"Panasonic G series" Owners Thread

chrism_scotland said:
Yeah posted this in the Dealers sub forum, seems a good deal esp as I paid £300 3 weeks ago :(
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That's sore, I paid the same price last October :(
 
I just wondered if anyone had used the Panasonic 45mm lens, and if so what do you think of it please.
Many thanks
 
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Panasonic 45mm f2.8....... its meant to be a good lens for macro, depends what you want to use it for really, if its for macro then excellent lens but if your looking for a 45mm and not for macro use the Olympus 45mm f1.8 is A: Faster and B: A lot cheaper!
 
Oh, right. I haven't used either of the 45mm, but I've seen more reviews about the Olympus than the Panasonic. The Olympus seems to be a more popular lens, but it is isn't a macro lens. I guess it depends what is needed really, faster or macro.
 
Sorry I didn't make my post clear! Yes, I am looking to use the Panasonic 45mm as a macro lens.
The price is the thing that's making me hesitate, but there seems to be little macro choice around, so I would have liked an owners opinion before making the jump!
Thanks for the replies Chris and Mandy
 
If you're looking for a macro lens I wonder if you'll mostly be using manual focus? If so you could think about using a legacy lens + adapter.

I don't tend to use AF much, if at all, when doing close up shots with my CSC or DSLR.
 
I'd agree with Alan on this one. If you're doing macro work which is mostly manual focus, have a look at what legacy lenses and adapters are available. There can be some real bargains to be had..
 
That is an idea folks! I hadn't thought of going the legacy lens route, and yes I do use manual focus.
So.......any recommendations of a decent macro please?
 
This isn't a macro but taken with a legacy Olympus OM Zuiko 100mm f2.8, cost £62 on eBay:

fly-1.jpg
 
Lagacy lenses . . . adaptors??? Seen a lot talked about adaptors, have no idea where or what . . . ? Anyone fill us in on adaptors, where from, best supplier, pitfalls, best lenses to look for?

I know I have problems with weight and size but there must be some out there that might be usfull? Interesting if nothing else . . .

CJSF
 
The Minolta 55mm f1.7 plus adapter that I got from here cost £19. I'd always check the for sale section here first and then places like Ffordes for lenses and that auction site for adapters but you can get adapters from Amazon and the usual suppliers, Speed Graphic seem to do a few, they'll be more expensive though.

Pitfalls... they'll be manual focus and check first to make sure you can focus to infinity.
 
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I've been really hankering for a GF2 and thought I'd go for the Dixons deal then sell on the 14mm to raise some cash, but I can't afford it! I'm flat broke and don't have enough left on the credit card either. Oh, the joys of being unemployed! :(
 
And what with that puppy needing food and jabs!! Spend on him, your camera and lenses are great. We all know it's who's behind the camera that makes the shot!
 
Haha, yeah!
I've been unemployed for 6 months and have finally found a new job which I start in September, so thought about treating myself. I can use what little money I have better elsewhere though, especially as I go on holiday in a few weeks.
If the GF models are on any deals when I get my first pay in, I'm going to buy one as I want a smaller body I can pop the 14mm on for a walk around.

And while I'm here I may as well add a photo of pup who decided to find the muddiest place around today so that he could lay down in it!

7624972382_81ffefbc16_z.jpg
 
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stevelmx5 said:
Woof Woof, I've seen you post a few times about the issues you have with FBW and no focus distance markings on the Panasonic lenses. Why don't you just use legacy glass instead of feeling limited with the MF abilities of Panasonic glass?

I'm a big fan of Olympus OM Zuiko lenses and use them pretty much exclusively on my NEX and GF1 before that. They were designed for manual focus so are considerably better at it than an AF lenses focussed manually and image quality is as good or better than them too. Even with the required adaptors, the lenses are generally smaller than most newer lenses with AF motors so there's not a huge difference in size apart from against the 20/14 pancakes.

