Changing Gear

DSLR





The somewhat flippant references to the Panasonic L10 yesterday may have given the impression that I regard it as somewhat of a throwaway camera, just to be used as a prop. This is far from the truth. Somewhat surprisingly, I have found myself liking the camera more and more. In the image above with the lens attached it looks a bit of a monster, but the whole outfit is only a few grams heavier than a Canon 7D body with no battery grip or lens fitted. 


The Travor grip for the L10 is a little strange. It doesn't use the cameras battery, but has its own which pushes up into the battery compartment, replacing the Panasonic battery. The rest of the grip is empty and consequently the whole thing is very light. This makes adding the grip only marginally heavier than the camera plus its own battery. However its very powerful and has improved the AF speed of the camera dramatically. This is now a very fast focusing camera. In addition the live view is very good. All this in a 3-year old model.


I'm perfectly happy to use this as my DSLR for a while, since at the moment there is nothing on the horizon that I would need a higher performance camera for, and with the current economic situation in the UK it may remain like that for a while. Since I had the lens already the whole thing has cost me about £150 which shows what kinds of bargains are available if you shop around S/H. 


It really isn't great for low light. ISO 800 & 1600 are very noisy. Using the Olympus 50mm f2 helps but for indoor hand held work its going to need a flashgun. I rarely use one of these so I'll consider getting one if and when the need arises.


This does mean that I will no longer be keeping any of my Canon gear. Some will possibly go to my colleague B, the rest is destined for ebay. Since my final wedding its all just sitting there unused, with no likelihood of ever being picked up again.


LEICA





I've decided to switch a few things around here. As a relative newcomer to Leica (18 months) I've been experimenting to a certain extent. Rangefinder photography is a different way of working and I've been trying out different les combinations to see what I like. Because of the dust spot problem I want to keep lens changing to a minimum. Much as I love the results from the Zeiss 50mm f2, Its really quite limiting using one lens, despite me trying to convince myself that it isn't! Now that I've found somewhere that can clean the sensor I'm going to go with a two lens system. I'm pretty impressed with the Voigtlander 75mm f1.8 and am going to add a Voigtlander 35mm f1.4. I had a Voigtlander 40mm f1.4, which was my first m-mount lens. I used it originally on m4/3, but when I got my M8 it didn't match up with any framelines, so I was guessing the framing with it, and consequently sold it, even though it was a very sharp lens.








35mm is just about my favourite focal length and the Voigtlander is a light and fast lens. I'll be putting the rest of my m-mount lenses onto ebay. Some like the Leica 90mm f2.5 I've hardly used at all, which is a shame because its a lovely lens, but Leica's seem to lend themselves to the mid-range. The Zeiss 21mm and 50mm lenses are also destined for new homes. Again I shall be sorry to see them go but I really have too many lenses sitting around hardly being used and unfortunately both of these fit into that catergory.





I shall of course be keeping the X1, particularly in the light of my low light noise tests. However since I have bought the Voigtlander zoom finder I shall be selling the X1 finder and the case I never use.


MICRO FOUR THIRDS


Firstly I must thank the 43rumors site for the link to the review I did of the Voigtlander 75mm. Its much appreciated. This is a site I spend a lot a time on personally, getting all hot and bothered about the upcoming delights of 4/3 and m4/3, and it was nice of them to point out my posts on their site.


There's also a good hands-on with a Panasonic GH2 at http://blog.uniquephoto.com/wp/2010/10/31/hands-on-with-the-new-panasonic-lumix-gh2/ I'm very envious as they have a silver-grey one!!

Its an excellent read and has some great pictures of a female boxer. Its again a very positive review, much like the Luminous Landscape one.


I very much see m4/3 as the cornerstone of my future equipment use. As you will know if you've read any of this blog over the past year or so, I'm a very strong advocate for the system and it is by far my most used gear. I love the size, weight and ergonomics of the system, and in the case of my Olympus E-P2 the aesthetics and design. 





