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G2 vs S90

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ressroom

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I have not been enjoying the S90 for a while and wanted to ask this forum about the G2. For those that own or have used it, and have owned or used an S90, please let me know the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of the G2. I have noticed the prices coming down and want to make a change. The Micro FourThirds format intrigues me. Thank you for your input in advance.
 
perhaps you might want stop by your public library and pick up something like Digital Photography for Dummies, and then read about the difference between a compact digital camera with a fixed lens and large-sensor cameras with interchangeable lenses.

your question is kind of like asking "what is the difference between a grape and a bottle of wine".
 
ressroom said:
I have not been enjoying the S90 for a while and wanted to ask this forum about the G2. For those that own or have used it, and have owned or used an S90, please let me know the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of the G2. I have noticed the prices coming down and want to make a change. The Micro FourThirds format intrigues me. Thank you for your input in advance.
Click to expand...
Hi, I'm a S95 owner (ok, co-owner ;) ) and a Canon point and shoot upgrader myself from last year. There are a lot of differences between a S90 (or any point & shoot, even a larger sensor one like the S90) and any interchangable lens system.

In general, your autofocus will be faster, you will be able to shoot multiple pictures faster in burst mode, your images will be cleaner (especially at high ISOs), and the ability to change lenses to fit a given circumstance will be a dramatic difference (in functionality, and cost :) ). The camera & lens is much larger and heavier, and you won't be able to comfortably fit the it in your pocket. But there are a ton more controls, the video is far better, and instead of using an electronic zoom button you can instantly flick the zoom lens to the exact spot you want. You can choose to isolate subjects in pictures by selecting a large (numerically low) lens aperture setting, which results in a narrow depth of field, and blurs the background in a pleasing way (look up "bokeh").

Pretty much any micro 4/3s camera will be, basically, just a more capable camera with better image quality. And there is a good selection of lenses, both autofocus and manual focus, to cover a variety of shooting circumstances (fisheye, macro, extreme telephoto, low light, etc).

If you start buying lenses, you can blow a lot of cash. It can get addicting. But it's fun.

So in short, faster, better images, more versatile, just more of a camera in the same way the S90 is more of a camera than a cell phone camera. Downside is, it's much larger, heavier and more expensive.

Rob
 
and posts made by others on this forum. But, I will say that you will never, never regret making the move. Wait for the G3 (for the improvement in video and better sensor), budget for a pancake prime and get the kit lens. If you can't do all of that at once, hold off on the pancake - the prices are a little high now for a number of reasons.

You'll have fun.
 
I have an S90. Love it and it still takes great pictures. The GF2 takes more great pictures but the complexity is higher due to the multiple lens and depth of field possibilities. Of course it works much better in moderate light which can make all the difference.

I also have a canon d60 (or is it 60d.. why can I never remember the order) and it is better still than the gf2. It shoots faster, lets me track moving objects better and can be better indoors/low light. That being said, it is big, my bag is heavy and the 100-400L is... noticeable to others.

The GF2 is 70-75% of the canon. With my 42-200 I can get great shots of my dog (whippet, so we are talking fast here at around 35mph) running around in a large field. True, it is harder to shoot than the canon, but it isn't bad and my success rate is "acceptable".

The s90 on the other hand couldn't track him at all and has no way to compete with the 200mm lens in terms of closeness.

On the short side of things the canon does amazing macro, and it is easy. The GF2, on a tripod with a panny close adaptor on the 42-200 is... well check here for the pictures. It is a bit unwieldy but the pictures are amazing. The 45mm Macro would be even better.

S90 is limited to the built in lens and cannot get that close.

The s90 CAN be put in a pocket though. Walk out the front door and just grab it off the desk. The gf2 is NOT pocketable in the summer without huge pockets, but will fit, with the 14 or 20, in a jacket pocket. A small camera bag will take it and a few lenses.

DSLR and you are taking a big bag.

One big drawback to panasonic is the flash situation. Today there are no off camera TTL solutions for panasonic. Oly has a remote optical ttl that requires oly or metz flashes.

This isn't a HUGE concern since you can get a cactus remote and manually set your flash, but if you are looking to replace dslr, panasonic has lots of lighting limitations.

In the end it comes down to how you will use the camera. If you won't bring it with you, you wont have the shot. I found that the canon.. I didn't want to bring with me anymore. The s90 I leave in the car because "I can't get the shot anyways" but the gf2 is easy. The bright red color makes people think it isn't a serious camera or is a smartphone, so it isn't a big consideration (unlike a dslr).

I get more shots, that's what counts.

I still take the dslr if I am going into "dark" situations like a club or a halloween party.
 
Also, just to expand - since you mentioned you were already looking at a G2, then it sounds like the GF2 / ultra-portable is not what you had in mind. So as you probably know, the G2, even with a pancake lens, is not going to be "pocketable" by any reasonable definition. But it will be light and small when carried around your neck, much moreso than any DSLR with a comparable lens.

I'm assuming one the reasons you are looking at a G2 instead of the GF2 is because of the EVF, which you didn't have on the S90. When I first upgraded, I got a GF1, and then ended up buying a GH1 (just to get the 14-140mm lens). But I quickly realized the EVF was a feature I didn't want to be without. I also really appreciate the fingergrip, when you are using a large lens like the 14-140mm or 100-300mm it really makes a difference in usability. So (personally) I think you are on the right track.

