Discussion
I keep getting tempted.
I have a GH1. If I changed the camera body for a G9 and at the same time swapped my 14-140 "Mega IOS" for the 14-140 "Power IOS" the new combination is only about 50g heavier.
What puts me off is:
1/ No flash on the G9
2/ I'm not sure how much better the images would be as it's essentially the same optics.
3/ How much lighter my wallet would be.
Have you seen a good deal on the G9?
I have a GH1. If I changed the camera body for a G9 and at the same time swapped my 14-140 "Mega IOS" for the 14-140 "Power IOS" the new combination is only about 50g heavier.
What puts me off is:
1/ No flash on the G9
2/ I'm not sure how much better the images would be as it's essentially the same optics.
3/ How much lighter my wallet would be.
Have you seen a good deal on the G9?
mikeveal said:
I keep getting tempted.
I have a GH1. If I changed the camera body for a G9 and at the same time swapped my 14-140 "Mega IOS" for the 14-140 "Power IOS" the new combination is only about 50g heavier.
What puts me off is:
1/ No flash on the G9
2/ I'm not sure how much better the images would be as it's essentially the same optics.
3/ How much lighter my wallet would be.
Have you seen a good deal on the G9?
Yes a few places are doing the body and 12-60 F2.8 for £1299 but I've decided to keep my FZ2000. After days of research I just don't think it will be £1800 better. For a bridge the FZ is remarkable.I have a GH1. If I changed the camera body for a G9 and at the same time swapped my 14-140 "Mega IOS" for the 14-140 "Power IOS" the new combination is only about 50g heavier.
What puts me off is:
1/ No flash on the G9
2/ I'm not sure how much better the images would be as it's essentially the same optics.
3/ How much lighter my wallet would be.
Have you seen a good deal on the G9?
Used my Dad's a bit. Probably the best ergonomics and view finder of any camera I've ever used. You just pick it up and everything feels right. I had some question marks over AF tracking because of contrast detect AF only. I don't have first hand experience of this but it sounds quirky. If you don't shoot action, that's irrelevant. 12-60 Leica is a super lens. I'm less bowled over by the 100-300 though I accept that most alternatives are far bigger and more expensive. 35-100 2.8 would be worth a bit of consideration if you don't need massive range or I could sell you a lovely Olympus 40-150 2.8 
I've just moved to Fuji so need to shift a lot of of m4/3 gear but I have no complaints/regrets about the system overall. Some of the bodies and lenses are just magical.
I've just moved to Fuji so need to shift a lot of of m4/3 gear but I have no complaints/regrets about the system overall. Some of the bodies and lenses are just magical. Edited by Gad-Westy on Saturday 15th August 15:15
Well, I think I'm almost there.
I've traded in my 14-140 for the more modern version. Mine leaves home by courier tomorrow, with the new one arriving early next week I expect.
It appears that the newer Panasonic bodies can't use both the in body stabilisation and the older "Mega OIS" together. So to make use of the 6+ stops of stabilisation that the G9 claims, I needed to upgrade.
My Mega OIS lens is 460g. The latest version is 265g.
My GH1 is 385g, the G9 is (by comparison) a whopping 658g.
Total weight of GH1 + Mega OIS lens = 845g + battery.
Total weight of G9 + Power OIS lens =923g including battery.
So it's pretty much a wash. But in a wash, the G9 and newer lens will win as both are weather sealed.
Having made the independent decision to change my lens, today I actually managed to handle a G9 at my local camera shop.
The first thing that startled me was the quality of the EVF. The display seemed double the size of my GH1. Because of the extra resolution I expected it to be clearer and sharper which it was. The colours were better too.
The next thing I noticed was that the controls/ menu system aren't even close. I'll have to relearn the camera.
Then when I finally managed to have a play...
The autofocus was more accurate and faster. How it can be faster on the same lens I have no idea. Yeah, I'm used to the older lens, I don't think focus speed is a listed differentiator.
I took a test snap in the shop at 1/2" 140mm 200ISO F22. Stupid settings, but I wanted to see what the camera / lens stabilisation could do. Incredibly the shot wasn't too blury. It wasn't pin sharp, but I could read the small print on the price tickets on the far side of the shop. The photo certainly wasn't a keeper, but to get that result for a 1/2 second exposure at a 35mm equivalent of 280mm is pretty impressive.
I didn't play with upping the ISO to look at noise, dpreview tell me all I need to know there. I didn't look at lens quality as I'm keeping most of my lenses and just changing my go everywhere, does everything kit lens.
What I was really interested in was ergomonics, weight and whether or not the stabilisation is really a replacement for a pop-up flash.
