"Panasonic G series" Owners Thread

I think so.

I got mine from here, just over £100 and recently a few have been sold for under £100. I think they're great cameras at low ISO. The resolution and detail is fantastic.
 
Got my G1 on here for £90 so worth placing a wanted ad.

The G1 has to be one of the best handling cameras I've ever used.
 
Looked at the g1 and I do like its handling, a g2 would be my choice, but too much money atm, plus I am going to have to upgrade my 30d soon as well. My dad has a G3 and he is saying that he misses his dslr he part chopped for it. I do like the g3, but I think it might be awkward with a 55mm f1.2 on the front!
 
What are you going to swap the 30D for?

I had a 20D and replaced it with MFT and a 5D. The IQ of the 5D is a little better especially at the highest ISO's but overall I was a bit underwhelmed. From what I'd read I expected to be wowed but I think that a well exposed and well processed 20D image (and therefore a 30D image too) is pretty good.
 
Ah, I see.

I think that features are worth buying a new camera for but I've got a little sceptical about expecting big gains in image quality and I now think that any gains are incremental at best.

The biggest improvement I've seen in IQ recently came from moving from CS2 to CS5, 5 is a lot better and from what I've seen the newest versions are going to move things on still further. The new and improved fill light tool looks little short of real magic.
 
michael23 said:
Looked at the g1 and I do like its handling, a g2 would be my choice, but too much money atm, plus I am going to have to upgrade my 30d soon as well. My dad has a G3 and he is saying that he misses his dslr he part chopped for it. I do like the g3, but I think it might be awkward with a 55mm f1.2 on the front!
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I just sold my 3 week old G2 for £140 last week, and a few weeks ago sold my good condition G1 for £85. When I checked around that seemed to be the going rate.

I wouldn't sell the Canon if it was me, I never found the m4/3rds to give the same look and IQ as the Canon bodies I've had. I was probably overly seduced by the size and usability but ultimately was just never totally happy with the images they produced. Even my old 400D and kit lens produced better large enlargements to A3 (to my eye) than the G2 and 45mm f1.8. Maybe I just wasn't cut out to be a m4/3rds user :shrug: .

I didn't really lose on the kit I had (well, not that much), but it could be costly to replace all the Canon gear if you are eventually unhappy. Keep the DSLR for a month or 2 before getting rid.
 
I believe that LR has the same abilities as CS of the same generation and it's much cheaper.

Before switching to CS5 I was using Raw Shoot Essentials for RAW processing and CS2 for final finishing but I have to admit that CS5 is much better than both. I don't think that there's any denying that the mathematics cleverness woven into modern software is capable of manipulating images much better than older versions. The improvements in noise control, sharpening and fill light would be worth the upgrade alone.

At least you can trial these expensive things before spending your hard earned. You could also look at Capture One.
 
michael23 said:
Wont be getting rid of it, I just need to upgrade as it keeps playing up on me and I'm not bothering having it repaired.
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Good idea, while I'm not regretting some of the DSLR bodies I sold, I am sorely missing some of the Canon lenses I sold :(
 
Been using the G3 myself over the last couple of weeks and the only thing that is not as nice as a DSLR for me is the electronic VF. I much prefer the OVF myself. The G3 is much lighter though and i guess would be very portable with a 14mm on it as opposed to a 40D with kit lens etc. Still trying things out before i 'decide' what to do. Wether to stay with Micro four thirds or go to DSLR.
 
michael23 said:
I'm not sure which way to go, I have wanted a 7d for quite a while, for its af and faster fps as I like doing wildlife stuff.
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M4/3 or DSLR here is my story..briefly :D

During my move towards M4/3 I sold a 7D then sold my 5DmMK2, decided not to sell the lenses just in case, instead selling my least used glass. Then on an impulse thinking I could not be without a DSLR bought a new 7D imported at a good price. On returning from a holiday where I only used the M4/3 gear I shouted from the rooftops that this was the way to go and started selling my full dslr kit.

First to go was the Canon 24-105L but as soon as I started packing it up to send it to it's new owner I had regrets and pulled the rest of the sale and bought another 24-105L from the classifieds within days, then after a day out with the 7D and also comparing shots in my archive from both systems I convinced myself I was sticking with DSLR. I am now deciding on either a mint s/h 5DMK2 until the price of the MK3 drops or just go for the MK3 now.

DSLR will be my main system and I will also remain with M4/3 but will be slimmed down to just the IR G1 one other body and couple of lenses, I have yet to decide which body to keep as I like the G1 for it's handling and the thumb wheel on the front so likely to go will be the G3 and G2.
 
Dave1 said:
Even my old 400D and kit lens produced better large enlargements to A3 (to my eye) than the G2 and 45mm f1.8.
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Maybe that's the thing. I bet 99% of M43 users on here don't print their shots at all, let alone to A3.
I would be willing to bet (or eat my shorts!) that nearly all just look on pc's, through TP, Flickr etc.

