GX8, speedlights, burst mode, and crushing disappointment

[NFG]

Today I had a ballet dancer in the studio. I had six Cactus speedlights set up, triggered from the GX8 hotshoe with a Cactus V6. This same combination works brilliantly on my Nikon D800 and I recommend it to everyone.

I was planning to use the GX8 today, instead of the D800, because it has double the framerate vs the D800 (8 vs 4) and I was going to mount the camera on a tripod, set the dancer loose and capture 8fps of flash-illuminated beauty.

The intent was to later composite the frames into single images, multi-exposure style.

Those of you who know the Panasonic M43 system well have already figured out where I went wrong, but I was floored, absolutely stunned, by Panasonic's bizarre decision:

The hotshoe is disabled in burst mode.

You can't even enter burst mode with a flash or trigger attached to the hotshoe, unless you explicitly set the flash to OFF.

Seriously considered hurling it at the floor and screaming, but for my model and their mother excitedly waiting for me to be less purple and get on with things.

=(

 

[dulynoted]

That is a very bizarre decision. I just checked my gx7 and it is the same. Rather dissapointing.

I wonder if any annoyances I have with the gx7 have been fixed in the gx8? Can you assign iso to a dial? When using magnification in aperturepriority does it instantly initiate the exposure when you hit the shutter button (the gx7 doesnt)

 

[jl_smith]

Wow, what a strange decision by Panasonic. I would have never discovered it (since I don't use flash and burst mode), but it's a shame it's such a show-stopper for you!

I'm hoping you were able to finish the shoot using the D800?

--
JL Smith
www.flickr.com/photos/jl_smith

 

[dontfret]

burst flash worked in the FZ50 generation (of course flash output depends on flash recycle time), but was disabled by the time my G5 came along and in the GX7. Only solution I can see is to use a strobe flash like the $80 Meike 320 set for 8fps and use a longer exposure at a low ISO and small aperature, but I do agree that wasn't what you wanted.

--
Rich
Take many pictures - a few are keepers, the rest are are lessons.

 

[NFG]

I had the idea to use my Cactus triggers to fire the GX8 instead, but the lights don't output the trigger signal with every pulse. Not entirely sure the GX8 would be happy to fire at that rate via an external signal anyway.

I'm guessing no one's tried. =)

 

[s_grins]

I do not use flash in studio.

 

[NFG]

s_grins wrote:
I do not use flash in studio.

Amazing, wow. Thanks for your input! What other revelations can you contribute to this thread?

 

[Martin.au]

I just checked on my E-M1. Works in burst mode.

I tested both low and fast burst and it was able to burst at 10FPS (which scared the hell out of my poor little FL300R).

That's a serious problem. I'd certainly be looking at using burst flash for roller derby in the future.

 

[NFG]

I just checked on my E-M1. Works in burst mode.

I tested both low and fast burst and it was able to burst at 10FPS (which scared the hell out of my poor little FL300R).

Haha, nice work!

Thanks for offering that. I was reading the manual for the EM5 2 to see if it mentioned it, and it doesn't seem to have the same restriction either.

 

[OzRay]

Maybe that's the difference between a camera company and an electronics company with a video camera background. Even my FL-50 on my E-P1 works in burst mode.

--
Thoughts, Musings, Ideas and Images from South Gippsland
http://australianimage.com.au/wordpress/

 

[OzRay]

I do not use flash in studio.

 

[NFG]

Maybe that's the difference between a camera company and an electronics company with a video camera background. Even my FL-50 on my E-P1 works in burst mode.

Haha, maybe, but that sounds like bias to me. I'd have guessed you an Oly shooter even if you didn't mention your gear.

 

[OzRay]

Maybe that's the difference between a camera company and an electronics company with a video camera background. Even my FL-50 on my E-P1 works in burst mode.

Haha, maybe, but that sounds like bias to me. I'd have guessed you an Oly shooter even if you didn't mention your gear.

