Property Pictures and HDR

Yesterday I was shooting some interiors with a Panasonic GH2 and a 7-14mm zoom. One of the problems is handling the dynamic range in these shots, particularly since m4/3 isn't the best at this. Normally I shoot a range of exposures and cut and paste bits from each, or mask off areas and selectively darken or lighten. This is how the top three shots were done.

I did try Photoshop HDR as well. Here are the three shots I used. Bracketed at -2, 0 and +2.

This is an HDR version of those three shots, with some Photoshop adjustment.

Its OK, and I presume I could get it better with practice or even using different software. However I'm not sure it improves what I do already.

Low light comparison between Fuji X100 and GH2 plus Summilux f/1.4

I've got both my Panasonic Leica D four thirds lenses up for sale on ebay. While the quality of the Summilux 25mm f/1.4 and Vario Elmar 14-150mm lenses is undisputed they are somewhat bulky, and I do have lighter alternatives. However since I'm not prepared to sell them cheaply, I may well end up keeping them, as they are both expensive, and fairly specialist lenses. This is obviously no hardship!! Its the usual case of guilt about having too much gear. I never actually want to sell anything, but room to move and the avoidance of bankruptcy are compelling reasons!

With the possibility that the Summilux 25mm f/1.4 might be staying around I decided to give it a try in low light at f/1.4 on the GH2.

The main problem with this is the high ISO performance of the GH2. While the best that m4/3 can offer, its certainly nowhere near as good as the X100. However with some work in Photoshop Adobe Camera Raw, involving a fair amount of luminance smoothing, I can get a very decent result up to ISO 3200 with the Summilux. 

This produces a very "smooth" looking file which is not unnatractive. It does work very well for portraits as people like the flattering result. I used this "luminance smoothing" for weddings on my Canons and people liked it a lot. It takes out all sorts of blemishes without looking like soft focus is used, as the edges stay sharp. It also has the advantage of smoothing out the bokeh at the same time.

Converting to black and white also reduces the noise. On the GH2 the green channel is the cleanest and converting to grayscale using just this channel produces an excellent result.

An advantage of the GH2 / Summilux combination over the X100 is the 25mm f/1.4 is sharper wide open than the Fuji f/2 lens, which is somewhat soft at its widest aperture. The extra stop also gives an advantage and with the smaller sensor meaning that DOF is not too narrow the GH2 becomes a useable camera in low light, though I still prefer the X100.

I'll see whether I still have the lens in a few days / weeks time. As I said I'm not going to be upset if I have to keep it. However there is a Panasonic AF 25mm f/1.4 on the horizon, which I'm sure I'll be getting, so what the future of the Summilux is in the long term I cannot say.

Easter Panoramas

Some Panoramic images shot over the easter weekend.

Panasonic GH2 Olympus 14-150mm m.zuiko zoom

Leica M9 Zeiss 50mm f/2 Planar T*

Panasonic GH2 Olympus 14-150mm zoom - Olympus refurbished site - Rush of blood on ebay.

I've got a bone to pick with 43rumors. Publishing this post about where to buy Olympus refurbished gear in Europe has COST ME MONEY! Seriously though, if you're interested in mint, as new Olympus gear at very reasonable prices, and you live in the EU, then this is a great site. (Its on ebay) I did get a bit carried away though and ended up buying an E-P1 + 14-42mm, 17mm panacake lens, E-PL1 + 14-150mm and even an E-620 + 14-42 4/3 camera to use my PanLeica lenses on. All stuff (apart from the E-620) I've had before and sold, but decided to get again as they were so cheap. A bit extravagant but less than I just sold an unused lens for on ebay.

The E-PL1 is going to end up bundled with the 14-42mm on ebay quite soon, as I wanted the 14-150mm Olympus zoom again. (It was only available in a kit) Despite my love for the PanLeica 14-150mm, it is heavy and the AF is very sluggish on my GH2. The m.zuiko 14-150mm is very fast on the GH2 as I discovered yesterday and handles wonderfully with the grip. A real pleasure to use, and while its not the same quality as the PanLeica, its a decent lens.

