I have a G9 and 100-400 combination. I primarily photograph birds, especially wading birds. I walk long distances and find the G9 does not tire me. I usually set ISO at 1000 plus to get fast shutter speed for birds in flight. I get a good hit rate and sharp photos. One thing you won't find said much is how robust the camera is. I have fallen over twice recently - the foreshore is VERY slippery - the camera clattered onto the rocks. My heart was in my mouth ... no damage to the camera. Me? Not so much, bruising and serious cuts.
I've been using the G9 and the 100-300 for about a year now and been happy, I just upgraded my wifes Canon M10 (sold off the camera and lenses) and picked up a G95 (on sale now for $697 with the 12-60 kit lens). I have passed the 100-300 mkII over to her and I got the Lecia/Pan 100-400. 2022 and the G9 with the 100-400 is still hard to beat for the price and size.
I have taken the same road as you. I had the Pentax K1 with the 24-70, f2.8 and the Pentax 150 - 450. With a tripod and other bits of kit it was just to heavy to carry around. I have also purchased the G9. I am so pleased with the image quality and my back has lost its permanent ache.
I have the same lens with a GH4 and it is a dynamite combination. I have been contemplating selling my GH4 and purchasing a G9 to take advantage of the 4 extra megapixels in the G9. Thanks for sharing your experience. update- Purchased the G9 with the 12-60mm Panasonic G Lens and it exceeds my high expectations.
I still have a Sigma 500mm lens I bought at least 5 years ago and have never used. It was just too large to carry around on a bike and I couldn't get a bag to fit it. You bought the Panasonic and have never looked back! I bought my Panasonic G9 with 400mm lens as it was the best option for size, weight and distance. Agreed - it's a good solid camera, for sure. Feels great in the hands. Great to hear your comments about 'autofocus' which I use all the time and your confirmation of the IS system.
Great video Andrew and interesting to hear why you went for the G9 and lens combo. I've had the Panasonic FZ 82 bridge and currently have the FZ1000ii bridge. For my next step up I'm looking at the G9 - I know there is the G9ii but probably beyond my amateur budget!! Really want to stay with Panasonic as I like the easy functionality as you have found. Looks to be a great combination. Even more sold on this combination now. Thanks again.
So far I watched a lot of video and perfectly happy with my Sony rx10 iv because others were using super expensive camera and lenses. After watching this video, I feel I should chosen differently...light yet powerful. You're the first to hv chosen these for nature that I've come across. I might look for some second hand now.
Good choice I'm pleased with my G9 and 100-400 ive had the camera since release, I generally shoot a lot of aviation photography and some wildlife and it's wonderful. I've never had a digital full frame so I have nothing to compare it too. I try and not go above 400 iso but if you can get tight shots at higher iso it's most probably fine. If you're shooting in good daylight conditions you will get top quality shots all day long, in overcast days on the long end it can get a little harder.
The best light for wildlife is at dusk and dawn; if you're shooting in the middle of the day because of ISO constraints, you should consider upgrading your gear.
Hello I wanted to know your personal opinion about G9 in wildlife because I am debating between a g9 or Em1 Mark II. I heard about the focus in g9 struggles a bit.
@@youknowwho9247 never had a full frame but would it be drastically better than this combo? Like most 600mm are the same aperture. But you are losing 200mm for starters so you'll be cropping. You can bump up the iso a bit. Is that going to increase the shutter speed by a lot? Because I'm happy shooting at 1600 or 3200 with m43 if I have to. I'd imagine full frame only makes things substantially better if you can afford the better quality faster lenses ?
@@letni9506 Yes, it is drastically better. That's because the same nominal aperture does not produce equivalent pictures on different cameras with different sensor sizes. It's quite technical and you'll find an in depth analysis if you look for a video titled "do you need full frame" by Tony and Chelsea Northrup. Basically a 400mm f/5.6 micro four thirds lens isn't comparable to an 800mm f/5.6 full frame lens, but to an 800mm f/11 full frame lens. What this translates to is much cleaner images when you shoot full frame. An ISO 3200 shot on full frame has roughly as much noise as an ISO 800 shot on MFT. Imagine it like being able to take the ISO two stops down for every shot on your current camera, but without losing anything in terms of shutter speed or brightness. Would be a pretty big deal, right?
It's really nice to hear someone is happy with their purchase and that a camera fits their needs exactly. I have a rig I'm happy with that I bought last year. No reason for me to upgrade, complain or make other excuses for not shooting. Enjoyed your video a lot.
I picked up a KEH "bargain" condition 100-400mm. The mount on the tripod collar had been repaired with epoxy. Cosmetics aren't great, but after many months the repair has held and the lens works great. Searching on the collar, it looks like the attachment point on this lens's collar is a weak point, so perhaps other bargains go for sale from time to time. BTW, I hate the Leica-branded lens control switch design. They are very easy to accidentally move when just handling or stowing the lens. Now I check the positions frequently to avoid having stabilization turned off, which is very frequently the case.
Hi Andrew Your story sounds very familiar 😀 I moved from Pentax to Panasonic early this year for exactly the same reasons as you discussed. While I loved my Pentax gear, I have not regretted the move for a second. Looking forward to hearing more from you on the G9 and 100-400. Cheers, Ian
Went out and got the G9 set up same as you following our Norfolk Island festival. Thanks for lending me the set up for a bit to try, I loved it then and hope I will love it into the future. I have only had it a few days now so still getting my head around a few settings and the Auto Focus settings for birds. Once again, thanks, and a great video you should do more!