--
My Works: http://nfgphoto.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/nfgphoto

No bias, and I have been exclusively an Olympus user since 2004; however, I do think that there is a philosophical difference between the Olympus approach and Panasonic approach towards camera design. Panasonic follows very much a video-centric camera design; whereas, Olympus follows a still-centric camera design. I don't say this just because Panasonic has a much better video implementation than Olympus.

--
Thoughts, Musings, Ideas and Images from South Gippsland
http://australianimage.com.au/wordpress/

 

[NFG]

No bias, and I have been exclusively an Olympus user since 2004; however, I do think that there is a philosophical difference between the Olympus approach and Panasonic approach towards camera design. Panasonic follows very much a video-centric camera design; whereas, Olympus follows a still-centric camera design. I don't say this just because Panasonic has a much better video implementation than Olympus.

While I can see your point when comparing Oly v Panasonic, coming from a Nikon D800 I don't see that this camera is overly focused on video. Aside from one solitary button dedicated to recording video (which my D800 also has) none of the controls seem to lend themselves to a video-focused platform.

As far as the software goes... You might be right, but since I don't do video I never really looked at the features. Video is mostly separated behind a single menu item which I never view.

In fact, upon thinking about it, I'd have to say that this camera leans toward video compared to yours, it's not video-centric when its own stills and video capabilities are compared.

Now, comparing to other Panasonic cameras, you may have a better case. I am led to understand that some of them are much more video oriented than the GX8.

But yeah. Every maker has a different design philosophy. Nikon is technical with lots of useful buttons, Canon's easy with a lot of menus, Olympus lies about their financials, Panasonic can't write good manuals. =)

 

[OzRay]

One of the things that has often been noted about Olympus is that their designers etc apparently are all fairly avid still photographers, I don't now anything about Panasonic designers etc. So Olympus camera designs and features have always met the still photographer's needs.

Panasonic, on the other hand, has a fairly long history in video cameras and the needs of videographers, so the design philosophy of their still cameras is influenced by that video background. A simple thing like the tilting EVF in the GX7 and GX8 is something that's been quite common on video cameras.

Panasonic probably didn't even consider the need for flash capability in burst mode, as it's not something that has ever been a need in general videography. But it has been used in still photography for decades and something Olympus would have included without thinking.

Oh, and the Olympus financial scandal was something happening at the corporate level, not the camera division. Remember, the Olympus camera division was still ploughing on despite the turmoil at the corporate level and able to introduce some great new products.

 

[s_grins]

s_grins wrote:
I do not use flash in studio.

Amazing, wow. Thanks for your input! What other revelations can you contribute to this thread?

 

[s_grins]

I do not use flash in studio.

 

[NFG]

Well, another one:

I never blame camera on my failues.

If you're trying, in your not quite decipherable way, to suggest that it is somehow my fault that the GX8 doesn't fire the flash in burst mode, I'd really love for you to suggest ways I can resolve my tragic failing, because gosh I feel like you've got a lot to teach.

 

[s_grins]

Well, another one:

I never blame camera on my failues.

If you're trying, in your not quite decipherable way, to suggest that it is somehow my fault that the GX8 doesn't fire the flash in burst mode, I'd really love for you to suggest ways I can resolve my tragic failing, because gosh I feel like you've got a lot to teach.

 

[Hen3ry]

You are right about this not being one of the great Panasonic decisions. Bizarre.

BUT I can't believe anyone serious would move into a shoot without testing their equipment before hand, whether it was the old tried and true set up or -- particularly -- something new.

Please don’t bluster that it SHOULD do it -- you didn't test a major new item of equipment. That is unforgivable.

Ever heard of an audio bloke who sets up his stuff and then goes "Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3…" into EACH microphone?

Hearing of a bloke putting a new camera into a set up and not testing is a whole new experience for me, but I am only 73 so I should be expecting something new every day.

Seriously -- I agree with you, the camera SHOULD do the job, and I am a Panny owner and user. But to go into a studio set up without at least one test shot…

No, mate, sorry, not a lot of sympathy.