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Olympus M5 Mark II vs. Panasonic Lumix GX8
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Mar 23, 2016 13:51:40   #
SSam Loc: Sierra Vista, AZ
 
[quote=suntouched]I can't address the video capabilities but ask me in a few months because I fully intend to get more involved in video. /quote]
I got 'into' video a few years ago and was shocked on how important "other things" (than good quality video shots) are. I purchased two or three books about video and the least expensive of all of them was the most informative for me. The title is: "Shoot Video that Doesn't Suck". It is written by Steve Stockman. Have fun expanding your 'story telling' using video. PS I don't get a commission for book sales. ;-)

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Mar 23, 2016 13:58:30   #
suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ
 
Thanks SSam- I will look at the book.

PS- you can get the book from Nook Book at Barnes and Noble for 2.99. You can get a Nook app to read it on your iPad or computer.

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Mar 23, 2016 14:12:00   #
burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC
 
[quote=SSam]
suntouched wrote:
I can't address the video capabilities but ask me in a few months because I fully intend to get more involved in video. /quote]
I got 'into' video a few years ago and was shocked on how important "other things" (than good quality video shots) are. I purchased two or three books about video and the least expensive of all of them was the most informative for me. The title is: "Shoot Video that Doesn't Suck". It is written by Steve Stockman. Have fun expanding your 'story telling' using video. PS I don't get a commission for book sales. ;-)
I can't address the video capabilities but ask me ... (show quote)


Yes, that is a helpful tome.

Probably the most important thing to remember about video is that you ARE telling stories, and stories take some planning and structure. I can always tell when someone just turned on the camera without having a point. My mind wanders in about 20 seconds...

AUDIO is hugely important to video. Those of us who've created videos for years understand that at least 60% of the message a video communicates is transmitted through the sound track. The sound provides more context and meaning than the images.

If you're doing any sort of formal video for others to watch:

Have a point!
Outline it.
Script it.
Storyboard it. (Plan the scene sequences.)
Edit the script and storyboard, ruthlessly.
Narrate voice-overs, if there is explanatory narration over some scenes.
Record. (Stage, light, rehearse, direct... to varying degrees according to the program material)
Edit visuals to fit the sound.
Edit sounds to fit the visuals.
Add sound effects and music.
Vary the pace of the show to suit the content.

It is a process... Every part of that process seems to have accompanying technology. Fortunately, MOST of that technology is either in the camera or an outboard audio recorder and your computer and software.

Don't overlook the power of still photos, scanned and panned and zoomed as Ken Burns does in his videos for PBS.

Don't overlook the power of music (properly LICENSED, of course). Synchronizing visual changes to the beat of music is one of the best ways to maintain interest. It can be tricky, but it is quite mesmerizing.

I know way too many still photographers who think there is something either difficult, or evil, or scary, or strange, about video. There isn't! It just takes more thought and time to do well.

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Mar 23, 2016 14:37:23   #
suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ
 
Bill- all good points. I can't tell you how much poor quality video I've seen so want to avoid that. The Gx8 (and maybe this is common) has short 4-8 second video clips that can then be put together- or not. This might be a good place to start. I want to keep it light and fun.

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Mar 23, 2016 15:00:42   #
burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC
 
suntouched wrote:
Bill- all good points. I can't tell you how much poor quality video I've seen so want to avoid that. The Gx8 (and maybe this is common) has short 4-8 second video clips that can then be put together- or not. This might be a good place to start. I want to keep it light and fun.


:thumbup:

I don't think there's any limit to the video length on the GX8 sold in the USA. Battery life and SD card capacity are the only limits I'm aware of...

Yeah, you can say a LOT with short clips. Just look at any TV commercial these days! I've seen 25 to 40 scenes flash by in 30-second spots. Our brains soak it all in over time, as they saturation bomb us with repetitions.

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Mar 23, 2016 18:10:51   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
suntouched wrote:
I just bought a Gx8 camera- Previously I owned the Olympus M10 and M5. I sold the M10 and kept the M5 (not Mark II) mostly because of its weather sealing.

