"Panasonic G series" Owners Thread

Pana G80
AFC, Shutter Speed 1/1000
The 100-300mm Mega OIS seems to shoot a slower burst rate than the 12-60 Power OIS.
Is this because you need Power OIS to get the best speeds from the camera?
 
Crotal Bell said:
My on-off switch isn't right, there is a spring loaded click to turn on but it just clunks off with a snap that feels like it could break if I don't do it gently.
Battery door is also losing it's tension, unless the camera is facing the right way up, the door never opens all the way, it needs gravity.
Click to expand...
The other side of it is that they are generally so reliable that you never see them "for spares or repairs" so getting one for parts is not on, unlike some of the other models where you can usually get one for next to nothing :)

After months of deciding I've decided to get a GX9, which will replace the G80 for every day use, prefer the GX8 but there is virtually no difference in price, and as was pointed out on here, the GX9 has a later sensor.
 
Crotal Bell said:
Pana G80
AFC, Shutter Speed 1/1000
The 100-300mm Mega OIS seems to shoot a slower burst rate than the 12-60 Power OIS.
Is this because you need Power OIS to get the best speeds from the camera?
Click to expand...
It could be that it is taking longer to lock focus, try it on AFS , that would eliminate the lens focus speed from the equation, which is the more likely reason.
I will try mine when it is lighter and warmer.
Electronic or mechanical shutter, and what was the selected burst speed?
 
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12-60mm at 12mm

Taken in Hyde Park two days ago. Will give it another go when less sunny, hmmm

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Sangoma said:
It could be that it is taking longer to lock focus, try it on AFS , that would eliminate the lens focus speed from the equation, which is the more likely reason.
I will try mine when it is lighter and warmer.
Electronic or mechanical shutter, and what was the selected burst speed?
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I should have added this is mostly BIF and other moving subrcts
Medium burst rate on Mech Shutter
 
Yes, to me it seems to be the slower focusing speed of the lens. If I set it to AFS to eliminate those effects, it doesn't seem to slow.

It makes sense though, the 100-300 has more to move, further to move it and is an older lens.

I rarely use it as the birds I take are usually far enough from me not to need re-focussing between burst shots, Some times the first one isn't spot on so the rest aren't either, but that doesn't often happen.

I don't think there is anything wrong though.
 
Sangoma said:
Yes, to me it seems to be the slower focusing speed of the lens. If I set it to AFS to eliminate those effects, it doesn't seem to slow.

It makes sense though, the 100-300 has more to move, further to move it and is an older lens.

I rarely use it as the birds I take are usually far enough from me not to need re-focussing between burst shots, Some times the first one isn't spot on so the rest aren't either, but that doesn't often happen.

I don't think there is anything wrong though.
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Cheers Steve
I have no complaints, but I do think it's funny how burst rates are boasted on some cameras and the caveats are in the small print, I'm not saying that's the case here though.

I watched a review of a camera with a 5FPS burst, what they fail to promote is the fact that it starts buffering after 1 second and slows to 1FPS.
So yes it shoots 5FPS.......for 1 second.

The buffering is pretty darn good on the G80 compared to many I have seen in the price range, now I am beginning to understand more about the affect of different lenses.
 
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Crotal Bell said:
Cheers Steve
I have no complaints, but I do think it's funny how burst rates are boasted on some cameras and the caveats are in the small print, I'm not saying that's the case here though.

I watched a review of a camera with a 5FPS burst, what they fail to promote is the fact that it starts buffering after 1 second and slows to 1FPS.
So yes it shoots 5FPS.......for 1 second.