Great choice 👍 I use a G80 with the 100-300 power 2 lens, which =600mm No problems with hand held shots for stills and video, Mft is my favorite system by far,
The G9 probably has the best stabilisation system on the planet with its Dual2. It is not so much for the slowest shutter, you'll get the 6.5 stops there but the Dual2 is probably worth another 3 stops of holding the thing still whilst you frame it, especially with the PL100-400, and get the desired focus spot. This something the Olympus camp cannot do without Sync-IS (only three lenses do that). The AF needs a word. You have to tell the G9 how you want it to focus in the "Custom Focus". It is a professional camera so it will let you do all kinds of different stuff there. DFD only works with Lumix lenses and is about twice as fast as PDAF when on-song. The accuracy though is CDAF which all cameras use to finalise and lock. I do have an old Sigma 50-500 "for Olympus Four Thirds" adapted to MFT. It is at least as big as that one. Lovely glass but AF about as well as a coffee grinder. The 4/3 sensors are actually low noise, as good or better than FF. Pop over to Photons To Photos to compare "Read Noise (DN) vs ISO". The G9 uses the same sensor as the E-M1iii and similar to the OM-1. We can use high ISO. Above ISO 3200 we just start to see a little noise. ISO 12800 is usable with a little de-noise, even ISO 16000. All cameras reduce the DR as the ISO goes up. If you have to use very high ISO you're probably in low light and the AWB will have packed up and gone to bed, this can produce a colour shift. When I tried to use a D600 in real low light, it refused to AF.
Great video and review. While I wish I could have this lens, it just wasn't in my budget, but the Lumix 100-300mm was and it is a solid lens for the money. I would have loved the extra 100mm but it wasn't in the budget.
Great review ,I have now watched a few of your videos, enjoyed them all. Learnt a lot . My next camera will be a G9 upgrade from canon M50. Your videos are easy to follow as are my favourite Aussie TH-camrs. Thankyou
Amazing camera. I'm using it with just the Lumix 12-60 and 45-200 all whether sealed and love it! Moving from a big old DSLR you're gonna love it too! : )
Andrew I think you did a cracking first vid. I own the exact sane combo and love it. my learning curve is far greater than yours by all account, I'm a newbie to photography. However, the G9 has made learning a very pleasurable experience for me that combine with the shear pleasure I get from my photography is something that can't be measured. But Andrew M43 and the G9, for what it's worth, in my view is a fantastic choice, when I take a poor shot I know it's me because I also take some decent shots and the quality if this camera, the photos that can be achieved and the shear usability are spot on for me.
Thanks for the compliment. I have been a photographer for about a million years and teaching photography for about twelve. So you are right, a new camera is not a huge learning curve for me, more of an upgrade of what I know already. But it's not a competition and we are all in it to have fun. And a user-friendly camera is a great place to start, like you I have found this camera a pleasure to have in my hand.
Echo that having been previously a 35mm phots with the Army. I have been as low as 1/125 at 400 to keep some prop blur and it was pin sharp hand held. The Panasonic is compact enough, but has presence, and I am rapidly getting used to rapidly changing situations and controls while being bounced about. As I do video as well, if you shoot 4k (I do sometimes if I can only carry one camera) the grabbed stills are very good Andrew.
Great choice, you won't be disappointed Andrew! The best camera on the market for it Price! When people talk about the AF it certainly not from taking images. The controversy is in Video modes not stills. The only downside I see with the G9 for Photography would be low light and shooting at high ISO's.
Yes indeed. You may not have noticed that this video is a couple of years old now, I have made many since including two about the new firmware. It makes a great camera even more fun to use.
I will say that Leica lens is awesome. It certainly auto focuses faster on my G7 than all my kit lenses.. The G9 is my dream to purchase in the future.
I enjoyed your video on the G9 & P/L 100-400. I have the G9 & 4 P/L lenses including a recent purchase of the 50-200. I also have twp Nikon D750s and a D7100 that I am using a Tamron 100-400 f4.5-6.3 on for birds in flight. The D7100 gets me out to 600mm equivalent and does a pretty good job but I would like more reach. I have been considering the D500 to enable better autofocus and FPS. Your video peaked my interest in the P/L 100-400 again. I have steered away from this lens because of past reports of internal dust issues to the point that some of the lenses are being returned for repair but they cannot be repaired so they are simply replaced with a refurbished lens if they are under warranty, otherwise the owner is left with no other option but replace the lens. You have just researched the lens and purchased it so I assume you did not see this as a current problem. I really enjoy my Panasonic equipment and would prefer to buy this lens instead of another Nikon camera and possibly a heavy longer lens. I have subscribed and look forward to any information you may provide.
Congratulations on a great purchase. I value your market research and will give this one some serious consideration when the time comes, which hopefully, will be soon!
It really is a great camera, not got the 100-400 myself (I wish!) but loving it with just the Lumix 12-60 and 45-200. All whether sealed. 20fps or more with electronic shutter. Love it!
Big move Andrew, I know how much you love your Pentax. I've spent too much on my DSLR's to justify the move to a mirrorless yet but I'm sure that day is coming. Looking forward to seeing some of your pics on the G9.
I haven't turned my back on Pentax Colin. Still using it for landscapes, rainforest, night photos, macro etc. As I said in the video, this is simply my second body and I have only bought one lens for it. So it is exclusively for wildlife and will continue using the Pentax for everything else.
Have you ever tried photographing a Loon on a lake in a canoe? 400mm just doesnt get you close enough, after that experience I discovered this G9 & 100-400mm combo with an effective focal length of 800mm and 6 stops of IS and high frame rates....it seems like an obvious choice
Nice vid. Yep you’ve seen the light! M4/3rds. And you will find you can hand hold that set up with moving birds. Good luck with that one in any other format. Unless you got arms like Arnold swatziniger. Oh and the budget for a Sony a9 ouch! As a tool in terms of price to performance ratios and every single type of photography is covered by both Lumix and Olympus whether it’s macro, portrait or wildlife. For the money nothing gets even close to it. Sure the body’s are about the same price. But the lenses are a different story. Their lenses are all good and below 500€ to do all jobs. The pro stuff a bit more. You have the best zoom which is the exception at about 1100€. The other formats your gonna deed to at least treble that and if you want the better ones then it’s only up from there. Good luck with it....waiting for the updates.
