"Panasonic G series" Owners Thread

iPhoto said:
I have looked at their world wide petition with all of its 43 signatures, hardly a general consensus :shrug:
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What world wide petition?
I did a fair bit of reading when I moved over to m4/3 and a lot of my reading suggested that the 14-45 is shaper than the 14-42.
The 14-42 is a very capable lens, but like I said, mine is soft at 42mm whereas my 14-45 is sharp all the way through.
As I also said, it could just be my particular lenses, but it's still my experience and when people ask for opinions on the two kit lenses, I'll give mine as I've got both lenses and have compared them.
I have no idea where or why world wide petitions need to come into it. :shrug:
 
Mandoo said:
What world wide petition?
I did a fair bit of reading when I moved over to m4/3 and a lot of my reading suggested that the 14-45 is shaper than the 14-42.
The 14-42 is a very capable lens, but like I said, mine is soft at 42mm whereas my 14-45 is sharp all the way through.
As I also said, it could just be my particular lenses, but it's still my experience and when people ask for opinions on the two kit lenses, I'll give mine as I've got both lenses and have compared them.
I have no idea where or why world wide petitions need to come into it. :shrug:
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Its in the thread that started this discussion in the first place :shrug:
 
Do you mean the one that Dave in Wales linked to? If so, that's for the new 14-42X, not the standard 14-42 kit lens that I was talking about. My post is a direct response to MrToad asking about the 14-45 he's picked up off eBay. :)
I think we have two separate discussions going on at the moment regarding very similar lenses!
 
Mandoo said:
Do you mean the one that Dave in Wales linked to? If so, that's for the new 14-42X, not the standard 14-42 kit lens that I was talking about. My post is a direct response to MrToad asking about the 14-45 he's picked up off eBay. :)
I think we have two separate discussions going on at the moment regarding very similar lenses!
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Well how do you expect me to keep up with two discussions at the same time, remember I am a bloke :thinking:
 
So to confirm, there are:

14-45 = older kit lens bundled with older panasonic cams*
14-42 = newer more cost effective to make and supposedly slightly inferior to the above
14-42X = pancake extendable, power zoom, some say dissappointing/soft

*Which cams/kit did the older 14-45 get bundled with then? It appears to still be for sale on amazon for £200+. Is the build quality better/heavier/longer ? Just interested. :)
 
If I get time tomorrow I'll pull my 14-42 and 14-45 out for a direct comparison for you.
 
I have had both and the 14-42mm had to go, I would agree that the 14-45mm is sharper through the complete lens scale
 
clicktor said:
So to confirm, there are:

14-45 = older kit lens bundled with older panasonic cams*
14-42 = newer more cost effective to make and supposedly slightly inferior to the above
14-42X = pancake extendable, power zoom, some say dissappointing/soft

*Which cams/kit did the older 14-45 get bundled with then? It appears to still be for sale on amazon for £200+. Is the build quality better/heavier/longer ? Just interested. :)
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Yep, that's about the size of it. From memory, the 14-45 kit lens was bundled with the G1 and GF1 only, from the G2/G10/GF2 onward it was the 14-42.

The 14-45 is definitely better built in that it has a metal mount vs plastic on the later lens, but as far as I can tell the lens itself is still of plastic construction. The earlier lens also has a switch for the OIS system, whereas the later lens needs to be switched in-camera. Other than that it's pretty much the familiar image quality argument, and it's this that has caused used prices of the older lens to stay artificially high, IMHO of course.
 
+1 . if you can't get it for around 75 quid , forget about it . it's definitely not worth twice the 14-42mm price.
 
ronnus said:
Yep, that's about the size of it. From memory, the 14-45 kit lens was bundled with the G1 and GF1 only, from the G2/G10/GF2 onward it was the 14-42.

The 14-45 is definitely better built in that it has a metal mount vs plastic on the later lens,..................The earlier lens also has a switch for the OIS system, whereas the later lens needs to be switched in-camera.
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I have recently sold my 14-42 in favour of a 14-45 for those very two reasons, metal mount and IOS switch.
I've got a Oly OMD on order and need to be sure the OIS is switched off.

As for IQ, I have to say IMVHO it's so very, very close as to be of little consequence.
 
Starastin said:
+1 . if you can't get it for around 75 quid , forget about it . it's definitely not worth twice the 14-42mm price.
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I haven't even seen the inferior 14-42 that cheap, let alone the 14-45. I think the 14-45 are worth more than £75.
 
I went for the 14-42mm. It's cheaper and I really don't care that the lens doesn't have a piece of metal where it mounts to the camera as it still fits and works. I'm not bothered about not having an IS switch either as the only time I can imagine wanting to turn it off will be if mounting the camera on a tripod, sometime/never, and I can still turn it off via the menu although this does turn a two second job into a 30 second job. I can live with that.