Just over a year ago I posted this:-
http://soundimageplus.blogspot.com/2009/10/g-series-pro.html 
At that time my idea of using m4/3 for all my work may have been premature and more influenced by my desire to stop using using big heavy DSLR systems. However now I very much see this as a possibility. The wedding photography requirements obviously had a big influence on my decision to continue with my Canon DSLR system. Its not really fair to use a families big day to experiment and prove a point to myself. While both B and I used m4/3 cameras almost exclusively for video, we used m4/3 very much as backup cameras for stills. We were very pleased with the results however. If the reports, reviews and experiences of people using the Panasonic GH2 are to believed then this is the camera that seems poised to push m4/3 into a different area. I've already seen one wedding photographer state that he's going to ditch his DSLR's and work with three GH2's. 


The one concern is obviously durability. I've had no problems with any of my m4/3 cameras but I do know that they exist. I am personally very careful and protective with my cameras. But its not gone unnoticed thats there's a lot of plastic involved. To be honest I'm more concerned about the lenses rather than the cameras. Using 4/3 lenses, as I do, takes a certain amount of the concerns away, as these are a good deal more robust & I'm going to be looking to get a few more of these. 


In terms of my immediate plans, I shall be concentrating on my stock / library work. Its the financial backbone of how I make my living, and despite my fears as to what impact the economic situation will have on my picture sales, there is no sign of any slowing down as yet.


If commissioned work does turn up, then all well and good, but I'm not currently actively seeking it. In terms of what I do m4/3 suits me very well, both for handling and for image quality. My plan here is to use the GH2, when I can finally get my hands on one, as my main camera and the E-P2 as an alternative. I was planning to sell my GH1 when the GH2 arrives but the price of new GH1's has dropped dramatically recently. Currently £399 or less in UK stores. This makes a S/H price of about £275-300 max. and considering I've dropped mine and "scuffed it up" I'd be looking at something less than that. I think its time to bite the bullet and do the video hack. Since it seems Panasonic have put a stop to their firmware being hackable (Though never underestimate the ingenuity of of the hackers!) my GH1 may be the only opportunity for me to try that. Having seen some of the results it is something I'd like to do. Video is not one of my great priorities, and as someone who still hasn't made much of an attempt to learn FInal Cut Pro after having it for 6 months, not something I have much expertise in editing, but it would be nice to have a dedicated video camera. My intention is to use the GH2 very much for stills, so it would make sense to have something separate, and I'd rather use it like that than sell it for around £200.


On the lens front I'll be using my two 4/3 lenses, the Leica 14-150mm zoom and Olympus 50mm f2 macro together with my Olympus 9-18mm zoom (which I like more and more) and Panasonic 20mm f1.7. Whether I keep my Olympus 14-42mm kit zoom remains to be seen. It looks great on the camera, but I don't use it much. I'm thinking about an Olympus 11-22mm 4/3 lens as a possibility but haven't decided as yet. I do also have the Voigtlander 25mm f0.95 on order as mu ultimate low light lens.


So thats it. More chopping and changing but more focused on what I want to use rather than what I think I should use. Now wheres that container ship with all those GH2's??


D

Panasonic and Leica

If somebody had said to me a few years ago that in late 2010 I would be using Panasonic cameras and lenses and eagerly awaiting their latest release I would not have believed them. A microwave or TV perhaps, but a Camera?!!

So why am I now looking to a Japanese electronics giant for innovation, quality and usability in my equipment needs, rather than to the places I looked before, Nikon, Pentax & Canon?

In the article by Michael Reichmann on the Panasonic GH2 there are some interesting quotes.

"At Photokina in 2006 I had dinner with a senior executive in the photographic industry. We were talking about the historical market battle between Nikon and Canon. At one point he paused and said, "You know – the future doesn't belong to either of those two. The future of the photographic industry belongs to Sony and Panasonic. They get it. As far as I can tell, neither Canon nor Nikon do. They're simply putting higher resolution and cleaner sensors in the same old boring cameras. That's not just what the future of this industry is about. Wait – you'll see". 