Tony Green Hi Tony. I’m wondering if you can help me. I have Canon 5d mkii today with a Sigma 150-600mm Sport lens. I shoot mostly birds with it but of course other animals as well. I want to upgrade my camera body and I’m thinking of buying a Sony a7r iii and use an adapter for the lens or buy a G9 with the 100-400mm Leica lens. I get better reach and a package I can hand hold while shooting 400mm (800mm ff). I get better dynamic range and better ISO with the Sony and larger image size for cropping if needed. But is it a better combo? Any thoughts? Pointers in any direction? Does any one else have any tips? Many thanks! / Jon
Hi Andrew. Thanks for thw reassuring video. I have the same set up. The only question is my zoom ring is a bit stiff and jerky. Do you find the same? Or is it my particular lens. Keep up the great videos. Robin
It is renowned for being quite firm which really bothers some people but it has never troubled me. There is the ring that lets you tighten and loosen it, so make sure you have it turned as loose as possible. My old Sigma lens would slide out all the time unless I locked it, just while the camera was hanging around my neck. I much prefer the stiffness to that problem. But perhaps I have been lucky...maybe some are stiffer than others.
I have been a photographer for over 30 years and every new camera - especially a big leap in technology like this - comes with a learning curve. But it's fun to have a new challenge. And I like to keep things simple, I shoot in Manual exposure only, so apart from aperture, shutter speed and ISO, the only things I have to change (mostly) are the drive mode and the focus settings.
Thank you Andrew for your video. I moved up from a bridge camera to a pro configuration after more than 3 months research of TH-cam videos and online camera reviews every day and chose the identical configuration for birding and wildlife. I need a landscape lens now, that I cannot afford and I have to save up for, LOL. Any suggestions? Its a lot of fun to go out and shoot with and the more I use it the more I surprise myself with beautiful birding and nature photos I love and many of my friends and social media acquaintances compliment me on. When I gift my photos, people are ecstatic! I have a question, please. I use a free editor called PhotoScapeX, but was recently told by more experienced photographers I should be using Lightroom; ie. "Lightroom" is the way to go!". Do you see a noticeable difference using Lightroom (a professional editor?) compared to free editing software? Thank you! I am subscribed, rang that bell, and looking forward to learning more about my camera from a pro!
Hi JS, wow, what a message! First up I won't try to recommend a landscape lens. As yet I have only bought the 100-400mm, as the Lumix is my 'second' body and I still have my Pentax K3ii for landscapes etc. I had a brief loan of a 7-14mm F2.8 while I was on Norfolk and enjoyed using it but I didn't spend enough time with it to really get to know it.
Regarding Lightroom...I think there is no doubt that the professional editing software is the way to go, but I have not seen PhotoScapeX so I can't make an informed comparison. When it comes to the two main players in editing they are Lightroom and Photoshop and you will get some photographers who say you 'must' use one and other photographers who say that you must use the other. They are both great, they are both Adobe products and if you decide to get one, they come together as a package so you don't have to pick one or the other, you can try both. I prefer Photoshop but I have been using it for many years before Lightroom even came along. Both are very powerful and especially good for processing RAW files, but naturally they have a bit of a learning curve for newbies.
@@naturesimagephotography - when I first put lens on it asked me to set camera to back focus. I'm wanting to find best settings so I can start experimenting with lens. Anything with best initial settings for camera / lens would be much appreciated.
You only need to watch more of my videos. I have made dozens of videos with this camera, this lens and other lenses, and most of them include camera settings.
having a small lightweight setup like this at 800mm sounds so enticing as my Sony a9 with a sigma 60-600mm requires guns to lift! the thing that stops me from jumping ship is the iso performance, I can crank it up to 6400 iso no worries. I use it for video too. If the G9 is anything like the g85 I had, I couldn't use it over 1600 iso for video. Not great for run and gun type shooting.
Shame the 100 400 lens is very stiff i found quite annoying when using it. The g9 is great but low light is a problem but it shoots so fast you can stack too photos together and get a clear image. Even with wildlife.
I saw some reviews of the lens that said it was very stiff. I have not found that on my lens. Firm maybe but not difficult to use at all. So far I have found that I can deal with low light due to the excellent image stabilisation. But I have only had it for a month, I am sure I will find myself in some more testing situations eventually. Overall I find the good far outweighs the bad.
No doubt the G9 is a great camera...but you kinda glossed over the subject of image quality...and that is of course THE factor when folks consider micro-four-thirds...especially for birds/animals/etc, where quite often the high shutter speeds mean ISO will have to be dialed up. I am a micro-four thirds fan, esp for portability...but I'm just saying that image quality can't be glossed over in reviews like this...because THE question many folks will have is this: can I live with the reduction in image quality vs APS-C and full-frame, for the benefit of portability? Anyway...you made a nice choice. The G9 is a very very good camera.
Well thanks for the feedback, but this was not supposed to be that kind of review. It was all there in the title...the video is my personal story about my reasons for buying the new camera and the issues I weighed up before making the decision. I am not not a seasoned camera reviewer (and never claimed to be) and I had only had the camera for a few weeks when I made the video. So all I could do was give my first impressions. In fact I said in my closing that this was the start of a new story in my photography and to keep watching to see how it unfolded. Anyway with that said, we are in agreement, it is a very good camera. It does suffer the noise issues inherent in M-4/3 cameras. But for features, design, user-friendliness etc...after 8 months or so I am happy to say I find this a great camera that is a joy to use.
@@naturesimagephotography Thanks for the kind reply...yes it's a beautiful combination of camera and lens. I'm wondering if you have tried pixel shift? Of course not usable unless the subject is motionless...still...it's an intriguing option when it can be used. Some folks have even said the detail in the images approaches medium format.
No I haven't tried pixel shift. I only have two lenses for this camera, the big 100-400 for wildlife and a 45mm f-1.8 for portraits. Neither subject suits that function so for now it's something I will look forward to if I get a new lens or two.
I use AFC for the focus mode, and Custom Multi for the AF Area Mode. Success rate is very good for birds against the sky, but much lower when shooting birds with a busy background, like in a forest etc. With my old camera I could always shoot birds against the sky but as soon as they dipped below the horizon the camera would refocus on the background. With the Lumix G9 it is not perfect but it is definitely much better.
