"Panasonic G series" Owners Thread

woof woof said:
I've been thinking about going for a Nex 7 or a Fuji X Pro 1 but lack of lenses and bugs and reports of poor focus are stopping me at the mo so I've been thinking of committing to MFT a bit more.

I have the 25mm f0.95, 20mm f1.7 and 14-42mm. I've been thinking of getting a 14-140mm and the Panny 25mm f1.4.

What's stopping me is that I'm still not happy with FBW no marking lenses and I don't know if I want to spend another penny on a system which seems best to me when used with manual lenses.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest!
:bang:
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IMHO m43 is by far the best all round CSC system, I love the sound of the xpro-1 and that lovely image quality, but for the price, come on the focus performance is just not on, let alone the usual fuji bugs/quirks. And nex system, only one real quality e-mount lens is killing the system. Anyway just my view ;)
 
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Yes.

The best options on the Nex 7 seem to be the two new f2.8 Siggy lenses, f4.2 equiv, borderline ok I suppose but f1.4 would have been better. The 35mm f1.4 on the Fuji tempts me but there are mixed reports of AF performance and almost universal agreement that MF is pants.

Plus of course with both systems manual lenses seem more attractive to me.

I've been trying to reluctantly accept that I'm living in the past and have to just accept that the things I like are gone and just aint coming back but then I think about spending money on systems I'm just not happy with. I like the compactness but dislike the lens tec.
 
And the image quality is ok too. My bug is mostly the lenses.
 
I am looking to get a prime, maybe a 14 or 20mm. Just got to decide which camera to keep now!! Do the G3's sell well 2nd hand, almost new?
 
I've noticed a few go on the classified here recently. One went for just £50 less than the new price and TBH I think I'd probably have rather bought new at that price... so from what I've seen some go for good money.
 
samems said:
Few posts back i mentioned how i bought both the G2 and G3 and after trying the G3 felt that the G2 was better for me and that i am thinking of selling the G3.

Well, after some more 'Handling' i am now more confused. Not sure which to keep now.

The G3 produces stunning pictures, as does the G2 but the G2 'feels' better in my hands.

The G3 is smaller but not by much. It is def an improvement over the G2 technology wise. Some little niggles about the G3 that keep pushing me towards selling it but i am not 100% convinced!!!

I need pushing in the right direction!! lol
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I was quite exited when the G3 came out and wanted to sell my G1 and get one, until I held one, they seem too small and toy like to me. I think the G1/2 are better cameras, for me anyway.

Sometime new isn't always better.
 
Danny_Two said:
Sometime new isn't always better.
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Very true! :thumbs:

Can i ask something. On the G2, if I use the direct focus thing whereby i can move the yellow square around on the screen with my hand, I then can't use any of the buttons around the set button as it just resets the yellow focus area instead of changing my settings.I have to use the Quick menu instead which leaves me taking ages fiddling instead of getting the shot.

I suppose it means I have to decide which I want more... the settings available by buttons on the back... or being able to move the focus point on the screen?
 
I had the same problem but I decided I didn't like moving the focus point.

I actually like smaller form cameras and I'd love Panny to bring out a GF1 form camera with a built in VF. I've been thinking about getting the slightly smaller than G1 style G3 but the hope that a GF1+VF might come out sometime has stopped me so far. The current mini DSLR styling is a little too awkward for me, the VF sticks out at the back, there's a hump and that bit at the front that overhangs the lens.

My ideal would be a GF1+ built in VF and the G series adjustable screen so I can turn it to the body.
 
Ahh!! If I turn Direct Focus Point to OFF in the menu, then I can still move it around with my finger on the screen but it doesn't move when pressing the back buttons! EURIKA!!!:D
 
woof woof said:
I've been thinking about going for a Nex 7 or a Fuji X Pro 1 but lack of lenses and bugs and reports of poor focus are stopping me at the mo so I've been thinking of committing to MFT a bit more.

I have the 25mm f0.95, 20mm f1.7 and 14-42mm. I've been thinking of getting a 14-140mm and the Panny 25mm f1.4.

