Panny G9 questions: I.S. and exposure weight

I have two questions regarding the Panny G9:

1. When I am shooting in animal/bird/human detect mode, if I have exposure set to "center weighted", is the center weighted point the center of the image ... OR ... is the center weighted area the focus point? Prior to animal/bird/human detect mode being available, I typically put the subject in the center, half pressed the shutter button (locking exposure & focus), recompose and then fully press the shutter button to take the shot. Since I started using animal/bird detect for wildlife, I've been using the "multiple" exposure mode. However, I prefer to be in control of what I want exposed properly and not turn that task over to the camera's firmware.

2. When I use the G9 with the PL100-400, can I have sensor image stabilization ON, but have the lens stabilization off? When I have the lens mounted on the camera and image stabilization is ON in the camera menu ... AND ... the lens switch is set to stabilization, I see an icon on my LCD display that says "Dual 2". But when I turn it off on the lens, the icon changes to OFF. To me that means both in body and in lens are OFF because I turned it off on the lens only. (One may ask why I want to do this? Good queston. When shooting moving wildlife (e.g., flying birds) I use a fast shutter speed (1/2500 sec) with stabilization OFF because I'm under the impression that IOS interferes with getting sharp focus. However, maybe there's an alternative to everything ON or everything OFF. I'd like to experiment with this, if the two can be set independently with the G9 and the PL100-400.

Thanks,

scphoto wrote:

I have two questions regarding the Panny G9:

1. When I am shooting in animal/bird/human detect mode, if I have exposure set to "center weighted", is the center weighted point the center of the image ... OR ... is the center weighted area the focus point? Prior to animal/bird/human detect mode being available, I typically put the subject in the center, half pressed the shutter button (locking exposure & focus), recompose and then fully press the shutter button to take the shot. Since I started using animal/bird detect for wildlife, I've been using the "multiple" exposure mode. However, I prefer to be in control of what I want exposed properly and not turn that task over to the camera's firmware.

Good question, not Sue of the answer.

2. When I use the G9 with the PL100-400, can I have sensor image stabilization ON, but have the lens stabilization off? When I have the lens mounted on the camera and image stabilization is ON in the camera menu ... AND ... the lens switch is set to stabilization, I see an icon on my LCD display that says "Dual 2". But when I turn it off on the lens, the icon changes to OFF. To me that means both in body and in lens are OFF because I turned it off on the lens only. (One may ask why I want to do this? Good queston. When shooting moving wildlife (e.g., flying birds) I use a fast shutter speed (1/2500 sec) with stabilization OFF because I'm under the impression that IOS interferes with getting sharp focus. However, maybe there's an alternative to everything ON or everything OFF. I'd like to experiment with this, if the two can be set independently with the G9 and the PL100-400.

No, Dual IS means both camera and lens ISS working together. So, if you switch off the lens’s IS then Dual IS cannot operate but the camera’s IBIS continues to operate. Update - not now sure this is correct.

I use Dual IS but still go for shutter speed of 1/2000 or more, if possible. The IS is compensating for your movement not the subjects.

Thanks,

scphoto wrote:

I have two questions regarding the Panny G9:

1. When I am shooting in animal/bird/human detect mode, if I have exposure set to "center weighted", is the center weighted point the center of the image ... OR ... is the center weighted area the focus point? Prior to animal/bird/human detect mode being available, I typically put the subject in the center, half pressed the shutter button (locking exposure & focus), recompose and then fully press the shutter button to take the shot. Since I started using animal/bird detect for wildlife, I've been using the "multiple" exposure mode. However, I prefer to be in control of what I want exposed properly and not turn that task over to the camera's firmware.

Not a G9 user. Have interest to know this also.

2. When I use the G9 with the PL100-400, can I have sensor image stabilization ON, but have the lens stabilization off? When I have the lens mounted on the camera and image stabilization is ON in the camera menu ... AND ... the lens switch is set to stabilization, I see an icon on my LCD display that says "Dual 2". But when I turn it off on the lens, the icon changes to OFF. To me that means both in body and in lens are OFF because I turned it off on the lens only.

Yes you're right. Panny's IS policy is either the best IS or no IS. If your lens is DUAL IS 2 compatible, you will have DUAL IS 2 or nothing. If you mount a non DUAL IS lens then will be lens IS only. iBIS is for non IS lens only.

Panny does not give any option to select IBIS, Lens IS or DUAL IS 2. It is applied to every Panny camera.

