tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130557106679427202024-03-16T18:51:53.724+00:00Micro 4/3rds PhotographyFredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.comBlogger380125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-82368575986008272292022-03-20T21:43:00.006+00:002022-03-21T18:36:45.584+00:00GH6 video quality at high ISOWhen the Lumix GH5 arrived in 2017, I thought it was the first Micro Four Thirds camera to be truly usable at ISO 6400. Of course you still get better image quality at lower ISO, but when you need high ISO, it still delivers well.
The Lumix GH6 has an even newer sensor and image processor, so you might expect better performance. I have compared the two cameras by using the same lens on both, theFredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-66226973509074389382022-03-13T20:29:00.011+00:002022-03-21T20:54:05.109+00:00Lumix GH6 High Resolution modeLooking at the drive mode dial of the Lumix GH6, you'll see that it has changed quite a bit from the GH5. The "6K Photo" has disappeared, first of all. I think this was sad, since I used it quite a lot on the GH5. Contrary to what the name indicates, this is a video mode, not a photo mode. And it gives you 5.5K video recording, not bad for a consumer camera from 2017.
Another interesting featureFredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-4038796003991290952021-07-31T10:43:00.000+01:002021-07-31T10:43:22.455+01:00GH5: Still relevant in a full frame world?The consumer camera market has changed a lot during the last ten years. A short summary is that the bottom end has disappeared: People don't buy entry level cameras anymore, they have been replaced with smart phones.
What remains is the photo enthusiast groups, who are motivated by the photographic opportunities realized with higher end camera gear. And it is quite widely understood now that a Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-22813490444141524782020-08-30T21:52:00.005+01:002020-09-01T17:25:41.214+01:00Meike 3.5mm f/2.8 circular fisheye lensWith Olympus' recent announcement, there has been some concern about the future of the Micro Four Thirds format: Is Panasonic still committed to developing new products? Considering the two circular fisheye lenses launched within one year, though, the format seems very much alive.
I recently reviewed the Laowa 4mm f/2.8 circular fisheye (Venus Optics), and also compared it with two other Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-4191930054859418582020-01-02T21:53:00.000+00:002020-01-19T19:18:03.499+00:00Laowa 4mm f/2.8 fisheye: Fun and nice novelty lensWe have been blessed with some small, good and inexpensive fisheye lenses for the Micro Four Thirds format. The Samyang 7.5mm f/3.5 (my review) especially comes to my mind, being a personal favourite for a almost a decade. Another interesting lens has popped up, the Laowa 4mm f/2.8 210° circular fisheye from Venus Optics.
Compared to the Samyang, it is less expensive, smaller in size, widerFredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-60149285394158824442017-09-12T22:30:00.003+01:002018-01-27T21:28:37.499+00:00GH5 and G85 Dual IS comparedThe Lumix GH5 is the first GH series camera to have IBIS, in body image stabilization. This means that even prime lenses without any OIS feature can be stabilized, in both photos and videos. But how does it compare with the Lumix G85, which offers the same function at a much lower price?
In this article, I put them head to head. I have compared them using the Lumix G 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II lens, Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-52604919489683801252017-08-02T23:37:00.001+01:002018-01-27T21:29:31.781+00:00Better focus with Lumix G 100-300mm Mk IIThe original Lumix G 100-300mm f/4-5.6 was an affordable and basic long tele zoom lens, from the early days of Micro Four Thirds. It was generally considered a good value lens, albeit not optimally sharp in the long end, and with newer cameras, the continuous drive mode became slower in AF-C, due to a slow aperture mechanism.
Unexpectedly, since there is already the high end long tele zoom lens Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-85508933690744211402017-05-04T21:44:00.001+01:002017-05-05T19:16:58.820+01:00GH5 IBIS is as good as OlympusThe Lumix GH5 is the first GH series camera to have IBIS, in body image stabilization. This means that even prime lenses without any OIS feature can be stabilized, in both photos and videos. But how does it compare with the Olympus E-M5 Mark II, which made waves in this area almost a couple of years ago, with a fantastic video image stabilization?
