[ Coming Product ] : Panasonic GH2

[loneWolff]

Hi b00n12,
Last I heard from the leprechaun of rainbow panny, that pot of gold is not available for pre-order in the isle of SG.
So find me a four leaf clover in catching him again with my butterfly net. Maybe I can wiggle more golden truth from him. And maybe reclaim my GH1 body cap and one lens cap, the bloody suckerfish are still in his pockets.

 

[loneWolff]

Hi Kti,
You will not feel at home holding the GH2 either after holding the G2 as Panny have the decency to make a camera that's easy to hold for a lady's hand. Your owning a Pentax K-7 probably says you either have a set of big hands given by your parents or you are more comfortable with big things like a big grip. So don't worry, go down and molest a GH1 and see if you like it. If you hate it, you can always say "No".

 

[clubgrit]

Hi b00n12,
Last I heard from the leprechaun of rainbow panny, that pot of gold is not available for pre-order in the isle of SG.
So find me a four leaf clover in catching him again with my butterfly net. Maybe I can wiggle more golden truth from him. And maybe reclaim my GH1 body cap and one lens cap, the bloody suckerfish are still in his pockets.

Please ask them to include option to buy body only

 

[b00n12]

Hi b00n12,
Last I heard from the leprechaun of rainbow panny, that pot of gold is not available for pre-order in the isle of SG.
So find me a four leaf clover in catching him again with my butterfly net. Maybe I can wiggle more golden truth from him. And maybe reclaim my GH1 body cap and one lens cap, the bloody suckerfish are still in his pockets.

haha actually i dun mind getting the 14-140 option.. currently i have 7-14, 14-45, 45-200 and 20mm.. just might sell 45-200 to get 100-300.. might even sell 14-45 if 14-140 optic is good..

 

[loneWolff]

Hi B00n12,
I have a 14-140mm, its a great lens for shooting video on Panny cameras due to the silent and almost fast AF. You don't get that as Panny screwing is Oly for a profit.
My 14-140mm is now in the same place as my 45mm Lecia, collecting dust. Putting that lens in will get you asking yourself, why do I buy a lightweight camera to fit it with a heavy lens. Unfortunately it is such an awesome lens in the limited range of lens that I can't tear myself to selling it. It's the same with the 20mm.
For the 100-300, great for us fellow peeping toms. A new lens that feels like the 45-200. You will just have to shoot using tripod all the time or handheld only on the GH2. Any other camera is not fast enough to stabilize the lens. But if you intend to use it for birdwatching then you will need a x2 teleconvertor as it is still not longer enough. Or you can just wait patiently for that 800mm lens to come.
PS: Sell me your 45-200mm if you are letting it go. I'm collecting the G series.

 

[loneWolff]

Hi Clubgrite,
I did ask the nice handsome Panny rep but the answer is near to a "no" as he isn't the final decision maker. So we probably need a good number of user making this request before they will even consider this option. I guess not as GH1 users are rare, I have only seen three actual users in action in SG. Maybe the GF users can join in the fun.

 

[b00n12]

Hi B00n12,
I have a 14-140mm, its a great lens for shooting video on Panny cameras due to the silent and almost fast AF. You don't get that as Panny screwing is Oly for a profit.
My 14-140mm is now in the same place as my 45mm Lecia, collecting dust. Putting that lens in will get you asking yourself, why do I buy a lightweight camera to fit it with a heavy lens. Unfortunately it is such an awesome lens in the limited range of lens that I can't tear myself to selling it. It's the same with the 20mm.
For the 100-300, great for us fellow peeping toms. A new lens that feels like the 45-200. You will just have to shoot using tripod all the time or handheld only on the GH2. Any other camera is not fast enough to stabilize the lens. But if you intend to use it for birdwatching then you will need a x2 teleconvertor as it is still not longer enough. Or you can just wait patiently for that 800mm lens to come.
PS: Sell me your 45-200mm if you are letting it go. I'm collecting the G series.

haha that is if i cannot get a body only options... cos the price of 14-140 is erm.. kinda high... and most of the time i m using 20mm on my GF1..