(One may ask why I want to do this? Good queston. When shooting moving wildlife (e.g., flying birds) I use a fast shutter speed (1/2500 sec) with stabilization OFF because I'm under the impression that IOS interferes with getting sharp focus.

There had been reports on this (not on G9), but it is very rare.

However, maybe there's an alternative to everything ON or everything OFF. I'd like to experiment with this, if the two can be set independently with the G9 and the PL100-400.

No for Panny.

Thanks,

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- Simon

scphoto wrote:

I have two questions regarding the Panny G9:

1. When I am shooting in animal/bird/human detect mode, if I have exposure set to "center weighted", is the center weighted point the center of the image ... OR ... is the center weighted area the focus point? Prior to animal/bird/human detect mode being available, I typically put the subject in the center, half pressed the shutter button (locking exposure & focus), recompose and then fully press the shutter button to take the shot. Since I started using animal/bird detect for wildlife, I've been using the "multiple" exposure mode. However, I prefer to be in control of what I want exposed properly and not turn that task over to the camera's firmware.

2. When I use the G9 with the PL100-400, can I have sensor image stabilization ON, but have the lens stabilization off? When I have the lens mounted on the camera and image stabilization is ON in the camera menu ... AND ... the lens switch is set to stabilization, I see an icon on my LCD display that says "Dual 2". But when I turn it off on the lens, the icon changes to OFF. To me that means both in body and in lens are OFF because I turned it off on the lens only. (One may ask why I want to do this? Good queston. When shooting moving wildlife (e.g., flying birds) I use a fast shutter speed (1/2500 sec) with stabilization OFF because I'm under the impression that IOS interferes with getting sharp focus. However, maybe there's an alternative to everything ON or everything OFF. I'd like to experiment with this, if the two can be set independently with the G9 and the PL100-400.

Thanks,

I only got two responses to my questions (see above) regarding what "center weighted" means when my Panny G9 camera is picking the focus area as in human/animal detect mode ... and ... the operation of of IBIS when OIS is turned off on the PL 100-400mm lens.

Thanks to alcelc and windmillgolfer for responding but their answers seem to be either unsure or in conflict.

Anyone else want to give these two questions a try?

scphoto wrote:

scphoto wrote:

I have two questions regarding the Panny G9:

1. When I am shooting in animal/bird/human detect mode, if I have exposure set to "center weighted", is the center weighted point the center of the image ... OR ... is the center weighted area the focus point? Prior to animal/bird/human detect mode being available, I typically put the subject in the center, half pressed the shutter button (locking exposure & focus), recompose and then fully press the shutter button to take the shot. Since I started using animal/bird detect for wildlife, I've been using the "multiple" exposure mode. However, I prefer to be in control of what I want exposed properly and not turn that task over to the camera's firmware.

2. When I use the G9 with the PL100-400, can I have sensor image stabilization ON, but have the lens stabilization off? When I have the lens mounted on the camera and image stabilization is ON in the camera menu ... AND ... the lens switch is set to stabilization, I see an icon on my LCD display that says "Dual 2". But when I turn it off on the lens, the icon changes to OFF. To me that means both in body and in lens are OFF because I turned it off on the lens only. (One may ask why I want to do this? Good queston. When shooting moving wildlife (e.g., flying birds) I use a fast shutter speed (1/2500 sec) with stabilization OFF because I'm under the impression that IOS interferes with getting sharp focus. However, maybe there's an alternative to everything ON or everything OFF. I'd like to experiment with this, if the two can be set independently with the G9 and the PL100-400.

Thanks,

I only got two responses to my questions (see above) regarding what "center weighted" means when my Panny G9 camera is picking the focus area as in human/animal detect mode ... and ... the operation of of IBIS when OIS is turned off on the PL 100-400mm lens.

Thanks to alcelc and windmillgolfer for responding but their answers seem to be either unsure or in conflict.

Anyone else want to give these two questions a try?

Dear friend, the IS policy of Panny is simply and clear.

For your combo, DUAL IS 2 or nothing. You don't have an option to choose IBIS, DUAL IS 2 or Lens IS only.

You have the gear, tried it to find out if you don't believe me. Simple as that.

Regarding the metering, I don't use Center weight nor spot myself, and as not a G9 owner, not wish to guess it.