With that in mind the M43 shots are just as good for what these folk need (including me, unless I do a wedding or portraits in which case I use a 40d in case a shot might be ordered big as a canvas etc)

IMVHO most, nearly all, everyday hobbyist photographers could easily get along just fine without a DSLR kept 'just in case'. ..if it wasn't for the above my Canon kit would be gone!
 
But wouldnt the G2 be able to produce canvas sized / quality of prints like the 40D?
 
samems said:
But wouldnt the G2 be able to produce canvas sized / quality of prints like the 40D?
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It depends on the size. Some folk want canvases of 3ft x 2ft and more. M43 can be interpolated up to that size, no probs, but I think you would notice a difference in quality between M43 and DSLR.

Please correct me if you know different folks.:)
 
Janice said:
With that in mind the M43 shots are just as good for what these folk need (including me, unless I do a wedding or portraits in which case I use a 40d in case a shot might be ordered big as a canvas etc)
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Is this FF or APS?

And what differences do you see?
 
broadway said:
Is this FF or APS?

And what differences do you see?
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APS. Perhaps it's me imagining it......I like to keep my back covered!
 
samems said:
But wouldnt the G2 be able to produce canvas sized / quality of prints like the 40D?
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Not in my experience, the G2 didn't produce the same quality as even my 400D, especially landscapes where there is a lot of small detail, I also found the background to be less smooth/more blotchy with all the m4/3rds I tried (G1, G2, E-PL2).

I could have continued the experiment by getting a 16MP body like a G3, but decided to cut my losses and bought a new 500D for similar money to use for now till I can afford to buy a more expensive body (I need to replace the Canon lenses I stupidly sold off first :'( ).
 
Hi everyone :wave:

I've just jumped on board the good ship G3 :D

Got a question (there could be lots more as we go!)
On my 40D i used to be able to set it to auto-bracket shots, put the self timer on, then the camera would automatically take all 3 shots.
It would appear that this isn't possible on the G3.

Again it appears that I can only use the self timer OR the bracketing option, not both...........

Anyone...........
 
andy_fozzy said:
Hi everyone :wave:

I've just jumped on board the good ship G3 :D

Got a question (there could be lots more as we go!)
On my 40D i used to be able to set it to auto-bracket shots, put the self timer on, then the camera would automatically take all 3 shots.
It would appear that this isn't possible on the G3.

Again it appears that I can only use the self timer OR the bracketing option, not both...........

Anyone...........
Click to expand...

T'is true, I use a remote....
 
Dave1 said:
Not in my experience, the G2 didn't produce the same quality as even my 400D, especially landscapes where there is a lot of small detail, I also found the background to be less smooth/more blotchy with all the m4/3rds I tried (G1, G2, E-PL2).
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I appreciate your describing exactly what it was about the m43 images that you didn't like. I was going to ask all those above that we're dissatisfied with their m43 images what it was that they were unhappy with. It's possible it's a lens issue, or simply not operating the camera to give optimum image quality.

I'm currently experiencing the opposite effect - finding that nothing in my Nikon collection can better m43 when shot properly. Given all my cameras have 12MP, I can make a like-for-like comparison and I'm confident that I'm extracting every possible pixel of sharpness from m43, especially with the 25mm f/1.4.

JPGs are not as good, though. There's a loss of sharpness at the pixel level probably due to noise reduction even at low ISOs. Even so, this wouldn't be noticeable at the sizes I print up to (14" max) and certainly not at web sizes, even on a new iPad.

This is all essentially pointless, however. Image quality is so high that any non-fixed-lens camera available today delivers more than enough technical ability. It's what you do with it that counts!
 
martsharm said:
It's possible it's a lens issue, or simply not operating the camera to give optimum image quality.
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I know it's purely subjective, but with a number of images taken at similar places showed an improvement in the Canon.

I took some controlled images of my test subject (I keep the little elephant for testing any lens I get / sell) and took the following photos at exactly the same time and under the same conditions.

The E-PL2 was with it's 14-42 kit lens, the 500d is with the old non IS kit lens (arguably a worse lens than the Oly 14-42).

100% crop
Olympus image - ISO200, 1/80 f5.3 jpeg
7164948848_6a8607774c_b.jpg


100% crop
Canon image - ISO 400 1/60 f5.6 jpeg
7164959872_c71ddff867_b.jpg


To my eyes, the Canon image, with an optically weaker lens (according to many) is sharper and clearer, with better colour and background than the Olympus image.

I can only surmise the extra step up in IQ there would be with an IS kit lens, or even further to something like a Tamron 17-50.

Others might have a different opinion...
 
