Panasonic G1 to ... ?

amnesia

amnesia

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Daniel
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Hi all,

I bought a Panasonic G1 with 14-45mm in May this year and added the 45-200mm a couple of months later. I originally bought this because it was small and wouldn't be a problem to take on holiday (which it wasn't).

However, I have discovered that I am particularly interested in 'product' photography and macro and whilst the G1 has brought be some good results with the lenses I have I am very unwilling to spend £750+ on a dedicated m4/3rds macro lens.

I would also REALLY like to be able to tether to a laptop, as would lots of other G1 users it would seem, but it's unlikely to happen.

Sooo, I am thinking of upgrading (?) to a full blown SLR, and very probably a Nikon D5000 or D90.
I have seen software that allows tethering for the D5000, but I don't think you can actually 'control' and fire the shutter from the laptop. Is this correct ?

With the D7000 out soon is it worth hanging on for a while and waiting for the D5000 twin lens kit prices to come down a little (to ease the pain) ?

Is the D90 significantly better than the D5000 ? Can you control the D90 from a tethered laptop ?


Any help / advice would be appreciated... :thumbs:

Cheers,
Daniel.
 
I had a canon 450D before selling it to get a G1 that came with software to hook it up to a laptop and have full ccontroll over it. It was called EOS utilty.
 
The canon's are the only ones that come with remote shooting (tethered use) software and you can control everything bar the shooting mode from the camera, so changing ISO, shutter speed, aperture, bracketing, compensation, focal point,focusing, depth of field preview, white balance etc is just a click of the mouse.
 
Full control is not mandatory, but would be nice... just previewing on a large screen would be handy.

I am assuming apart from the lack of swivel LCD, the D90 beats the D5000 hands down ?
 
amnesia said:
Full control is not mandatory, but would be nice... just previewing on a large screen would be handy.

I am assuming apart from the lack of swivel LCD, the D90 beats the D5000 hands down ?
Click to expand...

Apparently the D5000 has slightly better high ISO performance.
 
squishy said:
Apparently the D5000 has slightly better high ISO performance.
Click to expand...

No it doesn't, they should be the same as they have the same sensor. The D5000 is the D90 minus the AF with older lens and other prosumer bits and pieces.

If you use lightroom 3, you can teether shoot with most cameras through that.

What is it you feel the G1 lacks? If you want to shoot macro you don't have to shell out for the leica 45mm. You can use step up rings, or how about manual macro lens?
 
Willo said:
No it doesn't, they should be the same as they have the same sensor. The D5000 is the D90 minus the AF with older lens and other prosumer bits and pieces.
Click to expand...

They might have the same sensor, but the electronics behind it could be different.
 
I do get a bit tiered seeing the D5000 slatted, when we all know it is essentially, a D90 with a swivel screen, a pentamirror viewfinder, no, on board focus motor. The menus are almost identical, as is the processor . . . therefor the image quality is comparable, its down to the tog how good his/her work is from either body.

My limited experience tells me, the new motorised lenses can be faster to focus and quieter, than the antiquated Nikon screw system? That is no criticism, it has worked well for many years, but life moves on.

Why get down and grovel in the dirt . . . ? when a swivel screen is available? The down side, it is a bit slow focusing . . . I can live with it, I have a dodgy knee and not in my first flush of youth.

Look here:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond5000/

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond90/

See direct comparisons, makes interesting reading . . . IMHO

If the 90 had had a swivel screen that would have suited me, but as the comparison spec., shows, the 5000 is 'there abouts', with knit picking differences, it just dont seem to have carried the street cred over?

If you want a shed load of 'old, steam driven lenses' to coo over, are a 'in your dreams, wana be pro'??? . . . D90:thumbs:

If you want to pay less, have comparable IQ, and get on with taking pictures . . . D5000

The old lenses can be better quality glass . . . and some times cheaper? Can you make use of this sort of potential IQ? Thats the only issue I see in D90 v D5000, the rest are preferences.

CJS
 
manualfocus-g said:
Quick suggestion, macro photography is often done in manual focus mode due to the narrow depth of field. Why don't you buy a manual focus macro lens for £75-£100 and an adapter for your G1?
Click to expand...

Yes, I have considered this... although I still won't be able to tether to a laptop.

Now that I have spent some time with it, I do find the G1 a little small to handle. I suspect a grip would make it handle better in my hands, but again, Panasonic don't appear to be about to produce one. The low light capability is also a bit limited on the G1, with even ISO 800 being rather grainy in anything other than good light.

A colleague at work has a D5000 - I will see if I can borrow it for the weekend and see how I get on.
 
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