In regards to metering. The focal point is independent of the metering decisions the camera is making. If you set the auto focus for single point for example, and then used the joystick to move the focal point to a flower in the foreground of a landscape, the center weighted metering would still be center weighted, or full screen matrix if you had selected it. If you adjust the size of the focus area larger, or smaller, you are not changing the “size“ of the area that gets metered anywhere on the screen.

I hope this helps!

****************

With some experimentation, I can confirm that this is not the case with “spot” focusing, or focus tracking.

I also went back and reviewed this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkpkI7jWUW8

I now have appropriate egg on my face. Lol. (Tested with my GH5)

Aberaeron wrote:

As to centre weighted, not sure I’d choose to use it for birds in flight unless they were very low flying with a dark background. It is not ‘spot metering’ and I think it might be advantageous to link the metering point to the focus point if your camera allows this. This can be done on Olympus cameras but can’t say I’ve noticed it on my Panasonics, but mine are not the latest models.

I went back and re-edited my earlier post, and have confirmed that on the G9 focus tracking does attempt to adjust the exposure around the focal point when spot focus has been selected, but not center weighted.

Aberaeron wrote:

I disagree with the above comments. The 100-400 has a ‘Power OIS' on-off switch, which can switch the lens stabilisation off independently from the in-body stabilisation. So it can either use the combination or in-body or completely off. What I’m not sure about is whether the off in-body also switches the lens OIS off. I suspect it does. But as long as that is ‘on’, there is a choice of both combined or in-body alone.

You are wrong.

Put on a lens having IS switch, you should find it out.😀

The only compatible lens I own is the tiny 12-32 with Mega OIS with no switch on its body. So the switch in the main menu controls both on my GX80.

As to centre weighted, not sure I’d choose to use it for birds in flight unless they were very low flying with a dark background. It is not ‘spot metering’ and I think it might be advantageous to link the metering point to the focus point if your camera allows this. This can be done on Olympus cameras but can’t say I’ve noticed it on my Panasonics, but mine are not the latest models.

Gnine wrote:

DaveTheAffable wrote:

Aberaeron wrote:

As to centre weighted, not sure I’d choose to use it for birds in flight unless they were very low flying with a dark background. It is not ‘spot metering’ and I think it might be advantageous to link the metering point to the focus point if your camera allows this. This can be done on Olympus cameras but can’t say I’ve noticed it on my Panasonics, but mine are not the latest models.

I went back and re-edited my earlier post, and have confirmed that on the G9 focus tracking does attempt to adjust the exposure around the focal point when spot focus has been selected, but not center weighted.

I've found the opposite. See my previous reply

Yea… I just played some more with my GH5 and got mixed results.  I think the best thing to do moving forward…

….is for me to be quiet on the subject for the time being.

Aberaeron wrote:

alcelc wrote:

Aberaeron wrote:

I disagree with the above comments. The 100-400 has a ‘Power OIS' on-off switch, which can switch the lens stabilisation off independently from the in-body stabilisation. So it can either use the combination or in-body or completely off. What I’m not sure about is whether the off in-body also switches the lens OIS off. I suspect it does. But as long as that is ‘on’, there is a choice of both combined or in-body alone.

You are wrong.

Put on a lens having IS switch, you should find it out.😀

The only compatible lens I own is the tiny 12-32 with Mega OIS with no switch on its body. So the switch in the main menu controls both on my GX80.

As to centre weighted, not sure I’d choose to use it for birds in flight unless they were very low flying with a dark background. It is not ‘spot metering’ and I think it might be advantageous to link the metering point to the focus point if your camera allows this. This can be done on Olympus cameras but can’t say I’ve noticed it on my Panasonics, but mine are not the latest models.

So you are claiming that switching the lens OIS switch ‘off’ also switches the in-body stabilisation ‘off’ even though it is switched ‘on’ in the main menu? The mind boggles as to why they would do that. If they do. I can’t test for myself because I don’t believe that I have any dual-IS compatible lenses apart from the 12-32, which has no switch on its body and hardly needs it anyway.

Do you have any other lens having an IS switch?

I had just reconfirmed on G85 ( DUAL IS 2 compatible body) and GX85 (DUAL IS compatible body) with:

1. 12~32 (DUAL IS 2 compatible), no IS switch;
2. 14~140 f/3.5-5.6 mk-I (DUAL IS 2 compatible), has IS switch;
3. 12~35 f/2.8 mk-I ( DUAL IS compatible), has IS switch;

As said with 12~32, IS Menu has 3 options (two IS & IS OFF).

