"Panasonic G series" Owners Thread

I like primes too that is why i will be looking for a 14mm to replace the 14-42
 
samems said:
Anyway, just picked up a 2nd hand G3 with kit lens with an extra battery, a filter for the lens, bag, SDHC card, some warranty remaining £340

Looking to get a 14mm for it next so if anyone wants to part X a 14mm for a 14-42 with cash? :D
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The warranty won't be transferable to a new owner I didn't think?
 
clicktor said:
I am intrigued by the adoption of the 14mm lens amongst fellow m43rds owners. .........What reasons have you guys gone for 14mm prime over the kit?
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The main reason I opted for a GF1 was for the combination of image quality vs. size. I do a lot of hill walking and, especially when laden with winter gear, a traditional DSLR soon becomes a heavy, bulky pain in the arse. M43, and the GF1 in particular seemed like the perfect solution. I used the GF1 for a while with the 14-45mm kit lens but it soon became clear that 99% of my shots were taken at 14mm. So the pancake, when it came out, was a no brainer - an even smaller package with no compromises for the type of stuff I like to take pictures of. I even toured Macedonia last year with just my GF1, the 14mm and a polarizer and never wanted for anything else. It still lives on my GF1 and I can't remember the last time I fitted the kit zoom.

So there's my answer - the reason why I have adopted the 14mm prime is 'cos I ain't very creative and just like taking pictures of scenery :thumbs:
 
I hate you. I hate all of you :(

I've spent three days reading through most of this mega thread. I know I want a Panasonic but I'm still no nearer deciding which one. Just when I think I'm close to deciding on one (G3), I find a post suggesting many aspects of an older version (G2) are better. Then I see mention of G5!! And even GF5 - but I don't think so. :shrug:

I'm almost at the stage where I think I'll stick a pin in somewhere :naughty: try it out, then maybe make another buy/sell/swap decision in a few months.

Is there an ejits guide making easy comparison between the currently available models?
 
With the older ones you probably get more manual controls and they're slightly larger. With the newer ones you get the modern bells and whistles like touch screens etc and the higher ISO performance is arguably a little better.

Personally I started out with a GF1 but decided that I really didn't like shooting with the back screen so I now have a G1 which has an EVF.

So, I'd suggest that the starting point is to decide if you are happy to shoot with just the back screen or not. If not you'll need an add on EVF or a body with a built in EVF. The size of kit may be a factor here too, plus there's the issue of manual controls or touch screen stuff. Once you've decided on screen v EVF, size and control issues you'll probably be much better placed to make your choice.
 
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2 from the long end of my newly aquired 100-300.

P1050280.jpg
P1050285.jpg


Not a pixel peeper's lens but still very capable performer. Just resized Jpeg from camera and sharpened for screen.
 
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clicktor said:
I am intrigued by the adoption of the 14mm lens amongst fellow m43rds owners. For me, I get 14mm from the kit lens, and the type of shots I would use it for (group shots, landscape) I would prefer to just use the IS on the kit lens on my G2, which helps bring down the shutter for lower light shots. I can't see a major advantage of the 14mm other than size. At that focal length DOF is not particularly advantageous. Would others not agree? What reasons have you guys gone for 14mm prime over the kit?

If I were to get a fixed wide lens, I would go for a proper wide prime like a 7mm or something.

Cheers
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Can't say much more than what's already been said, both before and after your post. It's just a great focal length and an all-round top lens. For me, obviously ;)
 
Beagletorque said:
2 from the long end of my newly aquired 100-300.

P1050280.jpg
P1050285.jpg


Not a pixel peeper's lens but still very capable performer. Just resized Jpeg from camera and sharpened for screen.
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2 is showing promise and clearly the best focal length..
1 looks a bit softish
cheers
geof
 
Geoff,
both the same focal length and F stop.... 1st one is back lit so a bit low in contrast on the pole as the jpeg engine pushed the exposure to suit that.
 
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clicktor said:
I am intrigued by the adoption of the 14mm lens amongst fellow m43rds owners. For me, I get 14mm from the kit lens, and the type of shots I would use it for (group shots, landscape) I would prefer to just use the IS on the kit lens on my G2, which helps bring down the shutter for lower light shots. I can't see a major advantage of the 14mm other than size. At that focal length DOF is not particularly advantageous. Would others not agree? What reasons have you guys gone for 14mm prime over the kit?

If I were to get a fixed wide lens, I would go for a proper wide prime like a 7mm or something.

Cheers
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When you find a 7mm prime, let me know!
 
Beagletorque said:
Geoff,
both the same focal length and F stop.... 1st one is back lit so a bit low in contrast on the pole as the jpeg engine pushed the exposure to suit that.
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sorry i didnt mean focal length i mean subject distance
so the closer you got the more sharper the lens seemed..as i saw it
cheers
geof
 
joelk2 said:
Would the samyang 7.5mm not be classed as a prime?
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Technically it is, but I believe it's an ultra-wide angle manual focus lens with bags of distortion, and from what I've seen it's not a small lens, so a bit different to the conventional primes! I'm with beagletorque, if a 7mm equivalent of the 14mm existed I'd be all over it :)
 
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ronnus said:
Technically it is, but I believe it's an ultra-wide angle manual focus lens with bags of distortion, and from what I've seen it's not a small lens, so a bit different to the conventional primes! I'm with beagletorque, if a 7mm equivalent of the 14mm existed I'd be all over it :)
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I'd say it is small ;)
 
If anyone comes across a place selling the 14mm 'cheap' let me know. Dont mind 2nd hand. Ta
 
ShrubMonkey said:
I'd say it is small ;)
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Just had a look, and I concur... Must have seen the 8mm in the past, which didn't seem small!