In this article, I put them head to head. To Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-14799726327263728832017-04-25T22:04:00.000+01:002018-03-07T20:38:49.533+00:00GH5 e-shutter is slower!The Lumix GH3 introduced a new concept in 2012: Electronic shutter. Meaning that you no longer had to rely on a mechanical curtain shutter in front of the sensor to start and stop the exposure, this could now be done purely electronically by the sensor itself.
The benefits are obvious: Less wear on the shutter if you want to make a time-lapse, for example. And a perfectly silent camera.
HoweverFredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-33625397363238342462017-01-08T20:00:00.001+00:002017-01-09T19:34:47.608+00:00G85 IBIS makes mirror tele lens usableThere are some third party mirror tele lenses available, e.g., the Tokina 300mm f/6.3 seen below:
The big advantage with the is that they are relatively cheap, and, not least, very compact. The lens here is surprisingly short for a 300mm tele lens.
On the other hand, there are drawbacks, for example, manual focus only, fixed aperture, no zoom, and loss of contrast when you have a bright Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-80597074466910788702016-12-18T21:34:00.001+00:002017-01-08T20:10:11.659+00:00Lumix G 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 reviewSome have questioned why Panasonic have churned out so many different kit zoom lenses in the M4/3 format so far. However, one lens which is not going to be questioned in the same way, I think, is the new Lumix G 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6.
It is shown below, in the fully zoomed position at 60mm, on the Lumix G85 camera it comes in a kit with:
It is not just a new kit zoom lens, it also has some good Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-81581189200867886152016-11-19T11:48:00.001+00:002016-11-20T12:19:42.167+00:00G85 video stabilization vs Olymous E-M5 Mark III recently showed that the Lumix G85 is way superior to the GH4 when it comes to video image stabilization, using the newer in-body image stabilization (IBIS). However, the focus speed was not as good in 4k mode, probably due to less processing power in the Lumix G85.
But how does it compare with the Olympus E-M5 Mark II, which made waves in this area almost a couple of years ago, with a Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-38287101839861614412016-11-14T08:03:00.000+00:002016-11-20T12:17:02.578+00:00G85: Awesome video image stabilization in 4kThe recently announced Lumix G85 breaks new ground with the in-body image stabilization (IBIS) trickling down into more camera models. It also helps giving very good stabilization of video recordings. See a demonstration of how the sensor moves here.
To further illustrate the effectiveness of the image stabilization, I have compared it with the Lumix GH4. In the comparison, I used two pairs of Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-3085185933730330532016-11-12T20:51:00.003+00:002016-11-20T12:17:16.814+00:00Lumix G85 IBIS sensor shift demoWhile Olympus have relied on in-body image stabilization (IBIS) since the start of Micro Four Thirds, Panasonic have taken another route: Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), i.e., lens elements moving to offset camera shake. The disadvantage of OIS is that it needs to be implemented in every lens. And many Panasonic prime lenses do not have OIS built in.
Hence, Panasonic have started to use IBIS:Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-46427174751585559492016-11-06T18:53:00.000+00:002016-11-20T12:17:34.519+00:00Mirrorless or DSLR camera?If you are in the market for a system camera, i.e., one with interchangeable lenses, there are basically two choices: A mirrorless system like Micro Four Thirds, or a more traditional DSLR system. So how are they different?
To illustrate, here are two enthusiast cameras in the categories: Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and Nikon D7200:
One difference between them, which is not easily visible in Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-79619137867009714282016-10-09T19:05:00.001+01:002017-01-27T20:21:26.452+00:00News: Even better enthusiast camerasThe Photokina trade fair is recently over, and we have had some more announcements in the time after that. In summary, I think this was the most exciting Photokina for Micro Four Thirds users, ever.
Both Panasonic and Olympus announced their new high end models, the Lumix GH5, and Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. On top of that, we also got a lot of new lens options.
Looking at recently announced Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-25162717380853693582016-09-04T16:09:00.000+01:002016-11-20T12:18:05.178+00:00Lumix GH5 newsThere has not been any specific news about the upcoming Lumix GH5 from Panasonic yet, but we have heard more rumours. Here is a summary of what the rumors mean.
