jonpais

I went to a Lumix station in Penang this morning and a salesman told me Panasonic Malaysia is estimating a $2,300 price tag for the GH5 here, unless the Malaysian ringgit rebounds. I guess it is at a historic low at the moment. I believe this is the first time I've heard a figure from a Panasonic representative.

If you're still considering a 42.5 lens, maybe you should just pick up the two zooms and spend an extra $300 for the Panasonic 42.5 f/1.7 instead. Every review I've seen says it's an excellent lens, it focuses closer than the Nocticron if you want to do the occasional 'macro' shot, and according to Max Yuryev, the Nocticron's OIS has micro jitter, the 42.5 f/1.7 doesn't. I can't comment, since I've always used the Nocticron on a tripod. Tough decisions!

First of all, I really had no idea young people weren't computer savvy. Secondly, your illustration is excellent. Thanks.

I did enjoy his video and comments, though like you, I didn't agree with all of his points. It's almost like he's saying young people are too stupid or lazy to use a battery charger, and don't even know what an SD card is or something. It would be nice if all cameras had the option of USB charging and if firmware updates could be installed wirelessly like they already can be on some devices. But those two ideas (which may very well be adapted by most manufacturers in the very near future), like many of his other suggestions, aren't what it will take to get young people interested in real cameras.

From all the videos I've seen, many of which have been posted in this forum, I'd say the Fuji 4K is more than just usable.

Here's an illustration of the crop factor with a 35mm f/2 lens, comparing the 1080p image to the 4K image (from Gordon Laing's review at Camera Labs)

I'm pretty sure it's a 1.17 crop, not 1.7x...

I also own both the Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 and 35-100mm f/2.8 zooms, as well as the Nokton 17.5mm f/0.95. It seems to me that recently, the 12-35mm isn't as sharp as it used to be, but two repair shops could find nothing wrong with it. Which is why I've already bought the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and am currently looking for a decent 12mm lens. The 35-100mm produces lovely images, but still has jittery OIS, even after the firmware update, but at least one forum member reported that it is no longer a problem on one of the newer Panasonic bodies featuring IBIS. On other manufacturer's bodies without IBIS, however, it could and will be an issue. The Nokton is unparalleled for its build quality. The Nocticron has by far the best build quality of any AF lens for MFT, fast and accurate AF, as well as class-leading OIS in the u4/3 system. Andrew already said in his review of the GX80/85 that it had excellent stability. Something you should be aware of though, is that the Nocticron is actually larger than the GH4 body, and I expect it will be quite a bit larger than the GX85. Mounting it on a quick release plate with the camera slightly forward helps when mounting the camera on a tripod. You already know I am infatuated with the Nocticron, but since you're primarily in the market for a versatile lens, I'd probably go with the two Panasonic zooms. Here's a short clip shot with the 12-35mm f/2.8: Free Background Music from JewelBeat.com

@Cary Knoop I'm glad you're enjoying your purchase. The overwhelming majority of buyers who left comments over at B&H also felt that the PanLeica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 was exceptional. But is it really? Several users confirmed that, mechanically at least, the lens leaves much to be desired. And a few either exchanged or returned their lens because of the zoom mechanism, not something you'd expect from a product designed by Leica. This lens, after having used it on a wildlife shooting trip to South Africa and Botswana for two months on a Panasonic GH 4 body for video and stills, was disappointing my expectations and sometimes even frustrating. Although I would rate the optical rendition as good to very good in the 100 - 300 mm range, handling and performance in the field on a GH4 body isn't more than mediocre, to say the least. The greatest flaw in mechanical design: You can turn the lens barrel from horizontal to vertical 90 degrees counterclockwise only. It's above me what the Pana/Leica lens designers had in mind with this limitation - certainly not the usability of this lens in the field. That's a ZERO! - Roland Optically this lens exceeds my expectations; which is why I give it 5 stars. However some of the design features I question. 1. The lock and unlock switch really doesn't work that well and it's confusing when your locked or unlocked. 2. Has anyone used this lens in winter? Try grasping the lens hood knob; tiny is not the word for it. 3. Others have talked about the space between tripod mount and lens; you have to adapt to turning the lens from the top. 4. Again know issue, of stiff barrel. Overall this is a great lens with some weak design features. I bought this for my EM1 instead of the Oly 300 F4 and am happy with the decision. - Gregory One star because I found the lens to be unusable...the zoom action was way too stiff. Basically, you set the focal length and you are stuck with that setting. I have other zooms, the Leica Lumix 12-35, the Leica lumix 35-100, the pany 45-200 and the pany 100-300. All of these have a nice feel and you can zoom the lens while looking through the viewfinder. But not this new 100-400. It takes two hands to zoom the lens, i.e., change the focal length meaning that if you want to track something and change the focal length as you shoot....no way! Optically, a very nice lens. If they fix the stiffness issue I will order another one. The sales person at B&H said that the stiffness was a characteristic of the lens, that is why I did not ask for a replacement. I returned it. - Cameraman I am a bird photographer and videographer and I have been excited about the prospect of owning this lens for some months. The first one I had was so stiff that I had to return it. YES, I did have the barrel unlocked! The replacement zoomed in much more smoothly, but zooming in was jerky and stiff. I had to return this one, too. I feel bereft. All I have left is my 100-300mm Panasonic lens which has never been very good. still debating whether to send this back. - Waxart

