Question for GX1/OM-D users

[andrewsn00]

Hey,

Can anyone who uses the OM-D and/or GX1 please give some thoughts please.

I currently use a Sony Nex-7 for photos and video but recently tried a friends hacked GH2 and it was really impressive - really sharp and detailed in a way the Sony wasn't and I'm pondering the new GH3 for my video work, especially a short I want to make soon.

If I did make the switch, I'd also want to grab a smaller camera for stills and I'm looking at a GX1 as it's fairly cheap now for the body, or perhaps the OM-D if it was a smart call. I like shooting with flash so would prob use the FL-14 flash on the Panny or the Oly's slot in flash which google tells me is a 10GN flash.

In fact I've often shot with two cameras at the same time in the past to keep things quick, both so the flashes can recycle and the cameras can write to the cards, the latter of which is always a bugbear of mine (why I ultimately was frustrated with the X100 for example as it was so slow), as I like to have a somewhat continuous, hypnotic flash going off. Hence why the appeal of the small m4/3's as you can duo them easily.

I was having a look on the web at GX1/OM-D images and was looking at the photographer Terry Richardson's tumblr and looking at his exif details saw that he's recently been using a GX1 and GF1 together.

The GF1 images were good, but I really like the quality of the GX1 images, they have a really flat feel that I like, the skin tones look smooth and accurate and they have a quality that I can't really describe but has an almost snapshot quality that is cool, almost nostalgic. Terry became famous for using snapshot cameras, but either way the GX1 images have this in a way the GF1 images don't, it's an evenness that I like.

Here are some examples - please note, as Terry is an edgy fashion photographer these are ALL NSFW so if you're sensitive then be warned.

GF1 - http://www.terrysdiary.com/post/28054479701/stella-at-my-studio-2
GX1 - http://www.terrysdiary.com/post/31858448073/stella-at-my-studio-1

GF1 - http://www.terrysdiary.com/post/31923048897/bo-at-my-studio-2
GX1 - http://www.terrysdiary.com/post/31922957153/kristel-at-my-studio
GX1 - http://www.terrysdiary.com/post/31922299511/tessa-at-my-studio

GF1 - http://www.terrysdiary.com/post/25784377215/georgina-at-my-studio
GX1 - http://www.terrysdiary.com/post/31922857540/jade-at-my-studio

Now, I don't know the lighting, I'm assuming from most his shots it's models on a wall by his big windows shot with on board flash, but certainly in the first two images the models is wearing the same short suggesting they were shot at the same time and the GX1 images are nicer imo.

I was wondering therefore if anyone can point out if this is normal behaviour for the GX1 or if there's some different processing going on here? As I said I like to shoot two cameras at once and if I can get two GX1's for the price of an OM-D and get images like the ones above then I'd be really happy.

So yes, can anyone please offer any thoughts on the above, am I seeing the GX1's magic or is there some PP mojo going on I'm not seeing.

Also, does the OM-D have the same ability to makes images like that and if so would y'all recommend it over the GX1 therefore?

Thanks in advance for any advice!
a x

 

[Jorginho]

Why don't you keep the nex7 as a small but very good cam? I can't see GX1 getting that sort of detail and DR, noise will be similar I guess.

I would not go for OM-D but seriously consider the EPL5 or EPM2 (reduced control in EPM2) if you want better IQ than the GX1.

Unless you need to sell NEX7 for the money, I would keep that cam. Also if for some reason you do not like the m43 still output for instance.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[Gavin Stapleton]

Hey Andrew, the GX1 does have very accurate colour and WB. The E-M5 [and E-PL5] will have a 1/2 stop advantage in ISO noise, with the NEX7 being virtually the same as the Oly. The GX1 body can be bought new in the low $300 mark with the LVF2 from $200. Flash sync is limited to 1/160 on the GX1 unless you use an FP-TTL flash, whereas the Oly's can sync up to 1/200 and 1/250 depending on the flash, and can be tricked into going as high as 1/400 with no shutter shadow without FP-TTL.

If you are planning to get a GX1+LVF2, you might even like the G5 for only a smidgeon more. It's ISO noise sits somewhere between the GX1 and E-M5, and has up to +1EV in DR at ISO 160-400 over the GX1. It has the same flash limitations as the GX1, but the high resolution articulated screen and and e-shutter might be something worth considering.

 

[chris24net]

Gavin, how do you trick it or do you have link? Thanks.

... and can be tricked into going as high as 1/400 with no shutter shadow without FP-TTL.

--
http://www.chris-sorensen.com

 

[Gavin Stapleton]

Hey Chris, Guy Parsons has a guide which you can view here.
http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~parsog/olyepl1/11-epl1-flash.html

... and can be tricked into going as high as 1/400 with no shutter shadow without FP-TTL.

--
http://www.chris-sorensen.com

 

[Guy Parsons]

Gavin, how do you trick it or do you have link? Thanks.

As Gavin linked, tape the comms contacts if using a TTL compatible flash, or use a Nikon flash which ignores the comms. In both cases you need to use the flash in auto mode and match settings between flash and camera, makes life easier to use the camera in Manual mode and set the ISO to suit flash size and distance involved.

If cropping the top/bottom (depending on camera model, my E-PL1 shadows from bottom up) then maybe even 1/500 would work, but you need to test it yourself to see what works for you.

Regards......... Guy .... tinyurl.com/m43stuff

 

[andrewsn00]

Aye, the Nex-7 is great but the video not quite good enough though, hence the potential switch and consideration of a smaller stills cam.

But looking at the links posted the GX1 images - it's not so much the IQ per se, it's not the flatness of the image and the fact the shots have a snapshot quality, they look like a film p+s to me, which is a fun look.

My pondering is it that something I can replicate with a GX1, that is part of the cameras look, or am I looking at heavily PP'd images to create that look after, you know