What's stopping me is that I'm still not happy with FBW no marking lenses and I don't know if I want to spend another penny on a system which seems best to me when used with manual lenses.
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I must admit I'm very seriously considering purchasing an NEX 7 precisely because I do like using my FD manual focus lenses, which are on my G2 about 80% of the time, with the bonus that I can take an FD body out with me and also shoot on film with the same set of lenses when I fancy it.

I'm finding the 2x crop on m4/3 a bit limiting (I'd like my FD 35mm f/2 SSC a bit closer to its 'proper' focal length) and the combo of Sony's focus peaking and the XGA EVF is very attractive. If I need the 'reach' of a 2x crop, 24 Mpx on APS-C ought to deliver it.

That said, the IBIS on the OM-D is making it a very difficult decision :gag:
 
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I've managed to bag a used G2 for £90 so I'm going to give that a go alongside the G1 and see which I prefer. I think I'll easily move it on for that price if I decide I don't like it and I can probably get £80 or more for my G1 if I decide that's the one that needs to go.
 
"I must admit I'm very seriously considering purchasing an NEX 7"

Check what I'm about to say in case I'm wrong... but I'm pretty sure I've read that the Nex 7 gives a colour cast when used with some legacy lenses so it might be worth doing a bit of research before buying to use with legacy lenses. I'm pretty sure I've read that this is for some reason a Nex 7 issue and that the Nex 5 doesn't do it, but check what I'm saying if it could be an issue for you.

Actually, Googling "Nex 7 colour cast" seems to give plenty of links, if you think it's an issue to worry about.
 
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I'm aware of it. Primarily an issue with very wide retrofocus rangefinder lenses that make the light hit the sensor at an acute angle.

Not a problem with SLR lenses I use as their register distance is that much longer to accommodate the mirror box, so all of the light paths are more perpendicular to the sensor.

There's a utility called Cornerfix that sorts it out if you do encounter the problem.
 
Willrow said:
Great to see so much well deserved praise for the G2, I could'nt resist the incredible Tesco offer either, I'm going through a new learning curve and putting the camera through it's pace
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Just to check to reassure a friend who's just ordered one, it does come with a battery charger, doesn't it?

http://www.tesco.com/direct/panason...-kit-black-incl-14-42mm-lens-kit/209-2459.prd

Tesco said:
Additional Information


Whats in the Box Includes: wrist or neck strap, USB cable, image editing software, AV cable
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I'd be mighty surprised if it doesn't.
 
There is one downside to the tesco offer. They ship the goods via @&#c€¥# Yodel. I went to extraordinary lengths to ensure someone was at home all day (whilst I went to Pontefract). Now I get a txt to apologise for non-delivery and that it will be here tomorrow.
 
I bought one from Tesco and they do a collect from store after 4.00 p.m. next day. This was more convenient than waiting in for courier.
 
Musicman said:
I must admit I'm very seriously considering purchasing an NEX 7 precisely because I do like using my FD manual focus lenses, which are on my G2 about 80% of the time, with the bonus that I can take an FD body out with me and also shoot on film with the same set of lenses when I fancy it.

I'm finding the 2x crop on m4/3 a bit limiting (I'd like my FD 35mm f/2 SSC a bit closer to its 'proper' focal length) and the combo of Sony's focus peaking and the XGA EVF is very attractive. If I need the 'reach' of a 2x crop, 24 Mpx on APS-C ought to deliver it.

That said, the IBIS on the OM-D is making it a very difficult decision :gag:
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I'd been thinking about a NEX mainly for the focus peaking on manual lenses (as I'm too tight to buy new ones!!) but I agree IBIS on the OM-D is quite tempting as I already have it on my EP2...... do like the GX1/G3 too though..
 
DayDreamer said:
I bought one from Tesco and they do a collect from store after 4.00 p.m. next day. This was more convenient than waiting in for courier.
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Same here, I hate waiting in for any courier, Royal Mail SD before 1pm is just about ok, but all the others who want to deliver between 8am and 7pm I can't stand.

