"Panasonic G series" Owners Thread

[the black fox]

one from today ,still on a steep learning curve with the g80 but its falling into place rapidly .my first butterfly of the year
first of the year by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

 

[Cagey75]

You should be able to pick up a 45mm f1.8 at a good price as they seem to crop up regularly and for me at least macro or rather close up shooting is mostly manual focus and a film era lens is therefore a viable option. I think my Sigma 50mm f2.8 cost £60. So why not both

I'm all MF when it comes to macro too, you have me thinking on that Sigma 50mm now ...

still on a steep learning curve with the g80 but its falling into place rapidly

You seem to be doing pretty good with it so far but don't be shy to ask if you're stuck, I only have the G80 since last Nov, but long enough to feel that I know it pretty well. I still discover stuff when I go exploring the menus.

 

[the black fox]

I'm all MF when it comes to macro too, you have me thinking on that Sigma 50mm now ...



You seem to be doing pretty good with it so far but don't be shy to ask if you're stuck, I only have the G80 since last Nov, but long enough to feel that I know it pretty well. I still discover stuff when I go exploring the menus.

O.k first one I have expanded the screen in pinpoint mode ,but it only stays on screen for a second or so ,how do you make it stay expanded to compose the shot

 

[srhmoto]

Great sense of speed, love how you made the cars 'pop!' - I especially like the red one

Cheers Keith, glad you like them . The colours from the G9 are superb.

Simon.

 

[the black fox]

couple of bird shots from yesterday ,just grab shots on walkabout
on close inspection by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

covered up tit by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

 

[Cagey75]

O.k first one I have expanded the screen in pinpoint mode ,but it only stays on screen for a second or so ,how do you make it stay expanded to compose the shot

Do you mean a clear view, no icons, when composing? Have you tried cycling through the 'display' options? Pinpoint mode? As in, pinpoint focus? I only ever use the select focus point, next to the 'pinpoint' - when the pin point wanders click display to get it back to center. I'm not sure I get exactly what you mean :/ this will be something I'll learn here too I think If you mean the little window that pops up as you are composing in that focus mode, I don't know how to keep it on screen after you focus ... but I don't know why anyone would use this focus mode to begin with tbh. The SP focus selection is way better, and more adjustable.

 

[the black fox]

Do you mean a clear view, no icons, when composing? Have you tried cycling through the 'display' options? Pinpoint mode? As in, pinpoint focus? I only ever use the select focus point, next to the 'pinpoint' - when the pin point wanders click display to get it back to center. I'm not sure I get exactly what you mean :/ this will be something I'll learn here too I think If you mean the little window that pops up as you are composing in that focus mode, I don't know how to keep it on screen after you focus ... but I don't know why anyone would use this focus mode to begin with tbh. The SP focus selection is way better, and more adjustable.

to be honest I haven't as yet got a clue what your on about ,I have a few options at the top of screen when looking through viewfinder. multi point ,single point etc ,the last one on the far right is pinpoint focus ,initially that was a small central box that flashed on for a second ,I have somehow? managed to enlarge that to full screening in the viewfinder I just want to keep that like that wile I compose /focus the shot ??

 

[the black fox]

ahthink I might have found it ,set pinpoint display to full (already did that ) and then set display time to long it hold it for approx 2 secs but comes back up when you depress button again .wonder if back button focus will hold it longer hmmmm

 

[Cagey75]

to be honest I haven't as yet got a clue what your on about ,I have a few options at the top of screen when looking through viewfinder. multi point ,single point etc ,the last one on the far right is pinpoint focus ,initially that was a small central box that flashed on for a second ,I have somehow? managed to enlarge that to full screening in the viewfinder I just want to keep that like that wile I compose /focus the shot ??

I get what you mean now. It can be tricky to get settings across by text, I've never been the best at that. I only ever use the AF setting to the left of pinpoint, I find it more reliable. It can wander, especially with touch screen enabled, but a simple press of the 'display' button brings the AF point back to centre, that's what i was getting at. The AF 'zoom' that pinpoint shows is something I would only ever need for manual focusing.

 

[the black fox]

its only something I would use for insects/butterflies etc but its a useful function ,I have ordered a booklet /manual for it might learn something new .

