G5 Not What It Should Be

[snegron2]

I have owned the G5 for several months now. Overall I'm not impressed. The menu system is way too complicated cramming a ton of useless features into a complex search system. White balance is unpredictable at best. I have yet to get a sharp image using available light/bright sunlight. It appears that the camera sets itself to some high level of noise reduction whenever I shoot outdoors making detail capture near impossible. This does not seem to occur when I use the pop up flash. No amount of hours fiddling with the complex menu system was able to produce any sharpness or improvement with out door shots.

The camera does have a nice feel to it, good size and weight. It's a shame the G5 is incapable of capturing sharp outdoor shots.

In case you are wondering if it was a lens issue; that is not the case. I used several lenses at several apertures and the results were the same. The issue has to do with the camera setting itself to high noise reduction whether you choose to or not. Lowering NR or turning it off will not help either.

I have several older Panasonic cameras, so I am familiar with them. Simply put, Panasonic struck out with this one. Maybe a firmware upgrade might improve it, but I think Panasonic left us out to dry with the G5. This is probably why DPReview hasn't wasted their time giving us a full review of the G5; they know it's a weak camera and this news would upset the company with big advertising money (Panasonic).

 

[GeraldW]

That also explains the very low blow out pricing! Thanks for posting, you may have saved some of us from an expensive mistake.

 

[sb123]

What is a G5 review doing in this forum?

 

[Ronomy]

What is a G5 review doing in this forum?

Probably because there is no Panasonic SLR forum!

 

[saudidave]

I have owned the G5 for several months now. Overall I'm not impressed. The menu system is way too complicated cramming a ton of useless features into a complex search system. White balance is unpredictable at best. I have yet to get a sharp image using available light/bright sunlight. It appears that the camera sets itself to some high level of noise reduction whenever I shoot outdoors making detail capture near impossible. This does not seem to occur when I use the pop up flash. No amount of hours fiddling with the complex menu system was able to produce any sharpness or improvement with out door shots.

The camera does have a nice feel to it, good size and weight. It's a shame the G5 is incapable of capturing sharp outdoor shots.

In case you are wondering if it was a lens issue; that is not the case. I used several lenses at several apertures and the results were the same. The issue has to do with the camera setting itself to high noise reduction whether you choose to or not. Lowering NR or turning it off will not help either.

I have several older Panasonic cameras, so I am familiar with them. Simply put, Panasonic struck out with this one. Maybe a firmware upgrade might improve it, but I think Panasonic left us out to dry with the G5. This is probably why DPReview hasn't wasted their time giving us a full review of the G5; they know it's a weak camera and this news would upset the company with big advertising money (Panasonic).

How about posting some poor examples?

I own a G6+14-140Mk2 and prior to that I had a G3 with 14-140Mk1 - Both are as sharp as a tack. The images from both my cameras are identical in IQ and all the reviews I've read say the G3,5 & 6 produce more or less identical IQ, the only difference being handling & features.

Either you have a duff copy or you aren't much of a photographer.

 

[Ron_43]

What is a G5 review doing in this forum?

Why not?

 

[myssvictoria]

I think you had a bad copy as mine takes sharp pics with various m43 lenses and legacy lenses. Can't recall anyone else complaining about a sharpness problem. For the price it is, IMO, the DMC-G5 is a very good buy.

 

[nilsca]

yeah, makes sense /sarcasm A generally acclaimed mirrorless camera with very good reviews left and right (and a couple of weaknesses as can be expected for the price) falls completely short for Mr-I-Had-it-for-6-months.

I certainly would expect myself to be the weak component if these are the results I was getting. I suspect user error, maybe try the IA button?

No, not a Panasonic fanboy here.

 

[sb123]

This thread started in the Panasonic Compact Camera forum.

 

[Travels4Food]

Darn shame. I love the one I just bought from Amazon and think the images are sharp as a tack.

 

[Sunny Caribe]

Low post count, vague criticism with no effort at substantiation, and an immediate phony "response."

Rick

 

[Ben Herrmann]

OK - let's see now. The OP has a total of 6 postings - not that this is a biggie, but one of them has turned out to be a premature/immature review as if to state that the G5 was a huge disappointment - despite the almost universal acclaim that this camera received by various reviewers and users alike.

The G5 has been reviewed quite favorably by a wide variety of reviewers and countless owners are thrilled with this camera's performance. And I'm no slouch when it comes to trying and owning a variety of digital cameras. The G5 is one that has managed to stay in my collection.

To the OP, all I can say suggest/add is:

1. Either you have a bad copy (read "malfunctioning" copy here), or...

2. You just have a bad kit lens(s), or...

3. Your presumable (possible) lack of camera stability may be too much to be offset by the OIS on the lenses you are using. I've known several individuals, using some high-end glass with IS/OIS that couldn't take a clear photo if their lives depended on it - but it boiled down to user issues. They just didn't know how to properly maintain/stabilize their cameras....but they were the first to admit it. And, as an aside, to this date I still see some folks holding a camera with one hand to click a shot - and whenever I see that, I just shake my head in amazement. Or, it could also be....

4. It's also quite possible that perhaps, you may lack the photographic skills necessary to handle a camera that has quite a few options available to the user. Or, it could also be....

5. You may be trying to post process images - and some folks are just horrible at post processing - and its quite possible that you could actually be making things worse after-the-fact. I've seen this occur on countless occasions with a variety of folks over the past 12 years that I've been posting on these (and other) forums.