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It's a difficult subject for a test shot:)

The flower looks sharper on the Oly and the hair on top looks sharper on the elephant's head on the Canon suggesting the 2 shots are focused differently.
 
broadway said:
It's a difficult subject for a test shot:)

The flower looks sharper on the Oly and the hair on top looks sharper on the elephant's head on the Canon suggesting the 2 shots are focused differently.
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The point of focus on both was the spiky hair on top. The actual colour of the flower is closer to the Canon colour (it's one of those clip on flowers given out by Marie Curie Cancer Care, as a colour reference).

The elephant colour is also more like the Canon colour (the dog got hold of it and savaged it a little one day).

Full images:
7164946338_eab5b0fb2d_b.jpg


7204097992_36a05a02a1_b.jpg
 
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^ I wouldn't define that as a controlled test. ISO and shutter were different for a start but hey.

I have owned and/or had in my posession and used for a continued period a 300d, 350d, 400d, 450d, 500d, 550d, 20d, 40d, 50d with all sorts of Canon lenses including L glass. I am now very happy with m43rds gear.
 
clicktor said:
^ I wouldn't define that as a controlled test. ISO and shutter were different for a start but hey.

I have owned and/or had in my posession and used for a continued period a 300d, 350d, 400d, 450d, 500d, 550d, 20d, 40d, 50d with all sorts of Canon lenses including L glass. I am now very happy with m43rds gear.
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It wasn't designed as a controlled test, merely to see the output generated automatically by either camera, both are simple jpegs shot in auto mode, the camera chose its settings and above is the result, a bit like 90% of images taken in the world.

I wasn't trying to start an argument or to get people defensive. I was only pointing out my opinion and how I came to it. I even made the point in my posts

Others might have a different opinion...
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Edit to add:

The ISO setting actually favours the Olympus.


.
 
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I think that if you're doing direct comparisons the DSLR is going to come out ahead of m4/3 as the technology has been around longer and is more developed. lens voice is also greater and more evolved.
If you take the m4/3 images on their own merits though, I don't think there is a problem. I'm perfectly happy with the results my G2 produces and I see no difference between those and the ones from the 350D I used to have.
I mostly have my photos on my pc, iPad and digital photo frame, but the few I have printed have been perfectly fine for A4, 10x8 sizes.
 
Mandoo said:
I think that if you're doing direct comparisons the DSLR is going to come out ahead of m4/3 as the technology has been around longer and is more developed. lens voice is also greater and more evolved.
If you take the m4/3 images on their own merits though, I don't think there is a problem. I'm perfectly happy with the results my G2 produces and I see no difference between those and the ones from the 350D I used to have.
I mostly have my photos on my pc, iPad and digital photo frame, but the few I have printed have been perfectly fine for A4, 10x8 sizes.
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I agree with your post, everyone has different ideas as to acceptable, I wasnt happy after comparing at A3, unfortunately I was then spoilt and started to see minor imperfections at A4 as well.

But as you said, everyone has their own idea of what they like, and it isn't for anyone else to criticise that decision.
 
andy_fozzy said:
Hi everyone :wave:

I've just jumped on board the good ship G3 :D

Got a question (there could be lots more as we go!)
On my 40D i used to be able to set it to auto-bracket shots, put the self timer on, then the camera would automatically take all 3 shots.
It would appear that this isn't possible on the G3.

Again it appears that I can only use the self timer OR the bracketing option, not both...........

Anyone...........
Click to expand...

Wondered when you would show up on here ;)

I use a cheap remote, that you can lock on, to take the full 7 frames on AEB on the G3
 
Galaxy66 said:
M4/3 or DSLR here is my story..briefly :D

During my move towards M4/3 I sold a 7D then sold my 5DmMK2, decided not to sell the lenses just in case, instead selling my least used glass. Then on an impulse thinking I could not be without a DSLR bought a new 7D imported at a good price. On returning from a holiday where I only used the M4/3 gear I shouted from the rooftops that this was the way to go and started selling my full dslr kit.

First to go was the Canon 24-105L but as soon as I started packing it up to send it to it's new owner I had regrets and pulled the rest of the sale and bought another 24-105L from the classifieds within days, then after a day out with the 7D and also comparing shots in my archive from both systems I convinced myself I was sticking with DSLR. I am now deciding on either a mint s/h 5DMK2 until the price of the MK3 drops or just go for the MK3 now.

DSLR will be my main system and I will also remain with M4/3 but will be slimmed down to just the IR G1 one other body and couple of lenses, I have yet to decide which body to keep as I like the G1 for it's handling and the thumb wheel on the front so likely to go will be the G3 and G2.
Click to expand...

You really have a story there, now looking at a 5D3, that is a change and a cost increase.

BTW we should celebrate this thread, just about to hit e 5k mark :)
 
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