The Lumix GH5 will be the successor of four Micro Four Thirds cameras which have given us top video recording performance in a photography oriented camera body, at a reasonable price:
Timing
We have been waiting for a GH5 Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-22585308510122379082016-08-21T21:47:00.001+01:002016-08-23T14:42:28.449+01:00Favourite m4/3 gearI have used Mirco Four Thirds equipment for almost eight years, and some people ask me what I use. As you will see below, I don't use very new stuff, as I think what has arrived the last two years is not that interesting for me.
Lenses
These are my most used lenses. As you can see, they are all rather small, well, the first three anyway:
Lumix G 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6
Contrary to what you Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-11923596398188588722016-07-26T21:11:00.000+01:002016-07-31T16:29:02.620+01:00Macro images with reverser ringMany users have the Lumix G 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II basic kit zoom. It is a good lens, and I use it a lot. Here is a quality comparison between kit zoom lenses. So don't be worried about using this lens, despite that some dislike the plastic construction.
It is possible to use it for macro images as well, by buying a very small and cheap accessory. By buying a reverser ring, it is possible to mountFredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-3676909969854242032016-07-22T06:28:00.000+01:002016-07-28T08:25:25.579+01:00Røde VideoMicro ReviewThe very first M4/3 camera, the Lumix G1 in 2008, did not have video capability. That was a strange omission, since the camera obviously had live view feed for the viewfinder, which could have been recorded to video.
However, all subsequent M4/3 cameras have been video capable, and video has been a very important feature in this market segment. And with video, the sound recording is also Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-29772670045268571812016-07-10T19:23:00.000+01:002016-07-10T19:23:29.034+01:00Beware of fake SD cardsOne of the most counterfeited electronics item is probably memory cards. Brand awareness is very high in this market, e.g., a brand like Sandisk has a high confidence and can charge premium prices.
Also, the speed rating on memory cards can be confusing, and on top of this, many people buy faster cards than they actually need, and don't have any way of knowing what to expect from a given speed Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-35295181178177444202016-06-26T19:04:00.000+01:002016-06-28T22:20:19.174+01:00Product NewsThis is a somewhat slow time: It is summer, and manufacturers are holding off news until the upcoming Photokina tradeshow on September 20th. That is where we expect to see the new M4/3 flagship cameras: Lumix GH5 and Olympus E-M1 II. In the mean time, there is some interesting news.
Panasonic
Pretty much completely unexpected, Panasonic launched a new Leica co-branded lens, the sixth so far. Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-56009277955862723022016-03-13T19:46:00.001+00:002016-03-14T18:22:13.473+00:00Cheap macro softboxThe great thing about photography as a hobby, is the big variation possibility. There are so many styles and techniques to explore, even without spending a lot on equipment.
One of the techniques is macro: To photograph small objects. This can be pursued by purchasing a macro lens, e.g., the Lumix/Leica 45mm f/2.8 or the Olympus 60mm f/2.8. Both these lenses are 1:1 capable, meaning that you canFredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-64886722851551874512016-01-28T21:10:00.000+00:002016-01-28T21:11:59.885+00:00Mirrorless sales statistics from JapanNot much exists in terms of solid statistics on camera sales. However, one yearly event is when BCN Ranking release their statistics for the sales of cameras in Japan. Their statistics cover most of the domestic sales.
The statistics tend to take different forms every year. Some years, they have reported the 20 most sold models, which is quite interesting to see. This year, reporting on 2015 Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813055710667942720.post-26339619036921625362016-01-21T20:25:00.003+00:002016-07-11T14:43:42.833+01:00GH5 expectationsWhen looking at the row of Lumix GH series cameras below, it is natural to ask: What will the next in line, the Lumix GH5, be like? And when will it be available? So that is what I will speculate about here.
From left to right: Lumix GH1, Lumix GH2, Lumix GH3, Lumix GH4
In terms of form factor, we have had two styles so far: The first two cameras were quite small, but still had reasonable Fredrik Gløcknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07523430148487818493noreply@blogger.com17