Category: panasonic

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.

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.