This is going to be a long read, with no photos.
I started writing down my thoughts few weeks ago. As it grew, I broke it up and am posting as a series. I shoot for hobby and therefore do what makes me happy, not what customers pay for. This is how I relax when my paying job stresses me.
This first one is obviously about the gear, specifically Panasonic bodies. It may sound like ML vs. DSLR at times, but bear with me. I mention lenses a bit but I will explain more about them in my second post. I have not used any Olympus body but do use Olympus lenses.
My interest in ML was first to use the same camera for stills and videos and second to reduce as much size/weight as possible. Or is it the other way around? Anyway...
The camera industry is leaning more and more towards ML, but there are still some use cases where a DSLR serves better. I am not advocating for one over the other. The DSLR kit was getting difficult for me weight-wise. So, the move was timely. I am just sharing what I learned in these two years, knowing that this is just the beginning. Future will bring more improvements in ML technology than in the DSLR technology, irrespective of how long DSLRs last.
Motivation...
I was shooting photos with Nikon D810+D7200 at the time and videos with FZ2500. While I enjoyed the D7200, the D810 was a lot more weight with not a lot of benefit for my uses. I wanted something better than FZ2500 for video, and a lighter alternative for the FF DSLR lenses. I always wanted a 150-600 but it was too big for my comfort. I looked at APSC ML cameras but didn't like that most of them require use of FF telephoto lenses.
The start of my migration...
I bought GH5II with PL12-60 and PL50-200. As good as the GH5II is for video, ironically my video usage went down drastically right after I got it! It remained a photo-camera for me.
Over the last two+ years with ML, my photography centered around classical (Indian) dances and stage shows, besides travel and family photos. I also shot about 3000 photos at my niece's wedding (mostly the preparations, behind-the-scenes, after-wedding events, and family/friends, etc. over two weeks).
I tried both PL12-60 and PL50-200 for dance shows. The results were not good. I replaced PL50-200 with PL100-400 for suburban wildlife. I decided that, just like FZ2500, the m43 was not a good choice for the dance shows. I was looking for ML APSC with smaller than FF zooms.
A year into using the GH5II, I discovered the 40-150/2.8 PRO and DxO NR. They produced results that I thought were not possible from m43. I was able to replace my DSLRs and heavy f/2.8 zooms. I got GH6 as second camera, the Oly 12-40/2.8 PRO, and got rid of my DSLR gear.
* I will cover my lenses experience in next post.
* I only used DxO trial version a couple of times, but I will talk about how I got around it in another post.
* Once the shooting volume went up, editing became a pain. I learned better/consistent framing to reduce cropping/straightening needs. I will cover this part in another post, including AF.
My experience so far...
One feature of Panasonic ML cameras that I use all the time is B&W display with focus peaking. I found that any color used for focus peaking could get lost in the colors of the scene. Having the display in B&W (both on the LCD and EVF) helps a lot. I first learned this on FZ2500.
While GH6 and GH5II have similar features, there are some differences. Most don't matter to me. I used the pixel-shift 100MP feature of GH6 several times and liked it a lot. I also like the 5MP bump in pixel count. On the flip side, I do not like the additional bulk of the GH6 with the fan. Sometimes I got better images from GH5II. So, I wonder if the 5MP bump in GH6 has a penalty to it. I still went ahead and got a G9II with recent discounts because I wanted the PDAF. It is replacing my GH6.
I like the larger batteries of the newer cameras with USB-C charging. Though I have two spare batteries, I rarely need them. I get over 1K shots per battery (even 1500 if shooting fast in a short time). When I shoot more than that during a long show, I have to change a battery. The Wasabi batteries I use are just as good as the Panasonic batteries.
I used U1/U2 a lot on my Nikon D7200 and sorely missed it on the D810.
Now I have C1-C3 on the dial (and more in the menus). For my shooting needs...
This technical bit is a personal preference, and many of you may disagree, but I stopped buying cameras with single card slot after my Rebel (2006). For this same reason, I don't complain much about the size of these Panasonic bodies because if they were any smaller, they might compromise on some features I use. Or they may become small and slippery for my hands.
Talking of cards, GH5II has two UHS-I cards, G9II has two UHS-II cards, while GH7 has a combination. This would have bothered me in DSLR days, as the D810 did, but with photo-download over USB-C connection, it is not a big issue. Well, actually there is one...
