G9 first impressions

it's come, Amazon £1273 (Camera Price buster still showing best price, £1442), £300 Panasonic Cashback, hope to get £300 for one of my G80s, total outlay £673, no brainer.  I may even get a little for my GX7.  I know it doesn't matter to some of you but for some of us it's all about the price.

So:

Big

Heavy compared to my G80

I like it to look at

There is an awful lot to learn. I have gone, G5, 6, 7, GX7 and G80 and barely had to look at the manual. This thing is a very different beast. Some benefits in that menu system is basically the same but even then there are differences.

The general praise of the EVF is not overstated it is fantastic. I wear varifocals and tried the reduced magnification but no difference other than smaller, I shall stick with the big one. That eye cup is nice. It would be very easy to put something like that on all cameras.

I read some criticism of the shutter button but I am, still able to do half press comfortably and I have extremely poor sensitivity in my hands.

Some of the button placement will take some getting used to and I will leave it for a few days before customising. Controls generally very responsive.

I'm optimistic that I may find BBF a bit more comfortable than on the G80 but haven't tried it in the field.

Mode dial very comfortable but not quite so keen on the drive mode dial underneath but I expect I will get used to it.

At least a diopter I find easy to use, might be because the screen is so clear.

I don' think I'll be using in camera charging but I suppose it's a nice to have as is dual cards but I'm going to have to fork out on some new high speed cards.

I'm not sure I like the Exposure comp button, I am very used to just flicking dials.

Joystick, I have an open mind at the moment.

Focusing on the G80 was to my mind as fast as it was possible but I may have been wrong.

I tried the 6K photo. CAF is faster although lag hasn't completely disappeared. I think half press actually assists focus but I'm not sure.

That's as far as I have got. I may go out and do some birds tomorrow but possibly with the G80 because it is that much more complex that I feel I may not be ready to take it out yet.

Trevor Carpenter wrote:

I'm not sure I like the Exposure comp button, I am very used to just flicking dials.

I can't say that I've become completely touch-comfortable with those three top-panel buttons (WB, EV, ISO).  I set the back panel dial (the big one with the four-way buttons) to also adjust EV when rotated, and that's what I mostly use for that purpose.

Dutch Newchurch wrote:

I like the man-maths Trevor!

It sounds like just the right kit for you. Enjoy using it, and do show us the results as soon as you can.

How do you think the handling will work out for aerial photography, or will you continue to use more portable gear for that?

No really much different to my G80 in size and weight.  I am thinking that my next camera if and when I replace my G80 may be a rangefinder style body although I am wary because I have never liked my GX7 as much as my other Panasonics.

brentbrent wrote:

Trevor Carpenter wrote:

I'm not sure I like the Exposure comp button, I am very used to just flicking dials.

I can't say that I've become completely touch-comfortable with those three top-panel buttons (WB, EV, ISO). I set the back panel dial (the big one with the four-way buttons) to also adjust EV when rotated, and that's what I mostly use for that purpose.

thanks I may try that

Trevor Carpenter wrote:

Joystick, I have an open mind at the moment.

Three potential criticisms of the joystick: could be faster; could allow diagonal movement; and could be a bit closer to the thumb rest. It would be great if a firmware update could address the first two, or at least the first one (maybe giving a couple of speed options).

Still, I find the joystick quite useful, particularly when shooting with the LCD closed (which I do more of with the G9 than any prior camera). Being able to center the focus box with one push on the joystick is great. Also, you can give the joystick a tiny nudge to activate the focus box size, which can then be adjusted with the back dial.

I agree with you that there is definitely a lot more to learn about setup and options and menus on the G9 compared to all other Panasonic bodies I have used (I've never owned a GH).

I have had mine for a couple days longer than you and am still learning the system....at least the menus and most everything else are intuitive.

The joystick works well. I too have barely customized anything and probably won't for a while yet.

It's a pleasurable beast. I will be hitting a wildlife preserve this weekend to give it a good workout.

Have fun!

Can the extra weight and size gives you better stability on using longer lenses?

brentbrent wrote:

Trevor Carpenter wrote:

I'm not sure I like the Exposure comp button, I am very used to just flicking dials.

I can't say that I've become completely touch-comfortable with those three top-panel buttons (WB, EV, ISO). I set the back panel dial (the big one with the four-way buttons) to also adjust EV when rotated, and that's what I mostly use for that purpose.

