Panasonic DMC-GH1

Mark · 10-03-2009, 23:58

I'm thinking about what camera to get next. My S3 IS has given me good service and for holiday snaps I'm happy with it, but I know its limits and I've been disappointed at results often enough to know that just occasionally something comes along that I wish it could do, but can't.

So, I've been considering what next for a while now. My original plan was another bridge camera (probably one of the new Canons or somesuch), but I'm worried I'll hit the same problems I've had with the S3 - by far the biggest of which has been sensor noise, even at low ISO. It isn't noticeable in the average daytime shot, but push the limits and there it is.

So, that lead me to consider the low-end of the dSLR market. I really can't justify spending hundreds or thousands on glass, but I'm thinking that a low-end dSLR and OK glass are going to give me better results overall than a top-end bridge camera for not that much more outlay.

Then, the Panasonic DMC-G1 turned up. Seems to fit the bill nicely but a few niggles remained - primarily I wasn't sure about the lens options (OK lenses is fine, but no lenses might be a problem), but also there were a few 'nice to have' features that weren't there.

I looked on the Panasonic site a few days ago and the DMC-GH1 had appeared. The features I wanted are there, and there's now another lens option.

It isn't Canon/Nikon, so I just know the purists will moan (with a little justification due to the limited choice in accessories), but it seems like it'll destroy my S3 in all but zoom range (which is easily fixed by buying the 45-200 lens). Obviously, I don't know a price yet, so that might change my mind.

Have I got my 'ducks in a row', or have I just gone quackers? Is there a deal-killer I haven't spotted?

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_G...692/index.html (DSC-GH1 @ Panasonic)

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcg1/ (DSC-G1 review @ D.P. Review)

Matblack · 11-03-2009, 11:40

All cameras are going to be noisey at high ISO, thats just life

MB

Mark · 11-03-2009, 12:02

Except I was complaining about low ISO.

One thing that really showed me the limits was your shot of the moon. OK, so it's not something I'm going to do more than once, but the difference between what you got with your old 300D and what I got with my S3 were just worlds apart - even though we both used similar settings.

Matblack · 11-03-2009, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

Except I was complaining about low ISO.

One thing that really showed me the limits was your shot of the moon. OK, so it's not something I'm going to do more than once, but the difference between what you got with your old 300D and what I got with my S3 were just worlds apart - even though we both used similar settings.

Smaller sensors pack more pixels into a smaller space which results in more noise in whatever mode but usually they are OK at low ISO

That was taken at low ISO as the moon is very bright you actually need a smallish shutter shortish exposure.

If you want to try a dSLR then you can borrow my old 300d and buy the kit lens off ebay for ~£30 bare in mind the moon shot was with an L glass lens a pretty good (and pretty expensive) piece of glass

The other option as you say is a bridge camera and I would recomend the Fuji range very highly, Desmo has my old 5600 and its a great toe in the water for moving to dSLR

MB

Mark · 11-03-2009, 12:47

The S3 is a bridge camera. Sorry I didn't make that clear, so I've already had my toe-in.

Thanks for the offer on the 300D but I think I'd struggle with that because of the lack of live view (I'm fine using the viewfinder for normal shots but couldn't do without live view when using manual modes for obvious reasons).

Matblack · 11-03-2009, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

The S3 is a bridge camera. Sorry I didn't make that clear, so I've already had my toe-in.

Thanks for the offer on the 300D but I think I'd struggle with that because of the lack of live view (I'm fine using the viewfinder for normal shots but couldn't do without live view when using manual modes for obvious reasons).

In which case you are pretty restricted, in all honestly the camera you have is excellent and to get noticably improved results you'd need to spend a significant amount of cash, not least because to get the kind of zoom you are used to you'd need to buy at least one additional lens. If you decide to go down the Canon route you'd need a 450d, 1000d or 40d/ 50d to get Live View, the overall spend to get everything including a half decent zoom would probably be in the region of £600 plus you'd move from a small camera bag to a rucksack and you would have the additional faf of changing lenes which given sight restrictions could be quite a fiddly and potential risky operation (dust in camera, droping lenes, etc).

If you trade up, my recomendation out be a Canon G series camera which have a reputation of exellent performance in most lighting conditions are compact and have most of the adjustability of a dSLR with none of the drawbacks

MB

Matblack · 11-03-2009, 13:25

Reading the review of the Panny in your first post it looks ideal if you want to improve low light sensitivity and offers HD video too, I'd get one of those.

MB

Mark · 11-03-2009, 13:27

My original plan was the Canon SX1 which is their flagship bridge camera, but yes, a Fuji was under serious consideration too as I have good memories of yours.

However, I think you might have fallen into the obvious Nikon/Canon trap (see the OP). There are other dSLR manufacturers besides the big two - including the DMC-GH1. Yes, I know about the problem with 'lesser' brands and lack of accessories.

Edit - you've caught on. Thanks.

Pumpkinstew · 11-03-2009, 14:08

I have the little brother to that camera.
http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_G...r=DMC-FZ28EB-S
Although I think it's the FZ5 I have.
Never had any problems with it and taken a few really nice pictures with it too.