Finally a bit of irony. I bought yet another EP camera, partly because I think they are beautiful and partly because I was pining for the "35mm lens rangefinder experience" and assuming my Fuji X100 would be further delayed. Yes, you've guessed it, two hours after the Olympus arrived I got the phone call. "Your Fuji X100 has come in, we're sending it out today!!"

Unfortunately due to bank holidays and DHL not delivering on Saturday I have to contain my excitement until next Tuesday when, hopefully it will arrive. I guess you know what I'll be writing about next week!

So in the meantime heres some pictures with the Olympus 14-150mm on my GH2.

GH2 - 3 prime lenses

Panasonic GH2 45mm f/2.8 macro

3 image panoramic stitch

More images from the Panasonic GH2 and 14mm, 20mm and 45mm lenses.

Panasonic GH2 14mm f/2.5  

Panasonic GH2 45mm f/2.8 macro 

Panasonic GH2 14mm f/2.5  

Panasonic GH2 20mm f/1.7

Images - David and Ann

"Pro" GH2

There are sometimes threads about the problems of using m4/3 in a "professional" capacity, simply because it doesn't look the part. Well the combination of the Ownuser battery grip and the Leica Vario-Elmar D 14-150mm zoom added to the Panasonic GH2 certainly adds a touch of "gravitas"!!!

This of course makes a nonsense of the weight and size advantages of m4/3 and this is very definitely moving into DSLR territory. It is quite a heavy outfit as the zoom plus adapter adds considerable bulk. The grip doesn't really add much to the stability as the GH2 body is so light. However as before the vertical shutter button is very useful. 

It is however lighter than an Olympus E-5 and in many ways gives better results. 16MP as compared to 12MP and a better high ISO performance, from what I've seen of the E-5 raw samples. However I wouldn't advise trying to take pictures with the GH2 immersed in water!!

Some images taken yesterday with this combination.

As per usual these images are wonderfully sharp and every bit the equal of the prime lenses I used the day before. Its obviously an incredibly useful lens, but carrying it about on a fairly long walk is not as comfortable or enjoyable as a kit with small light prime lenses. The relative slowness of the zoom was also a problem as the light wasn't wonderful. I ended up using higher ISO speeds than I would have liked for some shots. However in daylight, the GH2 performs pretty well up to ISO 1600.

For choice, the GH2 + grip + 14mm, 20mm and 45mm is a great kit to use, and something I've been looking to put together for some time. I'm sure I will be tempted into using the 14-150mm zoom on long distance shoots, even though it is heavier and bulkier than the primes. Its a nice choice to have. Its not often you can say that using a superzoom gives no compromise on quality but such is the optical performance of the 14-150mm Vario-Elmar, that in this case you can.

Images - David and Ann

Do I "like" my GH2 finally?

Adding my "battery grip" seems to have improved my perception of my GH2 somewhat. I've always been a great fan of its performance and the pictures it produces, but have always disliked how it looks and feels. Its "I can't afford a proper DSLR, so I've bought this compact camera thingy that pretends to look like a miniature version of one" look is something I don't find attractive. OK I'm being a little harsh here, but I've never liked the design and feel of "bridge" cameras and thats what it reminds me of. If you are going to make a small camera it strikes me that you need to design for that. The Olympus Pens are a lovely example of small camera style.

To my mind the grip makes it both look and handle better. I took it out yesterday with Lumix 14mm, 20mm and 45mm primes and loved using it. It suddenly felt much more like a "proper" camera and less like a toy. 

The camera lens ratio feels better to me as does shooting vertically, which is vastly improved. It works very well with these light primes, and the whole outfit is really easy to carry around.

Really impressive results too. 

In terms of this there are lots of posts regarding firstly the 14mm f/2.5 pancake and how its not a particularly good lens, and secondly how inferior Panasonic jpgs are compared to Olympus in terms of colour. 

