Author Topic: Panasonic G3 MF shots (Read 2922 times)

mikmas101 · « **on:** July 15, 2011, 03:48:24 PM »

I've had the G3 body for about 3 weeks now and used it quite a bit for abstract macros but here are some first 'reality' shots with the camera. All are 'in-camera' jpegs with PP in PSE 8 as I normally do (usually tweaks to contrast and colour balance and often cropped). All are with MF lenses - the first two using the Olympus pen 40mm f1.4 and the rest my Konica Hexanon 40mm f1.8.

Generally the results are OK with fairly beefy colours, good detail and not much noise (even in the drainpipe shot) My gripes with the camera are the awful button layout (and I mean really annoying) and the over sensitive touch screen when I'm doing macros - it switches to focus zoom every time I adjust the angle of view !!!

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

voyager · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2011, 03:54:34 PM »

These are all great photos. Does the screen magnify like in the Olympus PEN cameras?

mikmas101 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2011, 04:06:34 PM »

If you mean focus zoom - yes it does, although obviously with legacy glass you have to switch to activate unlike with native lenses in MF (there is no feedback loop)

mikmas101 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2011, 04:19:16 PM »

Other thing I forgot - the battery life sucks, big time. If you get a G3 invest in two spare batteries - pronto! (even if you only use the EVF)

lisandra · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2011, 04:55:56 PM »

Quote from: mikmas101 on July 15, 2011, 04:06:34 PM

If you mean focus zoom - yes it does, although obviously with legacy glass you have to switch to activate unlike with native lenses in MF (there is no feedback loop)

does it have instant zoom magnification somewhere like on the gh2? (pressing the thumb wheel). Theese are amazing by the way, would you mind terribly giving me some exif on these? I'm really glad to see your stuff again, your style of photography is unrivaled. See if you can get your hands on another g3, some people got bad touch screen models and panny changes the camera free of charge. There's an article on the photoblogler I think.

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2011, 05:29:59 PM »

It goes to the Picture-In-Picture when you push in the Wheel, and goes to full screen zoom when press the button on the touch screen. (Far lower left on the screen), and the wheel is then used to determine the magnification above 4x.

With native lenses, as soon as you move the focus collar, it goes to Picture-in-Picture

lisandra · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2011, 12:34:02 AM »

Quote from: M5-User on July 15, 2011, 05:29:59 PM

It goes to the Picture-In-Picture when you push in the Wheel, and goes to full screen zoom when press the button on the touch screen. (Far lower left on the screen), and the wheel is then used to determine the magnification above 4x.

With native lenses, as soon as you move the focus collar, it goes to Picture-in-Picture

I use a lot of native glass but I find this really really usefull. Does the picture in picture rock like I think it does? Is it detailed?

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2011, 04:23:32 AM »

Here is a set of photos from the back of the G3 LCD,
1) Standard View
2) View with Picture-In-Picture

To me, it is almost like a center spot in an SLR or RF....I find very fast... And because you have no AF/MF dial, one step is eliminated for Manual Focusing.

mikmas101 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 18, 2011, 03:01:07 AM »

Quote from: lisandra on July 15, 2011, 04:55:56 PM

Theese are amazing by the way, would you mind terribly giving me some exif on these?.

Thanks for the compliment Lisandra - always appreciated....
Don't know if this will work but here are links to exif info on Flickr for all except #1 (which I haven't posted there)

#2
paint
#3
summer
#4
green bin
#5
drainpipe
#6
no entry

EDIT for some reason the links I put up to the exif data keep being modified so you will need to look under the 'Actions' menu on each photo in Flickr and choose to view exif data

cosinaphile · « **Reply #9 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:15:57 AM »

that looks like a good mf solution ,better that the button pushing of my ep1..
my gf1s better but not perfect either , this look better

mikmas101 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:47:25 AM »

Quote from: cosinaphile on July 18, 2011, 04:15:57 AM

that looks like a good mf solution ,better that the button pushing of my ep1..

I'm not at all convinced -I took the G3 with the Lumix 20mm to a family christening yesterday and the experience was absolutely disasterous and quite frankly embarrasing - wish I'd stuck to my E-P2.

It's the first m4/3 camera I've had that I couldn't use 'straight out the box' - I've had no end of hassle with it and does not compare very well at all with my first experiences of the E-P1/E-P2 or Panny G1.

In my view the control system is a complete failure and the touch screen shenanigans only makes things worse.

