Panny G9 questions: I.S. and exposure weight

scphoto wrote:

olrett wrote:

scphoto wrote:

Regarding the issue of "center weighted" exposure, there seems to be different opinions on this matter from those responding to this thread. Thanks to all who responded to this question. I will try to do some testing along the lines suggested by your responses. You answers gave me some ideas for testing. Hopefully, I'll get a clearer picture of what happens when using human/animal detect with Center Weighted vs. Multiple exposure settings. If I get some clear results, I'll post them on this thread.

The G9 manual only mentions this in a footnote under the heading for the FW version 2 update which introduced animal detection: "Exposure will be adjusted to the face when metering mode is set to multiple."

The consensus on the issue of I.S. is that when one turns off the OIS switch on a Panny lens (mounted on a Panny body), it turns all I.S. off, including the IBIS. Thanks to all who responded and especially to alcelc (Albert) for the detailed analysis on this issue.

The G9 manual says they can be activated independently:

Olrett -

Thanks for finding this in the Panny G9 manual.

On the issue of adjusting the exposure when using human/animal detect mode, it indicates that this is done when the "multiple" exposure mode is set. For me, this means that I should shoot in "multiple" exposure, not center weighted, when I'm using human/animal detect.

Also, thanks for pointing out the table of image stabilizing options in the manual. I find the symbols in the table confusing. In the first row ("Panasonic lenses compatible with Dual I.S. Mode") for still photos, it says that "DUAL2" and "DUAL" are the only options with each allowing for a panning setting. I can't find anywhere in the manual the difference between "DUAL2" and "DUAL". Are they the same?

No. DUAL IS and DUAL IS 2 are two difference IS modes.

• Dual IS 2 is available only for a combo of DUAL IS 2 body & Dual IS 2 lens. e.g. G9 & PL 100-400.

DUAL IS is available for a combo:

• DUAL IS 2 body & DUAL IS lens. e.g. G9 & 12-35 f/2.8 mk-I,
• DUAL IS body & Dual IS 2 lens e.g. GX85 & PL 100-400.

It is generally expected DUAL IS 2 is more effective than DUAL IS. Some generally expectation around 1 stop or more.

But the effectiveness of IS is really combo dependent. Says, regarding DUAL IS2 set up, e.g. on G85 I could get 1 more stop effective IS from 45-150 f/4-5.6 than 12-32. As a matter of my observation, sometimes DUAL IS 2 is more or less the same as DUAL IS (e.g. 12-32 on G85 which is DUAL IS 2 and on GX85 which is DUAL IS only, both around 4 stops of effective IS on my hand).

Therefore IMHO the effectiveness of IS would be affected by a lot of factors other than just DUAL IS 2 or DUAL IS, e.g. ergonomic of the body, the overall balance of the setup or the IBIS of individual models (G9 has the most powerful IBIS of all Pannys).

If yes, why two different icons that mean the same thing? Do you (or anyone else) know what the difference is between these two icons?

The icon of "DUAL 2" means a DUAL IS 2 compatible lens has been mounted and so, you are enjoying the max IS capability of your G9.

The icon of "DUAL" means a DUAL IS compatible lens has been mounted and so, you are enjoying the combined benefit of IBIS and Lens IS, but not the optimal effective IS  of G9.

Based on this table, I think alcela (Albert) is correct. The body-only icon (IBIS) is not visible on my G9 with the PL100-400 when I turn off the lens IOS. Instead I see the hand with an "OFF" label. Both my G9 and the lens has the latest firmware updates. The lack of this icon indicates to me that it's either all or nothing with a Panny lens. Non-Panny lenses

Or those non IS Panny lenses, e.g. 20 f/1.7, 15 f/1.7, 14 f/2.5, 7-14 f/4 etc would use IBIS of G9.

If you mounted a OMDS 12-100 f/4 on G9, you will use lens IS.

can only have IBIS ON or OFF with no OIS available.

- Simon