"But, for anyone that's been seriously involved with photography for more than a couple of years, it finally dawns that now, more than a decade into the digital revolution, the differences that we saw – first between film and digital – and now between similarly specs brands, is often de minimus. This means that to make sense of our buying decisions we need to also include haptics and ergonomics. A camera that produces great image quality is desirable, but one that fights you every step of the way with poorly conceived controls and awkward user interface eventually just becomes a pain in the ass. If one is a Sunday photographer, then a lot of design faults can either be overlooked or can be lived with. But for the more serious photographer, and especially working pros and others who use their cameras daily to earn some or all of their living, bad designs simply can't be tolerated.

Which brings us to the Panasonic GH2 specifically, and the G series in particular. Unlike some of its competitors, Panasonic "gets" user interface from a photographer's perspective."

"At the risk of repeating myself, this is a photographer's camera. By this I mean that it was clearly designed by people who use cameras and understand their role as tools, not just by marketing and engineering types looking to win the spec and shelf appeal wars, even if it means that the camera's design is a dog's breakfast of poorly designed menus and awkwardly place controls."

There's nothing I would disagree with in any of that. 

On the 24th July 2001 there was an interesting announcement. Panasonic and Leica had joined forces to produce digital cameras. There was a phrase in the press announcement that said "Panasonic, is a minor player in the digital camera market" 

As we know this relationship went on to produce compact small sensor cameras, until Panasonic dipped their toes into the DSLR world with two "odd" cameras. First came the L1, and its Leica counterpart, the Digilux3. This was a retro styled brick of a camera that bore little similarity to the rest of the market. It had its charms but was not a big seller. Panasonic had chosen the 4/3 standard for its sensor, allowing the use of Olympus and other lenses on its product. The next camera was the L10, much more a conventional looking DSLR, but with little innovations such as an articulated screen. Again it wasn't a huge seller.

In addition to the cameras, Panasonic, in conjunction with Leica, produced a small (4) lens range. Two kit lenses for the L series cameras, a superzoom and a fast "standard" lens. Those who read here will know my enthusiasm for these lenses. I really don't know who made the decision to make these lenses to such a high standard, but the result was four of the best digital camera lenses ever made. No compromise in terms of quality, or size, weight and price either!! This decision made the camera / lens combinations very expensive, but also established Panasonic as a photographic company to be taken seriously.

It wouldn't have taken a overpaid business guru to come up with the realisation that their 4/3 excursions with Leica weren't going to make Panasonic a fortune, so a rethink was obviously necessary. From this we got m4/3.

Are the quotes from Michael Reichmann's article and the above connected? Not being a member of Panasonics inner sanctum, I can of course only speculate. But if as a "minor player in the digital market" you choose to enter into a partnership with probably the most respected camera company in the world, then this either shows serious intent or divine providence. 

The Panasonic relationship with Leica is still going, but only on the compact camera front, and now Leica with the X1 are moving into that area themselves. 

To me it looks like Panasonic have benefited from their association with Leica. I agree with Michael Reichmann that the Panasonic G series are cameras for photographers. Much as I love my E-P2 as an aesthetic object, my GH1 is a much easier camera to use, well thought-out and designed to take pictures, rather than look good. Whether I'm overstating the Leica influence, who knows, but I've never believed in co-incidence much.

Yesterday I went out with my GH1 fitted with the Leica D 14-50mm Vario-Elmar f3.8-5.6. This is the kit lens for the Panasonic L10. You'll be familiar by now with my rave reviews of these lenses and this is no exception. This is the slower, lighter and smaller (though marginally) 4/3 zoom of the three that Panasonic and Leica produced. However it may well be the best. In combination with the GH1 sensor the results were simply breathtaking. I've gone on (and on and on!) about the 14-150mm but I think the 14-50mm may be better. The results at 50mm are a whisker away from what I'm getting with the Olympus 50mm f/2 macro. I can still see a slight difference, but its very close. 