Yes Agree with all you have stated. I have a G9 and 100 - 400mm lens. The points about the camera are spot on. But there are some issues I have with the lens. The worse thing about the lens is the stiffness and sticking of the zoom particularly in hot countries. This is real problem for me once framing a shot at 100mm then zooming in for the close up. The zoom action is very poor !! And the other issue is the sharpness and clarity of the photo at full 400mm zoom. To get a clear sharp picture I never use above 350mm. Since I also have an Olympus camera and lenses I am awaiting the release of the 150 - 400mm telephoto lens with built in X1.25 teleconverter as a potential replacement. I would be interested in talking direct to Panasonic and showing them the problems with their lens but I guess they are too big to bother with me.
Unfortunately I cannot confirm the weatherproofness, my G9 was defective after the first use in heavy rain. Total failure during my trip to Ecuador. Otherwise I am very satisfied with the camera, only after the failure my confidence in the reliability is no longer available.
Sorry to hear you had that experience. My opinion of weatherproofing is that it can cope with damp conditions so I would be confident using it for a short time in light rain. But I would not use it in heavy rain any more than I would drop it in the ocean. I can't afford to take such a risk.
I've had a lot of success shooting with the MFT system. The C-AF in stills mode on my GH-5 is good enough for 95% of what I shoot and the G9 is even better! I've run into the limits of my camera in extreme situations but the tradeoffs in size and cost aren't worth the investment in a flagship full frame system. Here are some examples of what I've been able to do traveling with the MFT system the past 6 years. www.avirossproductions.com/places
Very beautiful photos! Your photos just prove that MFT system is really suitable for nature & wildlife photography. In 2018 specially for wildlife photography I bought G9 and PL 100-400mm. I also have 50-200 f2.8-4 and 12-60 f2.8-4. I agree that FF in some low light situations is better than MFT, but the advantages of the G9, such as dual image stabilization, compact size and weight of kit (camera+lens), plus a several times lower price, overcome this disadvantage for many users.
Also the Leica/Panasonic is F-4 at the 100mm end of the range, compared to F-5 on the sigma. As yet the aperture has not presented a problem and the excellent image stabilliser allows me to shoot at slower shutter speeds as long as the subject is not moving.
In the real world the G9/100-400 is an incredibly useful combo. I do wildlife from a boat and I have no trouble with bears, wolves, eagles, whales , seals, etc with the boat moving, I’m moving, and the subjects are moving, and in all light levels. I travel with the G9 and the A7III. They both have their strengths. The G9 is not 2x slower at 800mm equivalent, that’s just fanboy nonsense.
I don't see how this combination could be considered a serious option for anyone shooting wildlife. The best light is a dusk and dawn, and shooting wildlife often demands high shutter speeds. The result is lots of high ISO images. Since the G9 looks terrible above ISO 800 it's barely usable for the job as is, not to mention it's unreliable contrast based autofocus. But then you put a lens on it that's a 200-800 f/8-13 full frame equivalent. I don't see it, at all.
@@PhotoVideoTechOz I have, in fact used the G9. One of the perks of being friendly with your local camera store owner - getting to test new gear when it comes out. The comment about safe space is funny though. I'm not the one getting emotional over camera gear. That's you. I don't know why, either. It's not exactly controversial that MFT isn't the best option out there for high ISO shooting.
I use to use Canon gear for 11 years and now use the Panasonic G9 with The Leica 100-400 lens and it is damn good. Clean as my Canon 7D Mk II, no, but still very good. Not sure what you were doing, but I had to go to ISO 1250 a few time and a little post processing I had very usable images. Never had any problems with ISO 800. Really good system for wildlife.
@@PhotoVideoTechOz this 2x equivalency in focal length/focal ratio is a favorite for armchair MFT detractors. There is some truth in it and as an example the following will render the same image: G9/1000th sec exposure/ISO800/400mm f6.3 lens versus Full frame/1000th sec exposure/ISO3200/800mm f12.6. Note we've had to pump up the ISO on the full frame camera, so the high ISO advantage of full frame is completely gone. This equivalence also ignores many other important differences in MFT's favour, like the 200-800 f8-12.6 lens is still twice as long and large as a 100-400 f4-6.3 lens. Additionally, AF performance/metering still operate perfectly at f4-6.3 whereas a full frame camera's AF would likely fail at f12.6. I have no idea what motivates the hate against MFT by some people....
@@MercedesBenzGKlasse Calm down. I get it, you can't afford full frame gear so you have to make embarrassing statements on the internet. It's all good. Olympus is dead and so is MFT. The fight is over. You can rest now.
![ค้างคืนโรงเก็บกระสวยอวกาศร้างกลางทะเลทราย [Around The World Ep. 3]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E5bWZQhABJE/mqdefault.jpg)
I have a G9 and 100-400 combination. I primarily photograph birds, especially wading birds. I walk long distances and find the G9 does not tire me. I usually set ISO at 1000 plus to get fast shutter speed for birds in flight. I get a good hit rate and sharp photos. One thing you won't find said much is how robust the camera is. I have fallen over twice recently - the foreshore is VERY slippery - the camera clattered onto the rocks. My heart was in my mouth ... no damage to the camera. Me? Not so much, bruising and serious cuts.
I've been using the G9 and the 100-300 for about a year now and been happy, I just upgraded my wifes Canon M10 (sold off the camera and lenses) and picked up a G95 (on sale now for $697 with the 12-60 kit lens). I have passed the 100-300 mkII over to her and I got the Lecia/Pan 100-400. 2022 and the G9 with the 100-400 is still hard to beat for the price and size.
I have taken the same road as you. I had the Pentax K1 with the 24-70, f2.8 and the Pentax 150 - 450. With a tripod and other bits of kit it was just to heavy to carry around. I have also purchased the G9. I am so pleased with the image quality and my back has lost its permanent ache.
I have the same lens with a GH4 and it is a dynamite combination. I have been contemplating selling my GH4 and purchasing a G9 to take advantage of the 4 extra megapixels in the G9. Thanks for sharing your experience. update- Purchased the G9 with the 12-60mm Panasonic G Lens and it exceeds my high expectations.
I still have a Sigma 500mm lens I bought at least 5 years ago and have never used. It was just too large to carry around on a bike and I couldn't get a bag to fit it.
You bought the Panasonic and have never looked back!