I like primes and rarely use zooms so the 14-42mm is good enough for me. If a 14-45mm can be had at the same price or just a little more then I'd say go for it but if a 14-42mm is noticeably cheaper I'd say buy it, don't nit pick the image quality at 200%, just shoot and enjoy.
 
Mandoo said:
I haven't even seen the inferior 14-42 that cheap, let alone the 14-45. I think the 14-45 are worth more than £75.
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well, that's the price I would pay for it .
there are many, many overpriced things in ebay (or in the world in general) . 14-45mm is one of them .
 
Starastin said:
well, that's the price I would pay for it .
there are many, many overpriced things in ebay (or in the world in general) . 14-45mm is one of them .
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Doubt whether you would actually be given the opportunity pay that ;)
 
Just bought my wife a G2 and seeking advice on sourcing usual bits and I have searched this thread but hoping for kind souls helping to save reading too many posts :help:

1) We dropped a camera about 12" on our decking a couple of years ago and caused a lens error. So we are paranoid about protection so are looking for a rubber lens hood NOT flower shaped? My wife feels the flower shape looks naff :lol:

2) Spare battery

3) Bag which we would like to be a really snug fit to take only the basic camera with its kit lens and nothing else (such as lipstick type of things- my wife's I hasten to add :lol:)

Thanks in advance of any help
 
HELP WITH G2?

As my last post I have been reading the user manual which in my brain dead state will be very hard going :shrug:

My wife, as an absolute beginner, really wants to use this as a 'point and shoot' only so any suggestions to any settings as it will be manily used for landscape and street scenes.
 
DayDreamer said:
HELP WITH G2?

As my last post I have been reading the user manual which in my brain dead state will be very hard going :shrug:

My wife, as an absolute beginner, really wants to use this as a 'point and shoot' only so any suggestions to any settings as it will be manily used for landscape and street scenes.
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Set it to intelligent auto. iA
 
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DayDreamer said:
1) We dropped a camera about 12" on our decking a couple of years ago and caused a lens error. So we are paranoid about protection so are looking for a rubber lens hood NOT flower shaped? My wife feels the flower shape looks bad.

Thanks in advance of any help
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I don't think a lens hood would particularly prevent a lens error. The lens error was probably from the jolt the body/lens got. Although a hood should prevent flare and scratching etc.
 
I have recently dragged my GF1 out of retirement but can not get used to not having a viewfinder, this morning I grabbed it for a quicky shot through a window shoved it up to my eye and immediately started looking to see why the viewfinder was not working :lol:
 
Galaxy66 said:
I have recently dragged my GF1 out of retirement but can not get used to not having a viewfinder, this morning I grabbed it for a quicky shot through a window shoved it up to my eye and immediately started looking to see why the viewfinder was not working :lol:
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Been there, done that :D
 
woof woof said:
I went for the 14-42mm. It's cheaper and I really don't care that the lens doesn't have a piece of metal where it mounts to the camera as it still fits and works. I'm not bothered about not having an IS switch either as the only time I can imagine wanting to turn it off will be if mounting the camera on a tripod, sometime/never, and I can still turn it off via the menu although this does turn a two second job into a 30 second job. I can live with that.

I like primes and rarely use zooms so the 14-42mm is good enough for me. If a 14-45mm can be had at the same price or just a little more then I'd say go for it but if a 14-42mm is noticeably cheaper I'd say buy it, don't nit pick the image quality at 200%, just shoot and enjoy.
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Pretty much sums it up for me too, these cameras love primes so the cheaper zoom is more than enough for me when I choose to use one.

I'm avoiding the iq argument, because as Dave rightly said, it's so close as to be almost irrelevant unless you need to make huge crops :thumbs:
 
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I can understand that. I started with the 14-42 but went for the 14-45 as this lens will be my main lens until I can afford primes. Trouble with being out of work is its going to take a long time to save up for them so I wanted the best lens I could afford at the time. I'll sell on my 14-42 to recoup some of the cost of the 14-45 and that'll keep me going for a while.
Primes are definitely the way forward with these cameras, but they're also not exactly cheap when you want to get a few different focal lengths to cover a range of situation, it soon adds up.
 
Mandoo said:
I can understand that. I started with the 14-42 but went for the 14-45 as this lens will be my main lens until I can afford primes. Trouble with being out of work is its going to take a long time to save up for them so I wanted the best lens I could afford at the time. I'll sell on my 14-42 to recoup some of the cost of the 14-45 and that'll keep me going for a while.
Primes are definitely the way forward with these cameras, but they're also not exactly cheap when you want to get a few different focal lengths to cover a range of situation, it soon adds up.
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That's fair, although without wishing to stoke the argument further, I'd take the 14mm 2.5 over any of the zooms, it's an absolute peach in terms of iq/speed and by far my most used lens, great for video too, it basically lives on my GF2. I think it can be had for around £100-ish used. I appreciate that it may just be too wide for some tho, and may be perceived as lacking the versatility of a zoom.