 

[KTi]

loneWolf,

If I don't care much for the video features on the GH2, would you recommend to get the GH1 (or G2) as a companion "pro" body for my E-PL1?

 

[loneWolff]

Hi KTi,
Get a G2 as its as fast as GH1 in AF focus department. Only get a GH2 body only if you want to shoot long range, very fast action or shots that are too dark for your Oly (e.g. Birds, F1, my home). GH2's AF is out of any m43 league and your EPL-1 can be a b-cam for those short range or wide angle shots. Love the color output by Oly but I hate the slow AF as Panny let Oly create their own AF.

So it boils down to what you need to shoot. Btw, all my shots of F1 done with a 20mm all look like Tron racing drunk. Was hoping to shoot a perfect over the fence shot with a 100-300mm with the GH2 next year.

Btw, Panny doesn't pay me a single nickel or give me at least a shitty discount. I'm only promoting it because I believe in it. Just that it will probably take at least five generations to catch up to the likes of Canon in high ISO, super fast lens and much decently priced lens. Comparing the toughness of Nikon, you should see the conditions I put to my GH1. Sony, don't think we need to bother, they are the king of making things smaller besides Apple.

 

[loneWolff]

Dear B00n12,
Think secondhand as an alternative if you really want a 14-140mm since cost is an issue.
If you are those that are picky about getting firsthand only then I will tell you a funny story later.

My suggestion is stick with your 20mm, its a very good everyday lens.
If you are not into video, then you don't need the silent and fast lens.
Your pairing of 14-45mm + 45-200mm is a good combo on the go. Its lighter and cheaper combined when compared to the 14-140mm.

I used the 14-45mm exclusively for my two day makan and heritage trip in Maur today. It gets me thinking hard about the purpose of each lens and how to deploy them. Sometimes a faster lens can be defeated by a 10cm tripod.

 

[KTi]

loneWolf,

Thanks for your recommendation.

I took a closer look at the G2 and compare the spec a little. Apparently the most significant differences (video feature aside), the GH2 has better sensitivity and sensor. GH2 being the highest end of Panny G camera, I'd have to assume it perform better (?)

Size wise, very close. Some pics comparison from DPReview.

As to what I would shot?

I took a 3 hours walk at the Buloh Wetland on Friday, I carry with me my E-PL1 mounted with Oly 9-18mm (18-36mm) lens and my K7 mounted with 50-135mm (75 - 200 mm). I enjoyed the walk very much, I was able to capture nearly everything I saw and with the 2 focal lengths combined, they worked well (except the K7 + 50-135 was killing me with its weight).

Looking at things, I think the longer end with Panny 45-200 or 100-300 lens would be nice additions. However, I've always be a little self-aware that the sole reason for me to get into m43 is to have small setup, so, those long lenses (physical size wise) would not be something I'd jump into without careful consideration.

 

[b00n12]

haha since therre is interest in getting this camera, is there possible to order body only option from panasonic directly? maybe a mass order or something haha

 

[loneWolff]

Dear b00n12,
I think Panny hates us, especially me. So a body only option is not in the works for now.
Go to Japan or Europe, they sell that option there. A MOQ for Lumix GH-2 here probably will amount to just a droplet in a lake as people normally see m43 as a B-cam, not a full fledge camera. So they will get one at a B-cam rate.

Dear KTi,
I guess you see the light in why I prefer GH2. The consumer grade video got me interested (GH13 hack's video quality is way better) but its the faster than fast AF, higher ISO, three core processor that got me hooked.

G2 is on par with GH1 in camera performance except price and video. Thank goodness no one ask my comment about G10, I got a list of "why I think Panny hates us" for that.

Since you mentioned using long lens and still carry another cam, I guess you don't have the luxury of setting tripod at ease. With the GH2, you can shoot pictures of birds swooping around handheld.

