"Panasonic G series" Owners Thread

I can't help, I'm afraid Geof. I don't really use flash in my photography.
 
After reading through many threads and photos taken using the Raynox 150 and 250 close up filters, I finally decided to purchase the 250 for myself and have a go using my 14-140mm lens and GH2.

I've never shot anything approaching 'proper macro' before so there's no doubt these could be improved, but I'm fairly happy for a first try. The biggest challenges are going to be composition and DoF, but I had great fun playing around for an hour or two this afternoon.

A few examples of what I ended up with....


RT_190612_001 by srhphoto, on Flickr


RT_190612_006 by srhphoto, on Flickr


RT_190612_004 by srhphoto, on Flickr

These are all Fresias (sp?) that my wife had bought last week.

Would appreciate your thoughts, and also any hints or tips from those who take this sort of photo more frequently.

Cheers,

Simon.
 
srhmoto said:
After reading through many threads and photos taken using the Raynox 150 and 250 close up filters, I finally decided to purchase the 250 for myself and have a go using my 14-140mm lens and GH2.

I've never shot anything approaching 'proper macro' before so there's no doubt these could be improved, but I'm fairly happy for a first try. The biggest challenges are going to be composition and DoF, but I had great fun playing around for an hour or two this afternoon.

A few examples of what I ended up with....


RT_190612_001 by srhphoto, on Flickr


RT_190612_006 by srhphoto, on Flickr


RT_190612_004 by srhphoto, on Flickr

These are all Fresias (sp?) that my wife had bought last week.

Would appreciate your thoughts, and also any hints or tips from those who take this sort of photo more frequently.

Cheers,

Simon.
Click to expand...

stunning colours
 
mrtoad said:
hi gang...any takers or is this a silly question/unanswerable

:lol:
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Could be the camera having to wait for the pre-flash bounce back to calculate how much flash is needed for correct exposure. Or you might just have the delay timer set to 2 seconds!:D
 
Beagletorque said:
Could be the camera having to wait for the pre-flash bounce back to calculate how much flash is needed for correct exposure. Or you might just have the delay timer set to 2 seconds!:D
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now that makes sense...at last...there is a red flash of light as i press the shutter...could this be what you are referring to...?

will check that out..

what got me going is that sometimes the flash does work instantaneously...but i cant remember what the conditions were

big thanks for that well advise piece of information
cheers
geof
 
mrtoad said:
now that makes sense...at last...there is a red flash of light as i press the shutter...could this be what you are referring to...?

will check that out..

what got me going is that sometimes the flash does work instantaneously...but i cant remember what the conditions were

big thanks for that well advise piece of information
cheers
geof
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The red flash is the infra red light which is what the autofocus uses to focus in low light.
 
Well my GF3 is back from Panasonic apparently having had the main circuit board replaced so that should solve the card writing problems. However while it was away I had the chance to play with a Nikon 1 and have decided to give one a go. So my GF3 has been traded in and I should get the Nikon in the next day or so. I wonder how long before I return to a Panasonic...

As an aside if anyone wants a flash for the m43 then the Olympus FL14 at half price (£75) is worth a look - http://www.parkcameras.com/12097/Olympus-FL-14--FL14--Flash-for-Pen-Series.html
 
ecniv said:
A guess... do you use red eye? pre flash light might slow the taking of the picture...

Either that or its re-focusing?
Click to expand...

i dont use the red eye setting unless its really necessary, but i had considered that as being a cause internally

here are my latest observations
if i use flash in situations where the ambient light is less than the lowest f no will accommodate...ie on 14mm setting f3.5 and speed around 1/10...that is really need flash...the flash will fire instantaneously


1 by mrcrow_uk, on Flickr
CONVERTED FROM RAW UNPROCESSED...

if i am in daylight as i was today with 1/160 and f 14...pretty sunny even for iso 100
i set the flash on and under expose the shot on manual....1/1/60 at f22
there is a distinct lag between firing the shutter and the flash
i was within the guide number of the flash and had the flash set at full power to get the effect of subdued ambient light and some flash lighting to do my shot to show up shadow detail...
i used differing f no's to control flash power via the guide number and saw the flash power on the shot getting affected..as it should...but still set at 1/160 and going from f22 down to f11 and lower...
the flash effect got brighter till it was too much
but still the lag
i concluded that even on forced flash the chip in the body thinks it shouldnt use flash on un-neccessary setting which are for enough ambient light
could be related to the iso limitations..
enough!!
i can live with it now and will be taking my ambient light shots of non moving items...which normally they are..
yawn!
any comments welcome
cheers
geof
 
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Thanks - how come you said you were selling up your m 4/3 kit when you get such great results from it ?

bl0at3r said:
Thanks - not much really - for simple PP I use Picasa 3, there are a bunch of filters and adjustments - the top one is a cross process with a bit of vignette and the photo of damien is warmed up a bit by adjusting the levels.
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Excuse me, but I'd like to rant for a bit.

