bought the wrong camera, and now regretting it..

ABPhotography

ABPhotography

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Alex
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Hey All,

I've been a fan of the Panasonic Company since i started out with taking photo's.. All my cameras have been Panasonic (Started off with the FZ Series) I've used their products alot... and happy with them.. Until now.

I Feel really bad, considering alot of my photography equipment i have right now wasn't paid by me.. my Parents support me alot in my photography and feel i've led them into buying me alot of the wrong stuff.. and i really bad now!

I Currently own a Panasonic GH1 which was bought new, but has a few scratches on the Body so now classed as used, along with a 14-140mm and a 100-300mm Lenses that go with the Panasonic GH1.

But as i've become more and more dedicated into Wildlife photography.. well. These lenses and Camera arn't hitting my needs. I Feel really bad especially considering.. they've bought these for me.. and it wasn't out of my own pocket.

Now i'm afraid if i sell them, not only will my parents be really.. annoyed. (and i can understand) but.. also because i probaly won't even get a fraction of the price their worth.. my parents bought the GH1 not long after release.. and paid ALOT of money.. now it's worth pennies since the new GH2.

I really would love to sell all the stuff and save towards a Canon 7D & Sigma 150-500mm... and now it will take alot of work to get it..

I Know it sounds weird im posting this on a Forum .. but whats your advice? really appreciate your help!

Alex
 
ABPhotography said:
Hey All,

I've been a fan of the Panasonic Company since i started out with taking photo's.. All my cameras have been Panasonic (Started off with the FZ Series) I've used their products alot... and happy with them.. Until now.

I Feel really bad, considering alot of my photography equipment i have right now wasn't paid by me.. my Parents support me alot in my photography and feel i've led them into buying me alot of the wrong stuff.. and i really bad now!

I Currently own a Panasonic GH1 which was bought new, but has a few scratches on the Body so now classed as used, along with a 14-140mm and a 100-300mm Lenses that go with the Panasonic GH1.

But as i've become more and more dedicated into Wildlife photography.. well. These lenses and Camera arn't hitting my needs. I Feel really bad especially considering.. they've bought these for me.. and it wasn't out of my own pocket.

Now i'm afraid if i sell them, not only will my parents be really.. annoyed. (and i can understand) but.. also because i probaly won't even get a fraction of the price their worth.. my parents bought the GH1 not long after release.. and paid ALOT of money.. now it's worth pennies since the new GH2.

I really would love to sell all the stuff and save towards a Canon 7D & Sigma 150-500mm... and now it will take alot of work to get it..

I Know it sounds weird im posting this on a Forum .. but whats your advice? really appreciate your help!

Alex
Click to expand...

Get the 4/3 mount Sigma 50-500 and MA1 adapter for the GH1, plus check out Zuiko 300mm f2.8 prime, again 4/3 mount, Unless you're trying to catch birds in flight you won't achieve anything better with a 7D, plus it will have shorter reach from the same focal length, and will cost you a lot more.

But if you're selling the GH1...:D
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
Get the 4/3 mount Sigma 50-500 and MA1 adapter for the GH1, plus check out Zuiko 300mm f2.8 prime, again 4/3 mount, Unless you're trying to catch birds in flight you won't achieve anything better with a 7D, plus it will have shorter reach from the same focal length, and will cost you a lot more.

But if you're selling the GH1...:D
Click to expand...


Wait? so your saying the 7D isn't any better than the GH1? but surley, with Canon's larger Lens range, and the Panasonic only having 1 Telephoto lens... it's better right?

Panasonic GH1 has a half frame, so everything doubles up.. but the downside is obviously it's all Manual focus, which isn't what i need when i'm trying to shoot wildlife (which includes birds in flight yes)

I Would like to sell the GH1.. but just.. the reaction of my parents won't be happy.
 
ABPhotography said:
Wait? so your saying the 7D isn't any better than the GH1? but surley, with Canon's larger Lens range, and the Panasonic only having 1 Telephoto lens... it's better right?

