Low light and the G9, impressed

Honestly, I really wanted to get a full-frame Sony, but it was way out of my budget to get a fast zoom and the body I would have liked. I decided to stick with m4/3 and glad I did!

Granted, this is image nothing particularly special, but what is special is using the G9 for this sort of photography. The GH-2 was a challenge, the G9, it is easy.

What make the G9 special for this shots?

1. Auto-dimming viewfinder. GH-2 would blind me.

2. Night mode (red). Combined with #1, is great!

3. Gain up the viewfinder!!! This is particularly awesome. I was able to manually focus in near darkness on a manual lens.

4. A few stops less noise than the GH-2 in these scenarios. I took the image at ISO200, and then was able to apply 3-5 stops exposure compensation on images before the noise was distracting. Easily as good a the best ASPC sensors from just a few years ago.

5. Better noise characteristics. More like film grain, less like splotchy color noise.

6. Hot pixels, still there, but smaller due to more resolution so a downsize can retain more resolution and average out those pesky pixels.

7. Easily found modes in the dark, button and knob layout is excellent.

Only modifications below? Exposure compensation and a little crop for appeal. 50mm F1.4 @F2.8 Minolta adapted lens from ~1975 or so. It does a nice job with slightly blurring highlights so the fireflies can be seen better.

Intentionally left darker for effect. Should view in a darkened room.


Note the two species. Also note that 12 years ago, there would have bee 10x as many of them in our back yard. Big declines, and nobody knows why.

--
My pictures...
{Whoops, dead link!}

liquidsquid said:

4. A few stops less noise than the GH-2 in these scenarios. I took the image at ISO200, and then was able to apply 3-5 stops exposure compensation on images before the noise was distracting. Easily as good a the best ASPC sensors from just a few years ago.

Click to expand...

I assume you add “3-5 stops of exposure” in post processing.

i think you will find you would get less noise (for a given exposure i.e. aperture/shutter) if you increased the iso in camera.

On most cameras, you get decreased read noise as you increase ISO. As I remember, on the G9 the steps are larger up to ~1600, and smaller after that.

while many think today’s sensors are “ISO-less”, I understand they really are not....some quite drastically. In addition, increasing ‘brightness’ (sometimes wrongly call ‘exposure’) in post will provide other adjustment to the image than just ‘exposure comp’.

I can use base ISO day and night!, the ibis is unreal!

The former seems Obvious, the latter: species are moving away from the equator at a pace of 100 km/decade on average.

vallhall said:

I can use base ISO day and night!, the ibis is unreal!

Click to expand...

I have the G9 and in my experience (without dual IS from the lens) its IBIS is not on par with the EM52, despite what the specs claim

Felice62 said:

vallhall said:

I can use base ISO day and night!, the ibis is unreal!

Click to expand...

I have the G9 and in my experience (without dual IS from the lens) its IBIS is not on par with the EM52, despite what the specs claim

Click to expand...

But i use dual IS!

Felice62 said:

vallhall said:

I can use base ISO day and night!, the ibis is unreal!

Click to expand...

I have the G9 and in my experience (without dual IS from the lens) its IBIS is not on par with the EM52, despite what the specs claim

Click to expand...

DPReview (as well as some forum members, e.g. https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4257250) even observed in their tests that G9 IBIS is better than E-M1ii (which is better than E-M5ii). However the general consensus is that E-M1ii IBIS is better than G9. My personal impression is that G9 handles slight trembling well, but not more or less significant movements (I wonder if E-M1ii and E-M5ii might be better dealing with the latter, this explaining the victory of E-M1ii in some of the IBIS tests). Still exposures over a second with a 25mm (50mm eq) lens are easy with G9.

That's a great photo of fireflies. How dark was it? How long past sunset?

The tough part of fireflies is that you want as long as possible exposure to capture as many flashes as possible without blowing out skies (light pollution). Cranking up the ISO limits the exposure time. In post I can selectively enhance different parts of the histogram if desired, so I can stretch that time out as long as I can.

More tips for fireflies:

Try not to focus exact, otherwise hot pixel detect will wipe distant flies out. Ideally back-focus just a little. The lack of AA filter may be part of this.

Fireflies are brightest as the skies are brightest during their time. Usually about an hour after sunset. Best shots happen in as dark as possible moonless nights so you can leave the shutter open longer. As the night wears on, so do they, and the numbers and brightness decrease. Best time is about 1.5-2hrs after sunset.

Ideally no wind, but this is rare.

Shoot through as much air as possible, so 20mm or more. 30-40mm f2.8 would be a sweet spot. 50mm is tough to get a good framing.

Larger aperture == more light, but then less flies in focus. f2.8 @ 20mm was working fairly well as a compromise. 50mm f3.5 is decent as well, but start loosing sensitivity to bug butts.

Tripod. Duh. Unless you are a statue.

Go here, enter your numbers, help science!


I took some more images with a 20mm tonight, and the numbers of flies were double of last night. Maybe I was premature with calling the numbers low. Hopefully it keeps ramping up!

BTW, this is in Western NY. We have spectacular firefly fields here if you ever visit. From June to mid July.

vallhall said:

Felice62 said:

vallhall said:

I can use base ISO day and night!, the ibis is unreal!

