luminescence

recently acquired the GX80 on Amazon Germany - however, no English manual was sent - only 4 euro languages. Anyone know where I can download the manual?

thanks Maximizer, very helpful information! Amazon Germany was the best choice, their prices were a little cheaper on some items than Amazon UK, plus they have an English option https://www.amazon.de/gp/switch-language/homepage.html?ie=UTF8&language=en_GB&ref_=cs_switchlang
 

cheers!

Hello,

              I have recently relocated to Portugal and half the items I had in my Amazon UK shopping cart dropped out after a few days - including one seller who was supplying the Lumix GX85 for instance. Now a long wait for stock of 1-2 months. I tried Amazon Spain but nothing there. Amazon Italy can supply and I have brought other items from them before, although its a bit of a pain using Google Translate to check everything.

Can anyone recommend anything better? Amazon Germany or Netherlands for instance? It would be helpful in English of course but most Amazon branches seem to stick with their native tongue.

I tried B&H in NYC but they will not ship overseas anything with lithium batteries. I left Ebay years ago due to some security issues, am I going to waste time doing business with them again? I see that my item is available on UK Ebay, the supplier is in Italy, but can post to Portugal. At a very good price.

Wondering also if I have to pay VAT or import duty here?

Any advice appreciated!

2 hours ago, markr041 said:

The new model works with dual IS on the GX85 (80). The old model does not. It could be that dual-IS eliminates the jitters problem, and you get a faster lens too.

oh that's good to know because I am getting the GX85!

38 minutes ago, cantsin said:

My advice: Keep the old model because of its better optical stabilization.

You could have a point, I noticed a used one online for 220 GBP ...

Hello, there seems to be some confusion on Amazon.co.uk about prices and models for this lens. I want to get the latest 14-140mm 3.5-5.6 to replace my old 14-140 mm 4-5.6. Apparently Panasonic say the 3.5-5.6 is twice improved over the original.

On Amazon.co.uk there is one for £639 - the review for it says it came off a GX8. Neither does the advert for the lens give the specs for the aperture, just H-FS14140.   https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B010Q5EHDY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AOPGMFY61H3JC I speculated that because the price was more expensive for this first item that it was the latest model lens.

But another seller lists the lens here as: H-FS14140E-K 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Compact and Stylish High Zoom Digital Interchangeable Lens --- for £449. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CJAP9D2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A19GAJANPYW40K 

However, underneath this ad, there is another small advert that says: "There is a newer model of this item: Panasonic Lumix H-FS14140 - zoom lens - 14 mm - 140 mm. £639.53. (1) In stock." - so it takes you back to the first link that is provided above - a bit confusing!

Thanks!

yes, super bright torch or super loud devices ...

Yes I had heard some years ago that they used to pump gas through the refrigeration vents of motorhomes to make sure no one wakes up while they rob it. It could have happened to me when inside the van but I did not feel anything when I woke up. I wonder what sort of drug or chemical they would spray?
There's a good doco theme here, lol!

Thanks one and all for your feedback, I will follow up on some of your tips. I think I resigned myself in the first ten minutes that I would never see all the gear again. To answer one question, yes I think there are highly organised gangs in France that know how to target people. I may have even been followed as a lone driver when driving my motorhome from Italy to Portugal through southern France. I stopped for the night at a truck stop and was robbed while I was fast asleep in the middle of the night. I kid you not, they broke into the camper through the passenger door by forcing the lock and must have had a torch. I am usually a fairly light sleeper, I did not hear a thing probably because I was exhausted from driving the day before. They got credit cards, passport and cash as well. One would not think to take precautions when "safely" locked in the van but people are becoming more devious and desperate these days, so all travelers have to be prepared "as if". I usually hide my camera bag under a storage seat but left it in my wardrobe that night. I left my wallet and passport in my shorts on the seat, they should have been taken out and hidden away. Even experienced travelers like myself for the past 20 years can get caught out by letting your guard down for a moment. Now I strap up my front doors with rubber straps, so even if they forced the locks, it would be impossible to open the doors. If I had woken up and disturbed them, who knows what might have happened if they were armed so I figure I got off lightly.