Aaaaanyway ;)
 
Reading through this thread is awesome! Some great pics and advice. Still on page 1 though!! lol
 
ronnus said:
I believe it's an ultra-wide angle manual focus lens with bags of distortion
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Well what do you expect from a fisheye :thinking: What it does, it does very well (I'd post an example, but I'm not at home at the moment).
 
arad85 said:
Well what do you expect from a fisheye :thinking: What it does, it does very well (I'd post an example, but I'm not at home at the moment).
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I know, I was attempting to get across that it's not a "normal" lens so shouldn't be compared to the 14mm or 20mm offerings that most people think of when they think of m43 primes :)
 
ronnus said:
I know, I was attempting to get across that it's not a "normal" lens so shouldn't be compared to the 14mm or 20mm offerings that most people think of when they think of m43 primes :)
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any fish eye and for that matter ultra wide lens is a one trick pony and is £££ in your pouch doing nothing most of the time...till you go to a party
widest angle i ever tolerated was 12...24mm as in full frame
 
mrtoad said:
any fish eye and for that matter ultra wide lens is a one trick pony and is £££ in your pouch doing nothing most of the time...till you go to a party
widest angle i ever tolerated was 12...24mm as in full frame
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Or do city scapes of large buildings - which is where I use mine.
 
arad85 said:
Or do city scapes of large buildings - which is where I use mine.
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its the distortion old chap...but chacun son gout...and you are using the lens practically and getting results
cheers
geof
 
mrtoad said:
any fish eye and for that matter ultra wide lens is a one trick pony and is £££ in your pouch doing nothing most of the time...till you go to a party
widest angle i ever tolerated was 12...24mm as in full frame
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Have to say I quite like my Siggy 10-20mm on my Nikons, it's nice to force perspective sometimes and get different looks. LR3 corrects the worst of the distortion :) I've no interest in fisheyes, as they really are one trick ponies, you either like the look, or you don't... I don't! Some folks here have posted excellent shots using the Samyang tho.

Agree that a UWA has limited use, which is why I don't bother looking at upgrading to a Nikkor, too much £££ for the use I give my Sigma :thumbs: The Panny 7-14 is an attractive lens, but just waaay too pricey for a lens that I'd get little use of.
 
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woof woof said:
With the older ones you probably get more manual controls and they're slightly larger. With the newer ones you get the modern bells and whistles like touch screens etc and the higher ISO performance is arguably a little better.

Personally I started out with a GF1 but decided that I really didn't like shooting with the back screen so I now have a G1 which has an EVF.

So, I'd suggest that the starting point is to decide if you are happy to shoot with just the back screen or not. If not you'll need an add on EVF or a body with a built in EVF. The size of kit may be a factor here too, plus there's the issue of manual controls or touch screen stuff. Once you've decided on screen v EVF, size and control issues you'll probably be much better placed to make your choice.
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Thanks, Alan. I'm not comfortable with back screen shooting. I'm defo leaning towards G2/G3.
 
2blue4u said:
Thanks, Alan. I'm not comfortable with back screen shooting. I'm defo leaning towards G2/G3.
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When I got my GF2 I thought I was fine with composing on the screen. Then I got a G2 and had something of a lightbulb moment :) The GF is still great when I want something small to take to family do's or stick in the rucksack on a walk/cycle, but the G2 is now my go-to camera for everything else :thumbs:
 
2blue4u said:
Thanks, Alan. I'm not comfortable with back screen shooting. I'm defo leaning towards G2/G3.
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Can't speak for the G3, but I can recommend the G2, it's one of the nicest handling bodies I've used. The touch to focus feature should be standard on all cameras.
 
I'm still very tempted by the G2 deal on the Tesco website. £200 seems a really good price for the kit and I think I could recoup a reasonable amount of that back by selling on my G1 and kit lens.
 
Mandoo said:
I'm still very tempted by the G2 deal on the Tesco website. £200 seems a really good price for the kit and I think I could recoup a reasonable amount of that back by selling on my G1 and kit lens.
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Still can't quite believe they have stock of these at that price, great deal. I bought one, sold on the lens and ended up with a brand new G2 body for not much more than I was about to drop on a used G1... Madness :)
 
ronnus said:
Still can't quite believe they have stock of these at that price, great deal. I bought one, sold on the lens and ended up with a brand new G2 body for not much more than I was about to drop on a used G1... Madness :)
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Same here, bought the G2 for £189 from Tesco, sold the kit lens for £75 and my old G1 body for £85.
 
mrtoad said:
its the distortion old chap...
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But that's what a fisheye is designed to do ;) ALL lenses of short ffective focal lengths have some form of extreme distortion - even the rectilinear Sigma 12-24mm on full frame...
 
arad85 said:
But that's what a fisheye is designed to do ;) ALL lenses of short ffective focal lengths have some form of extreme distortion - even the rectilinear Sigma 12-24mm on full frame...
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No, it doesn't show "extreme distortion."

I have one of these and it's very well corrected. In tests you'll see a sort of wave to straight lines but in real world use you wont see any true distortion. You'll see perspective but not true distortion.

I just shot these just for you... 5D @ 12mm with no correction at all...

Door to side edge of frame...

IMG_9336.jpg


Door to top of frame...

IMG_9337.jpg


Straight lines through the centre of the frame...

IMG_9340.jpg


These shots show no true distortion at all never mind extreme distortion. It's a fantastic lens :D
 
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