Panasonic G80/85 for events

Background: I shoot events with two GX8s and a GX85, and I've lately considered adding a D750 or even a7RIII with f1.4 or f1.8 primes.

The D750 is still a great camera. My partner in event photography shoots with one, and I've lately been considering adding one to my kit with some bright primes just for the extra light gathering when shooting in low light without flash. With f1.8 primes, it offers 2 stops lower noise than my GX8 + f1.8 prime and 1 stop more than I'd get with my GX8 + f1.2 prime. Mount an f1.4 prime on the D750 and you have a low-ambient-light beast.

That said, after a couple months of research and dithering, I'm going to stick with MFT. My event work is almost never printed big (it all goes online), so my GX8's 20MP and my GX85's 16MP is plenty. I can almost always keep ISO at or below 3200, which is a usable ISO for me with these cameras. And, the TT350's TTL works really well for me at close range. As for the 75/1.8, to get equivalent reach on the Nikon, I'd need a 70-200/2.8, and that costs $2k and gets me just 2/3 of a stop more light - hardly worth the expense and bulk.

What really made up my mind about getting some f1.2 MFT primes instead of a D750 with f1.8 primes, though, is a workflow test I ran last night. I downloaded DPR's Studio Test shots (daylight and tungsten light) for the D750 and the GX8 and ran them through my preferred RAW processor, DxO PhotoLab 2. Figuring a worst-case scenario where I'd shoot with an f1.2 MFT prime or an f1.8 Nikon prime, I compared ISO 6400 NEFs with ISO 3200 RW2s. After Lens Sharpness squeezed out every last bit of available detail and PRIME noise reduction worked its magic, both sets of images looked very clean and detailed. The D750 better resolved some of the very smallest details, such as the lines on the wall of the B&W etching, but I really had to look closely at 1:1 on my 4K display to see the differences.

The upshot is that my GAS-attack musings about adding 35mm format to my kit have subsided, and I'm going to get some premium MFT primes instead. Part of it is money, part of it is simplicity, part of it is the smaller-than-anticipated difference in real-world results (for my purposes under my shooting conditions), and part of it is I just really like shooting with my GX85 and two GX8s. I've got a system I like that works, and a couple of brighter lenses will get me where I'm trying to go. Nocticron, here I come!

I think you made a good decision. For what it is worth I use nikons 1.8 primes, and almost never use the 1.8 aperture, it just misses the focus to much and sometimes the focus is so narrow it is really hard to really nail it. So I stick to 2.8, 2.2 when I am feeling wild. 1.8 when the subject is static and I have time to take multiple shots.

But! To be honest, the FF look is a hell of a look, I really love it.

Are you gonna go with the olympus 1.2 primes?

I will check out the software you mentioned that reduces noise, thanks.

What about color correcting two diferent bodies? Are the files produced by the GX85 and GX8 the same? Do they share the same colores etc?

goncalomp wrote:

Hey everyone,

A little update, so after realising the 2.8 zooms would not suit my needs I invested in a 15 1.7 + 45 1.8 and a 350o godox flash. I have been taking this setup along with my dslr (nikon d750+primes) to events and have been testing it extensively. Here are my main conclusions.

Thanks for returning with an update

-I love using the system, it is so portable and fast I feel agile, almost like a ninja! I love the freedom it gives me.

-Editing two different cameras is a chore, the colors/saturation/etc look so different from one another.

Hello Panasonic S1/S1R

-The files require more care, they are not so elastic as the d750, I have to proper expose and think more carfully before taking the shot or noise will be there.

-I have been spoiled by nikons amazing ttl system. To get the results I like with the godox I have to use it in manual mode, old school syle. Also the flash is so tiny that I am considering adding a modifier so that the light is more even.

-The af is super fast, even in disco settings with people dancing.

-2 batteries last me a long long time, I was not expecting that!

-With the 45 1.8 there is enough subject isolation for some "pop", not as much as the nikon but enough for the look I am looking for.

For this setup to be complete I only need a 75 1.8 and an extra camera and I might just start to leave the Nikon in the bag and who knows, maybe even do a full switch.

Sigma's new 56mm f/1.4 is compact, thrifty and breaks resolution records according to LensTip. If you don't need the length then I'd recommend it. (Note: legend has it that the 75mm was designed by Sigma for Olympus.)

If I invest in a new m43 camera what camera would have the same colors as the g85? Do all models have different color science or if I pick up another camera from that generation it will look the same (gx8 for example)?

To my eye, there has been a significant improvement in the JPEG engine for the post-GH5 cameras: G9/GX9/GH5S (based upon online samples with good lenses.)

The GX8 has a 20mp sensor, so may not perfectly match the 16mp G85.

The G9 has fallen dramatically in price with rebates etc. The 18mp splicing from 6K Photo mode, faster AF and video AF, grip option, ergonomy (WB button etc), huge EVF - to me these spell event-photography-perfection if you can find a good deal.

My advice: Use the money you save by buying the Sigma 56mm to afford the G9.

Good luck!