The buffering is pretty darn good on the G80 compared to many I have seen in the price range, now I am beginning to understand more about the affect of different lenses.
Click to expand...
Yes it is, and Panasonic are quite open and accurate in their specs most of the time too! (mainly on their "bigger" cameras, where it matters)

G80:-

[Mechanical shutter] AFS: H: 9 frames/sec, M: 6 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)/[Mechanical shutter] AFC: H: 6 frames/sec, M: 6 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)/[Electronic shutter] SH: 40 frames/sec/[Electronic shutter] AFS: H: 10 frames/sec, M: 6 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)/[Electronic shutter] AFC: H: 6 frames/sec, M: 6 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)
 
Sangoma said:
The other side of it is that they are generally so reliable that you never see them "for spares or repairs" so getting one for parts is not on, unlike some of the other models where you can usually get one for next to nothing :)

After months of deciding I've decided to get a GX9, which will replace the G80 for every day use, prefer the GX8 but there is virtually no difference in price, and as was pointed out on here, the GX9 has a later sensor.
Click to expand...
You might want to get the extended eyecup, improves using the evf a lot.
 
tijuana taxi said:
You might want to get the extended eyecup, improves using the evf a lot.
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Thanks.
Went to panasonic's site to order one, when trying to add 1 to the basket, it told me it could not add the quantity selected, enter a lower quantity.
I got to -10 and gave up :)

Will wait until it arrives and see what it is like to use.
 
Sangoma said:
Thanks.
Went to panasonic's site to order one, when trying to add 1 to the basket, it told me it could not add the quantity selected, enter a lower quantity.
I got to -10 and gave up :)

Will wait until it arrives and see what it is like to use.
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It not only helps to avoid glare, but also makes the evf seem bigger and clearer.
Not sure how or why, it definitely worked well for me, but might not for everybody
 
Sangoma said:
Thanks.
Went to panasonic's site to order one, when trying to add 1 to the basket, it told me it could not add the quantity selected, enter a lower quantity.
I got to -10 and gave up :)

Will wait until it arrives and see what it is like to use.
Click to expand...
Uk Digital usually have them in stock.
 
Sangoma said:
Yes it is, and Panasonic are quite open and accurate in their specs most of the time too! (mainly on their "bigger" cameras, where it matters)

G80:-

[Mechanical shutter] AFS: H: 9 frames/sec, M: 6 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)/[Mechanical shutter] AFC: H: 6 frames/sec, M: 6 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)/[Electronic shutter] SH: 40 frames/sec/[Electronic shutter] AFS: H: 10 frames/sec, M: 6 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)/[Electronic shutter] AFC: H: 6 frames/sec, M: 6 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)
Click to expand...
Cheers Steve, I'll remember to switch off the live view for moving subjects too :banana:
 
Crotal Bell said:
OK folks, realistically, how much better is a G9 than a GX9 for BIF ?
Click to expand...

One thing to consider is that the G9 will have a better evf. I have the GX9 and would describe the evf as useable, other than that and in comparison to other evf's it's probably relatively poor.
 
woof woof said:
One thing to consider is that the G9 will have a better evf. I have the GX9 and would describe the evf as useable, other than that and in comparison to other evf's it's probably relatively poor.
Click to expand...
Good point, I have read mixed reviews on the EVF, some say it's ok, some really don't like it.
I presume the DSLR style bodies have better EVFs as they are more of a priority on that style of camera compared to the street photography variants?
 
Crotal Bell said:
Good point, I have read mixed reviews on the EVF, some say it's ok, some really don't like it.
I presume the DSLR style bodies have better EVFs as they are more of a priority on that style of camera compared to the street photography variants?
Click to expand...

I think it's a bulk thing. They've made the RF cameras as small as they can so that means a smaller less good evf. The SLR style cameras have BIGGER and BETTER ones in a bigger overall package. Having said that, the GX9 evf is perfectly useable if you're not an obsessive but unfortunately me and many others here are :D
 
woof woof said:
One thing to consider is that the G9 will have a better evf. I have the GX9 and would describe the evf as useable, other than that and in comparison to other evf's it's probably relatively poor.
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I find the EVF on an old FZ20 useable.
All I want is to ba able to see what is in the frame, and check settings.

I started off in 1964 using a Voightlander Vito BR and used to focus that by aligning the two images best I could, then going either side of that until I could jus see they were out of line, then moving it to the middle of those two positions.

On SLRs in the early 70s, roughly the same, focus until it looks focussed, then either side until it looks just out of focus, then back to the middle of those two positions.

Takes many times longer to say then do, even used the same idea on a TLR.

Never been very good at looking at the screen and choosing the best focus point, and the system I used has never failed me.