But like others mentioned, the G3 is coming out and it looks like it will be a substantial upgrade to the G2, not only in terms of image quality, but also autofocus speed, and EVF quality (due to doubling of the refresh rate). It might be wise to wait for that.

regards

Rob
 
As pocket cameras with full creative control go, the Canon S9x series is top of the line. All the image quality the average consumer wants and enough control for an enthusiasts backup camera.

But as light levels drop or a scenes dynamic range increases and viewing sizes increase, there is no substitute for sensor size. And while 4/3 sensors are the smallest of the half frame sensors, they are many times the size and quality of the best pocket cams. Under ideal conditions most folks would be hard pressed to tell the difference at normal viewing sizes, but as conditions become less optimal, the bigger sensor is going to win out. Not to mention the flexibility that a viewfinder and interchangeable lenses offer.

I have a G1 and an S90. Both great cameras. The S90 as a pocket cam that I use mostly for indoor photos and the G1 as a compact dSLR system for more general use.

--
Regards
Jim
 
Scot Kight said:
One big drawback to panasonic is the flash situation. Today there are no off camera > TTL solutions for panasonic. Oly has a remote optical ttl that requires oly or metz > flashes.
Click to expand...
TTL is available, but I haven't tried it so can't verify.
 
I returned my Lumix LX-5 (comparable to the s90 and s95) and bought a GH1 with the 14-42mm kit.
The difference is night and day.
Sensor is about 4 times larger, which produces much cleaner images.

Buy a GH1, G2, G3, or GH2 and you will not regret it.

The Lumix 20mm f1.7 lens is a must for low light shooting, considered by many to be the lens to own for micro four thirds. They usually sell for around $375 but prices have shot up due to the Tsunami and earthquake in Japan.
Wait until prices go back down for this lens.
 
The one thing that is easily forgotten when comparing a compact P&S with m43 or most Interchangeable lens systems is that the P&S is very quiet while the m43 is noisy when taking shots. This is more noticeable indoors and was something that I noticed immediately when I tried to replace my S90 with the e-pl1. Also, the standard kit zooms will not provide a significant improvement over the S90 with indoor shots due to the faster lens at wide angle on the S90. Adding a faster lens to a m43 body will add to the overall cost. Just something to keep in mind.

I currently have a G1 with 100-300mm permanently attached. I find this to be a perfect complement to my pocketable S90.
 
s90 is a nice camera...but limited...and higher ISO seems a bit noisy..I am still using the classic F30 Fuji for that type of camera......of the PS bodies on the market today the new Oly XZ-1 seems by far the best w/regard to high ISO noise....see this site:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/OlympusXZ1/page11.asp

and compare it to the 7D, D7000, and Sony a55, G3, Pentax K5 up to 400 ISO....and let me know what you think.... compare it to the s95, or other high end PS cameras...and there is no comparison.

....it also has a f1.8 lens slightly faster than the Canon and is the only one that seems to hold it's own against both APS and 4/3 sensors up to about 400 ISO at present and would be on my short list if I was getting a PS today.

I have a G1, and a G3 on preorder now. I shoot with Canon 7D and 5D bodies. I love the G1...but hate the lag as far as response time/shutter lag. The output quality at 100 ISO even of the G1 rivals the output of my 5D. At high ISO, the 5D IQ smokes the G1. I am hoping the faster refresh rate and improvements on the G3 will make it a more usable camera.

Daughter recently took an interest in photography...so passed the G1 to her along with a bunch of legacy fast Nikon mt lenses remaining from my Nikon days prior to Canon.

Currently her kit contains:

180mm f2.5 Tammy....very sharp MF lens w/aperture ring....think similar to 360mm f2.8 (but faster) for a FF.....or equivalent to a $3000+ lens for other bodies....

add the 2x matched multiplier....she has the equivalent of a 750mm f5.0....try buying or carrying that around for FF.

Still had the 85mm f1.8 Nikkor..... makes that a 170mm f1.8....close to the 200mm 2.0 L Canon...go price that baby...one of the few lenses I still lust after..

A 50mm FD Canon f1.8 gives her a nice 100mm effective focal length fast portrait lens....also with manual apertures if you want to stop it down...

The 55mm Micro Nikkor f2.8 becomes a 110mm Micro.....etc...all the MF lenses focus remarkably well on the EVF of the G1....and they gain up in low light still making the quite usable at smaller apertures if you decide you don't want to use the speed of these lenses to the max.

While the kit 14-45mm is still the only wide she has...at least it is also IS...and pretty darn nice for a kit lens....and she has a killer system with that bunch of lenses I hadn't been using for years....and the ability to use any of my EOS lenses, as well with a few more adaptors at about $20 each...a few more Nikkors like the 20mm 2.8 I still haven't shown her are still beating around here too....

I did tell her ....lose interest in photography...and it all still belongs to me....keep up the interest...and she can consider the stuff hers....

Time will tell on the G3.....IF I ever get it to try...Panasonic is not proving terribly good at delivering the product yet.

--
Richard Katris aka Chanan
 
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