Just got a G2 and I have to say I'm loving using my 14-42 and 45-200 zooms on it, whereas they saw little use on the GF2 possibly due to the bulk they added. But the G2 loves the 20mm prime most :lol:
 
The 14mm is next on the shopping list followed by the 20mm and the 45mm, but I 'accidentally' bought an iPad this week so I'm a bit broke at the moment! No matter how hard I tried, that iPad would just not remove itself from my shopping basket until I'd paid for it! Completely ruined my plan of buying more lenses! :lol:
 
Mandoo said:
The 14mm is next on the shopping list followed by the 20mm and the 45mm, but I 'accidentally' bought an iPad this week so I'm a bit broke at the moment! No matter how hard I tried, that iPad would just not remove itself from my shopping basket until I'd paid for it! Completely ruined my plan of buying more lenses! :lol:
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Heh :D Same thing happened to my Olly 45mm fund, the G2 has depleted it almost entirely... Back to saving :)
 
I wonder if someone could give me some advice regarding a G2 please. I'm thinking about buying one of these and hope to make a decision today! I would be grateful for advice from thise who own one. Pros and cons - is the 14-42mm kit lens OK. In fact any comments would be welcome.

Thanks,
Al
 
Galaxy66 said:
Set it to intelligent auto. iA
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I guess in the end that is what it will be but will be checking out P mode options to see if this may be better way forward. But it is only me that would notice difference in end results but can't help myself fiddling :D
 
Janice said:
I don't think a lens hood would particularly prevent a lens error. The lens error was probably from the jolt the body/lens got. Although a hood should prevent flare and scratching etc.
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Point taken.

Any ideas for source of none 'flower shaped' hood :thinking:

And any thoughts on battery and case would be good.
 
Al1944 said:
I wonder if someone could give me some advice regarding a G2 please. I'm thinking about buying one of these and hope to make a decision today! I would be grateful for advice from thise who own one. Pros and cons - is the 14-42mm kit lens OK. In fact any comments would be welcome.

Thanks,
Al
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Depends what sort of camera you're coming from... My "other" system is a bunch of high-end consumer Nikon DSLR gear with a value of thousands of pounds, and I rate the G2 and kit lens very highly due to small size, great image quality, excellent handling and value for money. Having spent the past 24 hours messing with my G2, it really does behave like a mini-DSLR, but is also simple for a beginner to get the best of thanks to iAuto and good choice of scene modes.

That said, if your background is as a professional photographer with 30 years experience and a 20K kit-bag, ignore all the above as it doesn't apply :lol:

DayDreamer said:
Point taken.

Any ideas for source of none 'flower shaped' hood :thinking:

And any thoughts on battery and case would be good.
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EBay is normally chock-a-block with those rubber folding hoods, they tend to screw into the to filter thread, which is 52mm on the 14-42 lens. This may preclude use of filters and the standard lens cap, so check it out carefully!

Batteries are a minefield on Panasonics, they tend to upgrade the firmware to prevent use of third party batts, which is very, very annoying to me and numerous others used to being able to use what they damn well please and not further line the manufacturers pockets. I'd have a look on amazon for third party batts and look for sellers who guarantee their product will work with the latest firmware, and who accept returns. Oh, and don't upgrade your firmware ever ;)
 
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Digital wise I use a small Canon compact, but I use 35mm film SLRs. So really a newbie as regards digital. I've got Olympus lenses which I could use with the G2 (with adapter) which is swinging it for me. Just wanted to be sure that the G2 is a reasonably good camera before taking the plunge.

Al
 
Al1944 said:
Digital wise I use a small Canon compact, but I use 35mm film SLRs. So really a newbie as regards digital. I've got Olympus lenses which I could use with the G2 (with adapter) which is swinging it for me. Just wanted to be sure that the G2 is a reasonably good camera before taking the plunge.

Al
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Tbh it's not the newest kid on the block, the G3 surpasses it in most ways (except the eye-sensor heheh). But it comes down to value for money for me, and at the prices they've been going for this weekend on certain large supermarkets websites is a steal. My photography bargain of the past 12 months without doubt :)
 
I'm looking to buy at that supermarket price, so I think I'll get a move on :)
 
If there's still stock available at that certain supermarket then grab it quick. I've got the older G1 and I'm very happy with it so I don't think you'll have any issues with the G2 at all.
 
Al1944 said:
I'm looking to buy at that supermarket price, so I think I'll get a move on :)
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A mate of mine has just recently had a lightbulb moment after me droning on, so there's now one less left to order... Don't forget to use one of the £10 discount codes too :)
 
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