"Panasonic G series" Owners Thread

maybe it's the new 50-200 Zoom lens that everyone was expecting before the 200mm F2.8 was announced ?
 
The g9's processor and the sensor from the g9 and gh5 would be great to be put in a gx body. Whats due for a possible replacement? gx8? gx80? Maybe it's a new lens, thought I read the 50-200 was coming in 2018, can't recall 100% though

Of interest, if anyone is after a g80, look at lce if you have anything to trade in, £50 bonus trade in on the body only, or the 12-60 kit, £100 bonus p'x and of course there is the £100 cashback too.

https://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Search/?SearchStr=g80&SUBMIT.x=0&SUBMIT.y=0
 
Well the beast 2 turned up today. Beautiful lens, here mounted on my GX8. Can't wait to use it properly



 
I've just purchased the 12-60 kit lens off my brother who is a recent convert to the G80. For years, now, I've used an f2.8 short zoom (Canon) and although part of me wants to give the variable aperture 12-60 a good run out, the other (not so rational?) part of me says something along the lines of "you know you'll never be happy with a kit lens so chop it in for the 12-35 now". Reading "professional" reviews is all well and good but they're not the same as hearing from someone who uses the lens day to day in the real world!
Anyone else had any similar thought processes/experiences? What have you ended up doing? What I am 100% sure of though is that if I keep the kit lens I will have to support it with (probably) a 25mm f1.4 for indoor family photos.
I did take a few shots in the garden yesterday (with the kit lens) but it was all very rushed & no point in posting those. What I will say, though, is that my initial impressions (sharpness/contrast/punch) were very favourable.
 
I like to use MFT as if I'm using a FF camera with the only difference being that with MFT I apply the crop factor to get the look I prefer. I take a lot of FF pictures in the f4 to f8 range with the odd excursion to f10 or there abouts so with MFT I like to use lenses wide open to f5 with just very occasional use at smaller apertures. With the primes that's not a problem and with the f2.8 zooms I can be at a FF equivalent of f5.6-f10 which is ok and gives a FF look to my pictures especially in the in the f2.8 to f4 sort of range but with the variable aperture zooms I'm at a FF equivalent of f7-12 immediately and even an f4 lens I'm starting at a FF equivalent of f8 which may not give the look I'm going for so I much prefer primes or an f2.8 zoom to f3.5-5.6 or even f4 lenses.

That's just me though. YMMV.
 
Aperture only matters when it comes to DOF, a 2.8 lens is still a 2.8 lens no matter the format. Unless it's shallow DOF or better 'bokeh' you're after in an image, then just treat them like for like.

I would opt for the Olympus 12-40 2.8 over the Panasonic 12-35 2.8 though, it's a nicer lens, it's got that lock down hood, the manual focus 'clutch' a little extra reach and better min focus distance.
 
Cagey75 said:
Aperture only matters when it comes to DOF, a 2.8 lens is still a 2.8 lens no matter the format. Unless it's shallow DOF or better 'bokeh' you're after in an image, then just treat them like for like.

I would opt for the Olympus 12-40 2.8 over the Panasonic 12-35 2.8 though, it's a nicer lens, it's got that lock down hood, the manual focus 'clutch' a little extra reach and better min focus distance.
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Thanks for this. Presumably your advice holds even though I will be using the lens on a G80 and so the Olympus 12-40 won't utilise the Panasonic DFD or dual stabilisation?
 
goinggreynow said:
Thanks for this. Presumably your advice holds even though I will be using the lens on a G80 and so the Olympus 12-40 won't utilise the Panasonic DFD or dual stabilisation?
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From what I have read and seen on youtube etc, the in body 5-axis stabilization on the likes of the G80 is just as good alone as the dual IS. I'm looking at the G80 myself, looks a lot of camera for the money. Look up some comparison reviews before deciding though, I'm just going on personal opinion here and the bit of research I did on both.
 
Cagey75 said:
From what I have read and seen on youtube etc, the in body 5-axis stabilization on the likes of the G80 is just as good alone as the dual IS. I'm looking at the G80 myself, looks a lot of camera for the money. Look up some comparison reviews before deciding though, I'm just going on personal opinion here and the bit of research I did on both.
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Thanks for the reply. The G80 is a great camera for the money.
 