Panasonic used a scaled down L10 body design for m4/3 but came up with a different kit zoom, the 14-45mm. They would have done this for reasons of economy, size, weight and price. So there are now 2 orphaned cameras and 4 orphaned lenses languishing in the somewhat shrinking world of 4/3. Before they disappear from sight I'm planning to do a bit of small-scale collecting and have both cameras and all four lenses. The lenses will of course get used with my m4/3 cameras. They are chunky, bulky, unremarkable looking pieces of plastic and glass but they produce the some of the sharpest images I've ever seen, and to own all four may not be what I need but thats never stopped me before!

D 

Some indications as to where (m)4/3 might be going.

A couple of interesting interviews:-
http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-no-new-16-megapixel-sensor-for-the-panasonic-gf2/

http://www.biofos.com/esystem/q&a_terada.html

It seems that as was always probable, Olympus and Panasonic are going in different directions. Though from the second interview, trying to work out where Olympus are going is not easy, with a series of fairly non-committal answers. Though much of both of these interviews could be lost in translation.


Some things do emerge. Firstly the new Panasonic (16MP) sensor is seemingly reserved for the GH2 and won't be making it across to either other Panasonic models or indeed to Olympus. The current GH1 sensor isn't in any other camera either, so the pattern is repeated.


The second is that the future of 4/3 as opposed to m4/3 is uncertain. Who knows what will happen?





However there was the point made that lenses last longer than cameras. Fortunately many 4/3 lenses will work very well with m4/3 and at least have some kind of future there. 


Since my favourite lens is a 4/3 lens and I have a couple more bought S/H arriving today I have more than a passing interest in this. Neither the 4/3 or m4/3 mounts strike me as having the longevity of the Nikon F-Mount, Pentax K-Mount and Leica M-Mount, though there will always probably be adapters available. I would imagine that owners of some of the most expensive Zuiko 4/3 lens may be concerned as to what kind of cameras may be available for them in the future. Do they have to look after their E5 very carefully, or can they expect another model, whether a DSLR or some kind of m4/3 - 4/3 hybrid to appear a year or two down the line?


I've always been somewhat disappointed by the 4/3 cameras that Olympus have produced. They are usually well-designed but the sensors have always seemed to produce soft results to me. I would hope that they might be encouraged to take a radical approach to future developments. 


Would I be alone in thinking that a retro-styled small camera, in the shape of something like a Contax G series with a non-AA Kodak 14 or 16MP 4/3 sensor could be the way to go? Make it compatible with 4/3 and m4/3, which would probably mean its m4/3 with an adapter included. No new lens range needed, a home for all existing lenses and a niche market to aim at. Surely Olympus are aware that they are never going to compete with Nikon, Canon or even Sony in the DSLR market. If they aren't then there's no hope for them. Surely they also realise that people who choose Olympus, whether 4/3 or m4/3 are looking for something a little different. They really aren't looking for a Nikon or Canon substitute. They may also own a DSLR and are looking for a smaller, lighter system. 


All the buzz about the Fuji X100 at Photokina and the column inches it created gives an idea as to what a market for this might be. We are all aware that Olympus don't do cheap. If we're going to have to pay Olympus prices for cameras and lenses why don't they give us something that looks and feels classy and takes terrific pictures? To keep on turning out underperforming, uninspiring DSLR clones isn't going to take them anywhere, is it? The Pens are terrific, a real blend of classic design and modern technology. The 4/3 format still has potential, but it needs a radical re-think, I believe. I'm a potential customer, but currently I'm just restricting my custom to picking up some of the wonderful 4/3 lenses that become available S/H to use on my m4/3 cameras, with a particular view to using them on the forthcoming GH2.


I suspect Olympus have no real plan for 4/3 because they probably have no real idea of how it will perform in terms of sales over the next few years. They aren't designing new lenses and they are probably not producing many new ones in their factories. How many are convertible to m4/3 is open to question and some of the "big boys" like the 14-35mm F2 need something substantial to carry them. Maybe the demise of 4/3 could have its benefits and lenses like the 14-35mm would suddenly become ridiculously cheap! 


However the demise of any system, particularly one that has such quality lenses as 4/3, is a narrowing of choice, and I for one would be disappointed if it disappeared. However sentiment and business don't mix well and if it goes it goes. Hopefully if it does my 14-150mm and other lenses will still be trundling away on the end of whatever I can fit them onto.