Hello there,
                    Thought  I would try a long shot by reporting a theft near Montpelier, France of all my (uninsured) gear on June 6 recently.

Two bodies GH2 and GH3. Lumix lenses: 7-14 mm, 12-24 mm, 14-140 mm, Leica 25 mm, several memory cards, camera bag etc. Passports, credit cards.
I guess the GH5 might be a new option, but I really loved the other two cameras. Perhaps I will try the gear sale section here.
Thanks...

Actually, I just called Panasonic USA and they told me that the part is no longer available. So I will try ebay.....

Apparently this is a known problem with the GH3. Its available on ebay from a Chinese company or if you are in the USA, you can go online or ring Panasonic at the link below. Many thanks for your assistance!  https://panasonic.encompass.com/item/9560969/Panasonic/VYK6B43/Cup

Hello, does anyone know where I can find the eyecup for a GH3. It slips off easily and was lost. But searches on B & H and Amazon only show eyecups for G7 and G8 - but have no idea if they fit a GH3. Any suggestions? Or is there a better viewer available?

I am getting spammed to the max by someone called LoveProblem SolutionBabaji from EOSHD. Is it just me or the entire forum? Ive been spammed about thirty times in the past few hours....

Hi there folks,

                       this Japanese distributor is offering the 12-35 for over $200 less than elsewhere. Am considering getting it sent from Japan but just wanted to check if there was any compatability issues with a GH2/3 body bought in USA? Here is my dialogue with the distributor and I got the same answer from another Japanese distributor:

me: you advertise this lens as "refurbished" for $880, but you also say that it is "Never used. Unopened, in original packaging." Do you mean it is brand new or that the refurbished lens has not been used?
thanks!

them: Should you make the purchase, the lens that deliver to you is guaranteed not "refurbished" nor "Used". We have to make the listing under "refurbished" due to the listing restriction on the pricing in Amazon. You will understand should you browse through the price for the NEW lens listing option in Amazon. The lens is in original packing, with lens hood, pouch, cap and a limited worldwide warranty. However, since the warranty do not cover North America region, should you need for Panasonic service center maintenance, you will have to go through us to put forward for you. Should you have any further queries on this lens listing, please kindly let us know and we look forward to serve you.
Regards,
panacam

 

I asked the same question on DP Review where I got lots of responses: http://***URL removed***/forums/post/52639253. If this link does not work, its under the Micro Four Thirds forum, called " Panny 12-35/2.8 versus Oly 12-40/2.8". I decided to go with the Panny because its the same brand as my GH2/3, but its really six of one, half a dozen of the other for many people.

As far as questions like this, DP Review will give you many times more feedback than EOSHD, possibly because there are a lot more people on it.

Hi there,

                I have been looking for the best lightweight portable setup for the solar recharging of camera batteries. I do alot of landscape and travel photography where I go in hiking for a few days etc. There is alot of stuff on the web and one that looks alright is the GoalZero Nomad 7, here .

I have a Panasonic Lumix GH2 which has a mains plug recharger, but with no other outlets for USB recharging or anything like that. It seems that if I get a Panasonic DC coupler, which is used for linking to a rechargeable battery kit, then that should plug into the Nomad kit, as it also has a rechargable battery kit. But I am not sure here either, whether the electricals are compliant.
 

Also wondering about recharging times too. On mains power these batteries can take several hours to recharge depending upon how dead they are. I have seen reviews for some of these solar rechargers where recharging times have been very slow for some people.
 

So, hoping someone here has some experience in getting the right combination of power and travel lightness. Thanks.

