Thank You for all that you have put into producing these Useful uploads on budget photography Graham. Your knowledge and technical awareness is very helpful. Although I have a 2006 Nikon D80 Crop Sensor DSLR, Which I still use, your videos and your blog are , IMHO, informative and positive and have the spirit to get out there and take pictures.
My favourite combo, which I haven't used in some months due to the season and lack of inspiration, being stuck at home, is the Panasonic G6 and 14-140 10X zoom lens. Simple and very versatile as a casual walk around kit. The lens does hold its value so is not exactly 'cheap' but reasonably priced. It is far from the most capable body in the range but it has sensitive buttons and the simplicity and price point makes it ideal for the rough and tumble. I carry it in a holster bag in my work vehicles including farm tractors. Wish you would cover more of the M4/3 models and features Graham. They include little gems like the GX80 which was the first rangefinder style Panasonic with the new soft shutter and image stabilisation and an amazing feature set that needs demoing and explaining.
That's great idea, I'll finish off the "budget stuff" and then look at cameras like the G7/8 GX80/85 with accessories etc - too me they are better workhorses than the G9 that I really hated and quickly sold.
@@GrahamHoughton12 These cameras have a multitude of great features that are probably mostly underused because people either don't know they have them or don't know where and how to use them to advantage. The G7 has the older shutter but has the optional auto-shutter type choice which chooses electronic of manual to avoid shutter shock. The later cameras don't need this and on earlier ones the operator just has to choose the shutter or ensure the shutter speed is appropriate to avoid blur. I'm no expert on these things and would appreciate as much as anyone, having the features explained. I know I a whole lot more to learn and I enjoy learning and your efforts.
I'd love to hear your take on the GX85 as it's currently in a great value kit with both the collapsing kit zoom and the telephoto zoom, plus in body stabilization
@@stever1514 It is as capable as the G9 in a small form factor, but 16megabytes rather than 20. Less buttons to give direct control of customised functions though but as many as say the Leica Q2 at less than a tenth of the price. There are two main drawbacks, neither of which are relevant to me. The first is the small viewfinder, which I find perfectly fine but which some people seem not to get on with due to colour tearing. Since I've never experienced that, I do not quite know what it looks like. The other is the grip which is very small, because it is a very compact camera. I got around that by fitting the nice cheap JJC handgrip which also fits the GX9. Because the camera is small it also has small batteries but spare copies are available for around £8 each if you buy a set of two. I like it a lot and use it more these days than my G6 and G7, even though I prefer the larger form factor. I think the JJC grip has made all the difference to holding it in one hand. Lovely photo files and the kit 12-32 is really sharp. Not very bright but sharp and wide.
@@hedydd2 Nice to hear. I needed the 45-150 and wanted the compact lens for a possible video angle where the camera is in the shot and I wanted it to be super small without being smartphone or action cam quality. So the kit at $599 looked attractive, but when I found one on eBay for $350 I had to snag it. That's less than I bought my FZ 150 for years ago, and about the price of the lenses alone so I'm thrilled to give it a whirl.
Graham, very nice video. I'd love to see more MFT content on your channel. I just graduated from my FZ150 into a G7 once I finally understood F stop equivalence and gave up on looking at FZ and LX series cameras, both of which I have wanted for years, but now see the full MFT sensor as being far more advantageous than high end bridge cameras. Plus I got it for a steal with both a kit zoom and a 25mm prime lens, when I couldn't find reasonably priced fz1000 or 2500s used. When I was looking for other lenses I found a GF2 with the kit zoom for $70 and bought it for my daughter rather than giving her my FZ150, I want her to experience DoF and serious tech when it can be gotten for so little.
Olympus, Sigma and many others make native M4/3 lenses that work perfectly. There are also a few Chinese brands that are mostly manual but perfectly good. Some Panasonic lenses have image stabilisation, as Panasonic bodies of this era don't. Olympus cameras mostly do have sensor image stabilisation that works with all lenses. The choice in M4/3 is limited only by imagination and budget.
Any chance to see a review of 7-14mm lens with a micro 4/3 camera? This is my recent idea - to buy a camera like GX880 with lens that covers the wide angle range below what my FZ10002 and HX90V can offer. A bit pricey option, but YOLO. Sometimes you just need something below 24mm out the in a street or in the wild
Hi graham. Could i ask, being someone who has followed you for a couple of years, if you could advise on editing shots on a panasonic fz300/300. I remeber you saying f4 is best but is there any good advice on improving a shot of a bird etc please. And thank you for the great videos and the Newsletter im subscribed to.