Well weight didn't seem to be an issue.
The image stabilisation is really impressive. Combining that with pushing the ISO up a bit (my GH1 is grainy at 800 and unusable above) I do now believe that the G9 could achieve the same or better results than a GH1 with it's internal flash.
Finally and most importantly ergonomics. The whole point and purpose of M4/3 is size and weight. If neither of those things are important, then you'll be far better off with a larger sensor camera with it's heavier and better lenses.
The very last thing that struck me about the G9 was that the extra size of the camera didn't seem excessive. It still felt like a compact SLR. The larger grip was great & that seems to be where most of the bulk is. That the extra bulk of this camera wasn't noticeable is great. When I handled the GH5 I was instantly disappointed, but the G9 felt natural.
All I need to do now is find a body only deal good enough to make me prise open my wallet...
I've traded in my 14-140 for the more modern version. Mine leaves home by courier tomorrow, with the new one arriving early next week I expect.
It appears that the newer Panasonic bodies can't use both the in body stabilisation and the older "Mega OIS" together. So to make use of the 6+ stops of stabilisation that the G9 claims, I needed to upgrade.
My Mega OIS lens is 460g. The latest version is 265g.
My GH1 is 385g, the G9 is (by comparison) a whopping 658g.
Total weight of GH1 + Mega OIS lens = 845g + battery.
Total weight of G9 + Power OIS lens =923g including battery.
So it's pretty much a wash. But in a wash, the G9 and newer lens will win as both are weather sealed.
Having made the independent decision to change my lens, today I actually managed to handle a G9 at my local camera shop.
The first thing that startled me was the quality of the EVF. The display seemed double the size of my GH1. Because of the extra resolution I expected it to be clearer and sharper which it was. The colours were better too.
The next thing I noticed was that the controls/ menu system aren't even close. I'll have to relearn the camera.
Then when I finally managed to have a play...
The autofocus was more accurate and faster. How it can be faster on the same lens I have no idea. Yeah, I'm used to the older lens, I don't think focus speed is a listed differentiator.
I took a test snap in the shop at 1/2" 140mm 200ISO F22. Stupid settings, but I wanted to see what the camera / lens stabilisation could do. Incredibly the shot wasn't too blury. It wasn't pin sharp, but I could read the small print on the price tickets on the far side of the shop. The photo certainly wasn't a keeper, but to get that result for a 1/2 second exposure at a 35mm equivalent of 280mm is pretty impressive.
I didn't play with upping the ISO to look at noise, dpreview tell me all I need to know there. I didn't look at lens quality as I'm keeping most of my lenses and just changing my go everywhere, does everything kit lens.
What I was really interested in was ergomonics, weight and whether or not the stabilisation is really a replacement for a pop-up flash.
Well weight didn't seem to be an issue.
The image stabilisation is really impressive. Combining that with pushing the ISO up a bit (my GH1 is grainy at 800 and unusable above) I do now believe that the G9 could achieve the same or better results than a GH1 with it's internal flash.
Finally and most importantly ergonomics. The whole point and purpose of M4/3 is size and weight. If neither of those things are important, then you'll be far better off with a larger sensor camera with it's heavier and better lenses.
The very last thing that struck me about the G9 was that the extra size of the camera didn't seem excessive. It still felt like a compact SLR. The larger grip was great & that seems to be where most of the bulk is. That the extra bulk of this camera wasn't noticeable is great. When I handled the GH5 I was instantly disappointed, but the G9 felt natural.
All I need to do now is find a body only deal good enough to make me prise open my wallet...
Wallet opened and thoroughly emptied!
A brand new G9 is arriving tomorrow at my local camera store. They couldn't quite match Amazon's £858, but came so close that the difference was negligable. I'd rather support them than Geoff Bezos.
The best 2nd hand price for an as new body I could find was £810. It just didn't make sense.
A "like new" 14-140mm lens is also arriving tomorrow from Mpb. £430 less £120 trade in on my old lens.
A brand new G9 is arriving tomorrow at my local camera store. They couldn't quite match Amazon's £858, but came so close that the difference was negligable. I'd rather support them than Geoff Bezos.
The best 2nd hand price for an as new body I could find was £810. It just didn't make sense.
A "like new" 14-140mm lens is also arriving tomorrow from Mpb. £430 less £120 trade in on my old lens.
I’ve had a G9 and the 12-35 and 35-100 2.8 for a couple of years. It’s a great camera. I went from a Nikon D800 and comparable lenses because it was simply too heavy and I wasn’t enjoying photography because of that. I though I’d miss the higher resolution of the D800 but it’s never been an issue.
The stabilisation is amazing.
The stabilisation is amazing.
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