One reader took offense at my harsh comments about the seriously overpriced, underperforming PanLeica 100-400mm zoom lens, saying I'd never even held one in my hands. But Chris Niccolls has, and if you fast forward to around 10.18 in his review (link below) of the Lumix GX80/85, you can hear his assessment of the build quality. Apart from the unremarkable optical performance and the rough zoom construction, the OIS for a lens this pricey is barely 2.5 EV - an instrument this expensive could be expected to achieve at least 4 EV stabilization - particularly when, at its long end, it is the equivalent of an 800mm lens on full frame. Mirror Lessons have also posted nature and sports shots made with the lens, which I have watched. My apologies to anyone I may have offended. Here is the link to Chris Niccolls' look at the zoom. https://youtu.be/nuVtIPUSVKo

The concert footage looks fine, but I don't see the relationship between that and the skateboarders...

That cartoon pretty much sums up so many of the moronic newscasters after the results were in. give it a chance? what the fuck?! the supreme court is what has me worried...

Looks fine to me. Now, if only I could find the camera somewhere. A shop in Malaysia said on their Facebook page that the G80/85 wouldn't be on the shelves till December. Could be next year when we see it in Vietnam, just in time for the GH5!

Another look at the Panasonic Leica Nocticron. Free Background Music from JewelBeat.com

43 Rumors posted a video showing that the IBIS still sticks when panning with the Leica DG Vario Elmar 100-400mm f/4.0-6.3 lens, but who cares - i'd never spend $1,800 for that crap lens anyhow. If I were a sports or nature photographer, I would however invest in the gorgeous Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 300 mm f/4.0 ED IS PRO, whose image stabilization reaches a remarkable 4.5-4.7 EV, according to LensTip.com. #I'mnotafanofuniversalzooms Edit: I should add, in all seriousness, that a good tripod is worth its weight in gold, and I can highly recommend the iFootage Wild Bull T7 carbon fiber tripod. I've been using it for a while now, and it is sturdy as hell, handsome enough that it gets nods of approval from people on the street, and is able to handle up to 40 kg payload.

Looks pretty good! Still some up and down motion, but not bad at all.

Just a few clips sooc to see how it renders skin tones, texture of fabric. I would appreciate it. I'm still considering replacing my Vario 12-35mm f/2.8, it just hasn't seemed as sharp as I'd like recently. It could just be my imagination, I took it in to a couple of shops and they said there's nothing wrong with it. I really like the results I've gotten with the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and I'd like to find a 12mm lens. The Samyang/Rokinon is an option, still hoping Sigma releases a 12mm MFT lens soon. I just finished shooting some more people with the Nocticron. I'll try to post them this evening if they look alright.

Tom Haig says the Metabones XL works on the G80, so that's great news.

That is awesome news!

Reader Peter Kent had this to say over at 43 Rumors: I've been testing Ver 1.1 on the G85 for the last 30 mins and it is much improved; I now consider the G85's IBIS usable for video recordings. It's not perfect and I'm not sure if it's as good as the GX85 because I no longer have access to one but it does not look bad at all. Supposedly the Em1-II is like using a stabilizer or tripod, I am not seeing those results with the G85 and Ver 1.1 but I am also not using a Dual IS lens. I still see a little shake sometimes and I've seen one or two jumps but the jumps are very smoothed out now and I no longer find them distracting. I'm now wondering whether the GX85 might not be the better option, especially now that I'm not even sure whether the G85 is compatible with my Speedbooster. ?

I just checked the Metabones site and the G80 isn't on the list of compatible cameras with either the XL or the Ultra. ☹️️

@Kisaha I'm just curious: can you produce a shred of evidence that Fuji marketing targets 'die hard Fuji funs [sic], and upper-middle class purists and hipsters'? Concerning your comment about the 'pragmatic dynamics' of the Fuji system, if by that you mean ergonomics, Sony cameras lacking features like touchscreen and IBIS have been embraced by enthusiasts and professionals alike. In fact, Sony have for a long time now received criticism from even their staunchest supporters, who complain about their convoluted menus, which also falls under the category of ergonomics. Also, whether or not you can 'tweak' the image in post to obtain results similar to the picture profiles in the XT-2 is not the point: the purpose is quick turnaround time, not tinkering around for hours in post. As far as the cost goes - while I'm not a working professional, I really don't consider $1,600 to be outrageous for a refined prosumer flagship camera as good as the XT-2, which some might call a poor man's Leica, though that might be a stretch - I paid more than that for my GH4 almost 3 years ago. Finally, there's the image quality - I haven't been so impressed with the image quality from a mirrorless camera since I don't know when.

@vulgatron I was just trying to talk myself out of getting the kit lens.

@Cinegain Since you mentioned Veydra, and I was going to bring this up earlier when you mentioned the anamorphic mode in the GH4 - I can't tell you how disappointed I was to learn that they'd dropped plans to build an anamorphic lens. Maybe when the GH5 arrives, they'll have another go at it.

@Cinegain Since you already ordered the kit lens, please don't read my rant against universal zooms.