Panasonic GH1 has a half frame, so everything doubles up.. but the downside is obviously it's all Manual focus, which isn't what i need when i'm trying to shoot wildlife (which includes birds in flight yes)

I Would like to sell the GH1.. but just.. the reaction of my parents won't be happy.
Click to expand...

Does it have to be a 7D, why not a second hand 40D/50D? it will be much cheaper ;)
 
ABPhotography said:
Wait? so your saying the 7D isn't any better than the GH1? but surley, with Canon's larger Lens range, and the Panasonic only having 1 Telephoto lens... it's better right?

Panasonic GH1 has a half frame, so everything doubles up.. but the downside is obviously it's all Manual focus, which isn't what i need when i'm trying to shoot wildlife (which includes birds in flight yes)

I Would like to sell the GH1.. but just.. the reaction of my parents won't be happy.
Click to expand...

4/3 lenses will all AF on the GH1 just fine (unless you buy an ebay adapter).

Here's the lenses you can get for 4/3: Clicky

Plus tehres supposedly some more dedicated m4/3 lenses coming soon, icnluding some from Sigma, though no one knows what they'll be.
 
mastertrinity said:
Does it have to be a 7D, why not a second hand 40D/50D? it will be much cheaper ;)
Click to expand...

Dosn't have to be a 7D.. what would you reccomend personally?
I Don't mind buying 2nd Hand Cameras,


Alan Clogwyn said:
4/3 lenses will all AF on the GH1 just fine (unless you buy an ebay adapter).

Here's the lenses you can get for 4/3: Clicky

Plus tehres supposedly some more dedicated m4/3 lenses coming soon, icnluding some from Sigma, though no one knows what they'll be.
Click to expand...

Gutted that the Sigma 50-500mm is Discontinued.. and only 1 seller is selling it on Ebay! with only 4 days.. Awh! typical..
 
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Keep the gh1 and save for the 7d or another slr? The panasonic bridge cameras have 600mm reach which is more than the sigma (meant the panasonic lens, 7d is a crop so sigma would be longer doh!) will offer and without massive bulk. FZ45 is only £250. Unless there is a lot of low light shooting then that extra 100mm might make all the difference. If you stick to lower isos then the image quality shouldn't be too awful. It might lack the finesse of the 7d but at 10% of the price, would it matter?

Canon also do bridge cameras with 800 mm reach. So does fuji.

If there is some kind of teleconverter available for the GH1 to extend the reach and retain full AF then I'd definitely investigate that as a first option.
 
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I do not know what your budget would be once you have sold your gear, but i have a 50D with the canon 100-400 and for wild life it is great, Birds in flight too.

Ok the 100-400 might be out of your budget but the sigma gets great reviews so a second hand 50d and a sigma would be better than trying to fork out for a 7D with a lens aswell.

I am sure if you explain to your parents that you have out grown the panasonic and need this camera to forward your hobby/career then they will understand, donot have to tell them they have spent a fortune on the wrong camera, it is just the way you word things.

Spike
 
/miserable git mode:

How about enjoying what you've got, and shooting things that suit your equipment, whilst working hard, earning enough money to buy yourself what you want? Took me 3 years of owning a SLR camera that I didn't really like, but was the only one I could afford. Eventually, I scraped together enough money to replace it with what I wanted. Made me appreciate the good camera system all the more.

\miserable git mode off...
 
/Pink fluffy bunny mode on:

Look, there's nothing wrong with outgrowing your camera bag. You start a hobby and get what you think is best at the time and as you start to learn in reality, you realise that you are getting into things that perhaps you didn't think you would (like wildlife) or that you didn't fully appreciate what you would use your equipment for prior to actually using it. This is the normal evolution of any hobbyist and I would wager that most people on here will have been through it at some time or another - so stop beating yourself up for buying the "wrong" camera.

The issue here appears to be that you are afraid of your parents reaction. I would imagine that they would be annoyed if you expected them to pay for a replacement. I am sure that as long as you are getting good use of your current camera then it has been money well spent on your happiness.

