Photographer To Use Micro 4/3’s Lumix G5 to Cover Olympics
DPReveiw had a recent posing about professional sports photographer Dean Mouhtaropoulos covering the Olympics in London with a Lumix G5 camera. Ok, many of you know how much I love the Lumix system, but I have to say I have a hard time not laughing. I’m chuckling as I write this. But who knows, maybe it will work.
Lumix G5 shoots at 6frames per second.
In Panasonic’s press release they mention the high speed frame rate of 6fps. Are you kidding? How is that going to compete with Canon’s 12fps and Nikon’s 11fps? In sports, 1/1000th of a second for a win is common place. I hope they can pull it off, and they most likely will come back with some special images due to the guy being a good photographer, but when it comes to connecting with that once in a lifetime shot at JUST the right moment, this poor dude will be at a serious disadvantage. I applaud Panasonic for having the guts to try this since mirrorless for the large DSLR is where I’m convinced all future cameras are headed, but I just hope they don’t embarrass themselves. Time will tell.
Panasonic is hosting a print exhibit from the G5 at the Getty Gallery based in Westfield Shopping Centre, Stratford (4th July-15th September). You can also take a look at a selection of images shot daily on Panasonic’s Panasonic Lumix Web Site for more Olympic images. This should be fun to watch and I’m hopeful it will be impressive.
Warren LyonsOn Aug. 14th, 2012
Speaking of advertising, when I first read about this, my first thought was that Panasonic might have been resorting to a tactic used some 40 years ago by French bicycle maker, Peugot, during the Tour De France, When several high end Italian bikes were painted to look like Peugot PX10s, a mid level model suited to weekend warriors, and issued to the French riders. In this manner, Peugot got great advertising mileage while sparing the French team the shame of being seen riding Italian bikes. While it probably is not possible to effectively disguise a large format DSLR to look like a micro 4/3 model, considering Panasonic’s relationship to Leica, they could have taken a G5 body shell, swapped out the innards, shoehorning in a Leica APS-C sensor in the process, a switching genuine made in Germany glass for the Lumix lenses. Opon seeing the results, I don’t think that was the case. Those pictures on the Lumix site were nice, but looked attainable with that type of camera. Moreover, if they were “too perfect”, experts wouldn’t believe it anyway, and novices buying this G5 camera would be royally POed when bought it and couldn’t achieve similar results
danieljcoxOn Aug. 14th, 2012
Warren, you are full of great examples of this type of marketing. I’m guessing you must either be or have been in the marketing business? Thanks again for sharing your interesting examples of great marketing moves.
Warren LyonsOn Aug. 10th, 2012
Actually, IMHO, Panasonic might have the last laugh. It was a great advertising gimmick, similar to one used some 40 years ago by Penguin Yachts, a manufacturer of trawler styled powerboats from 55-70 feet in length in Ireland Unlike the normal practice of loading similar sized yachts onto freighters for delivery to overseas customers, Penguin actually sailed them on their own bottoms across the North Atlantic. While in no way were they expecting their customers to “try this at home”, they did convey the message that any boat capable of crossing the Atlantic would be a safe bet for sailing up the Long Island Sound to Martha’s Vineyard or down the Intracoastal waterway to Florida. In similar fashion, Panasonic was not trying to convince the staff at Sports Illustrated to ditch their full frame DSLRs. They were, demonstrating to amateur photographers/sports fans a sensible alternative to the bulky DSLR or settling for the muddy images from a bridge camera. Even hobbyists like myself who don’t care for sports know how demanding that type of photography is, and if the G5 can produce decent images under those demanding conditions, think what it can do for travel photos and family snapshots
danieljcoxOn Aug. 10th, 2012
Wareen, Great insight and a terrific example of how advertising can work wonders. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. I haven’t checked the Panasonic web site for sample images in a few days. Your post has reminded me. Stop by anytime and thanks again.
danieljcoxOn Aug. 10th, 2012
Warren, Great input and a terrific example of how adverting can work wonders. I haven’t taken a look at the Panasonic web pages in awhile. think I’ll do that now and thanks gain for adding your voice.