Decent first image with Lumix GH3

Stroll on the Ice



With much of my research for purchasing a micro 4/3 system based on this forum, I thought it appropriate to post an image from my first shots. This image is not directly from the camera since the dynamic range was so extreme. Thus, I blended a few images for the final creation. That said, it still was a decent test on the GH3's low light ability. I definitely would say it on par with my Nikon 7000. On other comparisons, RAW images right out of the camera had much better controlled exposure that the D7000. Of course that can be compensated easily by utilizing the exposure dial. It is fairly well known the D7000 overexposes, particularly with sunny scenes. I also found the touch screen a really slick feature. However, I haven't tested that in bright conditions just yet. The ability to select by focus area on the screen is really going to come in handy with images requiring focus stacking. Oh, and the lens used was the Lumix 12-35mm. I still can't over how small this lens is.

The image is a very frozen and cold Nymph Lake in Rocky Mtn National Park, CO.

Anyway, my first impressions of the GH3 are very positive!

Ken

More than just 'decent'! I have a GH3 as well, and am loving it....and will sell my D7k! Welcome aboard!

Nice to hear you're enjoying it. It's a wonderful little camera with lots of great features.

A simply gorgeous image!

PB

Very good picture, well done.

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Really great, visually arresting image.

Great picture : I guess that's a weather front in the sky.

I almost didn't see the two strollers at the bottom ...

Wonderful photo! It is great to start seeing GH3 photos and user reports on the camera.

Lovely image - thanks for posting it.

I'm looking to upgrde from my GH1 to a GH3 in the relatively near future - just hoping the price is going to drop a little before I give in to temptation.

Thanks for all the positive comments. I forgot to mention that this image was created from RAW images processed in Aperture and Nik. As mentioned, this image is basically a HDR image as the dynamic range was so extreme. That said, That said, I felt the normal exposure controlled the highlights and shadows areas well. In fact, better than my D7000 normally does...but not by very much. But by controlling the highlights, the foreground was quite dark. I might just go ahead and process one exposure to see what I can draw out of the dark areas with a shadow control slider and/or process one exposure via Nik HDR Pro. That would really test the shadow noise and dynamic range of the GH3.

ken henke said:

ken henke wrote:

Thanks for all the positive comments. I forgot to mention that this image was created from RAW images processed in Aperture and Nik. As mentioned, this image is basically a HDR image as the dynamic range was so extreme. That said, That said, I felt the normal exposure controlled the highlights and shadows areas well. In fact, better than my D7000 normally does...but not by very much. But by controlling the highlights, the foreground was quite dark. I might just go ahead and process one exposure to see what I can draw out of the dark areas with a shadow control slider and/or process one exposure via Nik HDR Pro. That would really test the shadow noise and dynamic range of the GH3.

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You deserved these comments, keep taking more pictures to show us.

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Have you tried using the in-camera HDR blending?




beautiful shot, RMNP is a great place

Acrill said:

Acrill wrote:

Have you tried using the in-camera HDR blending?

Click to expand...

No, haven't tried that yet, primarily because I take primarily RAW images. My uderstanding is that the HDR functon on the GH3 creates a jpg. Additonally, by utilizing software, one has much greater control on the ouptut. That said, it would be interesting to experiment and compare two techniques.

Acrill said:

beautiful shot, RMNP is a great place

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ken henke said:

ken henke wrote:

Thanks for all the positive comments. I forgot to mention that this image was created from RAW images processed in Aperture and Nik. As mentioned, this image is basically a HDR image as the dynamic range was so extreme. That said, That said, I felt the normal exposure controlled the highlights and shadows areas well. In fact, better than my D7000 normally does...but not by very much. But by controlling the highlights, the foreground was quite dark. I might just go ahead and process one exposure to see what I can draw out of the dark areas with a shadow control slider and/or process one exposure via Nik HDR Pro. That would really test the shadow noise and dynamic range of the GH3.

Click to expand...

Another Excellent vote. Great shot and thanks for sharing how you post processed did it. I also use aperture but don't have any NIK plugins. Use Photomatix for my HDRs.

Great Photo. Thanks for sharing