GX8 - Disappointed with shuttershock

LMNCT wrote:

Have the GX8 and have had no sign of SS with any of my lenses.

I've been able to reproduce it, but it does take some work.

Between the photographer's own movement, the shutter, the focus mechanism in the lens, the aperture mechanism in the lens, and the possible permutations of in-body and optical image stabilization, there are a lot of things moving. It's not surprising that shutter shock can happen, nor is it surprising that it could affect particular photographer/camera/lens combinations more than others

Bhima78 wrote:

Thomas Kachadurian wrote:

Bhima78 wrote:

Nemo0815 wrote:

So, a thread about shutter shock without any images?

Haven't had the time while at work to test it and I don't have the camera with me atm. I'm thinking most of my issue is actually with my copy of the 35-100mm. It exhibits pretty heavy flare... like sort of a glowy mist on highlighted areas that really drop the sharpness (with the lens hood on, not shooting directly into the sun). This is likely due to the lens being pretty meh at 100mm wide open. I knew it wasn't going to be ultra sharp wide open at the long end of the zoom, but I thought it would be better than what I'm getting out of it. I also own the 12-40mm, and many have complained its soft at 40, but its no where near as soft at 40 as my 35-100mm is at 100mm.

But for posterity, I will post some shutter shock samples tomorrow. It exists, and its quite prevalent with the 35-100mm. Luckily I shoot mostly with the E-shutter, though I feel like I've been having focusing issues in that mode lately. Again, It is entirely possible it is a fault of the lens and not the camera.

Both lenses have a problem at the long end where user shake comes into play? Seems unlikely it's a lens problem . Time to get a tripod and test it. Some people just can't hand-hold as well as others.

tom

Since I had issues with blur on my 35-100 at the long end, I decided to slap on my newly purchased Nocticron on the GX8. Not one single issue whatsoever. I didn't even use the lens hood, could shoot towards the sun and the photos never got that hazy abhorration that my 35-100 exhibits from shooting in shade. The resolution is: My copy of the 35-100 is less than stellar.

Sooo... the other day, I grabbed my EM10 and the PL15 to take a few shots of the kids in the back yard. It was overcast that day, which made for some nice light. I was taking some shots, and then I noticed some of the blurry highlights and overall softness that I noticed with my Panny 35-100! I thought I was just cursed, that no amount of money or skill was going to save me from non-sharp, low contrast photos. After cursing under my breath I had to ask myself, "it CANNOT be the PL15. I've been using it for awhile and it has never exhibited this". So, I decided to check the front element. Totally clean. Then I decided, for the first time ever using an ILC, look at the BACK element. Smeared fingerprints all over it. I briefly questioned how they got there, then proceeded to clean the back element with a microfiber cloth. BAM! lens fixed. So what about my Panny 35-100??

Checked the rear lens element: smeared fingerprints on it as well. I seriously don't remember ever handling the glass like this, but I must have unconciously. I cleaned it up, took some test shots at 100mm f2.8 and f4, and they came out acceptably sharp with good contrast. No complaints, its a great lens owned by a doofus of a photographer.

Should I read the opening text? I'm not seeing any images

Arctra wrote:

WARNING - Bit of a rant!

So I've been using the GX8 as my main video cam (and backup stills cam) for a few months now and while I don't like Panasonic's' UI and color output I've put up with it because the IQ has been worth it. Now however I'm not sure.

This weekend I shot my first wedding (helping a fellow photog friend as a favor) and brought my GX8 with me to use as my B-cam. The setup I had was pretty simple, EM1 on one shoulder with the 40-150 f2.8 and the GX8 on the other with either the 12-40 or 7-14 f2.8's. along with a couple speedlights for when it got dark.

The EM1 performed as expected but my GX8 didn't. Throughout the event I was experiencing extreme shutter shock issues that forced me to shoot at a minimum shutter of 1/250th. I suffered through it because the lighting was still usable but the moment the sun started setting the GX8 was shelved for the rest of the event. I had never seen such bad shutter shock coming from that camera before and I couldn't even use the e-shutter because it doesn't work with speedlights.

That would've been almost forgivable if it wasn't for the fact that I was also experiencing a lot of focus issues with the GX8. The camera would be quick to lock focus but it was almost always off the mark despite my best efforts. It didn't matter how big or small of a focus area I used it or how stationary I or the subject was it would constantly miss. My EM1 despite being much slower to focus when it got dark was almost always bang on with its focus. I eventually gave up and used the lenses in MF instead of trying to fight with the GX8.

I have no idea what went wrong with the camera, but it left me feeling rather angry and frustrated by the end of the wedding. I don't know if my camera's a lemon and I honestly don't care that much right now. I'm seriously considering selling the GX8 and either getting the GX85/80 or picking up a EM5 II. At this point I'm rather burnt out over Panasonic.

There were a few other issues I ran into but I don't want this to be any longer than it already is.

Sorry about the rather long, rambling, rant but I had to vent it somewhere!

Interesting rant. 😱

Just curious, as a professional photographer, did you test your GX8 for effects of shutter shock before shooting that all important wedding assignment?

BTW, was the wedding a paid assignment?

By your own admission, you lack confidence in Panny cameras.  So why in the world would you buy a Panny GX85/80? That simply makes no sense, to me.

Sell the GX8 and get another EM1. 👍 👍 That way you'll have matching menus, button locations, same direction manual focusing (opposite of Panny), and familiar handling.   All important , IMO, when shooting in the heat of assignments.   And you'll continue to have no lingering doubts of perceived Panny shortcomings. 👎👎

Good luck.   Report back your buying decision.

Lena