Cheers
Steve
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I have a couple of Zuiko MF lesnes on my G3 (50/1.8 and 28/2.8)... They have distance markings on them but they are nowhere near accurate. I think 3ft mark corresponds to infinity focus...
 
I still don't get the issue of distance markings on lenses being used on digital cameras? Fully agree with them needing to be accurate on the original film bodies they were designed for but my NEX has a 3" live view digital screen on the back and focus peaking so I'll trust that over a scale on the lens!

1) 35mm 1.7 cctv lens

7624648848_9b354c01d9_b.jpg


2) 50mm 3.5 OM Zuiko Macro with Panagor 1:1 adaptor

7624646722_fcda7f640e_b.jpg


Cheers
Steve
 
The point is that they can be a guide, even if they're not accurate it's easy to remember what marking equals what distance and at least you can quickly set infinity, even before you turn the camera on.
 
Mandoo said:
Haha, yeah!
I've been unemployed for 6 months and have finally found a new job which I start in September, so thought about treating myself. I can use what little money I have better elsewhere though, especially as I go on holiday in a few weeks.
If the GF models are on any deals when I get my first pay in, I'm going to buy one as I want a smaller body I can pop the 14mm on for a walk around.

And while I'm here I may as well add a photo of pup who decided to find the muddiest place around today so that he could lay down in it!
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He is fab. Gun dogs and mud are like magnets!
 
Sorry to ask such a stupid question but........!.....

On the G2, when I have pressed the shutter button and taken a photo, if its a closeup I immediately want to see it zoomed in so I can quickly tell if it was in focus or not, otherwise I will take another.

So, i take the photo, see it on the rear screen, touch the rear screen to zoom in, but it takes me back to the shooting screen, so I then have to press the green PLAY arrow, then zoom in.....each photo taking 4 touches.

Any ideas how it can be done more efficiently?

The only way I can see is to set it to display for only 2 seconds, then wait till those 2 seconds are up and i can then press the PLAY arrow... etc.h(I don't really like this idea because for normal photos 2 seconds isn't really long enough)

that will bring it to 3 presses. any advance? :)
 
Janice said:
Sorry to ask such a stupid question but........!.....

On the G2, when I have pressed the shutter button and taken a photo, if its a closeup I immediately want to see it zoomed in so I can quickly tell if it was in focus or not, otherwise I will take another.

So, i take the photo, see it on the rear screen, touch the rear screen to zoom in, but it takes me back to the shooting screen, so I then have to press the green PLAY arrow, then zoom in.....each photo taking 4 touches.

Any ideas how it can be done more efficiently?

The only way I can see is to set it to display for only 2 seconds, then wait till those 2 seconds are up and i can then press the PLAY arrow... etc.h(I don't really like this idea because for normal photos 2 seconds isn't really long enough)

that will bring it to 3 presses. any advance? :)
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Hi, is this using manual lenses? What i do is take the picture press the play button then use the thumb scroll wheel to zoom in. Or you can change the picture preview length by going into setup, picture preview then change to hold, now when you take a picture it will stay on the screen so just use the thumb wheel to zoom in, when you have checked the picture half press the shutter button to cancel the preview, hope this helps.
So have it down to 1 button and a flick of the wheel or just the flick of the wheel. :)
 
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danolive1 said:
Hi, is this using manual lenses? What i do is take the picture press the play button then use the thumb scroll wheel to zoom in. Or you can change the picture preview length by going into setup, picture preview then change to hold, now when you take a picture it will stay on the screen so just use the thumb wheel to zoom in, when you have checked the picture half press the shutter button to cancel the preview, hope this helps.
So have it down to 1 button and a flick of the wheel or just the flick of the wheel. :)
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Thank you... two things to try :)
 
I had another play with the 14-42 PZ on the G1 over the weekend . . . it stoped working!!!! I have confirmed with Panosonic, the PZ is happy on the G1, but it looses the on screen zoom/focus read out.

