GF2 with pancake kit. Now what? Suggest next lens

mattmtl said:

The great thing about OIS Mode 1 is that it keeps OIS on for framing, which I find a huge help when using this lens hand-held. (Of course, it also drains the battery like nobody's business, so a spare is a must.)

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I use OIS 1, but have gotten into the habit of shutting it off in daylight.

mattmtl said:

I've never noticed any ill effects from Panasonic OIS at high shutter speeds. In fact, I'd say the "not a panacea" caveat is more important the other way: there's only so much OIS can accomplish at slow speeds, so you still need a steady hand, which is why an eye-level finder helps so much when working with this lens hand-held.

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I was in the Everglades a few weeks ago, shooting egrets, roseate spoonbills, herons, etc. in bright sun... GH2, 14-140mm, ISO 160, 1000+ shutter speeds... and I noticed some Images were a bit soft (okay, I was peeping ;-) ), where in those conditions, they should not have been. Maybe it was the long end of the 14-140mm that was the problem?

mattmtl said:

Until now I've avoided travelling with a tripod or monopod, but am seriously considering getting one for my next trip. But it's not something I really want to do, because it starts adding bulk back into a system that I value for portability. I worry that I won't use it nearly enough.

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I totally agree about the extra weight, bulk and complexity of lugging a tripod. I used to carry one fairly often and avoided using it because of the time and hassle of set-up and break-down. So, why carry one. To get one with a tolerable weight (around 2 lbs. w/head) and good, reliable mechanics, it'll be $500 (Gitzo GT0541) plus the cost of a ball head. A monopod seems a reasonable compromise and less that 1 lb.. But even then, is that compromise worth it when it can't be used in a lot of situations where you WANT a tripod?

jeffharris said:

mattmtl said:

I've never noticed any ill effects from Panasonic OIS at high shutter speeds. In fact, I'd say the "not a panacea" caveat is more important the other way: there's only so much OIS can accomplish at slow speeds, so you still need a steady hand, which is why an eye-level finder helps so much when working with this lens hand-held.

Click to expand...

I was in the Everglades a few weeks ago, shooting egrets, roseate spoonbills, herons, etc. in bright sun... GH2, 14-140mm, ISO 160, 1000+ shutter speeds... and I noticed some Images were a bit soft (okay, I was peeping ;-) ), where in those conditions, they should not have been. Maybe it was the long end of the 14-140mm that was the problem?

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Could very well be just a little softness at the long end, presumably wide open, but if you're getting some wide-open full-zoom shots that aren't soft, you can probably rule it out.

Another possibility that immediately comes to mind is focus not being nailed exactly where you want it. In any case, with the 45-200, I've never found OIS to be a problem with fast shutter speeds. Focus and atmospheric haze are my main issues.

jeffharris said:

jeffharris said:

Until now I've avoided travelling with a tripod or monopod, but am seriously considering getting one for my next trip. But it's not something I really want to do, because it starts adding bulk back into a system that I value for portability. I worry that I won't use it nearly enough.

Click to expand...

I totally agree about the extra weight, bulk and complexity of lugging a tripod. I used to carry one fairly often and avoided using it because of the time and hassle of set-up and break-down. So, why carry one. To get one with a tolerable weight (around 2 lbs. w/head) and good, reliable mechanics, it'll be $500 (Gitzo GT0541) plus the cost of a ball head. A monopod seems a reasonable compromise and less that 1 lb.. But even then, is that compromise worth it when it can't be used in a lot of situations where you WANT a tripod?

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I already have a Manfrotto tabletop tripod. I believe the head is compatible with other Manfrotto pods, so a sub-$100 monopod or even a smallish (but bigger than tabletop) tripod might be a possibility. Could certainly be useful in situations where lighting demands a longer exposure but suitable flat surfaces are in short supply... still not thrilled with the idea of toting it around on a day's outing, though.

jeffharris said:

Jon Schick said:

Add another fast prime in the 40mm-50mm range and you'll be good to go...

But you need to decide if you are OK about manual focus. If you are, another option would be to use an old legacy standard lens from 35mm manual focus SLR - they can all be made to work on m43, and the quality of some of them is excellent. They tend to be reasonably priced too, as there are so many of them out there. The adaptors are inexpensive, too. I got a Fotodiox Nikon to M4/3 adaptor for $35 from Amazon for my old lenses.

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If you feel you can handle, or want to handle, shooting manually, getting or borrowing, an older lens is a great way to go. Once you feel comfortable shooting manually, it gives you a greater sense of control and, for me at least, makes me slow down and be more conscious when shooting instead of blasting away. ;-)

If you scour the forums here, you'll find a ton of suggestions.

eBay can be okay, but frustrating, what with people running bid-bots and never knowing if you'll "win" until the last second.

KEH Photo sells an array of legacy lens, at reasonable prices and also has a handy rating system for lens condition.
http://www.keh.com/

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is a great idea. At least one of your friends must have an old 50mm lying agound in a closet. All you have to invest in is a $25.00 adapter which you can get through the mail in a few days (fotodiox).

Tedolph

mattmtl said:

Even if you're like me and always use OIS Mode 1 (always on) with this lens, it's big and long enough that it gets really difficult to frame and take a clear, steady shot with the camera held at arm's length. Although I'm not one of those "give me an eye-level finder or no sale" people, I do find an eye-level finder to be a huge help with this lens.

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Hmm yes I see what you are saying now. Arms length and the screen can be tough especially with the weight distribution and where you have to put your hands.

mattmtl said:

I am however a frequent user of makeshift "tripods" -- benches, mailboxes, ledges, tables, fenceposts, tree stumps, stairs, big rocks... any available, reasonably level surface. But as you know these are often not quite right for one reason or another, particularly when you have a larger camera+lens combo.

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Someone should coin a name for those improvised tripods. Makepod, prop-pod, DIYpod?

Glumba said:

mattmtl said:

I am however a frequent user of makeshift "tripods" -- benches, mailboxes, ledges, tables, fenceposts, tree stumps, stairs, big rocks... any available, reasonably level surface. But as you know these are often not quite right for one reason or another, particularly when you have a larger camera+lens combo.

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Someone should coin a name for those improvised tripods. Makepod, prop-pod, DIYpod?

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Adhocpods?