Panasonic G3 - Bokeh shots possible, or not?

DayDreamer

DayDreamer

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I was thinking about a Nikon D3100, until the floods, so then was looking at the Panasonic G2 but was after a better low light performance.

However now the G3 has come down in price, especially with the current cashback offer, I am taking a serious look at it and will be trying to find a store to try one in my hand.

Because of my disabilities in walking (need to use a stick and can't bend down) I prefer something lighter in my hand and really would find the articulating screen very useful.

So the last aspect, which is important to me, will the G3 take some good bokeh shots? No matter how I try to use the A setting on my Panasonic TZ8 it fails unless with macro at certain distances. I can't see me being able to afford extra lens as just buying the camera in the first place will stretch me to the absolute limit.

Please heelp me :thinking:

Also like the G2 in my hand and does the G3 feel the same, better, worse?
 
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DayDreamer said:
So the last aspect, which is important to me, will the G3 take some good bokeh shots?
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The actual character of the bokeh is down to the lens, not the camera as such, but maybe you are talking more about being able to get shallow DoF?

The problem with smaller formats is that you might end up using wider lenses or shooting from further away and these are the things that can make it more difficult to get shallow depth of field but if you are able to work with it you may be able to get shallow DoF. Another problem is that many of the zooms seem to be f3.5-5.6 or there abouts rather than f2.8. However, there are some nice wide aperture primes, for example I'm very happy with my 25mm f0.95, and even the 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 enables me to get shallow DoF flower shots.

PS. As you like the G2 I wonder if the G1 would interest you? There have been a few and lenses in the for sale section here recently, they're a real bargain IMVHO.
 
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Plenty of decent Panasonic and Olympus primes about that will give you the effect you want. Go on the M43 forum and look at the image sample threads.

Agree about the G1, not much bigger or heavier and if you have disabilities the grip may make it easier to use.
 
The new Olympus 45 f1.8 seems to have excellent bokeh from the images I have seen.
 
woof woof said:
PS. As you like the G2 I wonder if the G1 would interest you? There have been a few and lenses in the for sale section here recently, they're a real bargain IMVHO.
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Having recently bought a G1 from the forum I will go along with that:) , I considered buying a G2 but there was not a lot of difference to me over the G1 apart from the touch screen, it is more like a facelift in my opinion plus is it not the G2 that Panasonic cheekily installed software simply to prevent you from taking advantage of 3rd party batteries.
 
I think you get vid with the G2? none on the G1. Personally vid doesn't interest me.
 
woof woof said:
I think you get vid with the G2? none on the G1. Personally vid doesn't interest me.
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Yes that's right, video as well that also never interests me.:)
 
woof woof said:
I think you get vid with the G2? none on the G1. Personally vid doesn't interest me.
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I wish companies would stop sticking video on cameras :lol:
 
Thank you all so much and the idea of going with a G1 and choosing my own lens/ses is one worthy of considering. I have just taken a look at extra lens and see they are dearer than for the DSLR cameras.

After my original post I bumped into a lady taking pictures (I am at the seaside for the week) and she had a Nikon 3000 but with a prime lens that she uses as a walk about. She bought the body second hand from LCE but the lens new but she declined to give me figures :)

It will probably take me another few months to decide as I need to make sure I get it right :lol:

PS And no wish to have video
 
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There are some widely appreciated lenses on this format, namely the 20mm f1.7 and 14-140mm f4-5.8. I got some good shallow DOF but you do have to work a bit harder to get it.

I had a Pana G2, and if you are aren't bothered about the touch screen or video I think the G1 will serve you well. You will do well to invest in some legacy glass too, just dealing with the manual focus!

Cheers
 
Just back on line after a week of being away on Btopenzone which was soooo slooooow. About 0.25 mb but home now and back to around 15 mb. So I can surf sensibly not waiting for ages for page downloads and often sticking and disconnecting

Any hows thanks again for all the very useful replies and to Simon for the excellent sample photo :thumbs:
 
Dave1 said:
Start in the Native lens sample archive, there are some good bokeh shots in the 40-150 images thread as well (and of course the 45 f1.8 thread).

http://www.mu-43.com/f80/
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Thanks Dave for the link which I've just taken a look at and some good stuff on there even with the kit lens.
 
If by bokeh you mean shallow depth of field, you want the biggest format possible and the lowest f/number lens.

Micro 4/3rds is significanly smaller format than Panasonic, Sony or Samsung.
 
HoppyUK said:
If by bokeh you mean shallow depth of field, you want the biggest format possible and the lowest f/number lens.

Micro 4/3rds is significanly smaller format than Panasonic, Sony or Samsung.
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Yes shallow depth of field - I think - I am trying to 'talk the talk' but probably getting a bit mixed up :bonk:

I must admit I am more confused as - yes I know the G3 is Micro 4/3 rds but you say "is significantly smaller format than Panasonic, Sony or Samsung". On the latter three cameras which format do you mean?

Sorry if I being so thick :thinking:
 
DayDreamer said:
Yes shallow depth of field - I think - I am trying to 'talk the talk' but probably getting a bit mixed up :bonk:

I must admit I am more confused as - yes I know the G3 is Micro 4/3 rds but you say "is significantly smaller format than Panasonic, Sony or Samsung". On the latter three cameras which format do you mean?

Sorry if I being so thick :thinking:
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No, my mistake actually - Olympus and Panasonic are M4/3rds format with 2x crop factor, and Sony and Samsung are 1.5x. M4/3rds is about two thirds the image area of 1.5x crop, if you follow. Aplogies.

Bokeh, in the context of soft out of focus backgrounds, is a combination of various factors. Shallow DoF is one of them, but you can enhance this by putting as much distance between the subject and the background as possible.

Also, longer lenses tend to look better because their narrow field of view enlarges the background relative to the subject. Background details are rendered bigger and bolder, so they look less cluttered and distracting. But of course you have to shoot from a greater distance with longer lenses - fine if you shoot wildlife perhaps, but maybe more difficult with people.

Just pointing a few things out really, but I don't want to make things more complicated. In order of priority, I would say get the camera you want and choose the focal length range that suits your subject matter, then try to get one with a low f/number, like f/2.8 or less.
 
Thanks for that Richard - for going to the trouble to educate me some more - I am grateful :thumbs:
 
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