I bought my Panasonic G9 with 400mm lens as it was the best option for size, weight and distance.
Agreed - it's a good solid camera, for sure. Feels great in the hands.
Great to hear your comments about 'autofocus' which I use all the time and your confirmation of the IS system.
Great video Andrew and interesting to hear why you went for the G9 and lens combo. I've had the Panasonic FZ 82 bridge and currently have the FZ1000ii bridge. For my next step up I'm looking at the G9 - I know there is the G9ii but probably beyond my amateur budget!! Really want to stay with Panasonic as I like the easy functionality as you have found. Looks to be a great combination. Even more sold on this combination now. Thanks again.
So far I watched a lot of video and perfectly happy with my Sony rx10 iv because others were using super expensive camera and lenses.
After watching this video, I feel I should chosen differently...light yet powerful. You're the first to hv chosen these for nature that I've come across. I might look for some second hand now.
There's no way one should be able to pull video handheld at 800mm, but with that rig, you can. It's mind-blowing.
And get excellent focus at the 400mm fully extended focal length! Some of the shots I get are mind blowing!
Good choice I'm pleased with my G9 and 100-400 ive had the camera since release, I generally shoot a lot of aviation photography and some wildlife and it's wonderful. I've never had a digital full frame so I have nothing to compare it too.
I try and not go above 400 iso but if you can get tight shots at higher iso it's most probably fine.
If you're shooting in good daylight conditions you will get top quality shots all day long, in overcast days on the long end it can get a little harder.
No matter what gear you are using...it's still all about the light.
The best light for wildlife is at dusk and dawn; if you're shooting in the middle of the day because of ISO constraints, you should consider upgrading your gear.
Hello I wanted to know your personal opinion about G9 in wildlife because I am debating between a g9 or Em1 Mark II. I heard about the focus in g9 struggles a bit.
@@youknowwho9247 never had a full frame but would it be drastically better than this combo?
Like most 600mm are the same aperture. But you are losing 200mm for starters so you'll be cropping.
You can bump up the iso a bit. Is that going to increase the shutter speed by a lot? Because I'm happy shooting at 1600 or 3200 with m43 if I have to.
I'd imagine full frame only makes things substantially better if you can afford the better quality faster lenses ?
@@letni9506 Yes, it is drastically better. That's because the same nominal aperture does not produce equivalent pictures on different cameras with different sensor sizes. It's quite technical and you'll find an in depth analysis if you look for a video titled "do you need full frame" by Tony and Chelsea Northrup. Basically a 400mm f/5.6 micro four thirds lens isn't comparable to an 800mm f/5.6 full frame lens, but to an 800mm f/11 full frame lens. What this translates to is much cleaner images when you shoot full frame. An ISO 3200 shot on full frame has roughly as much noise as an ISO 800 shot on MFT. Imagine it like being able to take the ISO two stops down for every shot on your current camera, but without losing anything in terms of shutter speed or brightness. Would be a pretty big deal, right?
It's really nice to hear someone is happy with their purchase and that a camera fits their needs exactly. I have a rig I'm happy with that I bought last year. No reason for me to upgrade, complain or make other excuses for not shooting. Enjoyed your video a lot.
2 years later still a wise choice for the outdoors 🙂👍
I traveled to Uganda this year. Brought G9 and two lenses. I can't afford the 100-400mm, but can squeeze a 100-300mm in my retirement budget.
I'm also considering (strongly) the 100-300 .. solid lens for the $$$
I picked up a KEH "bargain" condition 100-400mm. The mount on the tripod collar had been repaired with epoxy. Cosmetics aren't great, but after many months the repair has held and the lens works great. Searching on the collar, it looks like the attachment point on this lens's collar is a weak point, so perhaps other bargains go for sale from time to time. BTW, I hate the Leica-branded lens control switch design. They are very easy to accidentally move when just handling or stowing the lens. Now I check the positions frequently to avoid having stabilization turned off, which is very frequently the case.
Great overview of your reasoning for selecting the G9. Welcome to MFT! I can’t wait to follow your experiences with the G9 as a working photographer.
Hi Andrew
Your story sounds very familiar 😀
I moved from Pentax to Panasonic early this year for exactly the same reasons as you discussed. While I loved my Pentax gear, I have not regretted the move for a second. Looking forward to hearing more from you on the G9 and 100-400.
Cheers, Ian
The current price of G9 is absolute steal. If I was shopping for a camera, that one would be on the short list.
absolutely for under a 1000 bucks on amazon right now, you can't do better haha
Welcome to the M43 ecosystem. Thanks for the great review. Looking forward to enjoying your site.
Eco????
Went out and got the G9 set up same as you following our Norfolk Island festival. Thanks for lending me the set up for a bit to try, I loved it then and hope I will love it into the future. I have only had it a few days now so still getting my head around a few settings and the Auto Focus settings for birds. Once again, thanks, and a great video you should do more!
Great choice 👍
I use a G80 with the 100-300 power 2 lens, which =600mm
No problems with hand held shots for stills and video,
Mft is my favorite system by far,
The G9 probably has the best stabilisation system on the planet with its Dual2. It is not so much for the slowest shutter, you'll get the 6.5 stops there but the Dual2 is probably worth another 3 stops of holding the thing still whilst you frame it, especially with the PL100-400, and get the desired focus spot. This something the Olympus camp cannot do without Sync-IS (only three lenses do that).
The AF needs a word. You have to tell the G9 how you want it to focus in the "Custom Focus". It is a professional camera so it will let you do all kinds of different stuff there. DFD only works with Lumix lenses and is about twice as fast as PDAF when on-song. The accuracy though is CDAF which all cameras use to finalise and lock.
I do have an old Sigma 50-500 "for Olympus Four Thirds" adapted to MFT. It is at least as big as that one. Lovely glass but AF about as well as a coffee grinder.
The 4/3 sensors are actually low noise, as good or better than FF. Pop over to Photons To Photos to compare "Read Noise (DN) vs ISO". The G9 uses the same sensor as the E-M1iii and similar to the OM-1. We can use high ISO. Above ISO 3200 we just start to see a little noise. ISO 12800 is usable with a little de-noise, even ISO 16000. All cameras reduce the DR as the ISO goes up. If you have to use very high ISO you're probably in low light and the AWB will have packed up and gone to bed, this can produce a colour shift. When I tried to use a D600 in real low light, it refused to AF.
