Some GH2 snaps

[viztyger]

Congratulations on your new GH2, Jim.

I'm hoping to get my own as soon as they become available here in the Netherlands.

I wonder if you could check something for me. I'm interested in the GH2's Auto ISO with a manual (no electronic contacts) lens attached. I have a Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95 which I'm currently using with my GF1. When attached, Auto ISO is only available in aperture priority and program mode and not in shutter speed priority mode. Is this the same on the GH2?

The most useful would be if the GH2 would adjust Auto ISO in shutter speed priority mode, allowing you to select the aperture via the lens and the shutter speed on the camera while the camera adjusts ISO to achieve correct exposure. On the GF1, you're constantly forced to adjust ISO manually since auto ISO is only available in aperture priority mode.

Also related to auto ISO: what is the lowest shutter speed that the GH2 drops to before raising the ISO automatically - when a manual lens is attached? With the GF1 this is a too slow 1/30s. Of course it would be optimal to be able to set the threshold shutter speed yourself, like is possible on some Nikon bodies.

Thanks in advance.
--
Björn

http://www.bmupix.com

 

[Big Ga]

Hi Gareth,
The weather up here has been pretty diabolical

Rubbish! its all nice and white and fluffy!! I've seen the news. Perfect photography weather

and I haven’t really had much of a chance to seriously compare the GF1 with the GH2 but I am hoping to do so tomorrow will take some shots using same lens and subject etc and see how it goes.

Super.

No rush. But it would be great to see what the differences are in real life with the new 16MP sensor v the original 12 ones.

Not quite sure what to suggest. I suppose I want to see the per pixel sharpness at base ISO, to see how strong the AA filter is, and also if the lenses are allowing the extra res to be captured.

Although I never intend to go out and shoot high ISO with anything other than a D3 nowadays, it never pans out that way - often you just HAVE to shoot ISO400-800 etc just to get the shot. So I guess having some sort of handle on the noise would be useful. Where this changes is video, and often this HAS to be shot at around ISO1600 - this is where the GH1 does have a little problem with banding. It would be good to know where the problems with the GH2 cut in.
(although of course your GF1 doesn't use the same sensor as the GH1)

But hey ... its your camera, and have fun first! however I'd really like to hear/see any comments/results.

Cheers

PS - why did those bar stewards change the battery? is there any compatibility with the chargers ??

 

[ASR45]

Nice.

 

[jim stirling]

Here are a selection of GH2 shots compared to the GF1 using, tripod, MF, AP, both using the 14-45mm at 200 ISO, 400 ISO, 800 ISO and 1600 ISO all taken in RAW in reasonably controlled lighting. I have uploaded the original RAW files, here is the download link. { 121 MB download if you want them all }
http://www.mediafire.com/?nu5isv2v3s45m

The first shot shows a small sized view of the original scene, I used the indoor Christmas tree shot as it provided a good subject with varied textures, colours along with shadow and highlight areas [the fact that it is indoors not far from my cup of tea is purely coincidental} The other shots are comparisons between the GH2 and GF1 at the respective ISO settings. I resized the GH2 files to match the GF1 for easy viewing



200ISO



400ISO



800ISO



1600ISO



The original full size jpegs are available here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waterside_man/

I would like to make it very clear that these are in no way laboratory controlled tests ; I post them for general interest and will leave the real testing to DPreview . Downloading the RAW files is probably advisable if you want a clearer view on image quality.
Jim

 

[Boris Moscow]

I like such thing and appreciate your time.

--
'Life is something that happens to you while you're making other plans'.
M. Millar

 

[jim stirling]

I like such thing and appreciate your time.

--
'Life is something that happens to you while you're making other plans'.
M. Millar

Hi Boris,
no problem it was a good day to be sitting in front of the PC with a cuppa
Jim

 

[jim stirling]

Congratulations on your new GH2, Jim.

I'm hoping to get my own as soon as they become available here in the Netherlands.