Took my GX1 to Rome and it was really bright and I really needed an LVF2 as I was just aiming and hoping - nothing seen on the screen as it was that bright out.

Got home and decided that £200(ish) really is too much to pay out for a bit that needs to go onto the camera just to take pictures when its a nice day. Didn't get one.

Out today with the GX1 - it is again really bright and I'm annoyed that some of the photos I hoped to take are slightly off and it was an occasion when it counted.

I have several options and seek advice:
1. Buy the too expensive LVF2 and live with it. Its not that I cannot afford it, its more that I don't want to.
2. Buy a large piece of black cloth and wrap it one me and the camera when taking photos on a nice day.
3. Sell the GX1 and buy a M43 with a viewfinder built in.

Why is this thing stupidly expensive? If was £100, I'd eat the cost and live with it - but £200 is just too much. Does anyone (everyone) else have one and think that they are worth the outlay?

Rant over (for now)
 
Tulipone said:
Why is this thing stupidly expensive? If was £100, I'd eat the cost and live with it - but £200 is just too much. Does anyone (everyone) else have one and think that they are worth the outlay?
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I agree. I bought a G3 (for £260) simply to have a camera with a viewfinder. I may yet spring for the EVF2, but I haven't yet. The GX1 is a slightly better handling camera IMHO but £200 is a lot I agree...
 
Tulipone said:
Why is this thing stupidly expensive? If was £100, I'd eat the cost and live with it - but £200 is just too much.
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Just a suggestion but have you thought about buying from the States? Adorama currently has this for $160 - just over £100. (I was browsing the micro 4/3 section on dpreview and saw a thread about it.) Of course, there's shipping and taxes - unless you get very lucky - to add on top but even so it would be a lot less than £200.
 
In the back garden with my G2 and newly acquired focal fd 28mm f2.8, i must say iam impressed seems quite sharp and the bokeh looks good. Waiting for my canon ld 50mm f1.8 to come off ebay. :)
sam0567h.jpg
[/URL]
7408736354_b0da07a1ec_z.jpg
7408729514_2fe13d7395_z.jpg
 
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christam said:
Just a suggestion but have you thought about buying from the States? Adorama currently has this for $160 - just over £100. (I was browsing the micro 4/3 section on dpreview and saw a thread about it.) Of course, there's shipping and taxes - unless you get very lucky - to add on top but even so it would be a lot less than £200.
Click to expand...

Figuring I'm not that lucky, a rough calculation seems to bring this a shade under £180 delivered, considering ups charge £9.95 to collect money.

We are possibly in NY in October so may well wait until we get there! Thanks for the tip.
 
50mm f1.8 turned up so heres my complete collection for now.;)
sam0574f.jpg

50mm test shot.
7414202522_9ed470be87_z.jpg
 
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I've got the OM 50mm for my G2 and its really nice. I'm very happy with the shots I've got with it so far. Just need an opportunity to get out of the house and use for something other than my garden!
What's the other OM lens you've got there?
 
Oops, my bad! Couldn't really tell what they were on the iPhone so assumed they were OM fits. Whats the 28mm like on the 2x sensor?
 
Well despite my dislike of all things micro 4/3rds ( :lol: ) I have purchased a GF1 for use as a street camera. It was this or the x100, but until the newer x100s are proven to be free of sticky aperture blade problems, this is my go to street cam :)


My new street camera by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr
 
manualfocus-g said:
Well despite my dislike of all things micro 4/3rds ( :lol: ) I have purchased a GF1 for use as a street camera. It was this or the x100, but until the newer x100s are proven to be free of sticky aperture blade problems, this is my go to street cam :)

Hmmmm the viewfinder looks interesting:) where do you buy those?.
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I had a play with my brother in laws brand new Nex 5 the other day. I was quite impressed with it although it did lack manual controls. One interesting thing was that the auto focus seemed to be set to some sort of random object selection mode. As he probably wont notice, he's not a camera guy as such, it'll be interesting to see what the camera picks as the focus point when he comes back from holiday.

If I had one I'd do as I do now, set it to centre point at the centre of the image. Playing with it did make me want to have a go with a Nex 7 though.
 
The viewfinder was £12.00 delivered from ebay. It came with auxiliary lenses designed for an old film camera, but the wide guidelines are perfect for the 20/1.7 as well :) I'm really chuffed with it!

I moved to the GF1 from a Nex-5n. The Nex has way, way better image quality but is fiddly to use and the standard lenses are too big to make it pocketable.
 
manualfocus-g said:
The viewfinder was £12.00 delivered from ebay. It came with auxiliary lenses designed for an old film camera, but the wide guidelines are perfect for the 20/1.7 as well :) I'm really chuffed with it!

I moved to the GF1 from a Nex-5n. The Nex has way, way better image quality but is fiddly to use and the standard lenses are too big to make it pocketable.
Click to expand...