I've had nothing but superb imagery with my G5 and I've maintained the camera with two lenses - the older Panny 14-45 OIS and the 45-200 OIS. All have given me great images with a wonderful color tonality. Of course, I shoot mainly in RAW mode (do so with all of my cameras for the best in IQ). So unless your camera is malfunctioning - which could be one variable - I'd say you have plenty to learn with regards to stability, camera operation, and photographic principles in general.

I do hope things improve for you. If not, I'd say keep using your Smart Phone - and with hand of course... ;-)

--
Have a great one....
Bernd (Ben) W. Herrmann
North Carolina, USA
link

 

[brentbrent]

The G5 has been reviewed quite favorably by a wide variety of reviewers

Heh, at one time including the OP! http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51437281

It's a great little camera!

 

[Corkcampbell]

no text

 

[Deleted010614]

I agree that the OP seems pretty weak here BUT its possible there are some sample variations out there. There was a similar post just this morning by a different person and this was my response:

"I will say that I owned a G5 for a while and while it had some really nice features I could never get good, sharp images out of it on any kind of consistent basis. I had several lenses and none would produce repeatable sharp results no matter how low I set the iso, no matter how high I ran the shutter speed. Coming from years of shooting canon DSLR gear including full frame I haven't had that much trouble getting good images since I started way back when. Of course the "way back when" stuff was before I knew what I was doing and this is NOT then. I also owned a GF5 and that little guy could almost do no wrong except it didn't have the control or flash capabilities of the G5"

Not the first time I have heard the OP's story nor the ones who love this camera. I suspect it might be a bit of a roller coaster ride with the G5

One feature the G5 had that I WISH my EM1 did is the setting of the focus point by touch on the LCD while using the EVF to compose the image. Sounds like it wouldn't work but it does, and amazingly well. Its MUCH more intuitive than it sounds like it would be.

 

[snegron2]

OK - let's see now. The OP has a total of 6 postings - not that this is a biggie, but one of them has turned out to be a premature/immature review as if to state that the G5 was a huge disappointment - despite the almost universal acclaim that this camera received by various reviewers and users alike.

The G5 has been reviewed quite favorably by a wide variety of reviewers and countless owners are thrilled with this camera's performance. And I'm no slouch when it comes to trying and owning a variety of digital cameras. The G5 is one that has managed to stay in my collection.

To the OP, all I can say suggest/add is:

1. Either you have a bad copy (read "malfunctioning" copy here), or...

2. You just have a bad kit lens(s), or...

3. Your presumable (possible) lack of camera stability may be too much to be offset by the OIS on the lenses you are using. I've known several individuals, using some high-end glass with IS/OIS that couldn't take a clear photo if their lives depended on it - but it boiled down to user issues. They just didn't know how to properly maintain/stabilize their cameras....but they were the first to admit it. And, as an aside, to this date I still see some folks holding a camera with one hand to click a shot - and whenever I see that, I just shake my head in amazement. Or, it could also be....

4. It's also quite possible that perhaps, you may lack the photographic skills necessary to handle a camera that has quite a few options available to the user. Or, it could also be....

5. You may be trying to post process images - and some folks are just horrible at post processing - and its quite possible that you could actually be making things worse after-the-fact. I've seen this occur on countless occasions with a variety of folks over the past 12 years that I've been posting on these (and other) forums.

I've had nothing but superb imagery with my G5 and I've maintained the camera with two lenses - the older Panny 14-45 OIS and the 45-200 OIS. All have given me great images with a wonderful color tonality. Of course, I shoot mainly in RAW mode (do so with all of my cameras for the best in IQ). So unless your camera is malfunctioning - which could be one variable - I'd say you have plenty to learn with regards to stability, camera operation, and photographic principles in general.

I do hope things improve for you. If not, I'd say keep using your Smart Phone - and with hand of course... ;-)

 

[snegron2]

The G5 has been reviewed quite favorably by a wide variety of reviewers

Heh, at one time including the OP! http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51437281

It's a great little camera!

Until I shot it outside without the pop up flash. It still produces nice images indoors with the pop up flash though. Ergonomically it does feel good, however, outdoors in bright sunlight it does not perform well.

Remember, when I wrote that post I had just purchased the G5 and had not given it a thorough workout yet. It was my first impression. After owning it now for several months I am now more familiar with its shortcomings.

 

[snegron2]

That also explains the very low blow out pricing! Thanks for posting, you may have saved some of us from an expensive mistake.

 

[snegron2]

What is a G5 review doing in this forum?

No clue. When I wrote the review it automatically placed it here. Maybe Panasonic is disowning its G5 mistake and is now placing it into the compact camera line up as it isn't worthy of being called an M4/3 camera?

 

[snegron2]

Low post count, vague criticism with no effort at substantiation, and an immediate phony "response."

Rick

Rick, I apologize if I hurt your feelings by knocking the G5 off its fan boy created pedestal. The truth of the matter is that the G5 I have does not live up to the hype.

Substantiation: I challenge anyone here that if you are in SW Florida please contact me so we can meet up and you can try out my G5 in person. I would be more than happy let you use it so you can determine for yourself what i already know.

Also, I was "snegron" here for several years until some change made me unable to log back into my account, so I had to start over. I had an older email registered to this account and I was unable to access it anymore.