Great video and review. While I wish I could have this lens, it just wasn't in my budget, but the Lumix 100-300mm was and it is a solid lens for the money. I would have loved the extra 100mm but it wasn't in the budget.
I’ve just sold my 100-300 II and upgraded to the 100-400 it’s much faster and better iq
With slightly better reach and crops better well worth it
Great review ,I have now watched a few of your videos, enjoyed them all. Learnt a lot .
My next camera will be a G9 upgrade from canon M50.
Your videos are easy to follow as are my favourite Aussie TH-camrs. Thankyou
By far the most beautiful and awesome camera I own. Retuned the S1
Amazing camera. I'm using it with just the Lumix 12-60 and 45-200 all whether sealed and love it! Moving from a big old DSLR you're gonna love it too! : )
Andrew I think you did a cracking first vid. I own the exact sane combo and love it. my learning curve is far greater than yours by all account, I'm a newbie to photography. However, the G9 has made learning a very pleasurable experience for me that combine with the shear pleasure I get from my photography is something that can't be measured. But Andrew M43 and the G9, for what it's worth, in my view is a fantastic choice, when I take a poor shot I know it's me because I also take some decent shots and the quality if this camera, the photos that can be achieved and the shear usability are spot on for me.
Thanks for the compliment. I have been a photographer for about a million years and teaching photography for about twelve. So you are right, a new camera is not a huge learning curve for me, more of an upgrade of what I know already. But it's not a competition and we are all in it to have fun. And a user-friendly camera is a great place to start, like you I have found this camera a pleasure to have in my hand.
Echo that having been previously a 35mm phots with the Army. I have been as low as 1/125 at 400 to keep some prop blur and it was pin sharp hand held. The Panasonic is compact enough, but has presence, and I am rapidly getting used to rapidly changing situations and controls while being bounced about. As I do video as well, if you shoot 4k (I do sometimes if I can only carry one camera) the grabbed stills are very good Andrew.
Great choice, you won't be disappointed Andrew! The best camera on the market for it Price! When people talk about the AF it certainly not from taking images. The controversy is in Video modes not stills. The only downside I see with the G9 for Photography would be low light and shooting at high ISO's.
The latest camera update, V. 2.4, from Panasonic, will impress with the faster focusing. It's Great!!!
Yes indeed. You may not have noticed that this video is a couple of years old now, I have made many since including two about the new firmware. It makes a great camera even more fun to use.
I will say that Leica lens is awesome. It certainly auto focuses faster on my G7 than all my kit lenses.. The G9 is my dream to purchase in the future.
Looking forward to hearing about your future experiences with this equipment.
I enjoyed your video on the G9 & P/L 100-400. I have the G9 & 4 P/L lenses including a recent purchase of the 50-200. I also have twp Nikon D750s and a D7100 that I am using a Tamron 100-400 f4.5-6.3 on for birds in flight. The D7100 gets me out to 600mm equivalent and does a pretty good job but I would like more reach. I have been considering the D500 to enable better autofocus and FPS. Your video peaked my interest in the P/L 100-400 again. I have steered away from this lens because of past reports of internal dust issues to the point that some of the lenses are being returned for repair but they cannot be repaired so they are simply replaced with a refurbished lens if they are under warranty, otherwise the owner is left with no other option but replace the lens. You have just researched the lens and purchased it so I assume you did not see this as a current problem. I really enjoy my Panasonic equipment and would prefer to buy this lens instead of another Nikon camera and possibly a heavy longer lens. I have subscribed and look forward to any information you may provide.
I have the same camera and lens and really enjoy it. Brilliant kit. Hope it does everything you need it to do. I love it.
Nice choice, Andrew - and great picture quality already. Love the birds.
Congratulations on a great purchase. I value your market research and will give this one some serious consideration when the time comes, which hopefully, will be soon!
It really is a great camera, not got the 100-400 myself (I wish!) but loving it with just the Lumix 12-60 and 45-200. All whether sealed. 20fps or more with electronic shutter. Love it!
The economics of this all is amazing! Great to hear you're on with the G9.
Big move Andrew, I know how much you love your Pentax. I've spent too much on my DSLR's to justify the move to a mirrorless yet but I'm sure that day is coming. Looking forward to seeing some of your pics on the G9.
I haven't turned my back on Pentax Colin. Still using it for landscapes, rainforest, night photos, macro etc. As I said in the video, this is simply my second body and I have only bought one lens for it. So it is exclusively for wildlife and will continue using the Pentax for everything else.
Have you ever tried photographing a Loon on a lake in a canoe?
400mm just doesnt get you close enough, after that experience I discovered this G9 & 100-400mm combo with an effective focal length of 800mm and 6 stops of IS
and high frame rates....it seems like an obvious choice
I can't say I have had that experience but there are plenty of good reasons to enjoy this camera-lens combo.
Nice vid. Yep you’ve seen the light! M4/3rds. And you will find you can hand hold that set up with moving birds. Good luck with that one in any other format. Unless you got arms like Arnold swatziniger. Oh and the budget for a Sony a9 ouch! As a tool in terms of price to performance ratios and every single type of photography is covered by both Lumix and Olympus whether it’s macro, portrait or wildlife. For the money nothing gets even close to it. Sure the body’s are about the same price. But the lenses are a different story. Their lenses are all good and below 500€ to do all jobs. The pro stuff a bit more. You have the best zoom which is the exception at about 1100€. The other formats your gonna deed to at least treble that and if you want the better ones then it’s only up from there. Good luck with it....waiting for the updates.
Have a G9. Use it more frequently than my Sony A7R3, because the lens and body combination is lighter. Value them both, Panasonic and Sony.