I have nothing against the Panasonic MFT bodies, however as virtually all Olympus bodies have 5 stops stabilisation, just seems easier to purchase one of these bodies, cheap used, and you don't have to worry about stabilisation.
There is much made of 4K and even 6K video with later cameras but do bear in mind most computer screens are only 1080 which is also called Full HD (FHD), so if you are shooting for TH-cam that is as high as you need go. Unless you want to view it in full glory on your 4K telly there is little need to go higher even with a GH4. You will probably view your own pictures on a computer but if you are posting then many viewers will be watching on a phone or fondle slab.
Hi Graham, thank you for the wonderful tutorial. Your vlogs are much appreciated and very helpful. I do have a question, more of a doubt actually, it's about the Lumix FZ1000ii, now I know it's a predecessor to the FZ1000 which doesn't support an adapter for a teleconverter, but unlike the 1000 we can actually see a thread on the body of the 1000ii, I was wondering if an LA7 adapter tube could be screwed on to it for a longer reach. I have an FZ300 with 3 different tele lenses and of course the LA7, but I'm really interested in finding out if this is a possibility so I can go for an upgrade. Thanks!
There's no internal thread to the lens tube mount on either the FZ1000 mk1 or mk2 versions, The LA7 tube will not fit over the lens ring either so i guess teleconverters are out of the question.
While there is a technical sense in which you are correct, smaller sensors perform worse at high iso's in every practical way. There are two ways to think about this. At the same resolution, the smaller pixels will be more susceptible to noise (I think this has to do with smaller well size and more cramped electronics leading to worse heat dissipation). If on the other hand you have the same pixel size, then the larger sensor has higher resolution. While the pixel level noise will be the same, when viewed at the same reproduction size, the higher resolution image will have finer grained noise, leading to better overall noise performance. Ultimately noise performance is roughly proportional to the area of the sensor. Since crop factor is measured along the diagonal, the area is proportional to the (diagional)^2 (this is not quite accurate since aspect ratios are different, but for a back of the envelope type calculation it's good enough). This is why 135 format has roughly 2 stops better noise performance than m43, all else being equal (note 2 stops is a factor of 4). So if m43 is usable up to 3200 iso, then full frame should be usable up to 12800.
The trouble with photography on a budget is that most recent smartphones are capable of very good picture and video quality comparable or even better than budget cameras. Recent smartphones have crazy image stabilization for filming and increasingly sophisticated image stacking algorithms for noise reduction. I still have some zoom cameras, because smartphones focal length is limited.
That's the problem, focal length versus depth of field with smartphones. They have there place for general photography/video but lack resources for true creative work.
Smartphones are great for what they are, but have several limitations. Low light performance is a big one. Image stacking is great but doesn't work on moving subjects. Phones can't do telephoto, nor can then do barrow depth-of-field. Software makes up for some of that. Hey - smartphones are great - considering their limitations.
Panasonic was the preferred option for video users. I see the point of compact m43 cameras like the GF (I use a GX80 regularly), but DSLR style cameras like the GH5 and G9 are too big to compete, and the E-M1X is even bigger. The full frame S5 is smaller than the GH5, and adapted lenses are the same size on all formats.
@@borderlands6606 Most of us use them for stills, the EM1x is really not a big seller due to its size, but it is designed for wedding and event pros. Most of us are using the small EM1 and Omd-EM10/5 combos, they are small and provide less noise and better colors than the Pannys.
@@joecap2919 Not sure about mostly stills, Panasonic made the hybrid camera a serious proposition, at least in smaller formats. The GH series were almost exclusively videocentric models, and excellent sellers. The E-M1X seems like a wildlife camera primarily. A full frame camera and 24-70 wouldn't be too much bigger than a 1X and equivalent lens combo.
My main camera, until the last 12 months', was the lovely Canon 6D and L glass etc. However, I saw a mint Pen F and 12-40 2.8 selling for a bargain price during the height of the pandemic, and purchased the combo. Was mega impressed with the lovely Pen F and the excellent non pro fast primes. Wide angle, as like shooting landscapes, is perhaps not a MFT strong point. But then just use my Canon 6D and wide angle glass. Bigger sensor would be good, but the MFT format cameras are seriously underrated.
Thank You for all that you have put into producing these Useful uploads on budget photography Graham. Your knowledge and technical awareness is very helpful. Although I have a 2006 Nikon D80 Crop Sensor DSLR, Which I still use, your videos and your blog are , IMHO, informative and positive and have the spirit to get out there and take pictures.
My favourite combo, which I haven't used in some months due to the season and lack of inspiration, being stuck at home, is the Panasonic G6 and 14-140 10X zoom lens. Simple and very versatile as a casual walk around kit. The lens does hold its value so is not exactly 'cheap' but reasonably priced. It is far from the most capable body in the range but it has sensitive buttons and the simplicity and price point makes it ideal for the rough and tumble. I carry it in a holster bag in my work vehicles including farm tractors.
