Category: Cameras

Dear Covid….

Meh. August has not gone to plan. I planned to get a lot of time out and about with just my GX80 and the Leica 15mm lens, but Covid has ruined August. I think this is the fourth time I’ve had it and easily the worst, and it’s taken its toll. I have a week now to try and get something out of the month.

I needed something to write about. And, as I have spent a lot of time watching Youtube lately it seemed a good time to write about my favourite You Tube channels. Over the years I have subscribed to a lot of Photo YouTube channels. But, only three of them have remained in my subscribe list.

Firstly, Thomas Heaton. If you’re into photography you’ll be aware of him. His videos aren’t about the right camera settings, or gear, but more about his journeys. One of my favourite videos of his is where he decides to go for a bike ride where he lives and take a photo every mile. It’s such a good idea.

Next up, James Popsys. James is just good to watch. Never too serious, and produces some great videos. I am a big fan of James’s style and actually own all of his books and some of his presets. I love that he includes human elements in his photos. It was James that inspired me to buy my Lumix G9, and we also share a love for all things Peak Design…!

Last, and definitely not least is Emily at MicroFourNerds (the best name channel by far). Obviously, I am a big fan of M43 cameras given that I own four bodies and god knows how many lenses. Emily is partially to blame for this as I often find myself on MPB after watching one of her videos. Again, I have bought some of her presets too as I love the orange and teal look on some photos. This is my fave videos Emily has made to date. I’d love to have gone on a trip like this with my Dad, but sadly I didn’t find my love for photography until after he’d gone.

Time for a change?

I’ve been shooting landscape photos for 20 years, and I’ve been happy doing it. But, on my recent trip to Northumberland I really liked the photos I took that were more of a documentary/street style. I felt that had more life in them, and more interest (for me) than just a landscape. It was this photo that did it for me.

Bamburgh Castle is probably one of the most photographed castles on the planet. Most of the photos will be at sunrise/sunset, from the beach or the sand dunes and will be amazing and look like something from a movie. But, they’re not reality. Most people won’t see that view. Most people will see view from the road, and there’s a challenge in making that view interesting, but also keeping it based in reality as most people see it. I really liked that, and that’s what I tried to do above. The path, the fence and the road create great leading lines to the castle, as well as a foreground. The houses are there, no point pretending and trying to hide them. There’s life in it, and real life is interesting.

So, I’m changing things up. I want more ‘real life’ photos. Every day things, but making them technically good photos. It opens up a lot more possibilities than looking for landscapes at sunlight and sunset. I’m excited about it.

A New Lens

This week I bought myself a new lens. I was feeling a bit miserable after having eye injections last Friday, and decided to treat myself to a Leica 15mm f1.7. It had £150 off as the lens cap was missing (how much are lens caps worth!) and was a return. So, an absolute bargain. It goes great on my GM1 and GX80. A perfect take anywhere lens, and I love that the f/stop is controlled on the lens (freeing up the one dial on my GM1 for shutter speed). I can’t wait to get out and use it now my eye is back to normal.

I also got myself a smaller Peak Design Sling. I love my 10l one, but it’s too big for taking everywhere – so I got the 3l version too. Again, perfect for taking my GM1 and GX80 out.

Out and About with my GM1

Recently I’ve felt like I’ve over complicated the activity of photography. Too much gear, too many options. I’ve spent more time thinking about what to take out than actually being out, and I think I put myself off taking photos.

So, I really enjoyed going out around back lanes of my village with just my GM1, and one lens (Panny 12-32) and getting back to just taking photos.

The photos’ aren’t anything spectacular (although I really like the one on the right), but I enjoyed the process. Again, the GM1 does a great job, and it’s so nice to use.

Goodbye G100

As I wrote in my last blog, I’ve felt overwhelmed with too much gear. My walk around with the GM1 convinced me that I didn’t need so many cameras, so when I got back I decided to sell my G100, my older GM1, a 25mm lens, and my 7Artisans fisheye (I couldn’t get they hang of that one). It’s money in the bank for when there’s something I actually need. It was quite cathartic, and I feel like a weight lifted. One camera for serious work, and one that I can take anywhere, and less stress deciding on what will be going with me.