The following remarks are made by a "newbie" to the Gx8 :)

The M-5 and Gx8 have good IS and IQ but the Gx8 fits my in my hands better. Also the controls on the Gx8 are better placed for me and it's just easier to make quick camera changes. I have not found the Gx8 menu system easier to set up than Olympus- they are all complicated - (Sony a6000 has the easiest and most intuitive menus to set up and then get back to- in my opinion)

I am using the Gx8 with the Tamron 14-150 mm for now as my long lens waiting until the L 100-400 mm lens becomes readily available and reviewed by "regular people". The IS in the Gx8 works fine with the non IS Tamron lens down to about 1/40 second handheld.

The Gx8 has very fast and reliable focus even with a 3rd party non IS lens. I would say that Olympus colors are richer and maybe a bit more traditional looking but I prefer the Gx8 color rendition and shadows and highlight settings. With a little tweaking to the menu JPEGs are quite good right out of the camera. I turned down the contrast and turned up the sharpness and saturation a little and am quite satisfied. Most of what I do is in Raw but it's handy to have a good Jpeg as well.

I can't address the video capabilities but ask me in a few months because I fully intend to get more involved in video.

Really you can't go wrong with either Olympus or Gx8 cameras-
FYI- B&H is giving 100.00 gift card with purchase of the Gx8-
I just bought a Gx8 camera- Previously I owned the... (show quote)


I must admit I never knew about the GX8.camera until now. I checked Best Buy Store online offers and discovered it appears to be a quality mirrorless camera. Best Buy price is $1000.00, body only. Panasonic/Lumix was using Leica lenses in the past on some point and shoot models. Not sure about current models.

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Mar 23, 2016 20:34:34   #
burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC
 
mas24 wrote:
I must admit I never knew about the GX8.camera until now. I checked Best Buy Store online offers and discovered it appears to be a quality mirrorless camera. Best Buy price is $1000.00, body only. Panasonic/Lumix was using Leica lenses in the past on some point and shoot models. Not sure about current models.


The Micro Four/Thirds (MFT/m43) format used by Olympus and Panasonic has about 80 available native lenses. Leica designed 15mm, 25mm, 42.5mm, 45mm macro, and the forthcoming 100-400 zoom. They probably designed others I can't remember. Panasonic manufactures them.

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Mar 23, 2016 20:48:25   #
dparker708
 
Thanks for the very informative summary. Certainly the $100 gift card is enticing...:)

I plan to buy within the next few days and will keep all posted.

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Mar 23, 2016 21:07:07   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
burkphoto wrote:
The Micro Four/Thirds (MFT/m43) format used by Olympus and Panasonic has about 80 available native lenses. Leica designed 15mm, 25mm, 42.5mm, 45mm macro, and the forthcoming 100-400 zoom. They probably designed others I can't remember. Panasonic manufactures them.


Thanks for the info. This is good to know.

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Mar 24, 2016 17:48:36   #
danieljcox Loc: Bozeman, Montana
 
Much of your response is right on. One exception is the comment about the difference in the menu systems for both cameras. I've shot both and without a doubt Panasonic's menu system is much, much easier to use and REMEMBER. Yes, the Olympus gives you infinite ways to customize your camera but virtually none of the dials and controls are labeled and therefore unless you use your camera, every single day, you will forget how you set it up. I found it to be a nightmare. So if you're a professional, shooting on a daily basis, no problem. But if you're like most people who shoot irregularly, such as once a week or once a month, maybe a couple times a year, the Olympus system will make you pull your hair out. At least that's what happened to me.

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Mar 24, 2016 17:55:55   #
danieljcox Loc: Bozeman, Montana
 
Leicaflex wrote:
I could be wrong here, but I understand that the image stabilisation on the Panasonic is in the lenses, whereas, on the Olympus the I.S. is in the body.
Panasonic lenses fit the Olympus bodies and vice-versa. Therefore I would opt for the Olympus camera.