Wish you would cover more of the M4/3 models and features Graham. They include little gems like the GX80 which was the first rangefinder style Panasonic with the new soft shutter and image stabilisation and an amazing feature set that needs demoing and explaining.
That's great idea, I'll finish off the "budget stuff" and then look at cameras like the G7/8 GX80/85 with accessories etc - too me they are better workhorses than the G9 that I really hated and quickly sold.
@@GrahamHoughton12
These cameras have a multitude of great features that are probably mostly underused because people either don't know they have them or don't know where and how to use them to advantage. The G7 has the older shutter but has the optional auto-shutter type choice which chooses electronic of manual to avoid shutter shock. The later cameras don't need this and on earlier ones the operator just has to choose the shutter or ensure the shutter speed is appropriate to avoid blur. I'm no expert on these things and would appreciate as much as anyone, having the features explained. I know I a whole lot more to learn and I enjoy learning and your efforts.
I'd love to hear your take on the GX85 as it's currently in a great value kit with both the collapsing kit zoom and the telephoto zoom, plus in body stabilization
@@stever1514
It is as capable as the G9 in a small form factor, but 16megabytes rather than 20. Less buttons to give direct control of customised functions though but as many as say the Leica Q2 at less than a tenth of the price. There are two main drawbacks, neither of which are relevant to me. The first is the small viewfinder, which I find perfectly fine but which some people seem not to get on with due to colour tearing. Since I've never experienced that, I do not quite know what it looks like. The other is the grip which is very small, because it is a very compact camera. I got around that by fitting the nice cheap JJC handgrip which also fits the GX9.
Because the camera is small it also has small batteries but spare copies are available for around £8 each if you buy a set of two.
I like it a lot and use it more these days than my G6 and G7, even though I prefer the larger form factor. I think the JJC grip has made all the difference to holding it in one hand. Lovely photo files and the kit 12-32 is really sharp. Not very bright but sharp and wide.
@@hedydd2 Nice to hear. I needed the 45-150 and wanted the compact lens for a possible video angle where the camera is in the shot and I wanted it to be super small without being smartphone or action cam quality. So the kit at $599 looked attractive, but when I found one on eBay for $350 I had to snag it. That's less than I bought my FZ 150 for years ago, and about the price of the lenses alone so I'm thrilled to give it a whirl.
Graham, very nice video. I'd love to see more MFT content on your channel. I just graduated from my FZ150 into a G7 once I finally understood F stop equivalence and gave up on looking at FZ and LX series cameras, both of which I have wanted for years, but now see the full MFT sensor as being far more advantageous than high end bridge cameras. Plus I got it for a steal with both a kit zoom and a 25mm prime lens, when I couldn't find reasonably priced fz1000 or 2500s used.
When I was looking for other lenses I found a GF2 with the kit zoom for $70 and bought it for my daughter rather than giving her my FZ150, I want her to experience DoF and serious tech when it can be gotten for so little.
Great. Thank you for this series of videos!
Very good information. Thanks
Thank you for the feedback - great.
I treated myself to a Panasonic Lumix G81 and a telephoto lens from Olympus 75mm - 300mm. I have a lot of fun with it. 🙂
I bet you are getting some great images from the Olympus lens.
Olympus, Sigma and many others make native M4/3 lenses that work perfectly. There are also a few Chinese brands that are mostly manual but perfectly good. Some Panasonic lenses have image stabilisation, as Panasonic bodies of this era don't. Olympus cameras mostly do have sensor image stabilisation that works with all lenses.
The choice in M4/3 is limited only by imagination and budget.
That's absolutely right and why I have held on to some of my M4/3 kit .
Was any post processing done on the images?
Any chance to see a review of 7-14mm lens with a micro 4/3 camera? This is my recent idea - to buy a camera like GX880 with lens that covers the wide angle range below what my FZ10002 and HX90V can offer. A bit pricey option, but YOLO. Sometimes you just need something below 24mm out the in a street or in the wild
Hi graham. Could i ask, being someone who has followed you for a couple of years, if you could advise on editing shots on a panasonic fz300/300. I remeber you saying f4 is best but is there any good advice on improving a shot of a bird etc please. And thank you for the great videos and the Newsletter im subscribed to.
I have nothing against the Panasonic MFT bodies, however as virtually all Olympus bodies have 5 stops stabilisation, just seems easier to purchase one of these bodies, cheap used, and you don't have to worry about stabilisation.