Fun in the Dales

As I write this I find myself seriously considering selling some of my cameras and some lenses. There are a couple of reasons; firstly, it would make deciding what cameras to take on a trip a lot easier. Secondly, and more surprisingly – I found my iPhone actually did a great job on the times I was just out and about rather than intentionally going out to take photos. It actually had me considering if I actually needs all of this camera gear. Do I need to be carrying all of this stuff around when I can just use my phone? Is it easy to tell which of these photos are taken on an iPhone and what are taken on a camera? I genuinely can’t tell (it’s the one on the left).

60 Miles Makes a Difference

As photography trips go, this was a bit disappointing. Here in my part of Yorkshire everything has regrown and the tress are covered in leaves, the flowers are out in bloom with lots of colour back in the landscape. A mere 60 miles away it still looks like winter in most parts. Not great conditions for landscape photography. But, we still had an amazing time with our friends which is what we really went for.

We’re only a month away from our next trip, which is up in Northumberland. Maybe I’ll just take my iPhone…

How do you choose what gear to take on a trip?

Only a few days until we head to the Dales for our first break of the year and I can’t decide what camera gear to take with me. I can’t even decide which bag to take. The first thing this tells me is that I probably have too much gear to start with.

Maybe if I write this all out it will help me come to a decision.

I like to travel light, but practical. Some things you can get by without, but are nice to have, some things are must haves. Let’s start with those. It makes sense to take my best camera body and lens. So, my G9 and Leica 12-60 are definitely going. The 45-150 is a no brainer. It’s small, stabilised, and a decent zoom – so, a practical choice. Tripod, has to be the Peak Design Tripod, again small, practical, and very good. I could probably manage with just those. These are all the things I want to use for actual landscape photography though, and not things I would want to carry around all day. So, do I take a smaller camera?

My GM1 (I now own two…) is a great camera unless you’re outside, then it’s hard to see the screen in bright conditions. Also, it isn’t weather sealed and there’s no stabilisation.

The G100 (right) has the same sensor as my G9, it also has the viewfinder the GM1 is missing, and a flip screen. It’s smaller and lighter than my G9, but it unlike the G9 it isn’t weather sealed. Not a problem if it’s dry. Also, no stabilisation, but if I use a 12-32 that’s stabilised. Problems solved?

So, we’re at two cameras and four lenses. Easy, right?

Not, if you’re me…

So, we have a G9 body, a G100 body. Four lenses, and a tripod. What about lights? ‘Lights for landscape photography’ I hear you say. Well, I’m thinking of maybe doing a bit of astro stuff if the weather is right. I thought the lights my be good if there’s an interesting subject such as a tree… over thinking? Me? Maybe just one. And, a gorillapod to stand it on.

I’m already thinking this getting out of hand….I’m not even half way through.

MacBook Pro? Can’t decide. Handy for other stuff, but am I actually going to have time for editing, or the other stuff? Is it dead weight?

Video cameras. I’ve never tried the Insta360 One-R’s star lapse mode, I’d like to, and it’s handy for other things too. I think that’s in. The Insta360 Go2 is so small art may as well go, and it’s fun to use and discrete.

The more I type, the less I want to take. That’s good thing right?

That just leaves, cables, filters. batteries – can’t do it without them – and last of all a bag. This is a nightmare.

During the day we’ll be hiking, and we’ll have the dogs, so a hiking backpack will take car of that. The G100 can go in a case in that bag through the day. Early morning I will be going our with the big camera, tripod etc. Makes sense to take a camera backpack, right? Or, do I go lighter and take a sling bag?

See, it’s too hard. Too many choices.

Maybe I will decide tomorrow….

Is this the best camera ever made?

OF course, the answer to this question is subjective, and everyone will have a different answer. But, let me put the case forward for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1.

My Lumix GM1 – with Star Wars Lego Minifigs, purely for scale (I didn’t have a banana in).

Just before Christmas I was in York (the UK original version) and I was using my GM1 to take some photos when this American chap came over to me. ‘Is that a GM1’ he asked. ‘Yeah, well spotted’ I replied. He asked if he could take a look at it, and as he didn’t seem dodgy I obliged. ‘It’s like new, how long have you had it’ was the next question. I told him I bought it in 2014 and that like all of my gear I like to take care of it. ,Then, to my surprise he offered me four hundred dollars for it. ‘No, thanks’. Five? ‘Still no’. Six? ‘Ermmm, no’. At this point I told him it wasn’t for sale at any price and made a hasty exit. What on earth was going on? Well, it seems the GM1 (and GM5) have gained a cult following, and with good reason.

