Half out of the fold

[snaarman]

Firstly - apologies for showing Panasonic GX7 images: I can't even claim I used an Olympus lens this time. I have put them up as a film strip so you can have a sneak peek.

The GX7: What's to like?

It takes lovely Oly m4/3 lenses.. With the 20mmf2 it looks a tiny bit like a Leica.
Yes, it will still fit in my Berghaus pocket with a small lens.
The silent shutter is fantastic.
The image quality is right up there with the E-M5

What's not to like?
The menu feels a bit clunky compared to the E-M5.
The screen and viewfinder are very "optimistic".

I have seen this on other EVF cameras. The image seems to be really punchy in the viewfinder, full of colour and contrast. When you load the files on the computer they are rather insipid by comparison. I have tweaked the finder contrast down and brightness up to make it a bit more realistic.

Anyway: Offa we go to Offa's Dyke..



Pete

PS. The E-M-5 is definitely staying :-)

[Ian]

Re: Half out of the fold

The GX-7 is a very nice camera and unique in the Panasonic range in having sensor shift IS, although not in the same league as the Olympus system. The range of Micro Four Thirds camera styles and sizes across the Olympus and Panasonic ranges is remarkable.

What do you mean by 'optimistic'?

Ian

[snaarman]

Re: Half out of the fold

What do you mean by 'optimistic'?

Ian

Well, you frame the shot, you check your histogram and click goes the shutter. (At that point I am thinking composition more than anything else).

Afterwards for two seconds* you get to actually see the result in the viewfinder before you move on to the next subject: Mmm - that looks great. It's punchy and sharp and contrasty and it's going to make a great print.

When you load it on the computer it isn't quite as punchy as you remember in the viewfinder. It isn't the end of the world, you can give it a bit of a push in Photoshop or whatever.

I just get the feeling that EVFs are tweaked just slightly up in contrast to give you a little buzz, rather like the old minilab prints were always a bit on the contrasty side because punch sell pictures...

Just my 2p .. and no, I wouldn't go back to the land of ground glass screens, flappy mirrors and no histogram :-)

Pete

*Other image review times are available

[David Morison]

Re: Half out of the fold

I sort of get the opposite with the E-M1 versus the Canon 7DII. When using the same settings and EFL on the same subject and magnifying the image on the screen the Olympus one appears much noisier and affected by artefact. However when comparing the RAWs in LR they appear almost identical with the Canon having slightly less luminance but more colour noise.

David

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Half out of the fold

Really like those moody skys.

[snaarman]

Re: Half out of the fold

Really like those moody skys.

Thanks.. It was really really cold, like 5 degrees but with huge wind chill up there. I wish I had taken my old 9-18 lens to get more sky in, but I was in "pocket camera" mode.

I'm sure if I had taken the E-M5 and a 14mm I would have come back with pretty much the same pictures...

P

[Ian]

Re: Half out of the fold

I sort of get the opposite with the E-M1 versus the Canon 7DII. When using the same settings and EFL on the same subject and magnifying the image on the screen the Olympus one appears much noisier and affected by artefact. However when comparing the RAWs in LR they appear almost identical with the Canon having slightly less luminance but more colour noise.

David

Canon do a lot of smoothing with JPEGs.

Ian

[Ricoh]

Re: Half out of the fold

This more or less mirrors my experience when comparing the GX7 against the EM5 and EP5. I capture RAW only, so unprocessed pictures always looks a little flat at first in LightRoom.

[pdk42]

Re: Half out of the fold

IQ is pretty much the same across all the 16Mp u43 sensors, whether it be Panasonic or Olympus. Shot RAW and processed through Lightroom, the output is pretty much identical.

I think the GX7 wins over Oly cameras in three areas:

- EVF+rangefinder body form (still think Oly needs the next Pen to do this)
- Better video
- Full electronic shutter (OK, so the E-M5ii does this now)

Areas where Oly wins are:

- IBIS on the Oly cameras is significantly better (incl in compose mode)
- The EVF quality is better (esp on the E-M1, E-M5ii and VF4)
- Some nice features such as Live Time and Live Composite

The ergonomics/operation of the cameras are different - neither is better nor worse than the other.

Choose your poison! I'd be happy with Panasonic, but on balance I prefer the handling of the Oly cameras (hence why I've just sold my GX7!).

[Peter_Hartland]

Re: Half out of the fold

Still keep looking at the GX7 for a good street camera, I must try & borrow one. especially with the off-set view finder which has advantages when I have borrowed a Leica for Street.

[snaarman]

Re: Half out of the fold

Still keep looking at the GX7 for a good street camera, I must try & borrow one. especially with the off-set view finder which has advantages when I have borrowed a Leica for Street.

Yes, it's like a Pen but with built in viewfinder and optional silent shutter. I find the screen rather cluttered, and there are several little software improvements I would like to see...*

However, if you want to get the best from the screen. EVF and rear buttons, you need to work through the whole menu system setting everything up as you want it. Allow yourself a couple of hours and a cup of tea.

:-)

P

*EG. If I have disabled the Video button, could I use it for some other function? If I have disabled the video button why does the display still include clutter about the video coding standard I have selected? Lower case Grrr.