Bad thing about GH2 is, almost all the buttons are programmable. You have to read their super thick manual to fully utilitize the cam's full power. I don't read manuals, I read light, readouts and porn.

I'm waiting to convert my red GH1 into a UWA/short range B-cam when the GH2 comes in.

 

[NazgulKing]

Kind of sad that they aren't selling the body only. Maybe we'd have to wait for a while for the body option to come in.

 

[loneWolff]

Dear KTi,
Forget to ask, how's the UWA of Oly? I was tempted to get either the Panny 7-14mm or Oly 9-18mm.
7-14mm has constant F4 which is great for DOF but it doesn't allow filters.
9-18mm can fit filters and is way cheaper, but I just don't like plastic mount.

So I would like to know is, do you use any filters for your UWA shots? If yes, mostly for what kind of shots and what filter. Cos I do use filters quite a lot, my only CPL filter works as my all-in-one filter.

I attach a sunrise shot of Maur taken on Saturday morning, couldn't get to anywhere with a horizon so I just settle for a shot of the longkau. I use my $199 travel lens 14-45mm with a B+W CPL filter, shot handheld. Zero editing in photoshop except to put in my name ;p

So B00n12, hope it does throw some light on what you should consider in your acquisition of the 14-140mm. Do I really need this lens, when do I need it and how often do I use it. Most shots are done at short to mid range. UWA, macro and telephoto are more of a specialised scene and fisheye is just plain silly fun.

 

[NazgulKing]

I like the 7-14, having used it when I went to New York and other places. The 7mm (14mm equivalent on 35mm film) is great for urban areas.

 

[b00n12]

I have accessed to a japanese set however found it too expensive and also the menu are all in japanese so i gave up the idea of getting from japan... a friend might be able to bring it back from US since he is coming back soon... during xmas, if it is before xmas that pana is launching it in SG then i see no point of requesting friends to help me... that is the reason i check if we can directly order from pana singapore..

 

[KTi]

Hello loneWolf,

I picked the Oly 9-18 over the Panny because of price. I don't use filter except just the UV to protect the lens. I like UWA, I used to have a sigma 10-20 mm on my K7, love the look of the pic when you take a scenery shot.

The Oly 9-18 is good, I got a good copy, very sharp.

Example of my Friday shots at Buloh wetland. Both taken at 9 mm.

 

[loneWolff]

Dear KTi,
Hmm, now I just need to compare the 9-18mm with a 7-14mm.
There is the 2mm wider vs price is might issue. :cry:
I'm still looking at square filters to fit the 7-14mm... 9-18mm plastic mount is something that I don't like. :nono:

Dear b00n12,
No problem, just hand me your Japanese GH2. I can translate it for you FOC.
Maybe we can change the language setting to English.
Presently Amazon Japan is selling body only at around $1420 SGD, not cheap.
Amazon US took it off as they are backlogged until December without any body only solution.

So its safe to say, its the same thing with the GH1 all over again.
Panny doesn't make lots of cameras for the GH series as it cost more to hold stock if they can't sell it.

If your friend can help us carry back the body only from USA at a reasonable price then count me in. I can safely say December is also as distance as November. Singapore will probably be one of its least important market to release the GH2 as Panny does its marketing research well.

People here will rather get a LX-5 or GF-1/2 then a GH2 as they prefer a much more compact camera. Those that like a DSLR will say GH2 has too small a sensor for their taste.

 

[KTi]

Dear KTi,
Hmm, now I just need to compare the 9-18mm with a 7-14mm.
There is the 2mm wider vs price is might issue. :cry:
I'm still looking at square filters to fit the 7-14mm... 9-18mm plastic mount is something that I don't like. :nono:

One more thing. The Oly 9-18 is lighter and also smaller. This is one other reason I bought it.

Question: If I import a GH2 body from the US, would Panasonic honor the warranty here?