D

Panasonic 4/3

I've always had a fascination for the Panasonic 4/3 range. This consisted of two cameras, the L1 and L10 and four lenses made and designed in conjunction with Leica. The 14-150mm Zoom, 25mm f1.4 prime and two 14-50mm zooms, one f2.8-3.5 and the other f3.8-5.6. I've used an L1 and its Leica version the Digilux 3.





These are "bricks" of cameras. Only 7.5MP but capable of excellent results.


However I've always been more interested in the lenses.








In a recent post talking about the 14-150mm zoom- http://soundimageplus.blogspot.com/2010/10/zoom-that-breaks-rules.html I mentioned the 14-50mm f3.8-5.6 lens and that I knew virtually nothing about it. I've since tracked down a review of the lens and the L10 camera it was bundled with at:-
http://www.photozone.de/dslr_reviews/401_panasonic_lumix_dmc_l10 
where it got a good review. Then yesterday while having a look at the website of a second hand dealer I use I saw they had an L10 and this lens at a very good price, and realising the karma of the coincidence I am seriously considering trying it out. Assuming it hasn't been bought already expect to see some samples soon.


D

The Zoom that breaks the rules

Because I like to write about a variety of cameras and lenses here, what won't be apparent is that for the majority of times that I go out to take pictures I have been using the same camera and lens combination. Ever since I bought the Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-150mm f/3.5-5.6 Asph. OIS its been my lens of choice, usually paired with a Panasonic GH1, with which it works very well. I do use it occasionally with my Olympus E-P2, but I find the GH1 produces slightly better results in terms of sharpness and control over CA and fringing. 

For those interested in technical data, there's an old review of it at:- 

http://www.photozone.de/olympus--four-thirds-lens-tests/455-leica_14150_3856

As the review indicates, it is made in small quantities, and whether its even being manufactured any more is open to question. Made originally for Panasonics foray into 4/3, which didn't last long, it was part of a very small lens range for these cameras that Panasonic developed with Leica. 

In addition to the 14-150mm there are three others. The Panasonic 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 Leica D Vario Elmarit, and the Panasonic 25mm f1.4 Leica D Summilux both of which I have owned and are superb. There is also a Panasonic 14-50mm f3.8-5.6 Leica D Vario-Elmar, which I must admit I know virtually nothing about.

Since Panasonic and 4/3 have come to a dead end because of the development of m4/3, these excellent lenses are somewhat stranded. They can obviously be used on Olympus 4/3 camera bodies and on m4/3 via an adapter. There are however some problems. The Panasonic 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 Leica D Vario Elmarit, which is the oldest lens in the range, having been part of the L1 / Digilux 3 kits doesn't AF on the Panasonic G series cameras. Its not compatible with the contrast AF system. It does however AF on the Olympus Pens. 

In terms of quality its as good as the 14-150mm, but Panasonic don't seem to either want to or be able to issue a firmware update that makes it AF on their m4/3 cameras. If you are prepared to put up with MF then it can be used on the G series cameras.

The Panasonic 25mm f1.4 Leica D Summilux is a beast. Its huge, and almost as heavy as the 14-150mm. I used one and liked it very much, but then Panasonic brought out the 20mm f/1.7 and I much preferred that in terms of size and useability. 

None of these 4/3 lenses are particularly fast in terms of AF and the 14-150mm is no exception. However its not particularly sluggish either and is generally faster than its given credit for. Its nowhere near the performance of the Lumix 14-140mm  lens or the Olympus 14-150mm M.Zuiko but both those lenses, while decent performers, are some way off the Vario-Elmar in terms of sharpness.

I've used superzooms from Nikon, Canon, Sigma, Tamron, Panasonic and Olympus in the past and none of them come close to the Vario-Elmar. I've written before about how its like having a series of prime lenses. Its not 100% perfect as the review above indicates, but probably the closest thats available currently. Superzooms are supposed to be compromises and be about convenience over ultimate quality. The 14-150mm Vario-Elmar tears up the rule book in this regard being both convenient and super high quality. 

