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G3 review up on Luminous Landscape
- Thread starter katy C.
- Start date
Mike
Forum Enthusiast
Actually he says ".....may well be one of the best....."
But thanks for drawing our attention to the review!
But thanks for drawing our attention to the review!
Brian Mosley
Forum Pro
Actually, the sample shots in his piece were really very good indeed - the text seemed a bit flat though - maybe Michael was tired.
I think the G3 is the best m4/3rds camera that Panasonic have produced so far, given my preference for small size and best possible IQ.
Cheers
Brian
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I think the G3 is the best m4/3rds camera that Panasonic have produced so far, given my preference for small size and best possible IQ.
Cheers
Brian
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I take his point about the grip, but how many of us work that way, walking around all day with the camera in our hands? Some of us use the neckstrap or keep the camera in a holster or backpack, only getting it out when needed. I suspect that Panasonic test out their camera designs exclusively on smaller handed Japanese volunteers. Other internationally successful Japanese companies, such as Toyota, design products for the markets where they are sold. Panasonic really does need to consider designs for those of us well over 6 feet tall (or approaching 2 metres) and with correspondingly large hands!
Let us hope that Panasonic leapfrogs Olympus when it comes to the feature of interchangeable grips. I like what Olympus has done with these grips on the E-P3, but from the illustrations published so far the large grip still looks pretty small to me. :-(
damoclesnz
Forum Enthusiast
I think he was quite positive about it
"I found little to fault and a lot to like. The lens' resolution wide open is very good in the center, and naturally softens toward the edges, though by less than one would imagine. Vignetting is modest and I rarely bothered to correct it in post processing. Flare is minimal, even wide open."
Vaughan Williams
Leading Member
Like many others he doesn't like the fact that the EVF eye sensor, available on the former G models, has dis-appeared:-
'After two weeks of daily shooting with the G3 I have to report that this is not a trade-off that I am happy to accept. I shoot with the EVF 95% of the time and having to remember to press the LCD/EVF button whenever I need to change a setting become tedious and annoying very quickly'
For those who do shoot through the EVF most of the time there is a simple way round this:
Set the LCD as the default. Now turn the LCD inwards so the screen is not visible. The EVF now becomes active without having to use the LCD/EVF button. When you do want to use the LCD (which isn't very often, if you are using the EVF 95% of the time), just turn it round: the LCD switches on and the EVF switches off. Do what you want to do on the screen then turn it round again: the LCD switches off and the EVF switches on.
This has the added advantage that when not in use the LCD screen is fully protected from being scratched by rubbiing against your clothes, bag etc.
Although there are fewer physical buttons on the G3, compared to my G2, I am finding it is easier to find those buttons which I do need at eye level.
Without taking my eye away from the EVF I can change ISO, white balance, single or multiple shot, bracketing, self timer, focussing mode, single focus position (all with the four way controller).
Then I have Fn1 set to AF hold (when AF is achieved and held the camera is effectively in Manual Focus, so this is a quick way of switching between AF and MF).
Finally the other button (Qmenu/Fn2) is set to DOF preview.
If I need to change any other parameters then I just turn the LCD out and press the on screen Qmenu icon to gain access to them.
Against my expectations I'm finding the G3 more ergonomic than the G2 because there are fewer physical buttons : my thumb can find them whilst my eye is at the EVF and my brain can remember what each one does.
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Vaughan
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/jvwpc/
'After two weeks of daily shooting with the G3 I have to report that this is not a trade-off that I am happy to accept. I shoot with the EVF 95% of the time and having to remember to press the LCD/EVF button whenever I need to change a setting become tedious and annoying very quickly'
For those who do shoot through the EVF most of the time there is a simple way round this:
Set the LCD as the default. Now turn the LCD inwards so the screen is not visible. The EVF now becomes active without having to use the LCD/EVF button. When you do want to use the LCD (which isn't very often, if you are using the EVF 95% of the time), just turn it round: the LCD switches on and the EVF switches off. Do what you want to do on the screen then turn it round again: the LCD switches off and the EVF switches on.
This has the added advantage that when not in use the LCD screen is fully protected from being scratched by rubbiing against your clothes, bag etc.
Although there are fewer physical buttons on the G3, compared to my G2, I am finding it is easier to find those buttons which I do need at eye level.
Without taking my eye away from the EVF I can change ISO, white balance, single or multiple shot, bracketing, self timer, focussing mode, single focus position (all with the four way controller).
Then I have Fn1 set to AF hold (when AF is achieved and held the camera is effectively in Manual Focus, so this is a quick way of switching between AF and MF).
Finally the other button (Qmenu/Fn2) is set to DOF preview.
If I need to change any other parameters then I just turn the LCD out and press the on screen Qmenu icon to gain access to them.
Against my expectations I'm finding the G3 more ergonomic than the G2 because there are fewer physical buttons : my thumb can find them whilst my eye is at the EVF and my brain can remember what each one does.
