Further Evidence in Support of Small Cameras - GX1 Goes to the Beach

 

 Image Source: http://www.mu-43.com/f56/dinner-beach-21806/

Poster scottnz shared this and another nice image that he was able to make with the DMC-GX1 on a recent family outing to the coast, while his Canon DSLR sat at home in the cupboard.

 

(Click Here) for the original post on mu-43.com

 

I find it so true that my Micro 4/3 kit is easy to carry, and unobtrusive at family events.  My wife and daughter seem to roll their eyes so much less when confronted with a G3 and pancake lens.  And, as scottnz states, the result is images that just plain would not exist if they relied on us to carry our DSLRs.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 and 100-300mm f4-5.6 on Safar!

 As part of my ongoing series of images taken with Lumix cameras around the world, here's one with big carnivores.  And no, I'm not talking about Americans at McDonalds.

 Image Source: http://g1.img-dpreview.com/D26D04F85DE54D4286867504DD4520BE.jpg

User elherr on dpreview posted some pictures taken with the Lumix DMC-GX1 and 100-300mm f4-5.6 zoom on safari in Africa.

(Click Here) for the full post, which includes more images.

It is nice to see Lumix cameras and optics breaking through into applications that have been the province of big DSLRs and even bigger lenses in the past.  Nice job!

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Thoughts And Sample of Lumix DMC-GX1 at iso 12,800

 

 Image Source: http://www.pbase.com/phile/image/141224198/original.jpg

Lumix DMC-GX1 at iso12,800 by Robert Deutsch

In my earlier post about my decision to skip the DMC-GX1 in favor of the DMC-G3, I stated that it was hard for me to imagine that the ability of the GX1 to go to iso 12,800 was likely to be of use.  My thought (guess, conjecture) was that it couldn't produce reasonable noise performance at that setting.  Based on this sample by Robert Deutsch, I seem to be wrong.  

(Click here) to read Robert's post on dpreview.  It is worth reading the responses, some of which question our recent obsession with high iso performance.  Some even bring up the fact that you could never buy film with sensitivity approaching these levels; I find that argument irrelevant.  I know that I was very pleased to find that I can shoot my G3 at iso 6400, and used it to my advantage at a recent concert.

Acoustic Burgoo, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix 100-300mm f4-5.6 at 100mm

iso6400, f4, 1/100 sec

So, I admit I judged the GX1 prematurely.  Obviously, it does okay at iso 12,800.  Thanks to Robert for showing his result.

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Jordan Steele's Night Shots of Columbus, Ohio, with GX1

 

 Image Source:  

http://admiringlight.com/blog/

Columbus at Night, by Jordan Steele

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1, Olympus 12mm f2

Jordan Steele has posted a few very nice night shots of Columbus (I'm assuming it's Columbus, Ohio).  It's funny, I was born in Columbus, but have only frequented the suburbs; I don't recognize what the city itself looks like.  

(Click Here) to see Jordan's blog and post.

These shots reminded me of my images of Alexandria, Virginia from a couple of nights ago.  The high iso capability of the newest Lumix cameras really enables us to do some things in very low light.

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Why Tyson Robichaud Chose the DMC-G3, As Did I

 

 Image Source: http://tysonrobichaudphotography.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/img_96661.jpg?w=680

 

I recently found Tyson Robichaud's excellent blog:

(click here)

 

Mr. Robichaud and I seem to think alike.  I have recently standardized my Micro 4/3 kit on two Lumix DMC-G3 bodies, after using a DMC-G1 and DMC-GF1 for a few happy years.  Tyson explains in very clear detail how he made the decision to replace his GF1 with a G3, rather than a GX1 or other manufacturer's camera.  I made the exact same decision, after similar analysis.

 

(click here) for Tyson's article about moving from the GF1 to the G3

 

Mr. Robichaud states that one of his main reasons for upgrading at all is high iso noise performance.  He finds (and demonstrates) a nearly full 2-stop improvement in noise when comparing the GF1 to the G3.  He states that iso1600 is "very useable."  I fully agree.  In fact, I have made decent images at iso6400, which was previously impossible.

 

Like me, he was tempted by low holiday prices on the excellent GH2, but decided to go with the G3 mainly for size reasons.

 

Contrary to frequent complaints by others, he finds the grip on the G3 to be about right.  I have no complaints in this area, either.

 

We also agree that some of the buttons on the back of the G3 are too small and low profile - especially the two very useful custom buttons.

 

Tyson finds that the long shutter noise reduction is very good.  I have not tried that, but his post will make me get to it.

 

It is always nice to find a great new blog like Tyson's.  It is also good to find someone who can affirm my logic and direction in choosing equipment!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

Water Droplets With Lumix DMC-GX1 On Admiring Light Blog

 

 Water Dropletsby Jordan Steele, Admiring Light

Lumix DMC-GX1, Pana-Leica 45mm f2.8 Macro-Elmarit

Image Source: http://admiringlight.com/blog/blue-droplets-frozen-in-time/

Jordan Steele, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the blog "Admiring Light" shared some images of water droplets:

(Click Here) to see the article and more images.

I have done a little bit of this type of photography myself, using light triggers and delays to get the timing right.  As a matter of fact, I was setting the rig up again last night, after a very long hiatus.  I thinkndroplets have been overdone.  But, maybe they are like flowers, meaning that they've been photographed to death, but you still see new incredible images all the time.  Regardless, I am trying to get my trigger circuits back in order, and think of some new applications.

Now here's the incredible thing about what Jordan produce - he did it manually!  That's right, he just took a lot of images, triggering the shutter as he saw a droplet exit the eyedropper he was holding with his other hand.  I'd say he should be proud of these images.

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ePHOTOzine Review of the DMC-GX1

I don't write general reviews of cameras and lenses, but I read them.  I thought I'd share this one.

 

As I've mentioned before, I currently don't see a place in my bag for the DMC-GX1, perhaps mostly because I have standardized on two DMC-G3s.  I also still have a DMC-GF1, in case I want to shoot that form factor.  However, that's just a matter of preference, as the imaging components are shared between the G3 and GX1.    I could have chosen two DMC-GX1s, or a mix of the two.

DMC-GX1 with 14-42 X f3.5-5.6 lens

Image source:  shop.panasonic.com

 

I also have not seen anything about the new X lenses that particularly floats my boat.  

 

Here is a review of the pair from ePHOTOzine:

 

 (click here)

Source:  http://www.ephotozine.com/article/panasonic-lumix-dmc-gx1-camera-review-18282?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Ephotozine+%28ePHOTOzine%29

 

I always read these reviews casually, and take them with a grain of salt.  However, every time I read another review about this camera, I worry that it will change my mind about needing a GX1.  This one certainly did not do that.  

 

ePHOTOZine's review didn't tell me much new about the GX1.  Perhaps the important parts for me were the findings on the 14-45 X lens.  They mention that it is less sharp than the non-X version, and report some vignetting.  The review author's opinion is that these downfalls are fair tradeoff for the smaller, more automated lens.  I disagree.  For me, image quality matters most, especially when the competition (the non-X lens) is already quite small and light.

 

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