I get the same image quality from it as I do from my 20mm f/1.7 or my m-mount lenses. I can get this without having to change lenses or manually focus. While its not the smallest or lightest lens (Its 535g) it does eliminate the need for me to carry anything else. I do occasionally take out additional lenses, but most of the time just carry this fitted to my GH1. This gives a combined weight of around 900g. When you consider that a Canon 7D body only is virtually the same weight , it gives me an incredibly versatile outfit that I can carry for hours at a time.

One of the reasons I am waiting impatiently for the GH2 is to be able to use this lens on it. If its as good a camera as I'm hoping it will be then combined with the 14-150mm it could / should? produce superb results, and to a large extent take care of the majority of my needs. There are many occasions when AF is a great help, and much as I love using my M9 and the results it gives, I tend to use it mostly on trips when I will have the time to work with it. I also love the convenience and ease of one camera and one zoom lens and feel the GH1/14-150mm combination gives me the best options to gear ratio. I use it particularly when I'm exploring new terrain and have no idea of what to expect. Having that wide-angle to telephoto range in one lens means that I can quickly move between the two. I find this very useful in changing light. Those who photograph in the UK are well aware of days when the sun hides behind the clouds most of the day and only occasionally appears, usually to dramatic effect. Sometimes you have to work very quickly and thats when a one-zoom outfit proves its worth.

It is without doubt my most useful lens and the one that I use the most and I can see myself using it for the foreseeable future. I can't really see where a rival to it is going to come from. 

Words - D

Images - D & A

4/3?

There are lots of rumours circulating that Olympus are in the process of letting the four thirds system "fade away". The rumours indicate that there will be no more lenses and whether any new camera (E5??) will be released is uncertain. There is talk of a modular camera, which will accept either 4/3 or m4/3 lenses, but its nothing more than that, talk.

Panasonic have long since left the system, and there is talk of them adapting their Leica Summilux 25mm f1.4 for m4/3.

In the light of the success of m4/3 I would imagine that sales of 4/3 have diminished somewhat and though the official Olympus line is that 4/3 will continue, they seem to be in no hurry to add to the system.

In a way there is a certain inevitability to this. Olympus, who are the main providers of this system, have never succeeded in producing a "killer" camera. Whereas with m4/3 they succeeded at their first attempt with the E-P1, which quickly became a very desirable camera.

If the demise of 4/3 does happen, this will leave an "orphaned" set of quite amazing lenses. I have three 4/3 lenses. Leica Panasonic 14-50mm f2.8-3.5, Leica Panasonic 14-150mm f3.5-5.6 and Olympus Zuiko 40-150mm F4-5.6. All are superb. The rest of the Olympus 4/3 range has some incredible optics. 14-35mm f2 and 35-200mm F2 to name just two.

So what happens to these? Do Olympus just stop making them? Cut their losses and just concentrate on m4/3? The idea of converting them to m4/3 lenses strikes me as a non-starter, as many are pretty big and heavy lenses. Those who own these lenses have the option of using them on m4/3 via adapters, as I do, very successfully, but is this enough to keep the lens line going?

Probably not.

In the light of all this the concept of a "modular" camera, which is able to accept both 4/3 and m4/3 lenses strikes me as a radical and potentially very successful concept. It could have interchangeable sensor modules, like the Ricoh GXR system. The "4/3" * module could have a larger sensor and there could even be a separate module for tilt and shift. Video would have to be included and the more pro video features it includes the more useful it becomes. Things like an add-on EVF, advanced off-camera flash system, choice of grips could all be choices. *Apparently 4/3 lenses can cover more than the 4/3 sensor. So why not make it an APS-C sensor?, leaving the m4/3 module to retain the 4/3 sensor.

Olympus have never shied away from being different. A hybrid, modular camera, if done right, could be a great success. Not cheap, and probably neither small or light. However I doubt I am alone in finding this an attractive and useful option. Whether it will ever appear, who knows, and ultimately Olympus may decide not to take what is obviously a risk. Time will tell.