The GH5II when connected to PC and turned on, asks for USB options. I select "PC Storage", but it does not show on the computer. The manual says it should work, but it doesn't. Both the other cameras work that way. So, I still have to use a card reader for GH5II files. After copying the files, I turn off the camera and leave it connected to the computer. All three charge quickly from the computer in a reasonable time.
The D7200 was close to perfect size for me. Just a bit fat. The D810 was noticeably bigger and heavier. That reduced the motivation to use it. The GH5II and G9II have perfect grip and weight but are a tad short for my preference. The pinky finger often hangs below the camera. The GH6 is noticeably different for my handling, with its fat rear screen and fan.
I am a shooter who likes more controls with easy access, without going into the menus. I like that all these Panasonic bodies have three turning dials. In addition to the front and rear top dials, the d-pad on the back is also a turning dial. It cannot do as many things as the other two dials can, but it works. Nikon only had the two top dials, while Canon bodies have the d-pad dial. I like it. There are many other buttons, and on-screen controls, that can be assigned many functions. Initially I had something assigned to every control, then forgot what they were. For the first time I feel there are more buttons than I need.
If you shoot multiple cameras and the differences don't bother you, then you can stop reading here. This is my biggest complaint with my three Panasonic bodies. Just think of the different front dial wheels on GH5II and G9II.
I have used 4 Nikon APSC DSLRs in the last 12+ years. When I went from one to the next, it was always the same feel with some performance improvements. I never noticed a change that challenged my muscle memory.
While I enjoy using one of these three Panasonic bodies by itself, it is the switching between them and the UI differences that frustrate me.
As a good example, the GH6 EVF/LCD button is on the side of EVF hump. That is a good position for that button. On the GH5II and G9II, the EVF/LCD button is next to image play button. I can't remember how many times I pressed one button when I wanted to press another. As a result, I have to figure out why the EVF turned off.
The joystick, AF-ON, AF mode and disp buttons are significantly off between the three models. When I switch from one to another, my fingers are constantly searching for the right button, while my eye is glued to the EVF.
The AF behavior is different between these three cameras. I don't mean that older camera's AF is slower than the newer camera's (that is obvious). The way the AF area box is displayed, the cross-hairs vs small squares, etc., are differently implemented. After using one camera, if I switch to the other, I feel like I am doing something I'm not supposed to. It takes my mind few minutes to re-acquaint with it.
Fortunately(!) the turning direction of 'A,C,MF' lever has not changed. That is a relief. The ability to assign functions to the top front and rear dials is consistent. This has saved me a lot of worry.
I am taking a different approach with G9II. In the past, I went through the manual, went through all the menus, and configured it the way I thought I wanted it, before I started using the camera. With G9II, I am using it at mostly default settings. I will see what works and slowly tweak the few things I need.
With the way things are (sensor tech, resolution, PDAF, etc.), I feel that the GH7 and G9II will be current models for a while. When they do have their next iteration, I only hope Panasonic keeps the body controls consistent with current model.
Just to add some context, these models I am dealing do not belong to different classes. They are all advanced or Panasonic's top models. Olympus has the top line OM-1, mid-level OM-5 at almost half the price, and entry-level OM-5. These Panasonic bodies are not that different, and UI should not be changing so much.
Summary...
Overall, I would say that my migration from DSLR to ML went well. I knew to expect lot of changes and learned them relatively easily. Having used FZ1000 and FZ2500 helped in understanding Panasonic peculiarities. That familiarity, together with heavy discounts, helped me get into this system. I learned a lot with each camera but was unable to carry forward the learning 100% from one body to the next. There were always those changes to deal with.
The G9II is now my primary camera, GH5II is a backup, and GH6 found a new potential owner. I just have to deal with one body most of the time. I have had it for just over two weeks and it's going well so far.
As for all the gloom and doom posts about m43, I am not concerned. I have the cameras for the rest of my shooting life. If one breaks, I could find a used one (even if is Blackmagic PCC) and continue to use the lenses I have.
Before I end, I must say that the members on this forum were very helpful with lot of questions I had. Thanks to all the helpful responses. Sometimes I missed obvious things in the manual (I am not a good reader). There were some snarky remarks to be expected on the forums, but there were many who pointed me straight to the relevant information.
I know lot of members here have used m43 cameras since its start. You have at least ten years more experience than I do. Feel free to add your thoughts.
Thanks for reading!
I started writing down my thoughts few weeks ago. As it grew, I broke it up and am posting as a series. I shoot for hobby and therefore do what makes me happy, not what customers pay for. This is how I relax when my paying job stresses me.
