much so that I have two. Paired with the little GM5 it's an excellent walk about lens and I'm happy with the results,,,

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Yeah, i meant in the grand scheme of things, i mean, theres plenty of "high end" lenses out there (which i dont own!). I wasnt knocking the lens, just saying it might have some limitations, if you choose to shoot around f/16???...I quite like using it myself.

A wild male Adder, same camera/lens/close up filter used. Shot this at - 150mm!!...f/7.1 1/500 ISO200
As usual - handheld, jpeg, single image, no cropping, minimal PP.

PS, always show caution when getting this close to/shooting venomous snakes like our Vipera berus...Ive been observing Adders in the wild for over a decade, so i have some insight into their behaviour.

Male Adder (Vipera berus). by Tort Man, on Flickr

 

[Damo1]

Don’t mean to interrupt but iv been playing with my old gx7 and 25mm 1.7 and I absolutely love it

that is all

 

[d00d]

f16 though? FF equiv of f32?

With MFT I apply the crop factor to aperture and generally shoot wide open to f5.6 with very occasional forays to f8-10. Do you see any real advantage going to f16?

I go down to f/16 sometimes when using my Leica 45mm f/2.8 macro, Pana 25mm f/1.7 too, when getting in really close.

I don't mentally double the f/ numbers, just tend to avoid the smallest. Stacking is the answer, of course, but tricky with butterflies .......... unless they're fresh out the killing jar.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

Don’t mean to interrupt but iv been playing with my old gx7 and 25mm 1.7 and I absolutely love it

The GX7 with the 12~32mm is a marvelous combination. I think of it as a Leica that's evolved past the need for glass windows in the front!

 

[Damo1]

The GX7 with the 12~32mm is a marvelous combination. I think of it as a Leica that's evolved past the need for glass windows in the front!

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I’m really enjoying it , it’s got me wondering about the later models

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

I’m really enjoying it , it’s got me wondering about the later models

I've tried the GX8 and my opinion is that it's not as nice as the GX7.

It has several technical improvements but the body is bigger, heavier and not as comfortable in the hand. Of course, everyone's tastes are different and you may prefer it.

 

[Testudo Man]

I go down to f/16 sometimes when using my Leica 45mm f/2.8 macro, Pana 25mm f/1.7 too, when getting in really close.

I don't mentally double the f/ numbers, just tend to avoid the smallest. Stacking is the answer, of course, but tricky with butterflies .......... unless they're fresh out the killing jar.

Yeah, im not bothered about comparing FF f/numbers, exif data, do or donts, should or should nots...im only interested in the kinda results that im wanting to get out of my images.

Anyone killing creatures just for the sake of shooting some images for themselves, should be hung drawn an quartered...burnt at the stake...an flogged within an inch of their lives

Heres another one of my butterfly images, where im pushing the boundries/living on the edge!!! but its not MFT, it has a much smaller sensor than that!

Sensor size is a tiny 1/2.3", 12 MP, shot at f/8, which would mean FF equiv of beyond f/45. Hand held, Jpeg, minimal PP, single image, which is not cropped.

Male Adonis Blue Butterfly, close up. 2nd brood. No Cropping. by Tort Man, on Flickr