Panasonic’s On A Roll
It’s a been a great year so far for Panasonic’s Lumix line of cameras that’s giving us new technology to help us take better photos. Most notably the introduction of the hard to get Lumix GH5 that’s helping me get great birds in flight photos. I’ve been shooting the GH5 now since it was first released, and it’s been a fabulous new tool. Panasonic recently released a couple of videos highlighting some of their most current technology in the GH5. Panasonic General Manager Tsutomu Mori discusses some of those features in more detail in the videos below.
This first video is all about the unique autofocus system they’ve developed known as Depth From Defocus. This is the technology that recently helped me shoot the quick and nimble flying puffins on my recent shoot in Alaska: Birds in Flight. Prior to the GX8, G85, and now the GH5, I was only able to capture birds in flight images like the ones below with my most current Nikons.
Birds in Flight
Horned puffin in flight from my recent shoot in Alaska. Captured with the Lumix GH5 and the Leica 100-400mm set to 300mm (600mm equivalent).
Horned puffin in flight from my recent shoot in Alaska. Captured with the Lumix GH5 and the Leica 100-400mm set to 300mm (600mm equivalent).
Handholding the 800mm Lens
The second video is about the technology behind the Dual IS, meaning the lens has image stabilization built in as well as the body.
Below is photo of a sea otter, once again, shot on my recent trip to Alaska. What’s amazing about this image was that it was
This beautiful, adorable sea otter is a regular site at the island where we photograph puffins. Captured with the GH5 and Leica 100-400mm lens at 400mm. Keep in mind 400mm is an equivalent of an 800mm lens being handheld on a moving boat! Crazy, crazy amazing!
shot at 400mm (800mm equivalent), handheld on a boat in heavy swells. In other words I was bobbing and weaving in a way Muhammad Ali would have been proud of, with the ability to hit my mark like the right hook he knocked Sonny Liston out with on February 25th. 1964.
Here’s a screenshot of the image blown up to 100% in Mylio.
All this and a recent firmware update for the GH5 that is lighting the video world on fire. Matt Frazer, Lumix’s master of video technology, talks about the new firmware update version 2.0 in the video below. I leave this piece for last since most people on my Blog are still photographers and I’m hesitant to be too vocal about the amazing video capabilities the Lumix cameras have. Why? Because the video is so revolutionary on the Lumix cameras that that’s all people hear about, which overshadows the still photo capabilities of the exact same camera/cameras. Make no mistake about it, these cameras do both stills and video exceptionally well.
Would love to hear your thoughts on all of this or if you have any questions about the images you see in this post.
Luminary Disclaimer
In the spirit of complete transparency, I want all my readers to know that I am a Lumix Luminary. That means I get paid a small stipend for writing about a system I absolutely love. That said, I want you all to know there is no amount of money more important than my integrity. Much to the chagrin of my Lumix colleagues, I often point out the bad with the good regarding Lumix technology and their camera gear. My belief is honesty and truthfulness will not just help you, but it also helps a company I love to work with. To that end, it’s full steam ahead telling it like it really is.
Daniel J. Cox