My Next Camera Will Be...

[Dallas]

...the Panasonic Lumix G9.

 

Right now I don't think there is a better value proposition in Micro Four Thirds than what is offered in this affordable body. It will most definitely be overkill for my needs, but it will add some sorely missing video capability as well as bring new features that I don't have, such as high res mode. 

 

It probably won't focus my old Olympus 50-200/2.8-3.5, but that's OK. I think it's time for me to upgrade lenses too and the Leica 100-400mm is looking large in my radar. Won't ever need more lens than that. 

 

Only thing missing right now is the $1000 needed to buy the bloody thing!  

[Dallas]

Ordered. Should get it early next week. The deal I got was just too good to pass up, so while I may have to go without a few superfluous things (like food) for the next few months, I will have what is probably the best value buy in MFT at the moment.

 

This marks quite a momentous occasion in my photography life as it's the first time since 2008 that I have bought a brand new camera (that one being the Nikon D700). All other cameras that have passed through my hands since 2008 have either been obtained as trades, gifts or second hand items. Really looking forward to exploring this one!

 

 

[crowecg]

Looking forward to hearing more about it when it arrives.

[MN Photog]

Nothing like that new camera smell . . .

Whatever camera, I'm sure you'll excel with it!

[danielm]

On 29/07/2020 at 01:15, Dallas said:

...the Panasonic Lumix G9.

 

Right now I don't think there is a better value proposition in Micro Four Thirds than what is offered in this affordable body. It will most definitely be overkill for my needs, but it will add some sorely missing video capability as well as bring new features that I don't have, such as high res mode. 

 

Dear Dallas,

Congratulation for your new camera model. The choice of a Panasonic Lumix is may be the best alternative to follow into the MFT format. By coincide I have followed the same path a month ago, going back to Micro FourThird with a Panasonic Lumix camera model and few lenses. The Panasonic selling success into the video vlog market might be determinant for the next few years continuity. And the price level of the Full Frame cameras and lenses stays a serious deterrent for a private photographer.

Regards, Daniel M

[Dallas]

7 hours ago, danielm said:

 

Dear Dallas,

Congratulation for your new camera model. The choice of a Panasonic Lumix is may be the best alternative to follow into the MFT format. By coincide I have followed the same path a month ago, going back to Micro FourThird with a Panasonic Lumix camera model and few lenses. The Panasonic selling success into the video vlog market might be determinant for the next few years continuity. And the price level of the Full Frame cameras and lenses stays a serious deterrent for a private photographer.

Regards, Daniel M

 

My thoughts exactly, Daniel. 

 

I dallied with the idea of the Sony A7 series for a long time and then thought, why? There’s nothing I do in photography right now that requires a format change. I have excellent lenses for MFT and the Lumix G9 just makes a lot of sense. A move to a 35mm format would mean going back to huge lenses and more of the weight that I was trying to get away from. 

 

The value proposition is also massive here. The G9 is about half of the price of the Olympus E-M1.3 locally and it stacks up really well against it (according to Dpreview anyway).

[crowecg]

I’ve been watching the Nikon mirrorless as I previously shot with Nikon DSLR, and despite some reduction in body size, the Z lenses all look huge, even for wide to normal primes.  
 

Daniel, I’m surprised you ditched your Fuji system.  I’m guessing there isn’t  much size difference.  I know Dallas would be reluctant to try Fuji given his reliance on Lightroom.

[danielm]

1 hour ago, crowecg said:

Daniel, I’m surprised you ditched your Fuji system.  I’m guessing there isn’t  much size difference.  I know Dallas would be reluctant to try Fuji given his reliance on Lightroom.

 

Hello Chris,

 

Fujifilm offer probably the best APS-C sensor format implementation of the photo equipment market. Their line-up is complete from entry-level to more professionally oriented products, their lenses are stellar, their image output is awesome, and all their system is very mature and competent. I have never been disappointed by the image results obtained by using Fujifilm cameras and optics.