Tony Green Hi Tony. I’m wondering if you can help me. I have Canon 5d mkii today with a Sigma 150-600mm Sport lens. I shoot mostly birds with it but of course other animals as well. I want to upgrade my camera body and I’m thinking of buying a Sony a7r iii and use an adapter for the lens or buy a G9 with the 100-400mm Leica lens. I get better reach and a package I can hand hold while shooting 400mm (800mm ff). I get better dynamic range and better ISO with the Sony and larger image size for cropping if needed. But is it a better combo? Any thoughts? Pointers in any direction? Does any one else have any tips?
Many thanks!
/ Jon
Hi Andrew. Thanks for thw reassuring video. I have the same set up. The only question is my zoom ring is a bit stiff and jerky. Do you find the same? Or is it my particular lens. Keep up the great videos. Robin
It is renowned for being quite firm which really bothers some people but it has never troubled me. There is the ring that lets you tighten and loosen it, so make sure you have it turned as loose as possible. My old Sigma lens would slide out all the time unless I locked it, just while the camera was hanging around my neck. I much prefer the stiffness to that problem. But perhaps I have been lucky...maybe some are stiffer than others.
You will not regret this.
The G9 can be a steep learning curve though.
The only thing that's tough is figuring out why certain options are disabled under different conditions.
I have been a photographer for over 30 years and every new camera - especially a big leap in technology like this - comes with a learning curve. But it's fun to have a new challenge. And I like to keep things simple, I shoot in Manual exposure only, so apart from aperture, shutter speed and ISO, the only things I have to change (mostly) are the drive mode and the focus settings.
Thank you Andrew for your video. I moved up from a bridge camera to a pro configuration after more than 3 months research of TH-cam videos and online camera reviews every day and chose the identical configuration for birding and wildlife. I need a landscape lens now, that I cannot afford and I have to save up for, LOL. Any suggestions? Its a lot of fun to go out and shoot with and the more I use it the more I surprise myself with beautiful birding and nature photos I love and many of my friends and social media acquaintances compliment me on. When I gift my photos, people are ecstatic! I have a question, please. I use a free editor called PhotoScapeX, but was recently told by more experienced photographers I should be using Lightroom; ie. "Lightroom" is the way to go!". Do you see a noticeable difference using Lightroom (a professional editor?) compared to free editing software? Thank you! I am subscribed, rang that bell, and looking forward to learning more about my camera from a pro!
Hi JS, wow, what a message! First up I won't try to recommend a landscape lens. As yet I have only bought the 100-400mm, as the Lumix is my 'second' body and I still have my Pentax K3ii for landscapes etc. I had a brief loan of a 7-14mm F2.8 while I was on Norfolk and enjoyed using it but I didn't spend enough time with it to really get to know it.
Regarding Lightroom...I think there is no doubt that the professional editing software is the way to go, but I have not seen PhotoScapeX so I can't make an informed comparison. When it comes to the two main players in editing they are Lightroom and Photoshop and you will get some photographers who say you 'must' use one and other photographers who say that you must use the other. They are both great, they are both Adobe products and if you decide to get one, they come together as a package so you don't have to pick one or the other, you can try both. I prefer Photoshop but I have been using it for many years before Lightroom even came along. Both are very powerful and especially good for processing RAW files, but naturally they have a bit of a learning curve for newbies.
You may use olympus omd em 1 mark 2 also which has better autofocus and you can swap the body with Panasonic
I just bought the leica 100-400mm. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on setting lens up properly on G9.
It takes a while to make these videos and I have already made a number of videos about this lens in earlier days. What is it you want to know?
@@naturesimagephotography - when I first put lens on it asked me to set camera to back focus. I'm wanting to find best settings so I can start experimenting with lens. Anything with best initial settings for camera / lens would be much appreciated.
Great Camera, excellent Lens, right choice!!
I have a question, is the 100-400mm (Original) weather proof? Even if it’s extended all the way?
it would have been nice if you can show the photo setting information. Thankyou
You only need to watch more of my videos. I have made dozens of videos with this camera, this lens and other lenses, and most of them include camera settings.
6K photo mode is amazing if you can learn to pull focus manually. I use it to record 5K video.
Excellent!
having a small lightweight setup like this at 800mm sounds so enticing as my Sony a9 with a sigma 60-600mm requires guns to lift! the thing that stops me from jumping ship is the iso performance, I can crank it up to 6400 iso no worries. I use it for video too. If the G9 is anything like the g85 I had, I couldn't use it over 1600 iso for video. Not great for run and gun type shooting.
Shame the 100 400 lens is very stiff i found quite annoying when using it.
The g9 is great but low light is a problem but it shoots so fast you can stack too photos together and get a clear image.
Even with wildlife.
I saw some reviews of the lens that said it was very stiff. I have not found that on my lens. Firm maybe but not difficult to use at all. So far I have found that I can deal with low light due to the excellent image stabilisation. But I have only had it for a month, I am sure I will find myself in some more testing situations eventually. Overall I find the good far outweighs the bad.
No doubt the G9 is a great camera...but you kinda glossed over the subject of image quality...and that is of course THE factor when folks consider micro-four-thirds...especially for birds/animals/etc, where quite often the high shutter speeds mean ISO will have to be dialed up. I am a micro-four thirds fan, esp for portability...but I'm just saying that image quality can't be glossed over in reviews like this...because THE question many folks will have is this: can I live with the reduction in image quality vs APS-C and full-frame, for the benefit of portability? Anyway...you made a nice choice. The G9 is a very very good camera.
Well thanks for the feedback, but this was not supposed to be that kind of review. It was all there in the title...the video is my personal story about my reasons for buying the new camera and the issues I weighed up before making the decision. I am not not a seasoned camera reviewer (and never claimed to be) and I had only had the camera for a few weeks when I made the video. So all I could do was give my first impressions. In fact I said in my closing that this was the start of a new story in my photography and to keep watching to see how it unfolded. Anyway with that said, we are in agreement, it is a very good camera. It does suffer the noise issues inherent in M-4/3 cameras. But for features, design, user-friendliness etc...after 8 months or so I am happy to say I find this a great camera that is a joy to use.
@@naturesimagephotography Thanks for the kind reply...yes it's a beautiful combination of camera and lens. I'm wondering if you have tried pixel shift? Of course not usable unless the subject is motionless...still...it's an intriguing option when it can be used. Some folks have even said the detail in the images approaches medium format.