--
Vaughan
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/jvwpc/
Brian Mosley
Forum Pro
Just the sort of practical advice we find buried in threads in here, rather than in the headline field reviews (something strange about that!)
Kind Regards
Brian
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Join our free worldwide support network here :
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UK, Peak District Local Olympus Safari Group : http://snipurl.com/bqtd7-ukpsg
Keep up with me here : http://twitter.com/alert_bri
Kind Regards
Brian
--
Join our free worldwide support network here :
http://www.ukphotosafari.org/join-the-ukpsg/
UK, Peak District Local Olympus Safari Group : http://snipurl.com/bqtd7-ukpsg
Keep up with me here : http://twitter.com/alert_bri
I totally agree with this. After over a week of shooting I am not finding a problem at all. I set my LCD like that from the beginning and it seems as though I have an eye sensor because when I want to use the LCD its on and when I have it closed (which. BTW is the way I've always shot the G1) the EVF is on. The only difference in my setup is that I have Fn 1 set to AEL. I'm having no problem is using buttons using the EVF most of the time but still really like the touch screen. I haven't read the review yet but surprised MR didn't shoot this way.
The only thing I might add is that some may find opening the LCD to use the touch screen as annoying as using the button, just that I, as someone who uses the EVF 95% of the time also and doesn't review a lot on the LCD nor change settings often that need the Q menu find it works as well for me as with the eye sensor on my G1.
Diane
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Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic
G1 gallery http://www.pbase.com/picnic/temp_g1
The only thing I might add is that some may find opening the LCD to use the touch screen as annoying as using the button, just that I, as someone who uses the EVF 95% of the time also and doesn't review a lot on the LCD nor change settings often that need the Q menu find it works as well for me as with the eye sensor on my G1.
Diane
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Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic
G1 gallery http://www.pbase.com/picnic/temp_g1
Diane,
How do you find low light refresh rate on EVF compared to G1?
I'm still not 100% convinced to switch because I didn't have chance to test it by myself yet.
Did you compared G3 vs. G1 AF speed on 20/1.7?
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Regards
Grzegorz Rakoczy
How do you find low light refresh rate on EVF compared to G1?
I'm still not 100% convinced to switch because I didn't have chance to test it by myself yet.
Did you compared G3 vs. G1 AF speed on 20/1.7?
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Regards
Grzegorz Rakoczy
RDSChicago
Well-known member
Thanks Vaughn. Yours are the most pratical G3 tips I have read thus far!!
I've carried bigger DSLRs like that for years with a wrist strap support (i.e., 5D with E1 strap) and my G1 also but quickly solved the issue with the G3 "for me" using the Y strap and the Black Rapids tripod connector. I've shot this way with the 45-200 and other lenses for most of a day. It works for me since I do find it harder to carry constantly with smaller grip and I don't like neck straps (but gladly accept the size/grip compromise). I found I could also very nicely carry this OVER the strap for a small messenger bag like the LP Terraclime to hold additional lenses, etc.
Diane
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Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic
G1 gallery http://www.pbase.com/picnic/temp_g1
Diane
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Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic
G1 gallery http://www.pbase.com/picnic/temp_g1
This is totally unscientific and simply my response to shooting in quite low and normal light with the 20 on both cameras one after the other. In another thread where someone was asking about the body covering in comparison to G1 and GF1 I gathered the 3 cameras together to check that. While I had them together I decided to try shooting them also. Had the 20 out so used it with same settings on G1 and G3. I had been thinking in my own mind, not having compared them, that the G3 EVF was about the same, maybe slightly better than that of the G1. What a surprise when I went back and forth between the two cameras. The G3 is decidedly better to my eyes and I was told this is due to refresh rate.
Diane
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Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic
G1 gallery http://www.pbase.com/picnic/temp_g1
Diane
--
Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic
G1 gallery http://www.pbase.com/picnic/temp_g1
TEBnewyork
Forum Pro
Vaughn,
Great writeup. I have it set the same way as you with one addition. I have the camera set to automatically switch to the LCD on playback. If the screen is shut and you review a shot in the EVF nothing changes but....
This is helpful if I am working from the EVF but have the screen open. Typically I would then look down at the LCD when I want to review a shot. Pushing the playback button auto switches it. A tap to the shutter switches it back.
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terry
Great writeup. I have it set the same way as you with one addition. I have the camera set to automatically switch to the LCD on playback. If the screen is shut and you review a shot in the EVF nothing changes but....
This is helpful if I am working from the EVF but have the screen open. Typically I would then look down at the LCD when I want to review a shot. Pushing the playback button auto switches it. A tap to the shutter switches it back.
--
terry
Al Bond
Leading Member
This is very interesting - and what I hoped to hear. I love my G1 but I don't love the fact that the EVF makes me motion sick after a while. Even if my problems aren't purely due to the refresh rate, I'm sure it the improvement would lessen the problem.
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