I wonder if you could check something for me. I'm interested in the GH2's Auto ISO with a manual (no electronic contacts) lens attached. I have a Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95 which I'm currently using with my GF1. When attached, Auto ISO is only available in aperture priority and program mode and not in shutter speed priority mode. Is this the same on the GH2?

The most useful would be if the GH2 would adjust Auto ISO in shutter speed priority mode, allowing you to select the aperture via the lens and the shutter speed on the camera while the camera adjusts ISO to achieve correct exposure. On the GF1, you're constantly forced to adjust ISO manually since auto ISO is only available in aperture priority mode.

Also related to auto ISO: what is the lowest shutter speed that the GH2 drops to before raising the ISO automatically - when a manual lens is attached? With the GF1 this is a too slow 1/30s. Of course it would be optimal to be able to set the threshold shutter speed yourself, like is possible on some Nikon bodies.

Thanks in advance.
--
Björn

Hello Bjorn,

I do not have any MF lenses like the Voigtländer {though it looks very tempting} and I have not got round to getting any adapters I ordered one a while back and it fell through , I will have to get a couple I have a lot of Nikon lenses and a few Canon FD . The auto ISO seems to work in a similar manner as far as I can tell
Jim

 

[viztyger]

Hello Bjorn,

I do not have any MF lenses like the Voigtländer {though it looks very tempting} and I have not got round to getting any adapters I ordered one a while back and it fell through , I will have to get a couple I have a lot of Nikon lenses and a few Canon FD . The auto ISO seems to work in a similar manner as far as I can tell
Jim

Thanks, for getting back to me Jim. I guess I will have to wait until you get an adapter or I get my GH2 - whichever comes first. I'm hoping the latter

I'm not expecting big advances though; auto ISO on the Panasonic G cameras isn't as sophisticated as on the Nikon bodies. That's one of the few things I miss about my former D300.

--
Björn

http://www.bmupix.com

 

[jim stirling]

Nice.

Thanks, I have been enjoying your bird shots with the 100-300 how do you find AF with it ?
cheers
Jim

 

[Big Ga]

Here are a selection of GH2 shots

Fascinating. Thank you very much Jim.
I just converted the ISO200 and 1600 files using ACR/CS5

I do like the slight added vibrancy of the GH2 files and there is a good level of detail there. Noise at 1600 is also better on the newer camera. Excellent job considering the hike in resolution.

That's a fairly low light level as well, and I can't see any banding (which I'm sure would have been there on the GH1), so that's another plus!

Looks like a winner. Bugger. Means I want to get one

Cheers for those.

G.

 

[jim stirling]

Here are a selection of GH2 shots

Fascinating. Thank you very much Jim.
I just converted the ISO200 and 1600 files using ACR/CS5

I do like the slight added vibrancy of the GH2 files and there is a good level of detail there. Noise at 1600 is also better on the newer camera. Excellent job considering the hike in resolution.

That's a fairly low light level as well, and I can't see any banding (which I'm sure would have been there on the GH1), so that's another plus!

Looks like a winner. Bugger. Means I want to get one

Cheers for those.

G.

Yes, I think that they have done a pretty good job with the sensor , I haven’t spotted any banding so far ,I believe that banding was a possible issue with the GH1 { according to a number of posts in the forum as I don’t have a GH1. Though I really like the form factor of the GF1 the built in EVF articulating LCD etc. make the extra size of the GH2 worth it. So when is your order going in . I am tempted by the Voigtländer and maybe the 100-300.
Cheers
Jim

 

[Big Ga]

Yes, I think that they have done a pretty good job with the sensor , I haven’t spotted any banding so far ,I believe that banding was a possible issue with the GH1 { according to a number of posts in the forum as I don’t have a GH1.

Oh it does band! Through a series of unfortunate events (for my credit card..). I bought a GH1, then GF1, then a G1 !?! all in the space of a few weeks.

I haven't had a chance to do a huge amount of detailed side by side comparisons at all the ISOs in all conditions, but my gut feeling so far tells me there's bugger all in it at base ISO, then the GH1 keeps quality a little better as you ramp up, however then it bands, while the GF1 and G1 don't.

