Just Changed from Nikon to Panasonic Lumix G9: Just changed from my heavy Nikon D3 and Sigma 500mm F/4.5 lens to a Panasonic Lumix G9 and Panasonic 100-300 and Olympus 60mm macro lens.

gary8803

Just changed from my heavy Nikon D3 and Sigma 500mm F/4.5 lens to a Panasonic Lumix G9 and Panasonic 100-300 and Olympus 60mm macro lens. Loved the D3 but its to heave to hike and shoot bird in the Florida heat. Looking forward to using a lighter rig. Now to start saving for top quality glass.

Robyn H Loc: MainLine PA

Best of luck on your new camera.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

gary8803 wrote:

Just changed from my heavy Nikon D3 and Sigma 500mm F/4.5 lens to a Panasonic Lumix G9 and Panasonic 100-300 and Olympus 60mm macro lens. Loved the D3 but its to heave to hike and shoot bird in the Florida heat. Looking forward to using a lighter rig. Now to start saving for top quality glass.

The glass you now have is top quality glass although the 400 end of the lens is supposedly just a very slight touch soft from the reviews and people who have the 100-400. Of course you can purchase the Olympus 300 and the 1.4X teleconverter to go with it. It is supposed to be sharper than the 100-400 at the 300 and ~400 (420 actually). Since you have the 100-400, you might want to add the Olympus 12-100 to your system. You can add in the Olympus 7-14 f2.8 or, if you don't need the speed and very slight extra sharpness, you can save weight, size, and money with the Panasonic 7-14 f4. And there are a bunch of other Olympus and Panasonic lenses to consider but I think these are the lenses that make the most sense and quality for your system. If you shoot birds and action shots, consider the Olympus EE-1 viewsight. Have fun no matter what.

ELNikkor

It probably feels like a toy compared to your Nikon, but keep us posted as to your feelings about the results...

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

The Nikon D3 is a superb camera but as all those cameras made by Nikon and Canon they are heavy. Long lenses are heavy also.
Your Panasonic is a lighter body but I have no experience with it and do not know how effective its AF system is for action and wildlife photography. The 300mm f2.8 Zuiko is a pretty expensive lens, it is of excellent optical quality from what I know.I am sure you can do quite well with what you have right now. As you use your camera more and more you will soon realize if a better optics is needed.
Good luck with your new camera.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

gary8803 wrote:

Just changed from my heavy Nikon D3 and Sigma 500mm F/4.5 lens to a Panasonic Lumix G9 and Panasonic 100-300 and Olympus 60mm macro lens. Loved the D3 but its to heave to hike and shoot bird in the Florida heat. Looking forward to using a lighter rig. Now to start saving for top quality glass.

I think you'll like the G9. Try to learn and use it for its specific advantages. It is not a dSLR. If you try to make it work like one, you'll just get frustrated. The advanced manual is worth downloading to your computer, tablet, smartphone... It's several hundred pages long, in JEnglish/Japlish. But don't be intimidated! It's worth spending time with, camera in hand.

If you get a chance, and the cash, swap the 100-300 for the Leica 100-400. Also try the Olympus 300mm, and the shorter zooms from Oly and Panny. The 7-14 Oly, 8-18 Leica, 12-35 f/2.8 Panny, 12-40 Oly, 35-100 f/2.8 Panny, 40-150 Oly, 12-60 Leica, 12-100 Oly are all very good to great, optically. In between, there are some great primes from Panasonic, Leica, and Olympus.

http://hazeghi.org/mft-lenses.html is a reasonably up to date list.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

ELNikkor wrote:

It probably feels like a toy compared to your Nikon, but keep us posted as to your feelings about the results...

Here's a link to a blog by a National Geographic grade photographer (Daniel J. Cox) who gave up his full frame Nikons to use Micro 4/3 "toys". He's been using various Lumix gear for at least five years.

Dan and his wife, Tanya, also conduct exclusive photo tours in exotic locations all over the world.

http://naturalexposures.com/corkboard/

You would be quite surprised at some of the photographers and videographers using Lumix gear.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

You will enjoy the lighter gear. If the 100-300 doesn't give you enough reach, try the Panosonic 100-400. I use it with my Olympus EM 1 Mark II and it is great.

kd7eir Loc: Tucson, AZ

wdross wrote:

The glass you now have is top quality glass althou... (show quote)

I would imagine the "400 end" of his 100-300mm lens would provide rather poor quality...

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Enjoy your lighter weight system!

Besperus Loc: Oregon

Ive been curious about 4/3. May give it a try. Now with talk of a full frame Panasonic I’m puzzled how long it will be before Oly follows suit? A Chinese company (?) built a Kodak branded 4/3 camera that came with two lenses for cheap yet had somewhat “advanced” features, the S1. For what it’s worth it may be junk.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Besperus wrote:

Ive been curious about 4/3. May give it a try. Now with talk of a full frame Panasonic I’m puzzled how long it will be before Oly follows suit? A Chinese company (?) built a Kodak branded 4/3 camera that came with two lenses for cheap yet had somewhat “advanced” features, the S1. For what it’s worth it may be junk.

All 4/3 cameras were taken off the new-camera market a long time ago. The lenses adapt well to MICRO 4/3 bodies, however.

The 4/3 and Micro 4/3 sensors are physically the same size, but the new 16-20 MP sensors perform to a much higher level.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

kd7eir wrote:

I would imagine the "400 end" of his 100-300mm lens would provide rather poor quality...

Yeah, sort of misread that. But Bill from Burkphoto is dead on. Sell the 100-300 and get the 100-400. Although the 100-300 is a good lens, it is not as good a lens as the 100-400.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

You are going to feel so liberated! I use the Olympus 14-150 II, which is weather proof, as my walk around lens. The images are super, no lens creep.

alfaman

Burkphoto is right on the money. Switched from Canon 6D to Olympus omd 1 mk 2 with 12-40mm lense a year ago and also feel liberated. I'm 88+ years young and could no longer handle the 6D with a long lense. With the olympus I can walk around all day with no problem. AF is very quick and the EVF is great. The selection of oly/panny lenses is also exceptional. Have fun with your G9.( BTW after you use it for a while you will know that it is not "a toy")