Hi there, I have been looking at these two lenses lately, both very impressive and both rated very closely, as per this report here. I cannot find any other comparison reviews of people who have actually used both. As a GH2/GH3 user I am wondering if there is any disadvantage in going with the Oly; it weighs a good three ounces  more than the Panny, with more fancy lens elements, but don't know if it makes it necessarily superior to the Panny. It certainly 'feels' like a better lens and happens to be much cheaper. Anyone  had experience with both?

Noktor's website shows that its 12mm F1.6 lens is out of stock but does not have any specific dates for availability. Searching the web yields barely any results on Amazon, B&H etc. Does anyone know details of whats going on with this elusive lens?

I am interested in the best wide lens for a micro four thirds camera. I already have a Panasonic 7-14 mm but want something much faster that I can use as a dedicated landscape/architecture lens. Something equivalent in quality and build to my old OM Zuiko 24mm, f2.0 (with an 85 degree angle of view), which apparently had built-in compensation for converging verticals.

I have seen the new Olympus 12mm, f2.0 but am not drawn to it due to mixed reviews and its somewhat 'tinny' look and feel. So far I have three lenses on my short list that are equivalent to the old 24 mm or less, I am not interested in anything smaller or bigger, just this 12mm (or 24 mm in the old system). Any other ones that could be added to the ones below?

Noktor 12mm f1.6 (angle of view?)

Olympus 12m f2.0 (85 degree angle of view)
Koya 12 mm f1.6 (not yet released)

Also, is there an equivalent fit with an adapted lens? I have seen various experiments with surveillance camera lenses and the like.
 

PS - I see this morning that Samy's now has it for the higher price of $898 and it is on backorder....

Thought some of you might like to know that Samy's is selling GH3 bodies for $698. I could not believe my luck as I had one in my Amazon shopping cart for a couple of weeks. Then yesterday I saw that the price had gone down from $998 to about $800. So I opened another window to do a separate search for the GH3, it showed that it was even cheaper and that the source was Samy's.

Is  there something that I am missing here, is it too good to be true, or is Samy's just overstocked?

Hi folks,

            I have a bit of a dilemma about buying the GH3. Money is not the issue, its about portability with extensive traveling and going into remote places, being on planes alot etc. I have done a lot of review reading on the GH3 and as usual, with all the fast evolving technology, its a very seductive option.

But I ask myself, do I really need an extra half brick to lug around with me, especially when by the time I master the camera, the GH6 or something else will be released. (Or a hybrid GH3 - GX7 would be amazing.)
I could sell the GH2 of course, but that is not the issue. I like the GH2's smaller size and weight. So I guess this question may have been asked before, but I cannot find the specifics on this forum. What would users recommend for,

1. The most optimised hack for a GH2 that has the best Mbps (88?), that comes closest to the GH3?
2. The best hack for slow motion?
3. The best hack for timelapse?
4. The best hack that contains all these criteria?
5. How many memory cards (and what sizes) to hold all these - about 3?

I am nowhere near as experienced as many members here. I have read up on all the various hacks around but have not tried most of them, so I really need to cut to the chase and not waste too  much time. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read and respond!

I notice that Delkin Devices Snug It make camera body skins for Canons and Nikons. As I intend to hang on my GH2 for a while, I was wondering if there is a skin for it? Cannot find anything on the net except for the looser fitting generic neoprene by Lenscoat Bodyguard like the ones here...http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?sts=ma&pn=2&N=0&Ntt=camera+body+skin

Very interesting article, however from my current viewpoint in Thailand, it seems that these big manufacturers might be making up their shortfalls in Asia. The amount of Chinese tourists sporting semi pro and pro Canons and Nikons is mind-boggling. Three or four thousand dollar cameras dangling around their necks. The new money in China must regard these big ass cameras as some sort of status symbol. The local cafes see them all sporting iphones and tablets , but unlike other areas in the world, you see them actually using the big cameras. Maybe its a passing fad,  maybe not - maybe a whole stream of photographic creativity will emerge from Asia in the next ten years. I also noticed at a local shopping centre  that Nikon was doing a big promotion for advanced DSLR's to a packed audience of local Thais and Chinese.