I was hoping that if panny could have pulled it off where they had the quality of the GH1 sensor, but with a bit more res, AND solved the banding, then it would be the best of all worlds. It looks like they might have done it.

Though I really like the form factor of the GF1 the built in EVF articulating LCD etc. make the extra size of the GH2 worth it.

Yea, know what you mean. GF1 is indeed a tad more pocketable. But there isn't much in it, and when it comes to weight, there isn't anything in it.

So when is your order going in . I am tempted by the Voigtländer and maybe the 100-300.

Well originally, pre me getting anything MFT, I wasn't particularly interested in the format, other than video and possibly more res. Now I have these three cameras ..... well I'm still not sure if I'm particularly interested in the format

But seriously, I'm still on the fence. Much to like and also much to dislike. If the GH2 was £350, I'd already have my order in. As it is, and with what I've already got, its a tougher decision to know if I should go for it. It might just be the better video quality in low light that pushes me over the edge. I just still don't know how much I'm going to do in this area though.

Do you have a MFT > FT adapter? this is another area I want to find a bit more info out about. So far, I've been severely underwhelmed with the compatibility and performance (AF) of FT lenses on the G1/GH1. The GH2 should be better here as well. But how much? a bit less useless than utterly useless is still useless most of the time ... if you know what I mean!

 

[jim stirling]

Do you have a MFT > FT adapter? this is another area I want to find a bit more info out about. So far, I've been severely underwhelmed with the compatibility and performance (AF) of FT lenses on the G1/GH1. The GH2 should be better here as well. But how much? a bit less useless than utterly useless is still useless most of the time ... if you know what I mean!

I havent got any adapters yet , I only have the 12-60 and 50 macro and I was holding off to see if any higher grade mFT lenses would be introduced and I would go with that option rather than adapters, though the 50 is pretty slow to focus even on FT so I dont imagine it would be much worse on an adapter . I will get a couple of adapters for my Nikon lenses and I have a few old Canon FD lenses lurking somewhere the GH2 EVF makes manual focus pretty straightforward even in lower light .
Jim

 

[Big Ga]

I havent got any adapters yet , I only have the 12-60 and 50 macro and I was holding off to see if any higher grade mFT lenses would be introduced and I would go with that option rather than adapters, though the 50 is pretty slow to focus even on FT so I dont imagine it would be much worse on an adapter

Wanna bet

I'd read about it, but not got around to check the 50 until now, so I lobbed it on the G1. Yup ... as I feared. No AF at all. It just says "switch to MF" and you have to manually focus it.

Same with the 50-200. Bet it will also be the same with my 14-54Mk1. What really peeved me off was that I hoped the (newer) 35mm macro would work, but nope. Same as the 50.

My 14-42 and 40-150 lenses do work (in a 'lets do the funky quickstep before I can get a lock' type of way) however what I didn't realise is that it disables CAF, and kindly tells you "the AF using these lenses is so cr@p, so don't even bother trying CAF" on the rear LCD (ok ... it actually says "switch to SAF" .. but it means the same thing

Now I know that the Oly MFT is more compatible. and also the GH2 is better than the G1 series. However ..... its not the "no problem ... lets just slap an adapter on so we can use all our existing lenses" solution many thought it was going to be.

 

[jim stirling]

I havent got any adapters yet , I only have the 12-60 and 50 macro and I was holding off to see if any higher grade mFT lenses would be introduced and I would go with that option rather than adapters, though the 50 is pretty slow to focus even on FT so I dont imagine it would be much worse on an adapter

Wanna bet

I'd read about it, but not got around to check the 50 until now, so I lobbed it on the G1. Yup ... as I feared. No AF at all. It just says "switch to MF" and you have to manually focus it.

Same with the 50-200. Bet it will also be the same with my 14-54Mk1. What really peeved me off was that I hoped the (newer) 35mm macro would work, but nope. Same as the 50.