Cagey75 said:
From what I have read and seen on youtube etc, the in body 5-axis stabilization on the likes of the G80 is just as good alone as the dual IS. I'm looking at the G80 myself, looks a lot of camera for the money. Look up some comparison reviews before deciding though, I'm just going on personal opinion here and the bit of research I did on both.
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I have a G80 and wholeheartedly recommend it, it's a fabulous camera.
 
Cagey75 said:
Aperture only matters when it comes to DOF, a 2.8 lens is still a 2.8 lens no matter the format. Unless it's shallow DOF or better 'bokeh' you're after in an image, then just treat them like for like.

I would opt for the Olympus 12-40 2.8 over the Panasonic 12-35 2.8 though, it's a nicer lens, it's got that lock down hood, the manual focus 'clutch' a little extra reach and better min focus distance.
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The aperture only matters for dof bit is only partially true as if going for a ff look dof is part of the look but applying the crop factor also allows lower iso / higher shutter speed and a lower iso could get you higher image quality.

I usually don't use mft like ff as with mft at apertures beyond f8, if that, you're getting further into the possibility of degrading image quality for little practical reason and it's therefore something I'd only do if there was a clear advantage somewhere.
 
I tend to compare MFT more directly to APSC, I think it's unfair that most people jump straight to comparisons with FF [not here, I mean around the web on much more gear head orientated forums or youtube etc] - as you don't often see people compare APSC to FF in the same manner. I have been testing a 25mm 1.7 lens on mft to a 35mm 1.4 on APSC, setting both up identical shutter/ISO/aperture and shooting the same scene. There's slight difference in shallow DOF, but nothing near what i expected. I would say that the mft produced similar results at 1.7 to the APSC at F2.2, very little in it. I would expect a similar FF set up to beat both easily enough, but the only people who'd really notice are other photographers and/or pixel peepers. Where the Mft beats the FF is for the areas that are in focus. It's much easier get those eyes for a portrait in sharp focus, and I'll take that over slightly creamier backdrops any day.

The other thing I noted was there was even less difference between them in terms of ISO performance between 1600-3200. It is more noticeable at lower ISO, with mft having a little noise at all levels, but nothing really distracting. This is an old mft body Vs old Fuji APSC I'm comparing, newer APSC bodies will fare better, but then the newer mft bodies will no doubt be a little better too. I doubt there's much in it between say, an X-T2 and a G9 at ISO 3200
 
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I grew up with film and from lurking in other places I gather that MFT is quite popular with people who came from film :D However, maybe because some came to MFT from film I have seen some using MFT as if it was a FF/film camera and carrying the settings over. The thinking seems to be "I used my FF lenses stopped down a few stops so that's how I'm going to use MFT." IMO that's not really necessary with MFT as the lenses tend to be sharp from wide open so why not take advantage of that?

Personally and after comparing my 20D / 5D pictures to those taken with my G1 *(see below :D) I decided to apply the crop factor so instead of f5 to f8 and be there with FF with APS-C I'm f2.8 to f5.6 and be there and with MFT I'm f1.8 to f4 and be there :D Doing this means using wider aperture lenses like the primes and f2.8 zoom I have or indeed using the variable aperture lenses wide open and this gives me pictures that for me compete better with FF and are even lost amongst my "FF" pictures unless I go looking for the differences.

* There's no point comparing film too as IMHO all of the changeable lens digital cameras I've had from my 300D to date have given me better pictures than I ever got with 35mm film :D
 
Yeah good point on using the lenses at wider apertures, this helps keep the noise well down. I have to keep reminding myself not to push over F8 in good daylight, let the shutter speed take the hit. It's just an adjustment, you'd have adjustments changing to any system.
 
Actually I forgot to mention something...

Shooting at wider apertures can push the shutter speed to the point where you hit over 1/4000 and if that's the case you need either an ND or one of the bodies that goes to 1/8000 or more. I used to hate juggling ND's with my G1 but these days with my GX7 and GX80 shooting wide open isn't a problem :D
 
Wowza :D

A good moon shot is something I've always wanted to do but I've never had a lens long enough.
 
michael23 said:
This adapter doesn't, no contacts at all. There is a commlite adapter for £45 that supposedly allows autofocus, going to look for reviews to see what its like.
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At that price will you keep me updated as to your findings.
 