No I haven't tried pixel shift. I only have two lenses for this camera, the big 100-400 for wildlife and a 45mm f-1.8 for portraits. Neither subject suits that function so for now it's something I will look forward to if I get a new lens or two.
I’ve have the same camera and the lenses
Y ur video audio were left weighted?
I am having trouble getting focus on moving birds. What focus setting works best?
I use AFC for the focus mode, and Custom Multi for the AF Area Mode. Success rate is very good for birds against the sky, but much lower when shooting birds with a busy background, like in a forest etc. With my old camera I could always shoot birds against the sky but as soon as they dipped below the horizon the camera would refocus on the background. With the Lumix G9 it is not perfect but it is definitely much better.
The G9 is not a great camera for birding. It's af system is not up to par compared to most other options at the same price point.
Yes Agree with all you have stated. I have a G9 and 100 - 400mm lens. The points about the camera are spot on. But there are some issues I have with the lens. The worse thing about the lens is the stiffness and sticking of the zoom particularly in hot countries. This is real problem for me once framing a shot at 100mm then zooming in for the close up. The zoom action is very poor !! And the other issue is the sharpness and clarity of the photo at full 400mm zoom. To get a clear sharp picture I never use above 350mm. Since I also have an Olympus camera and lenses I am awaiting the release of the 150 - 400mm telephoto lens with built in X1.25 teleconverter as a potential replacement. I would be interested in talking direct to Panasonic and showing them the problems with their lens but I guess they are too big to bother with me.
My copy so far seems to be holding up
Unfortunately I cannot confirm the weatherproofness, my G9 was defective after the first use in heavy rain. Total failure during my trip to Ecuador. Otherwise I am very satisfied with the camera, only after the failure my confidence in the reliability is no longer available.
Sorry to hear you had that experience. My opinion of weatherproofing is that it can cope with damp conditions so I would be confident using it for a short time in light rain. But I would not use it in heavy rain any more than I would drop it in the ocean. I can't afford to take such a risk.
I've had a lot of success shooting with the MFT system. The C-AF in stills mode on my GH-5 is good enough for 95% of what I shoot and the G9 is even better! I've run into the limits of my camera in extreme situations but the tradeoffs in size and cost aren't worth the investment in a flagship full frame system. Here are some examples of what I've been able to do traveling with the MFT system the past 6 years. www.avirossproductions.com/places
Wow, great collection!
Very beautiful photos! Your photos just prove that MFT system is really suitable for nature & wildlife photography.
In 2018 specially for wildlife photography I bought G9 and PL 100-400mm. I also have 50-200 f2.8-4 and 12-60 f2.8-4.
I agree that FF in some low light situations is better than MFT, but the advantages of the G9, such as dual image stabilization, compact size and weight of kit (camera+lens), plus a several times lower price, overcome this disadvantage for many users.
Why the background music?
This was one of my very early videos. I was learning then (and still learning now). I don't do the background music anymore.
@@naturesimagephotography Excellent news.
but the aperture is very slow... 6.3 in m43 is 2x slower than FF with your pentax+sigma!
My Pentax K3ii is not full frame, and the Sigma lens was also f-6.3 at 500mm.
Also the Leica/Panasonic is F-4 at the 100mm end of the range, compared to F-5 on the sigma. As yet the aperture has not presented a problem and the excellent image stabilliser allows me to shoot at slower shutter speeds as long as the subject is not moving.
In the real world the G9/100-400 is an incredibly useful combo. I do wildlife from a boat and I have no trouble with bears, wolves, eagles, whales , seals, etc with the boat moving, I’m moving, and the subjects are moving, and in all light levels. I travel with the G9 and the A7III. They both have their strengths. The G9 is not 2x slower at 800mm equivalent, that’s just fanboy nonsense.
@@sirlancelot3109 Thanks for the feedback...and I think I envy your life!
** exposure yes, but DOF no....
I'm sure this is a great video, but your audio is out of phase. It makes my head spin trying to listen.
I don't see how this combination could be considered a serious option for anyone shooting wildlife. The best light is a dusk and dawn, and shooting wildlife often demands high shutter speeds. The result is lots of high ISO images. Since the G9 looks terrible above ISO 800 it's barely usable for the job as is, not to mention it's unreliable contrast based autofocus. But then you put a lens on it that's a 200-800 f/8-13 full frame equivalent. I don't see it, at all.
Once again never used a camera but commenting on usability. Go back to Tony safe space where you can review cameras you haven't used.
@@PhotoVideoTechOz I have, in fact used the G9. One of the perks of being friendly with your local camera store owner - getting to test new gear when it comes out. The comment about safe space is funny though. I'm not the one getting emotional over camera gear. That's you. I don't know why, either. It's not exactly controversial that MFT isn't the best option out there for high ISO shooting.
I use to use Canon gear for 11 years and now use the Panasonic G9 with The Leica 100-400 lens and it is damn good. Clean as my Canon 7D Mk II, no, but still very good. Not sure what you were doing, but I had to go to ISO 1250 a few time and a little post processing I had very usable images. Never had any problems with ISO 800. Really good system for wildlife.
@@PhotoVideoTechOz this 2x equivalency in focal length/focal ratio is a favorite for armchair MFT detractors. There is some truth in it and as an example the following will render the same image: G9/1000th sec exposure/ISO800/400mm f6.3 lens versus Full frame/1000th sec exposure/ISO3200/800mm f12.6. Note we've had to pump up the ISO on the full frame camera, so the high ISO advantage of full frame is completely gone. This equivalence also ignores many other important differences in MFT's favour, like the 200-800 f8-12.6 lens is still twice as long and large as a 100-400 f4-6.3 lens. Additionally, AF performance/metering still operate perfectly at f4-6.3 whereas a full frame camera's AF would likely fail at f12.6. I have no idea what motivates the hate against MFT by some people....
@@MercedesBenzGKlasse Calm down. I get it, you can't afford full frame gear so you have to make embarrassing statements on the internet. It's all good. Olympus is dead and so is MFT. The fight is over. You can rest now.