Click to expand...

I have the G9 and in my experience (without dual IS from the lens) its IBIS is not on par with the EM52, despite what the specs claim

Click to expand...

But i use dual IS!

Click to expand...

Sure, I was only comparing the IBIS (camera only). I think Olympus has the lead for in body image stabilization.

What kind of adapter did you use?

Felice62 said:

vallhall said:

Felice62 said:

vallhall said:

I can use base ISO day and night!, the ibis is unreal!

Click to expand...

I have the G9 and in my experience (without dual IS from the lens) its IBIS is not on par with the EM52, despite what the specs claim

Click to expand...

But i use dual IS!

Click to expand...

Sure, I was only comparing the IBIS (camera only). I think Olympus has the lead for in body image stabilization.

Click to expand...

Not according DPreview!, exept the new flagship Oly

vallhall said:

Felice62 said:

vallhall said:

Felice62 said:

vallhall said:

I can use base ISO day and night!, the ibis is unreal!

Click to expand...

I have the G9 and in my experience (without dual IS from the lens) its IBIS is not on par with the EM52, despite what the specs claim

Click to expand...

But i use dual IS!

Click to expand...

Sure, I was only comparing the IBIS (camera only). I think Olympus has the lead for in body image stabilization.

Click to expand...

Not according DPreview!, exept the new flagship Oly

Click to expand...

so I must assume my hands are shaking in a brand sensitive fashion

Felice62 said:

vallhall said:

Felice62 said:

vallhall said:

Felice62 said:

vallhall said:

I can use base ISO day and night!, the ibis is unreal!

Click to expand...

I have the G9 and in my experience (without dual IS from the lens) its IBIS is not on par with the EM52, despite what the specs claim

Click to expand...

But i use dual IS!

Click to expand...

Sure, I was only comparing the IBIS (camera only). I think Olympus has the lead for in body image stabilization.

Click to expand...

Not according DPreview!, exept the new flagship Oly

Click to expand...

so I must assume my hands are shaking in a brand sensitive fashion

Click to expand...

Well, i read alot of the G9 reviews, and everyone says the IBIS is great. I have never seen any test there they say the EM 5 has better IBIS than G9!

Despite I have both M5 models, the one I am referring to is Mark II.

I must be so used to its handling that I am able to really get more our of its IBIS than I am with the G9.

In general I've found Olympus IBIS to be excellent.; and I aò referring to olympus bodies I own: M5, M5ii, M10ii, M1 and PEN-F.

Felice62 said:

Despite I have both M5 models, the one I am referring to is Mark II.

I must be so used to its handling that I am able to really get more our of its IBIS than I am with the G9.

In general I've found Olympus IBIS to be excellent.; and I aò referring to olympus bodies I own: M5, M5ii, M10ii, M1 and PEN-F.

Click to expand...

I am very happy with my G9 and 12.35!, and as i said i find the IBIS magic and unreal...it is so good!

And even if i had to use high iso, i have DXO photolab2 with its amazing noise reduction, so i quess i am covered

vallhall said:

Felice62 said:

Despite I have both M5 models, the one I am referring to is Mark II.

I must be so used to its handling that I am able to really get more our of its IBIS than I am with the G9.

In general I've found Olympus IBIS to be excellent.; and I aò referring to olympus bodies I own: M5, M5ii, M10ii, M1 and PEN-F.

Click to expand...

I am very happy with my G9 and 12.35!, and as i said i find the IBIS magic and unreal...it is so good!

And even if i had to use high iso, i have DXO photolab2 with its amazing noise reduction, so i quess i am covered

Click to expand...

Don't misunderstand me: I like my G9 and I pair it often with the nice PL12-60. It's a nice combo. Not the smallest I can build up, but very performing.

My say is that M5ii has a more effective Ibis than G9 alone. But then again, it may be my shooting...

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade... And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party.

Felice62 said:

vallhall said:

Felice62 said:

Despite I have both M5 models, the one I am referring to is Mark II.

I must be so used to its handling that I am able to really get more our of its IBIS than I am with the G9.

In general I've found Olympus IBIS to be excellent.; and I aò referring to olympus bodies I own: M5, M5ii, M10ii, M1 and PEN-F.

Click to expand...

I am very happy with my G9 and 12.35!, and as i said i find the IBIS magic and unreal...it is so good!

And even if i had to use high iso, i have DXO photolab2 with its amazing noise reduction, so i quess i am covered

Click to expand...

Don't misunderstand me: I like my G9 and I pair it often with the nice PL12-60. It's a nice combo. Not the smallest I can build up, but very performing.

My say is that M5ii has a more effective Ibis than G9 alone. But then again, it may be my shooting...

Click to expand...

If you pair in with the 12-60 you have dual ibis?

[No message]

Numbers are way up from the prior shot. It has been warm and sunny for a few days and it really kicked in. This is using the old 20mm F1.7 @F2.0 60 seconds.

Same location as previous, just a little later at night. A few hot pixels kicking about. If you look close, you will notice 3 species based on flash patterns and color. Since they are moving as they flash, you can see the double-streak greens, single-streak greenish-yellow, and multi-streak (7 or more) yellow-orange.


3 species in here, zoom in.



--
My pictures...
{Whoops, dead link!}