I reserve the back panel button for ISO. Use the top back dial for EC in P,A,S modes.  Only need EC button for M mode as I will mostly use the a and s dials for exposure control and want iso dial (back panel) as needed.

the beauty is, one can set the G9 up to fit ones likes and needs.  Had mine since First ship and am still tweaking.

Pete Berry wrote:

Trevor, Here's a summary of my G9 setup:

Rear wheel : Exp Comp (M mode - SS)

Top wheel: S, A, P (M mode – Aperture)

Scroll Wheel: ISO (GREAT!)

Joy-stick: AF box/point control: Flick down to activate box for re-size; press to center box Playback - L-R image search; Up-Down - video play controls

AF/AE lock: AF w/ hold on - using more back button AF w/ very sensitive shutter button

Function Buttons

• 1 - AF mode Playback – WiFi/Bluetooth on/off
• 2 - Quick Menu
• 3 - LVF/Mon
• 4 - AF Point scope
• 5 - Video IS Lock

4-way pad

• 16 - Up - image review
• 17 - Right – 0ff, due to inadvertently pressing when scrolling ISO
• 18 - Down - burst shot settings
• 19 - Left - bracket settings

Touch Screen Fn’s

• 6 - Shadow/highlight
• 7 - Aspect ratio
• 8 - Ex. Tele Converter
• 9 - Dig. zoom
• 10 - Shutter type

Lever: Toggles face detection AF mode

Pete

Thanks for that I'm trying to hold off doing any customisation for a couple of weeks until I've played with as is settings a bit more.  I definitely think I shall be doing away with the extra button for EC.

I did the same maths for my new G9 23 months ago - $300 instant rebate for sending in my old functioning GH4, plus an extra $250 for the Gh4, made it a no-brainer. Plus I sold a few old macs which brought it down to about $100!

Have loved it using it so far. (and AF is better than Gh4).

Tim

Trevor, Currently there are no body only listed by Amazon at £1273. Only a market place seller is advertising for £1273. To get the £300 rebate one needs to buy the camera through  Panasonic authorised dealers listed in the Panasonic's website. I saw Amazon was advertising for £1442 about a week ago.

Best check your receipt and Panasonic website to satisfy yourself before the return window closes.

Seng

s.seng wrote:

Trevor, Currently there are no body only listed by Amazon at £1273. Only a market place seller is advertising for £1273. To get the £300 rebate one needs to buy the camera through Panasonic authorised dealers listed in the Panasonic's website. I saw Amazon was advertising for £1442 about a week ago.

Best check your receipt and Panasonic website to satisfy yourself before the return window closes.

Seng

Thanks but don't worry I've been very thorough.  I think you can still do what I did.  Go to the page you are seeing where it is supplied by MH-Direct.  Now look on the right hand side of the screen and you will see in the other sellers box  at the same price but supplied by Amazon.  When I did this it said they were out of stock but gave me a delivery date of four weeks time.  I ordered anyway, bearing in mind the end of promotion date and thinking I might have to cancel but a few days later I got an email saying delivery date had changed too just a few days time.  I let the order stay, camera was delivered as promised with a proper Amazon receipt.

Trevor, I am glad you manged to get it through Amazon. I am still sitting on the fence waiting for G90. All depends on how long I could put off GAS.

Seng

It is heavier that G80 but not much; it's lighter than the GH5. I really do sympathize with your first reaction, I felt similar amazement at how many things were configurable or adjustable that were not on my G7. But the breakthrough comes when you realize that just because you could assign your own choice of function to almost every button and dial does not mean you have to. Just because there are multiple picture presets doesn't mean you need to use anything but Set1. And just because you have controls to adjust exposure, tint and more on the camera's JPEG engine certainly doesn't mean you have to (especially if you shoot raw). Take your time.. learn a new feature when you need it. In the meantime set it to P or A or S and use it much like your G80. Enjoy. I think you will will. And I think you'll find JPEG color much improved.

- Joe S.

Congrats Trevor, we know you'll make good use of it.

Regarding customising, how I eased myself into the frighteningly different and more complex em1-mk2 when it arrived, was to program the controls so that the main ones operated as similar as possible to the GX8 (and gx7) that I am so used to.

Then after a week or so I gradually programmed all the extra controls to do various 'nice' things.

However - I tend to take both cameras with me on important shoots and - I still get in a bit of a muddle when frequently swapping!

Best of luck.