I'm assuming the GX9 has peaking (haven't checked) and that is great :)

Will say though, the G9 has the best EVF I have seen, it may not have as nice numbers as others, but it is very nice to use.

I also find the EVF on the TZ-60 very good, so I'm sure the GX9 will be fine for me :)
 
delb0y said:
Used G9s seemed to have dropped in price this week. Some bargains came and went very quickly. Another £50 and I might start being seriously tempted!
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I’m considering moving mine on, but not for silly money as it’s almost new!
 
delb0y said:
Used G9s seemed to have dropped in price this week. Some bargains came and went very quickly. Another £50 and I might start being seriously tempted!
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Where did you see them?
Been keeping my eye open but not seen anything cheap, maybe I'm looking in the wrong places.
 
woof woof said:
What will you get instead Stephen?
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I bought a new E-M5 Mk3 supposedly to supplement it as a lighter body, but after using them both I find the Olympus suits me better. I might still keep the G9, but I feel it won’t get so much use and I dislike having redundant equipment around.
 
Stephen L said:
I bought a new E-M5 Mk3 supposedly to supplement it as a lighter body, but after using them both I find the Olympus suits me better. I might still keep the G9, but I feel it won’t get so much use and I dislike having redundant equipment around.
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I am also thinking of going down the oly route with the OM5 and 12-100mm. Will keep the 20mm f1.7 and 9mm f1.7 and migth just keep the G100 too.
Shame they didn't update the AF on the OM5 but its got nice IP53 weathersealing wih 12-100mm
 
delb0y said:
Used G9s seemed to have dropped in price this week. Some bargains came and went very quickly. Another £50 and I might start being seriously tempted!
Click to expand...
I saw this one, which is still quite a bit more than I paid for mine with a 12-60 lens
"Panasonic Lumix DC-G9M Mirrorless Camera and Lens - 116 Shutter Count


Pre-owned
£640.00"


which I would have said was a good buy, but most of the others seemed to high to me.

If you look at the people who do exchanges, the price they pay for trade ins or purchases is around 60-66% of what they sell them for, and add up all the fees that those who sell on ebay/paypal have to pay, and you get some idea of what you can pay if you are patient.

You either need patience, or lots of money. I don't have lots of money!

I just paid last week very slightly over 300 for a GX9 with a very low shutter count, boxed as new. Spec wise it is quite similar to the G9.
 
The ones I saw were at WEX, and they all seemed to come from the Norwich store. The really nice one (condition 9) at £499 (reduced from almost £600) didn't hang around long. But they had three or four and were all below £500.

I shall probably end up getting one someday, but I'm not 100% convinced that a range-finder style isn't better for me, so I'm going to play a little with my GX85 and see how I feel.
 
delb0y said:
The ones I saw were at WEX, and they all seemed to come from the Norwich store. The really nice one (condition 9) at £499 (reduced from almost £600) didn't hang around long. But they had three or four and were all below £500.

I shall probably end up getting one someday, but I'm not 100% convinced that a range-finder style isn't better for me, so I'm going to play a little with my GX85 and see how I feel.
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Those are/were good prices, assuming they were perfect and had a low shutter count, I assume they did not have lenses?

The second part, although the main specs are similar, the G9 ans GX9 are quite different to use.

The mode dial on the GX9 is small, and you would not be changing it with winter gloves on :)
The viewfinder is fine, but nothing near the G9.
The memory card in in the bottom with the battery, the G9 has dual cards on the side.
The G9 has mic and headphone sockets
The G9 has two very useful function button next to the lens near the finger grip
The GX9 does not have a remote socket, so you would have to use a mobile device
The on/off switch on the GX9 is backwards like most of the older Panasonics, the G9 is logical
The G9 burst speed is double then GX9, and can take more shots before buffering slows it down
The LCD on the GX9 tilts up and down, but can't face forward or sideways
The GX9 has a much shorter battery life


The GX9 has about the same menu structure and features
Surprisingly the GX9 doesn't feel unbalanced with the 100-400 lens on it
The GX9 also has front and back wheels, so easy to use on manual
The GX9 has a dedicated exposure compensation dial under the mode dial, very useful


Although they are similar many ways in performance, there will be a definite choice between them depending on what I want to do.