 

[the black fox]

I get what you mean now. It can be tricky to get settings across by text, I've never been the best at that. I only ever use the AF setting to the left of pinpoint, I find it more reliable. It can wander, especially with touch screen enabled, but a simple press of the 'display' button brings the AF point back to centre, that's what i was getting at. The AF 'zoom' that pinpoint shows is something I would only ever need for manual focusing.

in normal one focus point mode can you make the actual focus point on screen smaller ,as im not getting the eye focus spot on due to the focus point being to large ??

 

[the black fox]

dont answer that just found it myself ,nip and pinch ..all part of the learning curve

 

[Cagey75]

dont answer that just found it myself ,nip and pinch ..all part of the learning curve

You can do it by just tapping the screen and using the rear scroll wheel to resize it too. Don't forget, when that target box wanders [by touching off the lcd accidentally or if you have set it off center for a specific shot] click 'Disp' to return it to center. And always give a quick check that it has been re-centered or it can be frustrating to lose shots over. I was out shooting along the river today and every time I moved on from a shot, the AF target box had shifted, I was cycling and holding the camera in one hand with a wrist strap - must have been hitting my thumb off the screen each time I got back on the bike

 

[the black fox]

next question ,I have set my image review and display to zero ,but when I look through the viewfinder ,the last image taken is displayed any idea how to stop this ?

 

[the black fox]

a little grebe from today ,not quite sharp enough but I left the iso on auto and it slowed it down a tad .,but shot straight into the sun so quiet pleased with recovery
playing hard to get by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

 

[Malfis]

Just to let you know I’ve put an immaculate GX8 and 12/60mm lens up for grabs in the classifieds.

 

[Cagey75]

a little grebe from today ,not quite sharp enough but I left the iso on auto and it slowed it down a tad .,but shot straight into the sun so quiet pleased with recovery
playing hard to get by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

Nice, I never see those locally, but it seems all ducks were being a bit shy today. The female Mallard was really not up for posing, the male a little more curious, but I think I came along just after their Siesta ...

Male Mallard by K G, on Flickr

Shy female Mallard by K G, on Flickr

 

[Cagey75]

I was hoping to catch this regular Grey Heron either in flight or with a catch, but he seemed to be having a bit of a bad fishing day, he made a couple of dives but didn't appear to have caught anything much [he was chewing at one point after a brief dive]:

Grey heron by K G, on Flickr

Heron stare down by K G, on Flickr

Heron attack! by K G, on Flickr

Didn't get anything more exciting than those, but I'm glad I took the wee trek down by the river, it was a glorious day:

Ramparts, River Boyne, Navan Co. Meath by K G, on Flickr

 

[ian-83]

next question ,I have set my image review and display to zero ,but when I look through the viewfinder ,the last image taken is displayed any idea how to stop this ?

Have you download the online manual from the Panasonic website? The full manual is around 370 pages, there is lots in there as to what all the menu options are.

 

[the black fox]

Have you download the online manual from the Panasonic website? The full manual is around 370 pages, there is lots in there as to what all the menu options are.

Didn’t realise there was one thanks for the heads up ,I have ordered a book on it .that might be a copy of the manual with luck.

just arrived in the post 338 pages so it looks like it could be a print out of it ,nice book ring bound ,I find a book /manual easier than looking it up online .

 

[Cagey75]

Not sure on the image review thing, I have mine set to display the image after a shot as I'm a chimper will have a fiddle with the camera later

 

[the black fox]

yellow tip butterfly from yesterday ,its got to get better now I know how to reduce focus point size
yellow tip feeding time by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

 

[the black fox]

and a nasty looking wasp type thing again focus point size would have helped and also stopping lens down for d.o.f ,learning curve .but getting there
ugly b****r by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

 

[alfbranch]

and a nasty looking wasp type thing again focus point size would have helped and also stopping lens down for d.o.f ,learning curve .but getting there
ugly b****r by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

Not ugly but an efficient predator collecting building material
Could you hear chewing the wood?

 

[Cagey75]

Is that a very heavy crop? or how close does that 100-400 focus!? I wonder how macro rings would work out on that?