This first one is obviously about the gear, specifically Panasonic bodies. It may sound like ML vs. DSLR at times, but bear with me. I mention lenses a bit but I will explain more about them in my second post. I have not used any Olympus body but do use Olympus lenses.
My interest in ML was first to use the same camera for stills and videos and second to reduce as much size/weight as possible. Or is it the other way around? Anyway...
The camera industry is leaning more and more towards ML, but there are still some use cases where a DSLR serves better. I am not advocating for one over the other. The DSLR kit was getting difficult for me weight-wise. So, the move was timely. I am just sharing what I learned in these two years, knowing that this is just the beginning. Future will bring more improvements in ML technology than in the DSLR technology, irrespective of how long DSLRs last.
Motivation...
I was shooting photos with Nikon D810+D7200 at the time and videos with FZ2500. While I enjoyed the D7200, the D810 was a lot more weight with not a lot of benefit for my uses. I wanted something better than FZ2500 for video, and a lighter alternative for the FF DSLR lenses. I always wanted a 150-600 but it was too big for my comfort. I looked at APSC ML cameras but didn't like that most of them require use of FF telephoto lenses.
The start of my migration...
I bought GH5II with PL12-60 and PL50-200. As good as the GH5II is for video, ironically my video usage went down drastically right after I got it! It remained a photo-camera for me.
Over the last two+ years with ML, my photography centered around classical (Indian) dances and stage shows, besides travel and family photos. I also shot about 3000 photos at my niece's wedding (mostly the preparations, behind-the-scenes, after-wedding events, and family/friends, etc. over two weeks).
I tried both PL12-60 and PL50-200 for dance shows. The results were not good. I replaced PL50-200 with PL100-400 for suburban wildlife. I decided that, just like FZ2500, the m43 was not a good choice for the dance shows. I was looking for ML APSC with smaller than FF zooms.
A year into using the GH5II, I discovered the 40-150/2.8 PRO and DxO NR. They produced results that I thought were not possible from m43. I was able to replace my DSLRs and heavy f/2.8 zooms. I got GH6 as second camera, the Oly 12-40/2.8 PRO, and got rid of my DSLR gear.
* I will cover my lenses experience in next post.
* I only used DxO trial version a couple of times, but I will talk about how I got around it in another post.
* Once the shooting volume went up, editing became a pain. I learned better/consistent framing to reduce cropping/straightening needs. I will cover this part in another post, including AF.
My experience so far...
One feature of Panasonic ML cameras that I use all the time is B&W display with focus peaking. I found that any color used for focus peaking could get lost in the colors of the scene. Having the display in B&W (both on the LCD and EVF) helps a lot. I first learned this on FZ2500.
While GH6 and GH5II have similar features, there are some differences. Most don't matter to me. I used the pixel-shift 100MP feature of GH6 several times and liked it a lot. I also like the 5MP bump in pixel count. On the flip side, I do not like the additional bulk of the GH6 with the fan. Sometimes I got better images from GH5II. So, I wonder if the 5MP bump in GH6 has a penalty to it. I still went ahead and got a G9II with recent discounts because I wanted the PDAF. It is replacing my GH6.
I like the larger batteries of the newer cameras with USB-C charging. Though I have two spare batteries, I rarely need them. I get over 1K shots per battery (even 1500 if shooting fast in a short time). When I shoot more than that during a long show, I have to change a battery. The Wasabi batteries I use are just as good as the Panasonic batteries.
I used U1/U2 a lot on my Nikon D7200 and sorely missed it on the D810.
Now I have C1-C3 on the dial (and more in the menus). For my shooting needs...
- I use C1 for Aperture-Priority shooting (front dial for aperture and rear dial for EC) - this is used for everything else that's not covered by C2-C3 below
- I use C2 for Shutter-Priority shooting for dance/stage events (front dial for shutter and rear dial for EC). This setting has 1/400 as default with other settings like ISO and AF to match
- I use C3 for Shutter-Priority settings for suburban wildlife (front dial for shutter and rear dial for EC). This setting has 1/800 as default with other settings like ISO and AF to match
- GH5II also has a C4 that I use for movie mode in 4K60p. Not sure why Panasonic dropped it in G9II
This technical bit is a personal preference, and many of you may disagree, but I stopped buying cameras with single card slot after my Rebel (2006). For this same reason, I don't complain much about the size of these Panasonic bodies because if they were any smaller, they might compromise on some features I use. Or they may become small and slippery for my hands.
Talking of cards, GH5II has two UHS-I cards, G9II has two UHS-II cards, while GH7 has a combination. This would have bothered me in DSLR days, as the D810 did, but with photo-download over USB-C connection, it is not a big issue. Well, actually there is one...
