G9 for Birding

[D7k1]

G9 as a birding camera. I am currently using a Gx8 with my PL100-400 and unless Oly comes out with a OM1 III next spring it looks like the G9 is my best choice for BIF only camera (whatever I get will live on the PL100-400). After comparing images from DPR it seems like the G9 has at least a stop advantage over the Gx8. On cloudy days once I hit 3200 ISO on the Gx8 I am losing detail. It also looks like the G9 has maybe a half stop advantage over the Em1 II. Don't use stabilization when shooting BIF's, but DFD vs Oly focusing makes a hard decision for BIF only.

Did the software upgrade make CAF any better for birds with complex backgrounds. How about blue sky? I shoot birds about once a week, while my buddy is a daily shooter and his D500/200-500 has at least 1.5 stops advantage of the Gx8 and of course I get 2 of 5 in focus and he nails at least 4 of 5 (don't want the size due to an old injury, had Nikon gear and just too heavy @ 69 with injury).

Living in Oregon I often shoot on cloudy days and ISO 3200 @ 6.3 is on the edge. Could get the G9 fairly soon or wait until late winter to see what Oly is going to do. I read the rather complete post by Ziggy. Just looking for thoughts on the software upgrade and if given the constraints you like the G9 for BIF.

Attached is a ISO1600 +2 exposure comp with the Gx8 100-400 to show the lack of detail and noise (RAW with some PS).

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[panamike]

Good question, i had the EM1MK11 for a while last year with the 100-400, went back to Nikon but it was still too heavy for me at my age and in my condition, bought back into m4/3 a couple of weeks ago with the G9, too soon to say how good it is with BIF.
Obviously this has had some NR on the background none on the bird but this is ISO 6400 on the G9

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ISO 2500

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[panamike]

This is the same file with no PP just reduced for posting.

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[panamike]

Em1mk11 ISO6400 no PP

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[ralf-11]

my understanding is that the Panny AF system is very good at initial lock-on, but not so good at follow focus; esp. for varied backgrounds - this is a comparison to Nikon from a friend who does a fair amount of such work and uses both systems

or maybe I have that backwards??

 

[D7k1]

It does look like the G9 is cleaner, probably at least a stop. I have a sneaking suspicion that Oly will introduce a EM1 III in the spring of next year, decisions, decisions

 

[ToxicTabasco]

Using G9 I once shot a video of a redtail hawk before sunrise. To my surprise the video ISO was 6400 as was my reference pics of the Hawk. And it was usable for 4K.

 

[snaimpally]

This professional wildlife photographer has a nice review of the G9:

Panasonic Lumix G9 47,000 Pictures Over 10 Months | Natural Exposures, Inc.

 

[D7k1]

snaimpally, saw that video. I was kind of looking for a review like Ziggy did after the AF update for BIF's specifically. Thanks for the post.

 

[Mountain]

What software do you use for NR? I use DXO for NR with my GX8, and have been happy enough, though I'm not a big BIF shooter. I'm not sure if this helps, but here are some high ISO samples (I think all ISO3200+) with GX8 + PL100-400 + DXO Prime NR. They aren't perfect, but the software seems to help some.

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Owls of the World from Hawk Quest and SSPRD (captive)

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P1150234_DxO

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Muskrat

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Cutest Rodent Ever?

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Creepy Crawly Photo Shoot

 

[masayoshi]

In my experience, G9 does quite well if you already had a focus on the bird, and try to follow when the bird takes off. But it was difficult to get the focus when the bird was flying already, especially against busy background. Low light condition made it almost impossible. Just in general, keeping flying bird in AF target area through EVF, while burst shooting, is really tough.

 

[kinlau]

My G9 + 100-400 has given me the best shots of Chimney Swifts in flight, but it requires you to prefocus on a closer subject first. I don’t usually bother with bif against busy backgrounds since my Canon 7D never did that great either in that scenario.

 

[panamike]

I appreciate your main question has not been addressed but when i get my replacement G9 i hope to give BIF a serious go,the problem is i have just gone from a D500 back to m4/3, i know there is a timing curve i have to get back in to for mirrorless.
Hopefully i will have more of an opinion in a couple of weeks.

 

[D7k1]

Thanks Mike. Looking forward to your report

 

[panamike]

Decided to drop things in this thread to cover many aspects, went out today with one custom mode set to try on fairly large and close BIF, naturally not a lot of subjects presented them selfs.

The camera was set on the smallest single focus box with no exposure adjustments and spot metering, this bird was way too far off even for 400mm but i was surprised how well the stabilising allowed me to keep the focus point on target,they should have and will be dumped but decided to share them first.

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If i had exposure compensation set in and not had to raise the shadows i think they could have been decent shots.

 

[Daniel J. Cox]

Decided to drop things in this thread to cover many aspects, went out today with one custom mode set to try on fairly large and close BIF, naturally not a lot of subjects presented them selfs.

The camera was set on the smallest single focus box with no exposure adjustments and spot metering, this bird was way too far off even for 400mm but i was surprised how well the stabilising allowed me to keep the focus point on target,they should have and will be dumped but decided to share them first.

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If i had exposure compensation set in and not had to raise the shadows i think they could have been decent shots.

One of the ways I make setting Exposure Compensation much quicker is to change the front dial to Exposure Compensation. This removes the need to push the +/- EV button before turning the dial. When a bird appears against a bright white sky as yours did, I simply dial the front dial to the right three clicks, sometimes five clicks, to get a proper exposure. Once you get used to working this way it becomes second nature.

 

[panamike]

One of the ways I make setting Exposure Compensation much quicker is to change the front dial to Exposure Compensation. This removes the need to push the +/- EV button before turning the dial. When a bird appears against a bright white sky as yours did, I simply dial the front dial to the right three clicks, sometimes five clicks, to get a proper exposure. Once you get used to working this way it becomes second nature.

Thanks,when i had my G80 i had that on the second custom mode with shutter priotity, i had only set one mode for today and it was manual, just finished setting up the second one.

 

[panamike]

A set of nearly head on shots

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[Danny.]

A set of nearly head on shots

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Good shots Mike, but at what frame rate were they taken. I'm looking at the tree in the background at the upper right and the wing positions. Fast frame rate Mike?

All the best.

Danny.

 

[panamike]

Good shots Mike, but at what frame rate were they taken. I'm looking at the tree in the background at the upper right and the wing positions. Fast frame rate Mike?

All the best.

Danny.

Thanks, 7fps i would like to use 5 and i cant see why Panasonic have to make me jump from 2 0n low to 7 on medium, obviously even with all their photography knowledge they still have no idea .