Mark · 27-03-2009, 16:44

I just found a DMC-G1 for £419. I very, very, very nearly bought it there and then. That's a silly price for a high street store and beats almost all online prices to a pulp. I wanted, but I didn't.

Only two things stopped me - the DMC-GH1, and the fact that since I'm used to the long-ish zoom on my S3 IS, I'd probably get bored with the limits of the 14-45 kit lens and want the 45-200 very soon, which is another £300. The DMC-GH1 comes with a 14-140 lens, which I'll probably be happy with for a fair while.

Of course, the price of the DMC-GH1 is a bit of an unknown but best guestimate seems to be in the £800-£900 range, which isn't that much more than the G1 + 45-200.

I think I did the right thing passing up such a silly bargain. At least I hope I did. Me + money = danger Will Robinson.

10-03-2009, 23:58	#1
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Panasonic DMC-GH1 I'm thinking about what camera to get next. My S3 IS has given me good service and for holiday snaps I'm happy with it, but I know its limits and I've been disappointed at results often enough to know that just occasionally something comes along that I wish it could do, but can't. So, I've been considering what next for a while now. My original plan was another bridge camera (probably one of the new Canons or somesuch), but I'm worried I'll hit the same problems I've had with the S3 - by far the biggest of which has been sensor noise, even at low ISO. It isn't noticeable in the average daytime shot, but push the limits and there it is. So, that lead me to consider the low-end of the dSLR market. I really can't justify spending hundreds or thousands on glass, but I'm thinking that a low-end dSLR and OK glass are going to give me better results overall than a top-end bridge camera for not that much more outlay. Then, the Panasonic DMC-G1 turned up. Seems to fit the bill nicely but a few niggles remained - primarily I wasn't sure about the lens options (OK lenses is fine, but no lenses might be a problem), but also there were a few 'nice to have' features that weren't there. I looked on the Panasonic site a few days ago and the DMC-GH1 had appeared. The features I wanted are there, and there's now another lens option. It isn't Canon/Nikon, so I just know the purists will moan (with a little justification due to the limited choice in accessories), but it seems like it'll destroy my S3 in all but zoom range (which is easily fixed by buying the 45-200 lens). Obviously, I don't know a price yet, so that might change my mind. Have I got my 'ducks in a row', or have I just gone quackers? Is there a deal-killer I haven't spotted? http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_G...692/index.html (DSC-GH1 @ Panasonic) http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcg1/ (DSC-G1 review @ D.P. Review)

11-03-2009, 11:40	#2
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	All cameras are going to be noisey at high ISO, thats just life MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

11-03-2009, 13:25	#7
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	Reading the review of the Panny in your first post it looks ideal if you want to improve low light sensitivity and offers HD video too, I'd get one of those. MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

11-03-2009, 14:08	#9
Pumpkinstew Absinthe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mostly Oxford, Sometimes Bristol Posts: 1,156	I have the little brother to that camera. http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_G...r=DMC-FZ28EB-S Although I think it's the FZ5 I have. Never had any problems with it and taken a few really nice pictures with it too. __________________ Get old, or die tryin' PSTEWREVIEWS - Chunks of Meaty Reviews, Mixed with Your Five a Day of News, Comment and Opinion, Floating in a Broth of Suspect Grammar and Seasoned Liberally with Mixed Metaphor. Tasty.

11-03-2009, 12:02	#3
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Except I was complaining about low ISO. One thing that really showed me the limits was your shot of the moon. OK, so it's not something I'm going to do more than once, but the difference between what you got with your old 300D and what I got with my S3 were just worlds apart - even though we both used similar settings.

11-03-2009, 12:47	#5
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	The S3 is a bridge camera. Sorry I didn't make that clear, so I've already had my toe-in. Thanks for the offer on the 300D but I think I'd struggle with that because of the lack of live view (I'm fine using the viewfinder for normal shots but couldn't do without live view when using manual modes for obvious reasons).

11-03-2009, 13:27	#8
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	My original plan was the Canon SX1 which is their flagship bridge camera, but yes, a Fuji was under serious consideration too as I have good memories of yours. However, I think you might have fallen into the obvious Nikon/Canon trap (see the OP). There are other dSLR manufacturers besides the big two - including the DMC-GH1. Yes, I know about the problem with 'lesser' brands and lack of accessories. Edit - you've caught on. Thanks.

27-03-2009, 16:44	#10
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	I just found a DMC-G1 for £419. I very, very, very nearly bought it there and then. That's a silly price for a high street store and beats almost all online prices to a pulp. I wanted, but I didn't. Only two things stopped me - the DMC-GH1, and the fact that since I'm used to the long-ish zoom on my S3 IS, I'd probably get bored with the limits of the 14-45 kit lens and want the 45-200 very soon, which is another £300. The DMC-GH1 comes with a 14-140 lens, which I'll probably be happy with for a fair while. Of course, the price of the DMC-GH1 is a bit of an unknown but best guestimate seems to be in the £800-£900 range, which isn't that much more than the G1 + 45-200. I think I did the right thing passing up such a silly bargain. At least I hope I did. Me + money = danger Will Robinson.