But when the other 2 lenses were mounted, the IS Menu Option reduced to two only. The IS OFF is not shown. Is is so controlled by the hard IS switch on lens.

If you have non DUAL IS compatible IS lens, or non IS lens, you might find out what happens to the IS options of GX85.

The following is what I have found:

Happy shooting.

Aberaeron wrote:

I disagree with the above comments. The 100-400 has a ‘Power OIS' on-off switch, which can switch the lens stabilisation off independently from the in-body stabilisation. So it can either use the combination or in-body or completely off. What I’m not sure about is whether the off in-body also switches the lens OIS off. I suspect it does. But as long as that is ‘on’, there is a choice of both combined or in-body alone.

The only compatible lens I own is the tiny 12-32 with Mega OIS with no switch on its body. So the switch in the main menu controls both on my GX80.

As to centre weighted, not sure I’d choose to use it for birds in flight unless they were very low flying with a dark background. It is not ‘spot metering’ and I think it might be advantageous to link the metering point to the focus point if your camera allows this. This can be done on Olympus cameras but can’t say I’ve noticed it on my Panasonics, but mine are not the latest models.

Re: IS on the G9: it is all or nothing, even with a lens that has a 'Power OIS' switch. My PL 50-200 has such a switch, and if I turn it off, all IS functionality turns off as well. It can also be controlled by the in-camera settings, but the physical switch overrides these.

However, for the OP: those in-camera settings do have three options: Off, On, and Panning. That last only compensates for vertical movement, assuming that horizontal movement is deliberate as you try to follow your subject. You might want to experiment with this and see which of the two "On" settings works best for you.

alcelc wrote:

Aberaeron wrote:

alcelc wrote:

Aberaeron wrote:

I disagree with the above comments. The 100-400 has a ‘Power OIS' on-off switch, which can switch the lens stabilisation off independently from the in-body stabilisation. So it can either use the combination or in-body or completely off. What I’m not sure about is whether the off in-body also switches the lens OIS off. I suspect it does. But as long as that is ‘on’, there is a choice of both combined or in-body alone.

You are wrong.

Put on a lens having IS switch, you should find it out.😀

The only compatible lens I own is the tiny 12-32 with Mega OIS with no switch on its body. So the switch in the main menu controls both on my GX80.

As to centre weighted, not sure I’d choose to use it for birds in flight unless they were very low flying with a dark background. It is not ‘spot metering’ and I think it might be advantageous to link the metering point to the focus point if your camera allows this. This can be done on Olympus cameras but can’t say I’ve noticed it on my Panasonics, but mine are not the latest models.

So you are claiming that switching the lens OIS switch ‘off’ also switches the in-body stabilisation ‘off’ even though it is switched ‘on’ in the main menu? The mind boggles as to why they would do that. If they do. I can’t test for myself because I don’t believe that I have any dual-IS compatible lenses apart from the 12-32, which has no switch on its body and hardly needs it anyway.

Do you have any other lens having an IS switch?

I had just reconfirmed on G85 ( DUAL IS 2 compatible body) and GX85 (DUAL IS compatible body) with:

1. 12~32 (DUAL IS 2 compatible), no IS switch;
2. 14~140 f/3.5-5.6 mk-I (DUAL IS 2 compatible), has IS switch;
3. 12~35 f/2.8 mk-I ( DUAL IS compatible), has IS switch;

As said with 12~32, IS Menu has 3 options (two IS & IS OFF).

But when the other 2 lenses were mounted, the IS Menu Option reduced to two only. The IS OFF is not shown. Is is so controlled by the hard IS switch on lens.

If you have non DUAL IS compatible IS lens, or non IS lens, you might find out what happens to the IS options of GX85.

The following is what I have found:

Albert -

Thanks for your detailed analysis and description of the I.S. options on Panny bodies + lenses. Until you posted, I didn't realized that my 14-140mm had a OIS switch. Since I typically use it for everyday shooting (i.e., not at fast shutter speeds to stop motion), I like having the dual IS and never thought to turn it off.

I only turn I.S. off when I'm shooting at fast shutter speeds with my PL100-400 for wildlife (mostly birds). I was under the impression (misimpression?) that I.S. on interfered with getting sharp focus on moving subjects. I'll experiment with leaving it on. I afraid that whatever experimenting I do, any conclusion will be very subjective. When shooting still subjects it's relatively easy to test different configurations for sharpness, but with wildlife each shot or sequence (in burst mode) is unique.