The GH5II when connected to PC and turned on, asks for USB options. I select "PC Storage", but it does not show on the computer. The manual says it should work, but it doesn't. Both the other cameras work that way. So, I still have to use a card reader for GH5II files. After copying the files, I turn off the camera and leave it connected to the computer. All three charge quickly from the computer in a reasonable time.
The D7200 was close to perfect size for me. Just a bit fat. The D810 was noticeably bigger and heavier. That reduced the motivation to use it. The GH5II and G9II have perfect grip and weight but are a tad short for my preference. The pinky finger often hangs below the camera. The GH6 is noticeably different for my handling, with its fat rear screen and fan.
I am a shooter who likes more controls with easy access, without going into the menus. I like that all these Panasonic bodies have three turning dials. In addition to the front and rear top dials, the d-pad on the back is also a turning dial. It cannot do as many things as the other two dials can, but it works. Nikon only had the two top dials, while Canon bodies have the d-pad dial. I like it. There are many other buttons, and on-screen controls, that can be assigned many functions. Initially I had something assigned to every control, then forgot what they were. For the first time I feel there are more buttons than I need.
If you shoot multiple cameras and the differences don't bother you, then you can stop reading here. This is my biggest complaint with my three Panasonic bodies. Just think of the different front dial wheels on GH5II and G9II.
I have used 4 Nikon APSC DSLRs in the last 12+ years. When I went from one to the next, it was always the same feel with some performance improvements. I never noticed a change that challenged my muscle memory.
While I enjoy using one of these three Panasonic bodies by itself, it is the switching between them and the UI differences that frustrate me.
As a good example, the GH6 EVF/LCD button is on the side of EVF hump. That is a good position for that button. On the GH5II and G9II, the EVF/LCD button is next to image play button. I can't remember how many times I pressed one button when I wanted to press another. As a result, I have to figure out why the EVF turned off.
The joystick, AF-ON, AF mode and disp buttons are significantly off between the three models. When I switch from one to another, my fingers are constantly searching for the right button, while my eye is glued to the EVF.
The AF behavior is different between these three cameras. I don't mean that older camera's AF is slower than the newer camera's (that is obvious). The way the AF area box is displayed, the cross-hairs vs small squares, etc., are differently implemented. After using one camera, if I switch to the other, I feel like I am doing something I'm not supposed to. It takes my mind few minutes to re-acquaint with it.
Fortunately(!) the turning direction of 'A,C,MF' lever has not changed. That is a relief. The ability to assign functions to the top front and rear dials is consistent. This has saved me a lot of worry.
I am taking a different approach with G9II. In the past, I went through the manual, went through all the menus, and configured it the way I thought I wanted it, before I started using the camera. With G9II, I am using it at mostly default settings. I will see what works and slowly tweak the few things I need.
With the way things are (sensor tech, resolution, PDAF, etc.), I feel that the GH7 and G9II will be current models for a while. When they do have their next iteration, I only hope Panasonic keeps the body controls consistent with current model.
Just to add some context, these models I am dealing do not belong to different classes. They are all advanced or Panasonic's top models. Olympus has the top line OM-1, mid-level OM-5 at almost half the price, and entry-level OM-5. These Panasonic bodies are not that different, and UI should not be changing so much.
Summary...
Overall, I would say that my migration from DSLR to ML went well. I knew to expect lot of changes and learned them relatively easily. Having used FZ1000 and FZ2500 helped in understanding Panasonic peculiarities. That familiarity, together with heavy discounts, helped me get into this system. I learned a lot with each camera but was unable to carry forward the learning 100% from one body to the next. There were always those changes to deal with.
The G9II is now my primary camera, GH5II is a backup, and GH6 found a new potential owner. I just have to deal with one body most of the time. I have had it for just over two weeks and it's going well so far.
As for all the gloom and doom posts about m43, I am not concerned. I have the cameras for the rest of my shooting life. If one breaks, I could find a used one (even if is Blackmagic PCC) and continue to use the lenses I have.
Before I end, I must say that the members on this forum were very helpful with lot of questions I had. Thanks to all the helpful responses. Sometimes I missed obvious things in the manual (I am not a good reader). There were some snarky remarks to be expected on the forums, but there were many who pointed me straight to the relevant information.
I know lot of members here have used m43 cameras since its start. You have at least ten years more experience than I do. Feel free to add your thoughts.
Thanks for reading!