There is much made of 4K and even 6K video with later cameras but do bear in mind most computer screens are only 1080 which is also called Full HD (FHD), so if you are shooting for TH-cam that is as high as you need go. Unless you want to view it in full glory on your 4K telly there is little need to go higher even with a GH4. You will probably view your own pictures on a computer but if you are posting then many viewers will be watching on a phone or fondle slab.
Hi Graham, thank you for the wonderful tutorial. Your vlogs are much appreciated and very helpful. I do have a question, more of a doubt actually, it's about the Lumix FZ1000ii, now I know it's a predecessor to the FZ1000 which doesn't support an adapter for a teleconverter, but unlike the 1000 we can actually see a thread on the body of the 1000ii, I was wondering if an LA7 adapter tube could be screwed on to it for a longer reach. I have an FZ300 with 3 different tele lenses and of course the LA7, but I'm really interested in finding out if this is a possibility so I can go for an upgrade. Thanks!
There's no internal thread to the lens tube mount on either the FZ1000 mk1 or mk2 versions, The LA7 tube will not fit over the lens ring either so i guess teleconverters are out of the question.
@@GrahamHoughton12 Thanks Graham
Is there some speed booster for the L mount lenses yet?
Well don e thanks love the shots stay safe
Many thanks for your comment, really appreciated.
Why ISO-Equivalence as Base-ISO*crop²?
ISO is defined in terms of film/sensor mm² and thus completely independent of the size.
While there is a technical sense in which you are correct, smaller sensors perform worse at high iso's in every practical way. There are two ways to think about this. At the same resolution, the smaller pixels will be more susceptible to noise (I think this has to do with smaller well size and more cramped electronics leading to worse heat dissipation). If on the other hand you have the same pixel size, then the larger sensor has higher resolution. While the pixel level noise will be the same, when viewed at the same reproduction size, the higher resolution image will have finer grained noise, leading to better overall noise performance.
Ultimately noise performance is roughly proportional to the area of the sensor. Since crop factor is measured along the diagonal, the area is proportional to the (diagional)^2 (this is not quite accurate since aspect ratios are different, but for a back of the envelope type calculation it's good enough). This is why 135 format has roughly 2 stops better noise performance than m43, all else being equal (note 2 stops is a factor of 4). So if m43 is usable up to 3200 iso, then full frame should be usable up to 12800.
The trouble with photography on a budget is that most recent smartphones are capable of very good picture and video quality comparable or even better than budget cameras. Recent smartphones have crazy image stabilization for filming and increasingly sophisticated image stacking algorithms for noise reduction. I still have some zoom cameras, because smartphones focal length is limited.
That's the problem, focal length versus depth of field with smartphones. They have there place for general photography/video but lack resources for true creative work.
Smartphones are great for what they are, but have several limitations. Low light performance is a big one. Image stacking is great but doesn't work on moving subjects. Phones can't do telephoto, nor can then do barrow depth-of-field. Software makes up for some of that. Hey - smartphones are great - considering their limitations.
Thanks.
The Olympus OMD series have much less noise and better sharpness and color than the GF Pannys. I have had both.
Yes I have the EM1 -mk2 after selling my GH4 and G9 cameras.
Panasonic was the preferred option for video users. I see the point of compact m43 cameras like the GF (I use a GX80 regularly), but DSLR style cameras like the GH5 and G9 are too big to compete, and the E-M1X is even bigger. The full frame S5 is smaller than the GH5, and adapted lenses are the same size on all formats.
@@borderlands6606 Most of us use them for stills, the EM1x is really not a big seller due to its size, but it is designed for wedding and event pros. Most of us are using the small EM1 and Omd-EM10/5 combos, they are small and provide less noise and better colors than the Pannys.
@@joecap2919 Not sure about mostly stills, Panasonic made the hybrid camera a serious proposition, at least in smaller formats. The GH series were almost exclusively videocentric models, and excellent sellers. The E-M1X seems like a wildlife camera primarily. A full frame camera and 24-70 wouldn't be too much bigger than a 1X and equivalent lens combo.
My main camera, until the last 12 months', was the lovely Canon 6D and L glass etc.
However, I saw a mint Pen F and 12-40 2.8 selling for a bargain price during the height of the pandemic, and purchased the combo.
Was mega impressed with the lovely Pen F and the excellent non pro fast primes.
Wide angle, as like shooting landscapes, is perhaps not a MFT strong point.
But then just use my Canon 6D and wide angle glass.
Bigger sensor would be good, but the MFT format cameras are seriously underrated.
Again the first to press like 👍
@@schmoldovia Maybe next time! thanks for watching!
a good sign that the series is reaching an appreciative audience - thank you.