My 14-42 and 40-150 lenses do work (in a 'lets do the funky quickstep before I can get a lock' type of way) however what I didn't realise is that it disables CAF, and kindly tells you "the AF using these lenses is so cr@p, so don't even bother trying CAF" on the rear LCD (ok ... it actually says "switch to SAF" .. but it means the same thing

Now I know that the Oly MFT is more compatible. and also the GH2 is better than the G1 series. However ..... its not the "no problem ... lets just slap an adapter on so we can use all our existing lenses" solution many thought it was going to be.

Oh well , I guess I will be waiting on a native fast standard zoom for mFT, which at least according to rumours {I know} is earmarked by Panasonic on 2011. Bit of a bummer for those heavily into the Olympus high end lenses
Jim

 

[jim stirling]

Here are a selection of GH2 shots compared to the GF1 using, tripod, MF, AP, both using the 14-45mm at 200 ISO, 400 ISO, 800 ISO and 1600 ISO all taken in RAW in reasonably controlled lighting. I have uploaded the original RAW files, here is the download link. { 121 MB download if you want them all }

http://www.mediafire.com/?nu5isv2v3s45m

Just to add the RAW files can be downloaded individually
Jim

 

[moony16]

Hi Jim and thanks for all the work done to provide us with these images. I went to the Flicker link, but could not find "full-sized" images. Largest I saw was 1024 X 683.

JT

Here are a selection of GH2 shots compared to the GF1 using, tripod, MF, AP, both using the 14-45mm at 200 ISO, 400 ISO, 800 ISO and 1600 ISO all taken in RAW in reasonably controlled lighting. I have uploaded the original RAW files, here is the download link. { 121 MB download if you want them all }
http://www.mediafire.com/?nu5isv2v3s45m

The first shot shows a small sized view of the original scene, I used the indoor Christmas tree shot as it provided a good subject with varied textures, colours along with shadow and highlight areas [the fact that it is indoors not far from my cup of tea is purely coincidental} The other shots are comparisons between the GH2 and GF1 at the respective ISO settings. I resized the GH2 files to match the GF1 for easy viewing



200ISO



400ISO



800ISO



1600ISO



The original full size jpegs are available here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waterside_man/

I would like to make it very clear that these are in no way laboratory controlled tests ; I post them for general interest and will leave the real testing to DPreview . Downloading the RAW files is probably advisable if you want a clearer view on image quality.
Jim

--
Who looks outside,
dreams; who looks
inside, awakens

Carl Jung (1875-1961)

 

[moony16]

Jim, disregard my remarks below, as I found Raws at one of your other links--JT

Hi Jim and thanks for all the work done to provide us with these images. I went to the Flicker link, but could not find "full-sized" images. Largest I saw was 1024 X 683.

JT

Here are a selection of GH2 shots compared to the GF1 using, tripod, MF, AP, both using the 14-45mm at 200 ISO, 400 ISO, 800 ISO and 1600 ISO all taken in RAW in reasonably controlled lighting. I have uploaded the original RAW files, here is the download link. { 121 MB download if you want them all }
http://www.mediafire.com/?nu5isv2v3s45m

The first shot shows a small sized view of the original scene, I used the indoor Christmas tree shot as it provided a good subject with varied textures, colours along with shadow and highlight areas [the fact that it is indoors not far from my cup of tea is purely coincidental} The other shots are comparisons between the GH2 and GF1 at the respective ISO settings. I resized the GH2 files to match the GF1 for easy viewing

I would like to make it very clear that these are in no way laboratory controlled tests ; I post them for general interest and will leave the real testing to DPreview . Downloading the RAW files is probably advisable if you want a clearer view on image quality.
Jim

--

--
Who looks outside,
dreams; who looks
inside, awakens

Carl Jung (1875-1961)

 

[jim stirling]

Jim, disregard my remarks below, as I found Raws at one of your other links--JT

Sorry , it was a while back and I deleted the full size jpegs glad you found the RAW files
Jim