Why I choose to go back into the Micro Four Third is a matter of smaller thing or combination. For example, I have always appreciated to have in-body-image-stabilization in a smaller camera body and to be able to combine wider focal zoom range smaller lenses such as the Lumix G Vario 12-60mm. Ergonomics can be also a factor since the hand measurement criteria of the Panasonic chief engineer seems to be closer to me than the Fujifilm counterpart! 

I have no doubts that either Fujifilm and Panasonic or Olympus are altogether fine photographic systems. At the end it is really a personal choice but as Dallas already mentioned, the bulkiest of the Full Frame image sensor systems prevent me to consider them as an interesting option.

Have a good day, Daniel M

[danielm]

7 hours ago, Dallas said:

The value proposition is also massive here. The G9 is about half of the price of the Olympus E-M1.3 locally and it stacks up really well against it (according to Dpreview anyway).

 

I think you have made an excellent choice considering your professional needs. I can refer you to these two fellows from Canada and England that are very fond of the G9:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W1Tzr43L4c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjYeF_PpoAw

Good day from Canada, Daniel M

[Dallas]

2 hours ago, danielm said:

 

I think you have made an excellent choice considering your professional needs. I can refer you to these two fellows from Canada and England that are very fond of the G9:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W1Tzr43L4c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjYeF_PpoAw

Good day from Canada, Daniel M

 

It was actually the video that Chris & Jordan made for Dpreview comparing the G9 against the Olympus E-M1.3 that sold me on it.  

[danielm]

1 hour ago, Dallas said:

 

It was actually the video that Chris & Jordan made for Dpreview comparing the G9 against the Olympus E-M1.3 that sold me on it.  

 

Yes, that is another very good one.👍

[rbsinto]

Dallas,

My next camera will be one I already own.

I've seen countless others moan and groan about their equipment, and when they rationalize the expense of getting newer, and debatably better gear, and make the switch, I usually see no appreciable difference in the quality or scope of their subsequent work.

I'm too old a bunny to get caught up in this  business. My remaining film gear as well as my two current digital cameras (Nikon D3 bodies) and the stable of lenses I have for them all are more than adequate to cover anything I want or need to do photographically.

Robert

 

Edited 2 August, 2020 by rbsinto

[Dallas]

22 minutes ago, rbsinto said:

Dallas,

My next camera will be one I already own.

I've seen countless others moan and groan about their equipment, and when they rationalize the expense of getting newer, and debatably better gear, and make the switch, I usually see no appreciable difference in the quality or scope of their subsequent work.

I'm too old a bunny to get caught up in this  business. My remaining film gear as well as my two current digital cameras (Nikon D3 bodies) and the stable of lenses I have for them all are more than adequate to cover anything I want or need to do photographically.

Robert

 

 

I'd be quite OK continuing to use the old E-M1 bodies I have, but my concern right now is that their batteries are all on the way out and getting replacements here isn't straight forward. The price of the G9 new was a huge incentive to order it. I'm getting it for about half the price of an Olympus E-M1.3. 

[Hugh_3170]

In Melbourne, right now, the G9 is about 2/3rds the price of the E-M1 MkIII - a big sweetner.

 

It is a very long time ago now, but I never liked my G3, but the G9 is I am sure a totally different animal. 

 

Dallas, I look forward to hearing of your experiences with the G9.  Enjoy!

 

 

On 29/07/2020 at 17:15, Dallas said:

...the Panasonic Lumix G9.

 

Right now I don't think there is a better value proposition in Micro Four Thirds than what is offered in this affordable body. It will most definitely be overkill for my needs, but it will add some sorely missing video capability as well as bring new features that I don't have, such as high res mode. 

 

It probably won't focus my old Olympus 50-200/2.8-3.5, but that's OK. I think it's time for me to upgrade lenses too and the Leica 100-400mm is looking large in my radar. Won't ever need more lens than that. 

 

Only thing missing right now is the $1000 needed to buy the bloody thing!  