 

[the black fox]

Is that a very heavy crop? or how close does that 100-400 focus!? I wonder how macro rings would work out on that?

yes its a large crop as I wasn't sure what it was so didn't get to close ,the lens close focus is 1.3 mtrs

 

[Cagey75]

yes its a large crop as I wasn't sure what it was so didn't get to close ,the lens close focus is 1.3 mtrs

Looking about online, many 100-400 users buy a set of cheap macro rings to attach for better close ups, from the samples I've seen it works really well - I stick a Raynox 250 onto the 100-300 for macro atm, at 100mm it's just over 1:1, that increases as you zoom, macro rings are a bit different I think. With the Raynox the close focus distance reduces dramatically, the lens is merely a few cm from the subject and it's very tricky with a large lens. But from what I gather using the macro rings, you won't get quite as much magnification, but you maintain a good minimum focus distance. You might have to stack a few to get near 1:1 macro, but there's sets out there for £20 that maintain cpu/exif data and even AF where needed.

 

[the black fox]

personally I'm happy enough with the close focus on this already .but I will look into the idea . the main reason I got this rig was to lighten my load so I dont want a lot of extras in reality

 

[mikew]

Not sure on the image review thing, I have mine set to display the image after a shot as I'm a chimper will have a fiddle with the camera later

I have mine off to speed up the camera.

 

[the black fox]

one from today ,in deep woodland .
the dunnock stare by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

 

[the black fox]

I have mine off to speed up the camera.

got mine off to mike but still getting a annoying last shot taken in the v/finder

 

[mikew]

got mine off to mike but still getting a annoying last shot taken in the v/finder

Cant check as i dont have mine anymore but ime sure i didnt.

 

[Cagey75]

got mine off to mike but still getting a annoying last shot taken in the v/finder

Ok, just checked mine. I have switched the 'Auto review' setting to off [normally I have it at 1 sec], and took a shot using the EVF, I get no image review. On the Wrench/C menu, page 7/9, make sure Auto Review is off, not set to any number or 'hold' [this option will keep the image there until you half press the shutter again] By default this might be on hold

 

[the black fox]

Ok, just checked mine. I have switched the 'Auto review' setting to off [normally I have it at 1 sec], and took a shot using the EVF, I get no image review. On the Wrench/C menu, page 7/9, make sure Auto Review is off, not set to any number or 'hold' [this option will keep the image there until you half press the shutter again] By default this might be on hold

Yep just checked all set to off ,thing is it’s not happening every time now ,just seems to be when it feels like it ,I suppose I can live with it

 

[Cagey75]

Yep just checked all set to off ,thing is it’s not happening every time now ,just seems to be when it feels like it ,I suppose I can live with it

Have you updated the firmware on your G80? only other thing I can think of. Should be Ver. 1.3 - You can check under the plain wrench menu page 4/6 - Version Disp

 

[alfbranch]

yes its a large crop as I wasn't sure what it was so didn't get to close ,the lens close focus is 1.3 mtrs

They are not that bad to get close to as this was taken on a different m4/3 camera its just a link but clicking on the image will show it larger
https://flic.kr/p/2523FWH

 

[the black fox]

another close up ,not sure of fly type but someones gonna tell me
fly on leaf by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

 

[the black fox]

a yellow tip butterfly and tiny tiny fly on this flower the resolution and d.o.f with this lens when stopped down a bit is mind blowing. F9 hand held
time gentlemen please by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

 

[the black fox]

still a lack of birds around to practise on at the moment ,but a bit of blue sky got me out with a couple of gulls ,rest assured its not as easy as a dslr to get it right and I think mike did warn me the other day about locking on to birds at 800mm again not easy but gradually getting it right I think? lesson 1 learned . just did my normal exp comp for b.i.f today and it completely blew the whites so lesson 2 learned ,so here we go

working it out by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

 

[mikew]

still a lack of birds around to practise on at the moment ,but a bit of blue sky got me out with a couple of gulls ,rest assured its not as easy as a dslr to get it right and I think mike did warn me the other day about locking on to birds at 800mm again not easy but gradually getting it right I think? lesson 1 learned . just did my normal exp comp for b.i.f today and it completely blew the whites so lesson 2 learned ,so here we go

working it out by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr

I call it using the force young skywalker you did well there.