The GM1 was released in 2013 and is still one of the smallest interchangeable lens cameras ever made. Ten years later, it still boasts fairly considerable specs for a camera so tiny:

Panasonic GM1 specs:
  • 16MP Live MOS sensor
  • Built-in Wi-Fi (no NFC)
  • 3.0-inch, 1036K dot touch-sensitive LCD
  • 1080 HD video recording at 60i/30p
  • Built-in pop-up flash
  • 1/16,000 maximum shutter speed (with all-electronic shutter)
  • Focus peaking
  • Picture-in-picture magnification for manual focus
  • Micro HDMI output
  • Magnesium-alloy shell with aluminium top and bottom plates

Why do I love this camera so much? Firstly, and most importantly it actually takes great photos. I know 16mp isn’t huge by today’s standards, however it’s big enough to make great prints. I may be a tad nostalgic, but from the camera this little thing delivers bright images that need very little editing. Next up, I can use all of my lenses with it. From the tiny 12-32 to the huge 100-300, they all work regardless of how silly they may look. The GM1’s best feature is its size.

I know we all have phones with fairly decent cameras, and they’re handy, small and always in our pockets. But, they’re limited. The GM1 is tiny, and you get full manual control – which, as photographers is what we really want. This camera goes in my pocket on dog walks. It goes in my bag on day trips. It goes to weddings, or parties. It goes where I don’t want to stick a big camera in someone’s face. All of that and full creative control. That’s why I will never sell this camera.

If anyone from Panasonic reads this – go and check eBay and second hand dealers for GM1 and GM5 bodies. They sell for as much now as when they were first released (if they’re in good condition). That’s if you can find one. There is a big market for Japanese models, and amazingly English speakers are buying them despite not being able to read the menus (apparently it can’t be changed to English). Again, they’re relatively expensive. My point Panasonic, is – make a new version. Don’t change much, maybe the same sensor that’s in the G100/G9 and leave the rest as it is.

This camera is what Micro Four Thirds is about. Small, fully manual, interchangeable lens system. It’s something we need more of.

Out in the Cold

I finally got to take my new G9 this week. I had to wait longer than I’d like after having steroid injections in my eyes, but it paid off as winter has finally arrived.

An afternoon where the temperature didn’t get above -4oC meant the frost was around all day, and a clear sky meant I could see if the G9 stabilisation was as good as I hoped. It didn’t disappoint, as I didn’t need to get my tripod out until sunset (except to try the high resolution mode). I am loving the G9. What a great camera Panasonic have made, except for the flipping shutter button. Why did they make it so sensitive? If nothing else it’s forced me to finally get used to back button focusing.

Things I’ve learned this week

Bracketing – I need to do less of this and just focus on one photo.
Peak Design Tripod – I need to use this more. It weighs more than my other tripods, but it works better and the ball head can’t be beaten.
Going to the same place repeatedly- is worth it. I’m still finding new compositions and obviously places change with seasons.
The value of backing up – my Mac Mini died this week. Thankfully everything was backed up onto an external drive, Creative Cloud and iCloud. New one us coming on Monday!

Winter has been good for photography so far. It’s important to go out prepared though. Always take tea!

I didn’t have to go far for this one. Just the landing window, my little G100, a 45-150 lens, and a Gorillapod. Really pleased with this one.

This version is a low res j-peg, but the original is a massive 140mg high res from my G9. Taken from about 500m away at 300mm. Not a great composition, but an amazing exam of what the camera can do.

I bought another camera….

Yup. Another camera, because two wasn’t enough. So, I got my dream camera the LUMIX G9. I’ve looked at this camera for a long time, since it first came out in 2018 but it’s always been out of my reach financially. There I was browsing the Black Friday sales and I found the body on sale at £700. I didn’t have £700 for another new camera so I closed the browser and got on with cleaning my camera shelves – where my unused DJI Mavic Mini 3 was sat gathering dust. Since I lost the vision in my right eye I’ve never felt safe flying a drone for photography, and I’m not sure I ever would. Anyway, lightbulb moment…..sell the drone I never use, buy the camera. So, I did. Part exchange, straight swap.

Not my actual camera….

After a faff around with deliver due to postal strike (posties have my full support), it arrived yesterday. It’s huge, and heavy compared to my current bodies, but not in the grand scheme of cameras.

Unfortunately, my eyes are painful so I haven’t had a chance to use it yet, and I’m in hospital next week. Hopefully I’ll get out with it before Christmas.