 

[Dallas]

Well, it was delayed by a couple of days because apparently the courier companies over here are all suffering from some form of geographic amnesia since we went into lockdown (they sent it to Cape town instead of Durban), but it's here now and I have been fiddling for a little while since charging up the battery. 

 

I can say straight off the bat that this is going to take a lot of getting used to. This is a seriously complex camera and its setup is completely different to anything I have ever used before, including the previous Panasonic MFT cameras I have owned (GF1 and GM1). As soon as I turned it on I managed to set the wrong language by mis-tapping on either Japanese or Chinese. the next 30 minutes or so were spent trying to find a way of getting it back to English. Not a great start! 

 

I think what I am going to do is start a dedicated "G9 Discovery Journal" where I will provide as much information about setting it up as I can document. Expect that to begin in the next day or so. 

 

[Luc de Schepper]

Dallas, enjoy your new camera! The info in the link may be helpful G9 Menu/Settings

[Dallas]

Thanks Luc! I will most certainly be needing a lot of help as I go about figuring this camera out.  

[Sherwood]

I don't anticipate one right now.  However some wag commented that the best camera to own is the one that you have with you.  And indeed, about 1/3 of my pix are taken with my phone, because the Nikon was at the house.  I've been giving serious thought to something like an Olympus TG-6.  Small enough to have with me when I go for a run or walk the dog, or drive to town.  Large enough to get good web quality shots.  But at only a 4:1 zoom range, it's a bit short.  I use 200mm on my 18-200m a lot on my Nikon.  (Indeed:  I bet 3/4 of the pix are at one end or the other of the range.)

 

What would convince me to get a new camera?

* Built in GPS. OR a smart camera that would talk to my handheld GPS or phone.

* Built in magnetic compass so that I recorded which way the camera was pointed.  

* Built in radio link to my phone/tablet/laptop.  Wifi would be best.  Bluetooth is a bit slow or image transfer.  Camera should understand what the resolution of my device is and quickly send over an image tailored for that device.  Then send more detail if zoomed.

* GOOD software to control the camera from my Device.  E.g.  On my phone I want to tell it.  "Take 60 frames, moving the focus point 1.2mm forward between each one."

* Voice commentary:

 

Nicholas (my nikon's name) Wake up.

  Ready.

Start Album London Holiday.

  keyword London

  Start Segment Trafalgar Square

     keyword Nelson

     keyword British history

     keyword monuments

     keyword napoleonic wars

     Start Shoot Nelson's Column

        Keyword "Iron men and wooden ships"

        Keyword "price of admiralty"

        Caption "Martha and Ricki feeding pigeons"

        Caption "Rainy day in London

     End shoot 

 

I can always think this stuff when I'm shooting, but I can't remember the good captions when I get home.

 

It doesn't have to transcribe the notes in real time.  it could do voice recongintion later on my desk top.

 

Key features:  Caption applies only to the most recent shot, or the currently review shot on the back screen.

Keyword applies to the most recent command.  So London is a keyword for all the shots in this album.  And Nelson is a keyword for everything in Trafalgar square.

...

 

 

[Dallas]

A lot of that functionality (except for the voice commands) was in the Olympus Stylus 1, which I had the use of for a while several years ago. It was a really good camera. I think the Tough series carried many of the features it had too, barring of course the massive zoom range. 

[CarreraS]

13 hours ago, Sherwood said:

>>

Start Album London Holiday.

  keyword London

  Start Segment Trafalgar Square

     keyword Nelson

     keyword British history

     keyword monuments

     keyword napoleonic wars

     Start Shoot Nelson's Column

        Keyword "Iron men and wooden ships"

        Keyword "price of admiralty"

        Caption "Martha and Ricki feeding pigeons"

        Caption "Rainy day in London

     End shoot

>>

Not sure I'd be doing that anytime soon, Sherwood ! .. 🤢😉

 

Had my first Oxford jab Friday / Wiped out Saturday / Ok Sunday ..

 

cheers, Maurice