I actually believe the opposite of both. My 14mm lens is really good. Beautifully sharp when stopped down, and produces great pictures. In terms of the colour, there are lots of choices for jpgs within the camera. These are all on the vibrant setting. Considering it was a dull-ish day and the pictures are shot in pretty flat light, I have no problems with the colour. It looks pretty "punchy" to me.

So, yes I think I do "like" my GH2 more. It doesn't mean I'll use it more since its a great camera and I use it a lot, but I will enjoy using it more. I've said before if I could only have one camera this would be it, and I have no reason to change my mind about that. However, it is a more pleasant experience when a camera feels "right" in the hand and the £65 I spent on the Ownuser grip seems money well spent to me.

Words - David

Images - David and Ann

Battery grip for GH2 - Not!

I've just got the ownuser battery grip for Panasonic G series. Just got being the operative words since it took 23 days to arrive from Hong Kong to the UK!!

Since I don't have any of the cameras it fits legitimately (more later!) I tried it on on my GF1. It works perfectly, though looks a little odd, because the tripod thread is in a different position. It therefore looks a little off centre. However it does work, powering the camera and giving a vertical grip. So if you're in the market for a battery grip for your GF1, there's one available.

It is very light, and adds virtually no weight to the camera, but as has been mentioned before, it does have a serious flaw. There's no way to lock it to the camera, so it does move from side to side even when screwed in tight. Very irritating, still straightening it up gives you something to do between taking pictures!

Now for the interesting part. Using it on a GH2. Its not meant for the GH2 and you definitely can't use it to power the camera, as the "dummy" battery which fits in the battery compartment is the wrong size. (too big) However, and I say however with all the usual warnings about health and safety, you can get it to operate a vertical grip for the GH2. By putting in a GH1/G2/GF1 etc. battery and connecting it to the remote/mic socket, the vertical shutter button then works for AF and firing. Both batteries are the same voltage, but I can't guarentee it won't fry your camera eventually if you try it. I'm prepared to take the risk, others may not be. Plus if anyone thinks I'm doing something hazardous here, please let me know!

Firstly the grip does fit the camera, though the tripod thread not being in exactly the right place, it is a few mm's slightly further back than it should be, though this isn't a problem. This is the reason for me buying it, just to give a better "feel" to the camera. I've always had problems with the GH's in terms of holding and using them and I wanted to see if this grip improved things. I was planning to get it & if it fitted, this is how I wanted to use it. Its not perfect because its not designed for the camera, but it does achieve my aim, which is to make the GH2 a better handling camera for me. It adds very little weight, though I find the camera feels less flimsy with it on particularly when using lenses like the 14mm and 20mm pancakes. I've actually already butchered mine, cutting off the dummy battery completely, so it looks better. 

As I said its far from perfect but it mostly fulfills its purpose for me. I'd absolutely love a custom made one from Panasonic, and there were rumours, but these don't seem to have materisalised. However in the absence of that, I'll carry on with this. The vertical shutter button is a bonus, I had no idea whether that would work. Obviously no extra power for the camera, but there is a handy little compartment for storing a spare battery!!

For some its obviously a pointless exercise, but my favourite camera outfit ever was a Pentax MZ-5, battery grip and 43mm f/1.9 lens. I've always wanted to see if I could get a digital equivalent of that, and in terms of weight and size, the GH2, this grip and 20mm lens is the closest I've ever come. I've just been out to use it to take some pictures and I loved the feel of it. It doesn't exactly mould to your fingers perfectly but its close enough & I loved using the vertical shutter. Its beautifully positioned. So a sort of successful outcome. 

Incidentally, if you're interested in it for the cameras its designed for, I think it would work very well, if you can put up with it moving from side to side occasionally. It did seem with two batteries to slightly speed up the AF on my GF1, but don't take that too seriously as I only tried it briefly.