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #11 on:** July 18, 2011, 06:04:12 AM »

@mikmas101

sorry to read that the G3 doesn't work for you... I have always had Panasonic's, with P/S and m4/3s. I suggest you sell it and get the Oly of your choice. Right now here in the USA stock being low or out, it should sell at close to what you paid for it.

It is just a matter if the camera thinks like you think in how you adjust things.

Just a thought... you should be happy with whatever camera you use, so, it doesn't stress you out with the operation of it not being convenient to you.

mikmas101 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 18, 2011, 06:40:01 AM »

Hi M5,
I've got an Oly so don't really need another one just now. I also have a Panasonic G1 and am more than happy with it and find it a joy to use - so much so that I bought my daughter one to introduce her to more 'serious' photography.

In fact my love of the G1 and confidence in the savvy of Panasonic to build solid and intuitive cameras with straightforward controls is why I bought the G3 pretty much 'on trust' with the only goal being the improved sensor performance.

I think it's a damn shame that they have sacrificed so many of the sound ergonomic principle underpinning the G1 design simply to make a smaller body (to compete with NEX) and implement a gimmicky fad like a touch screen (to satisfy smartphone/iPad fetishists)

I can operate all the parameters I need on the GI with one finger and my thumb while taking a shot and without taking my eye from the EVF - no such luck with the G3 that has me fiddling all over the place and insisting that I flap out the dumb screen or waste time wading through the manual to find out how to reallocate buttons - one of which I can't even feel with my thumb because they decided to make it flush with the body - how 'smart' is that?

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #13 on:** July 18, 2011, 07:48:02 AM »

Yes, I hear you. I own a G1 also, but with Macros at small f/stops, the high ISO wasn't cutting it above 800. With the G3, I use up to 1600 and maybe 2000/2500. I took some today and at 1250, and 2000/2500. (to see where my cut off point is for noise that I am no longer comfortable with with fine details.) Mostly ISO 1250.

I hate the flush button also, for the same reason.. the wheel at least is far enough to the right so I can use my thumb without moving my nose (I use my left eye, where most use their right).

the IQ is superb compared to the G1 and maybe the G2, Very close to the GH2, if not equal in many aspects in IQ.

mikmas101 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 19, 2011, 03:29:58 PM »

The only remotely usable shots from the christening I was at on Sunday. These were AP and shot 'from the hip' while we were sat waiting for the vicar to start his spiel. The colour balance was skewed by the mix of artificial and natural light so all have been tweaked to make them look bearable. The IQ isn't too bad and noise in the badly lit areas is negligible - although I think the on board gizmos may have taken care of some of this; on close viewing of the originals the stonework has a glazed look as though it's been smoothed.

angel

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altar

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pillar

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lisandra · « **Reply #15 on:** July 19, 2011, 08:22:00 PM »

that looks like a tough place to shoot, you did good, ill tell you why. A great example is the last one, I can see everything thats there, the benches the walls and even the dark ceiling, whats even more amazing is the fact that I can see the bushes outside. Its usually a compromise between the one or the other, or shoot hdr to get this, or go get a full framer.

lisandra · « **Reply #16 on:** July 20, 2011, 01:37:41 AM »

It's a shame the camera doesn't feel right to you cause you're getting some really good stuff out of it.

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #17 on:** July 20, 2011, 05:12:22 AM »

I really like these inside shots, plenty of shadow detail and texture detail.
like Lisandra said, with harsh side lighting, it is a tough call on exposure. I think using spot metering was a wise choice.. you are exposing for the walls, the main subject. And the lighter stuff will fall to the wayside. Mixed lighting is always a problem, but, your edit has a good balance of both. When I did a Wedding a large RC in Boca Ratan Beach, FL, I used flash and a slow shutter to add the warmer yellowish light to the BG

mikmas101 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 31, 2011, 04:45:00 PM »

Couple from this week in the back garden - both with the Oly Pen F 38mm f1.8. Both have had some TLC in PSE.....

Still find the controls a pain in the behind and avoid the touch screen as much as I can...but the image quality is worth it. I may be fooling myself but there is better detail resolution and more depth of colour than with the GI or E-P2 sensors, mind you this is paired with the best lens for m4/3 that I've come across by far (including KH and the native stuff):

stick

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brick

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lisandra · « **Reply #19 on:** July 31, 2011, 09:16:49 PM »

the stick is as high resolution as it gets!

voyager · « **Reply #20 on:** August 04, 2011, 01:27:06 PM »

Yeah that stick photo is pretty awesome.

Author Topic: Panasonic G3 MF shots (Read 2922 times)

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