Lumix bodies are now incorporating image stabilization in body, very similar to Olympus, with the added advantage of In Lens stabilization as well which Lumix calls Dual IS. The Lumix Dual IS along with Lumix's Touchpad AF are two superb technologies that Lumix excels at. Here's an example. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ7E6fHpCLU&sns=em

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Mar 24, 2016 17:55:56   #
danieljcox Loc: Bozeman, Montana
 
Leicaflex wrote:
I could be wrong here, but I understand that the image stabilisation on the Panasonic is in the lenses, whereas, on the Olympus the I.S. is in the body.
Panasonic lenses fit the Olympus bodies and vice-versa. Therefore I would opt for the Olympus camera.


Lumix bodies are now incorporating image stabilization in body, very similar to Olympus, with the added advantage of In Lens stabilization as well which Lumix calls Dual IS. The Lumix Dual IS along with Lumix's Touchpad AF are two superb technologies that Lumix excels at. Here's an example. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ7E6fHpCLU&sns=em

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Mar 27, 2016 18:05:00   #
wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
 
dparker708 wrote:
I am debating which one of these beauties to purchase. I held both in my hand today and the M5 fit a little better. The 100 - 400 lens for the Lumix is awesome. The photo store told me I could get the Olympus and the Lumix 100 - 400 lens would fit on it.
Has anyone used either camera and could recommend one over the other?
I'm a freelancer so either camera would work.

Would love to hear from other joggers.
Thanks,
Diane



I agree with most of what lukan has said. If you are a fair weather jogger, the weatherproofing of the Olympus cameras may not be of interest to you (although the Panasonic may be sealed also). I have used my Olympus out in the pouring rain without any fear or problems. In Mykonos I could just keep on shooting while all the Canons, Nikons, and other cameras were safely put away or under shelter. My biggest problem was keeping the front of the lense dry. I was soaked, the photos were good and the camera was perfectly fine.

Mykonos in the rain
Mykonos in the rain...
(Download)

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Mar 27, 2016 19:00:18   #
n3eg Loc: West coast USA
 
danieljcox wrote:
I've shot both and without a doubt Panasonic's menu system is much, much easier to use and REMEMBER. Yes, the Olympus gives you infinite ways to customize your camera but virtually none of the dials and controls are labeled and therefore unless you use your camera, every single day, you will forget how you set it up. I found it to be a nightmare...if you're like most people who shoot irregularly, such as once a week or once a month, maybe a couple times a year, the Olympus system will make you pull your hair out. At least that's what happened to me.
I've shot both and without a doubt Panasonic's men... (show quote)

I do slightly better with the Olympus system than the Panasonic. My E-PL5 is easy to follow and only requires menu diving infrequently, and the SCP gets me everywhere I need to go. My GM1 on the other hand is more shallow with menus and presents every little thing on the surface as if it really mattered. Just the other day I put a lens with no focus ring on it and it gave me focus magnification...WHY??? Then I had to dedicate a button just to set ISO because it's buried in the menus. Still, each camera has its advantages.

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Mar 27, 2016 20:35:29   #
danieljcox Loc: Bozeman, Montana
 
n3eg wrote:
I do slightly better with the Olympus system than the Panasonic. My E-PL5 is easy to follow and only requires menu diving infrequently, and the SCP gets me everywhere I need to go. My GM1 on the other hand is more shallow with menus and presents every little thing on the surface as if it really mattered. Just the other day I put a lens with no focus ring on it and it gave me focus magnification...WHY??? Then I had to dedicate a button just to set ISO because it's buried in the menus. Still, each camera has its advantages.
I do slightly better with the Olympus system than ... (show quote)


GM1 is nothing more than a point and shoot. Unfair to compare this camera to a more serious Olympus. Two completely different cameras. I've shot many different Olympus and LUMIX cameras and for me LUMIX is much, much easier to navigate.

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