Seems to be a lot of mixed reviews, you tube videos seem to show it focuses well, some reviews on amazon say it doesn;t work that well and stops working. Some suggest it doesn't work with the later cameras, gh5, g80 etc. Looks like it would need to be had in hand to see how it works for sure,
 
Swissy said:
I have a G80 and wholeheartedly recommend it, it's a fabulous camera.
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I agree I have had mine for just over a week, for the money its amazing....:)
 
Stop it you lot :D

I have a GX7 and a GX80 but imo the evf's are very poor by todays standards but I prefer the small form rf style layout to the larger mini slr style cameras. A GX80 style camera with a top quality evf might just get me to spend some of my money.
 
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woof woof said:
Stop it you lot :D

I have a GX7 and a GX80 but imo the evf's are very poor by todays standards but I prefer the small form rf style layout to the larger mini slr style cameras. A GX80 style camera with a top quality evf might just get me to spend some of my money.
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There's nowt wrong with the G80 mate, go for it ;)
 
I really like the ergonomics of the G80, the grip is perfect for me. And it's still very light and pretty small too. In the camera store they had one in one of the cabinets beside a GH5, that thing looked huge beside the G80, it's as big as many dslrs, bigger than many of the entry level ones for sure [the GH5 that is, the G80 is no bigger than an X-T1, it's fatter :D but no bigger].
 
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Swissy said:
There's nowt wrong with the G80 mate, go for it ;)
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I'm sure it's a very nice camera. I briefly had a G7 and that was good but I hated the grip every time I picked it up so if the G80 fixes that problem I'm sure I'd like it but I much prefer the small cameras. My ideal would be the evf of a G7 or later camera and the shutter from the GX80 in a GX7.
 
I have never used a GX body, so can't speak on the VF, but the G80 EVF is a hell of a lot better than the old em5 - I know that is kind of ancient by today's standards, the mkII is supposed to be way better. What I do know is the G80 EVF is as good as the Fuji EVF's. Apart from when it lags like a mo'fo if you have it set to display correct exposure and you're doing longer shutter speeds.
 
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I am really liking my G80, the other option was a GX8 but shutter shock reports put me off that after suffering the same with a G7.

It seems a good step up from a G7 all the improvements are definitely worth it. No complaints about the EVF or handling for me fits my hands like a glove. It feels solid but not heavy.

Definitely a keeper camera and my keeper rate seems to be fairly high. Think it's because I feel happier using it I slow down and think about what I am doing and spend time on composition and checking the settings are right before pushing the shutter button.

Just need some more time to use it.
 
ian-83 said:
I am really liking my G80, the other option was a GX8 but shutter shock reports put me off that after suffering the same with a G7.

It seems a good step up from a G7 all the improvements are definitely worth it. No complaints about the EVF or handling for me fits my hands like a glove. It feels solid but not heavy.

Definitely a keeper camera and my keeper rate seems to be fairly high. Think it's because I feel happier using it I slow down and think about what I am doing and spend time on composition and checking the settings are right before pushing the shutter button.

Just need some more time to use it.
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I am growing more fond of it, but at first the menus were frustrating to me, I usually find setting a camera up simple enough, but the G80 has been the trickiest to get right for my tastes. I have it pretty much set how I want it now and it's a lot nicer to use. I wonder how many people buy a camera like this and just use it as is out of the box? When I was buying it there was a guy returning an Olympus Omd em10 mkIII, I heard him say that he couldn't figure it out, he was an elderly gent. Weirdly I found my em5 easier to set up, there was one or two settings I had to look up but other than that I found it easier than the G80 to get bang on.
 
Cagey75 said:
I am growing more fond of it, but at first the menus were frustrating to me, I usually find setting a camera up simple enough, but the G80 has been the trickiest to get right for my tastes. I have it pretty much set how I want it now and it's a lot nicer to use. I wonder how many people buy a camera like this and just use it as is out of the box? When I was buying it there was a guy returning an Olympus Omd em10 mkIII, I heard him say that he couldn't figure it out, he was an elderly gent. Weirdly I found my em5 easier to set up, there was one or two settings I had to look up but other than that I found it easier than the G80 to get bang on.
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I'm the opposite i've always had Panasonic cameras and find them easy to setup, my recent Olympus purchase was pretty daunting to setup how i like it.
 
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