Could you be a bit more spacific on the view finder, perhaps the item number? I've just looked, closest I can find is one at well over £100!
CJS
 
I can't be specific I'm afraid, as these old viewfinders were made 40 odd years ago and were branded with all sorts of names. Mine was branded Lentar, but I've also seen them as Petri and Yashica, supplied with wide and tele conversion lenses. They usually have the word "Tele-wide" written on them if it helps.

You need to be creative when looking for old stuff like this, try searching for old rangfinder / viewfinder cameras that might also come with an old kit :)
 
Hi,

Sorry if I have cross posted but given I didn't get a reply on the other thread I though I would ask here.

I started another thread on behalf of a friend and am now considering one the GF3 (or something around the same price bracket) for getting snaps of the kids (stills and movie) as a backup camera and a step up from the Canon IXUS 115 I have.

I've a 21 month old who runs about all over and a four year old just learning to ride a bike, so need something with quick AF & something thats quick to grab (unlike the 1D3 which is usually in a bag with the wrong lens on :)).

What do you chaps and chapess' think?
 
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" . . ? I used to enjoy my phatography . . . mainly based on oportunist pictures, it was rare to go out on a 'picture hunt'. So, take a snap shot and then pp it as required, not the purist way, but I enjoyed it. Equipment started with a Nikon D90 + 18-70 lens, went for a few other lenses, all became to cumbersom, reverted back to the D90 + 18-70 f3.5. . . . . etc., etc."
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=416948


I received a very limited reply to the above on the general forum . . . so I wondered if being a little more specific might help?

I eventually gravitated to the Panasonic G1, it was my Hazels camera originally but she prefers her Canon 640. I have found the G1 + 14-45 lens to be an excellent combination of handlability and PQ, I especially like the EVF and swivel screen.

All very well but my life has changed, I get out less and less, I'm finding even the G1/14-45mm a fag to grab . . . ? Perhaps because I have it, plus the 45-200 tele lens and a couple of filters, all packed in a 6"X7" bag that then goes in my man bag?

I'm losing the will to bother taking photos:shrug: . . . I suffer with depression, poor mobility that comes and goes, plus I have the added problem of my Hazel has now broken her hip, never rains but it pours!. . . I want to get that 'photo will' back! . . .

. . . I'm not complaining, complaining don’t help anyone’s cause . . . but I can’t see which is the best way to go? Stick with the G1-14-45, dump the 45-200, I've not used it more than half a dozen times, the sale of which will release some funds. I could then simply put the G1 with 14-45 in a small soft pouch, pop in man bag as a very glorified P&S. Or wait for the 14-42 P/zoom to appear, put it in an even smaller pouch, almost pocket size? Essentially keeping the EVF and swivel screen, even more glorified P&S:thinking:

I could dump the lot and go full compact with something along the lines of a Lumix TZ30? but then I lose the EVF and animated screen.

I could go for the G1 or GF with a 14mm or 20mm prime, but as my mobility can be restricted sometimes, leg zoom is often not an option . . . GF takes away the EVF and swivel screen . . . dont like that idea, rather have a TZ30, at least I have the zoom.

Sorry to whinge . . . but my thoughts are very clouded, a little bit of encouragement and clear thinking might help? . . . :lol:

CJS
 
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Must be a tough situation CJS, I hope things start looking up for you soon.

As far as cameras go, its a tough one. For me personally I'd probably want to keep the G1 as I love the versatility of the screen and viewfinder. I have thought about switching to the GF model to be a bit more pocketable, but I know I would struggle in some situations without the viewfinder. I also think once you've used that swivel screen its hard to go back to one that is fixed.
As for lenses why don't you just try leaving the 45-200 at home for a while and see how you get on? I couldn't be without mine, but it is still the least used lens in my kit. If mobility can be an issue then primes aren't really an option for you so perhaps just going out with the body and 14-45 to see how you get on will help you make a decision.
The 14-42 PZ is obviously smaller, but I've heard that it doesn't match the IQ of the 14-45. Perhaps if you can find a sharp copy though, that may tick all the boxes?
 
Hi everyone, Iam after a new lens for my lumix g2 but which one? currently i have the kit lens 14-42, and two legacy lenses a 28mm f2.8 and a 50mm f1.8 via an fd to m43 adapter. So this gives me a 35mm equivalent of 28-82mm, 56mm and 100mm. Lens will be used for general walking about in park etc but mainly for pictures of people,kids etc indoors and out sometimes fast moving sometimes sitting still.:rolleyes: Budget is upto £250 so i was thinking lumix 14mm f2.5 (£110) lumix 20mm 1.7 (£220) or olympus 45mm 1.8 (£230)or any others i should consider. (Prices second hand and new.)cheers

sam0574f.jpg
 
Would also agree based on what you are shooting it's an ideal lens for portraits street and low light.

I sold mine to Mal (galaxy) but have purchased a new one as its really sharp even when you crop.

Andy
 
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