Just some initial thoughts, not quite had the GX9 a week yet!
 
I have had both the G9 and GX9 for a number of years and they are both good cameras in their own right.
GX9 is my travel camera with a 12-45 and 9/1.7 lens.
G9 gets used more with larger lenses such as the 12-100 and 8-18/

Main differences apart from the obvious things like size are the viewfinder and ibis.
The latter is about two steps better in the larger camera, but still very useable in the GX9
 
tijuana taxi said:
I have had both the G9 and GX9 for a number of years and they are both good cameras in their own right.
GX9 is my travel camera with a 12-45 and 9/1.7 lens.
G9 gets used more with larger lenses such as the 12-100 and 8-18/

Main differences apart from the obvious things like size are the viewfinder and ibis.
The latter is about two steps better in the larger camera, but still very useable in the GX9
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And the weather sealing on the G9!
 
One feature of the GX9 I do like is the tilting evf which I find useful when taking pictures of people as you can angle it up and look down into it with the camera obscuring less of your face. You can then look up and engage with your subject whilst the camera is still in place and retaining your framing but without the camera covering most of your face as the SLR style camera would.

Some may not see this as significant but for engaging with the person on the other side, I do. It's something I'd like to see on more cameras.
 
Just a heads-up that there's a very nice G9 body for sale in the classifieds. I can vouch for the seller ;)
 
Sangoma said:
I saw this one, which is still quite a bit more than I paid for mine with a 12-60 lens
"Panasonic Lumix DC-G9M Mirrorless Camera and Lens - 116 Shutter Count


Pre-owned
£640.00"


which I would have said was a good buy, but most of the others seemed to high to me.

If you look at the people who do exchanges, the price they pay for trade ins or purchases is around 60-66% of what they sell them for, and add up all the fees that those who sell on ebay/paypal have to pay, and you get some idea of what you can pay if you are patient.

You either need patience, or lots of money. I don't have lots of money!

I just paid last week very slightly over 300 for a GX9 with a very low shutter count, boxed as new. Spec wise it is quite similar to the G9.
Click to expand...
From what I've seen, most would find the GX9 enough but depends if you need the extra bells and whistles of the G9. Maybe the only option if you shoot action/wildlife?

It's never-ending isn't it, go back few years and I'm sure people were craving the latest super functional hi spec GX7.
 
Crotal Bell said:
From what I've seen, most would find the GX9 enough but depends if you need the extra bells and whistles of the G9. Maybe the only option if you shoot action/wildlife?

It's never-ending isn't it, go back few years and I'm sure people were craving the latest super functional hi spec GX7.
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Yes and no :)

If the GX9 does what you want, no point in getting more.
But having a G9, and wanting something a bit smaller, but not wanting to go for a TZ 1" sensor, the GX9 gives me that and the flexibility.

Of course I can't say I "need" it, but it will be nice walking round town, and even with the 100-300 lens it is still quite light and compact.

But it still feels like a "small" camera in many ways compared to the G9, which feels like it can do anything, and feels like a proper tool in the hands, like an old Pentax SLR.
The G80 also feels very nice, you pick up a two or three digit Canon of the same age, and they really don't feel good. They work well, but for me that is only half the requirement.

I would be very reluctant to guide some one towards either the GX9 or the G9 as if they serve the same needs for fear of saying the wrong one :)
 
Testudo Man said:
Small Copper Butterfly (female) shot back in July this year. Strong sunlight, early evening (7.17pm).
G80/45-150mm/500D close up filter attached. No cropping to image. Jpeg, handheld, auto focus, no flash, basic editing applied.
f/10, 1/320, ISO 500, Manual. Lens zoomed to 76mm. (35mm focal length = 152mm).

Small Copper Butterfly (female, 2nd brood). No cropping. by Tort Man (thinking about hibernation!), on Flickr
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That's a lovely clear image, no doubt the natural light helped. Can I ask what filters were applied to the lens on the G80? I assume they were a good quality brand?
 
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