If YOU can't afford to upgrade now, then you are just gonna have to make the best of what you have here and now, until you can save up for a replacement. Consider this time to really research into what you need/can afford now you have a better idea what you will actually use your equipment for. There have been good suggestions here on interim products you can buy for your current camera to get best use out of it until you can upgrade.

If you tell your parents that you have had a great learning experience but now appreciate that this is not the camera for the long haul for you, and that you intend to purchase a new one, then why should they be annoyed? Have a plan to work toward your upgrade and that seems to be a sensible and grown up way to do it - I am sure they will consider it your decision and respect you for it. They may even offer to help - or they may not. BUT be sure to be ready to pay for the upgrade yourself, that way no-one can accuse you of being selfish.

It may take time, but everybody has these issues all the time... Be it a need or desire for a larger or more powerful car, or bigger house, or new computer... We have have things we would like to replace, its just a matter of priority when and how you get there.

Make best use of what you have, until you can afford a replacement and as long as you are getting good use of your current equipment, then it owes you nothing and you should not feel embarrassed about wanting to replace it. It just has to be YOU that replaces it that's all.

/end pink fluffy bunny mode

:D
 
I completely agree with Vikki on this one.
As long as you are approaching the situation maturely and saving up to get that replacement yourself then there is no reason why your parents should have a problem with it. Just make sure you use this interim time to learn what you want from your new camera and make sure you select the most suitable replacement.
 
vixmix said:
/Pink fluffy bunny mode on:

Look, there's nothing wrong with outgrowing your camera bag. You start a hobby and get what you think is best at the time and as you start to learn in reality, you realise that you are getting into things that perhaps you didn't think you would (like wildlife) or that you didn't fully appreciate what you would use your equipment for prior to actually using it. This is the normal evolution of any hobbyist and I would wager that most people on here will have been through it at some time or another - so stop beating yourself up for buying the "wrong" camera.

The issue here appears to be that you are afraid of your parents reaction. I would imagine that they would be annoyed if you expected them to pay for a replacement. I am sure that as long as you are getting good use of your current camera then it has been money well spent on your happiness.

If YOU can't afford to upgrade now, then you are just gonna have to make the best of what you have here and now, until you can save up for a replacement. Consider this time to really research into what you need/can afford now you have a better idea what you will actually use your equipment for. There have been good suggestions here on interim products you can buy for your current camera to get best use out of it until you can upgrade.

If you tell your parents that you have had a great learning experience but now appreciate that this is not the camera for the long haul for you, and that you intend to purchase a new one, then why should they be annoyed? Have a plan to work toward your upgrade and that seems to be a sensible and grown up way to do it - I am sure they will consider it your decision and respect you for it. They may even offer to help - or they may not. BUT be sure to be ready to pay for the upgrade yourself, that way no-one can accuse you of being selfish.

It may take time, but everybody has these issues all the time... Be it a need or desire for a larger or more powerful car, or bigger house, or new computer... We have have things we would like to replace, its just a matter of priority when and how you get there.

Make best use of what you have, until you can afford a replacement and as long as you are getting good use of your current equipment, then it owes you nothing and you should not feel embarrassed about wanting to replace it. It just has to be YOU that replaces it that's all.

/end pink fluffy bunny mode

:D
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Oh boy I wish I could be that tactful - it'd have saved me from many a punch-up :lol:

It's still pretty much what I said though!
 
I knew that when I was typing it Big Yin! (hence apeing your mode on/off codes)

Its the good ol' men v woman thing isn't it? Why use 20 words when 350 will do :lol:

;)
 
What is it about your current gear that isn't doing it for you? Improving skills/technique could make more difference to results than a new setup.

Btw if you're selling the GH1 for 'pennies' then I'll have it. :)
 
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does it have a mirror and real AF? if not don't bother using it for anything that moves

the 7d is atm the best birding camera in existence combining AF, low light performance and pixel density.