Got it going again but was not happy with the focus or the noise it was making. Visited WEX this morning, sorted, new lens :thumbs:

So here are a set I took this afternoon at the local river Gipping while I was waiting for my car to be MOT'ed.

1 Good colour, nice and sharp . . .
11000Dustcartrw.jpg


2 Excelent detail into very dark area . . .
11000undersidebridgerw.jpg


3 Sun in front . . .
11000trainintosun.jpg


4 Close-up detail . . .
11000FlowerCloseuprw.jpg


5 Very shallow depth of field at 42mm, need to work on manual focus . . .
11000BeeFlowershalowdepthoffieldzoomedrw.jpg


6 Monk-Jack, chance shot, 'point and shoot', preset to 42mm, lots of crop . . .
11000MJackrw.jpg


All the above are RAW with minimal PP, conveted to JPG . . . The car passed its first MOT, the lens has passed my evaluation. Handling of the power zoom was easy, I have yet to work with the manual focus. However in geneal term, the lens is intended as a walk about and for street photography, I think it will do admirably . . . Super light combination, finger tip control on body and lens, just what the doctor ordered . . . :naughty:

I enjoyed this 45 minuit session, first for months, walking along the riverside, the knee was having a good day, only 5 minuits walk from home . . . wide path for cycling and walking . . . so why not mobility scooters? Bring Hazel out here with her camera and the dog can walk as well . . . :clap:

CJS
 
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Finally took the plunge and ordered an LVF2 from Adorama. Hoping that the price will be okay after Customs add their charges - I think I'll be okay!

I have really struggled using the screen and looking forward to going back to a viewfinder on sunny days. Just need to slave the flash if ts needed.
 
Tulipone said:
Finally took the plunge and ordered an LVF2 from Adorama. Hoping that the price will be okay after Customs add their charges - I think I'll be okay!

I have really struggled using the screen and looking forward to going back to a viewfinder on sunny days. Just need to slave the flash if ts needed.
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I can't imagine using the gx1 successfully without it, to be honest!
 
bl0at3r said:
Decisions - do I buy a GX1 and a G3 for the price of the OM-D?
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A few of us, including you and myself, have been there, done it, got the Tshirt, and went back to DSLR........now are you really sure you are making the right decision ;)
 
Galaxy66 said:
A few of us, including you and myself, have been there, done it, got the Tshirt, and went back to DSLR........now are you really sure you are making the right decision ;)
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god damn it - been rumbled by mal :bonk:

for some reason i'd keep being drawn back to M43 - or is it that i just like GAS more than taking photos :bang:
 
Galaxy66 said:
A few of us, including you and myself, have been there, done it, got the Tshirt, and went back to DSLR........now are you really sure you are making the right decision ;)
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I suspect that, like others, I like the whole process. Possibly acquisition as enjoyable as the final result!
 
bl0at3r said:
god damn it - been rumbled by mal :bonk:

for some reason i'd keep being drawn back to M43 - or is it that i just like GAS more than taking photos :bang:
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Tulipone said:
I suspect that, like others, I like the whole process. Possibly acquisition as enjoyable as the final result!
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I have to admit I still have the Panasonic GF1 + VF, a G1, a G2, a G3, and another G1 converted to Infra red.

A Panasonic 14mm, 20mm, 14-42 power zoom, 14-45 zoom, plus an Oly 45mm and a Samyang fisheye.

I need to decide what I am keeping alongside the G1 IR as a secondary lightweight take anywhere kit
 
Galaxy66 said:
I have to admit I still have the Panasonic GF1 + VF, a G1, a G2, a G3, and another G1 converted to Infra red.

A Panasonic 14mm, 20mm, 14-42 power zoom, 14-45 zoom, plus an Oly 45mm and a Samyang fisheye.

I need to decide what I am keeping alongside the G1 IR as a secondary lightweight take anywhere kit
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seems like you already have the whole shop :wave:
 
GAS, what GAS?

I took this photo 2 weeks ago and have acquired two new lenses since then!

gear.jpg
 
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