At least click and collect means I can pick up at my convenience.
 
woof woof said:
I just couldn't live with it though and to me image processing seems to be an after thought with LR rather than the point.
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Absolutely not! Its really good for image processing. There's a few more complex tasks that you might want PS for but otherwise LR is the bees knees.
 
mrtoad said:
your shot here is a bit bright..no pp done?
i was interested in this because when i was in china i noticed they still use large bamboo for scaffolding
what is the offshoring tag you gave to this
cheers
geof
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Hi Geof,

This was a high contrast B&W conversion I did in Lightroom3 and didn't really try to recover the highlights because I liked the bright areas.

The offshoring relates to why I was in Bangalore. I work in IT (server) support for Unilever and was in India to train our extended "offshore" team.

Cheers
Steve
 
jerry12953 said:
Absolutely not! Its really good for image processing. There's a few more complex tasks that you might want PS for but otherwise LR is the bees knees.
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The actual abilities which CSx and LR share will be largely the same but the look of the two packages is very different. CS is IMVHO very obviously a photo processing tool whereas LR (again IMVHO) is obviously more than just an image processor and it's the "more" that makes it look to me like a bit of a mess. I find CSx much clearer in intrent and use, probably just because I've been using CSx for years. TBH I prefer the look of Eliments to LR too.
 
Hi,

I'm looking to buy either a G2 or GF3 with the 14-42mm lens kit. I've seen both at similar prices (GF3 cheaper after the cashback) and can't decide which one to go for.

I'm an amatuer and just want to get some good photos and learn photography. To me both cameras are very similar in spec. The GF3 seems to be better for videos and the G2 seems to be aimed at the SLR market. I can't decide.

Appreciate any advice.

Thanks.
WL
 
Whitelightning they are absolutely different ... do you want to look through a viewfinder or do you want to hold the thing out and use the LCD to compose the picture?
 
My G2 has been with Yodel since 2 a.m. Friday morning - for a Friday delivery. It hasn't even been loaded on a van yet! How are these muppets still in business?

Feathers being spat :(
 
2blue4u said:
My G2 has been with Yodel since 2 a.m. Friday morning - for a Friday delivery. It hasn't even been loaded on a van yet! How are these muppets still in business?

Feathers being spat :(
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My last Yodel delivery didn't update to "on the van" or "leaving depot", it went from national hub to local depot and then the next update was "delivered to customer".

Their tracking could be better.
 
whitelightning said:
Hi,

I'm looking to buy either a G2 or GF3 with the 14-42mm lens kit. I've seen both at similar prices (GF3 cheaper after the cashback) and can't decide which one to go for.

I'm an amatuer and just want to get some good photos and learn photography. To me both cameras are very similar in spec. The GF3 seems to be better for videos and the G2 seems to be aimed at the SLR market. I can't decide.

Appreciate any advice.

Thanks.
WL
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If you don't need the video and don't mind the larger I would get the G2. The EVF means you can see what your taking and the flip out screen is useful when taking shots at awkward angles.
 
DayDreamer said:
I bought one from Tesco and they do a collect from store after 4.00 p.m. next day. This was more convenient than waiting in for courier.
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It sure is, thanks to the heads up ordered Thursday and collected mine today at 3.00 p.m.
 
If you had the choice between a 14-42 or a 14mm what would you choose and why?
 
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samems said:
If you had the coice between a 14-42 or a 14mm what would you choose and why?
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14mm prime, without doubt. Smaller, faster, better bokeh, just better actually ;)

It's a loaded answer, and depends entirely on your photographic preferences, and what you want to do with the images. You can always crop if you need to get closer, depending on what you need from the final images... I'm lucky enough that I can hold on to both, but have thought of selling on the zoom a few times.

So, my answer is to have both if you can afford it :thumbs:
 
I took my 14-42mm out for a day at the seaside just to try it out and I think that's the only time it's been used. I have to say though, it's a nice sharp kit zoom.
 
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