You need good glass to go on it unless you want to be looking at optical imperfections.

Its a waste of money unless its just a hobby or you are very very good, make your decision from all available data (btw the 50-500 is ****)
 
Like David said above if you do get a 7D you will need some good glass to go with it, especially for birds and other wildlife.
7D + 100-400 would do it but would set you back in the region of £1600-2000 depending if you buy new or used.

Another point is the more you spend on new gear the more you feel kind of like you have to use it all the time even if you can't be bothered to justify owning it. At least that's how I've felt sometimes.
 
the 100-400 is a **** soft lens, I used one on a 5d2 with a 40ds pixel density and it was soft as soft at 100%

and the comment re using it because you paid for it is retarded
 
Keep your kit, save up for what you want, keep taking photos.
 
maybe I'm too old school, but i can manual focus faster than my D90 can auto focus? Granted I usually have a rough idea of where i want to focus and just give it a minimal turn to tune it in?

If you have exhausted what your camera can do ten it is time to bite the bullet and move on, sell up, and buy new kit if the new kit meats your needs, however, I remember having a camera with only one (prime) lens, no light meter in the camera and a lot of guess work, and some of those pictures i took were my best.
 
david1701 said:
the 100-400 is a **** soft lens, I used one on a 5d2 with a 40ds pixel density and it was soft as soft at 100%

and the comment re using it because you paid for it is retarded
Click to expand...

That's an amazingly unscientific statement considering the variables in use that may produce "soft" results.

I could also say it was a "retarded" comment but that would be impolite and unnecessary.
 
david1701 said:
the 100-400 is a **** soft lens, I used one on a 5d2 with a 40ds pixel density and it was soft as soft at 100%

and the comment re using it because you paid for it is retarded
Click to expand...

Really? They are such a poor lens and so soft I have bought a second one for my son to use. A couple of bird examples, with just a humble 50D
108016257.jpg

114827021.jpg


Neither have required any micro focussing at all. They are spot on.

Whats a 40ds pixel density? Could this be the way you used it/processed the picture?
 
I have also been in your position before, long time ago I had a panasonic bridge. I moved on to a D5000 and just months later a D300s. As previously mentioned the more you get involved in something you realise the need to upgrade kit etc.
I'm notoriously bad with phones as well in fact I use 3 at the moment :lol: if your talking about saving up your money to buy something for yourself then it's your choice. So do what will make you happiest :)
 
david1701 said:
the 100-400 is a **** soft lens, I used one on a 5d2 with a 40ds pixel density and it was soft as soft at 100%

and the comment re using it because you paid for it is retarded
Click to expand...
[sarcastic]Maybe the OP should get something like a 500 f/4? It's not soft but I think the £5000 price tag might make it too expensive. :shrug: [/sarcastic]
 
As a beginner photographer still finding his feet, wanting a 7D as your second "serious" camera is ludicrous, especially when your parents paid for your first one. If you have a high paying job, or other means to pay for it comfortably, then sure, you can pay for it out of your own pocket and you'll grow into it. But to go from a very good m4/3s camera (which is pretty expensive to begin with), and want to jump to a high end 7D which can cost nearly £1k, it comes off as spoilt.

Until you start paying for this hobby out of your own pocket, it's difficult to grasp just how expensive a hobby it is. Even trivial things like little filters can cost £50+ each.
 
Think i would make sure that your new found wildlife interest isn't also a passing phase

Bit late then to decide you would rather get into landscapes and fancy something like a full frame 5D.

Maybe your best bet as suggested above is a s/hand 40D or 50D with s/hand lens and see how it goes.
 
Another day, another 'it hasn't got a mirror so it's ****' thread.

I don't know what you feel is lacking in the GH1, or really care, but you'll have no trouble punting out those lenses and that body. They are all sort after, especially the 140.

Im pretty sure you could get £500 for the 140 alone, and the 300 is £500 new, the body a bit less as it has been superseeded, but hardly pennies is it.
 
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