pdk42
One of the "Eh?" team
I went to The Photography Show in the UK today. It's the one big annual camera gear show in the UK. It's not as big as it has been in years gone by, but nonetheless all the big guys are there as well as most of the smaller players too. The only real missing name of note is Leica.
I didn't really have any specific gear intentions (and I didn't buy anything either) but I thought it would be good to checkout the G9 and the A7iii. I also looked at a few other things that caught my eye. Anyhow, here's a bit of reportage, if you're interested...
Panasonic G9 - I was expecting big and I was expecting ugly and I wasn't disappointed! It really has reached the point now where the "Pro" m43 cameras are emulating DSLRs from a styling perspective. So much for progress! The same is almost true of the EM1.2, but it's just that little bit smaller and so still manages a sort of "cutsy" look. I know this is all rather superficial and personal, but there you go. Part of the reason for me getting in m43 was to get away from the big black blobs that Canikon cameras have become.
However, from a usability perspective, I have to admit that the G9 is actually very nice. The button defaults suit my tastes better than Olympus and the drive dial is much easier than pressing a button and selecting from an on-screen list. I also really like the AF selector switch and the AF joystick. Then there's the EVF - it's superb; a bit of pincushioning but really nothing that's a deal breaker. My eye was also drawn to the sort of shimmering that happens during AF. It's quite weird really, but again, not a deal breaker. What I really did like about the display is that you can set zebras at 105% - that's great since it really should allow better control of exposure to control highlights. Menus etc looked very nicely laid out - no complaints. About my only gripe is that the positioning of the front dial, being set behind the shutter, didn't naturally feel right - but I'm sure i'd get used it it. 9/10
I shot some test images with it, and the IQ looks pretty much the same as my EM1.2. Again, 9/10.
So would I get one? - probably not. I still don't like the styling and that sort of matters for me. I also would miss some Oly features like LiveComp and LiveTime. However, they are both excellent cameras and I can't see how anyone could go wrong with either.
Sony A7iii - It feels not too dissimilar to the A7rii that I had. Slightly deeper grip and some nice new controls (e.g. the joystick and the AF-on button) but really it still feels very much like a Sony A7. And that's the problem really. With the 24-70 f2.8 on it, it feels huge. I know most of us have been around the whole m43 vs FF debate, but the truth is that whilst you can pick and choose lenses to keep an A7 system small and reasonably low-cost, to build something equivalent across the two systems would result in a kit that is a lot bigger, heavier and more expensive. That's just how it is. I knew when I handled it that my decision to cancel the pre-order was the right one.
Fuji X-H1 - Yeuk. I don't know why (maybe I was suffering show-fatigue by then), but the X-H1 didn't inspire me at all. Again, it's styling, but I found it big, angular and ugly. The surface contours around the top-display are so sharp that it looks like a prototype. I also found the reverse black of the little top LCD not to my taste. All this is personal I know, but there it is. I also found the Fuji lenses big and heavy (e.g. the 16-55 f2.8 is almost as big as the Sony 24-70). In comparison the 12-40 or 12-35 feel amazingly small and light. The Fuji 100-400 is a beast as well. About the only thing I do like about the Fujis is the way that the rear LCD tilts in both dimensions without swinging out. I really wish that Olympus did that!
Panasonic 50-200. WOW! This is a very nice lens. Light and compact but with a great feel to it. If I didn't already have the 40-150 f2.8 I'd buy this in an instant (well, the price might make my eyes water!!!). I think this is going to be a very successful lens for Panasonic. With 1.4 and 2.0 TCs available too, it'll be a very versatile option.
Olympus 17/1.2 - Another WOW. I was more impressed with this lens than I thought I would be. I'd firmly convinced myself that it didn't offer a lot more than the 17/1.8 that I already have, but truth be known it does! It's definitely sharper, even at f1.2 and the extra subject isolation is quite noticable. Another amazing optic from Olympus. At a tad short of £1000 though (that's almost $1400), I won't be buying it in a hurry.
Laowa 7mm f2. They had this on a "deal" for £449 - which still sounded too high for me. Optically it seems OK - but wide open the edges and corners are pretty poor. IMHO this is not a lens worth this sort of money. If it were £250, or even 300 I'd feel differently - but at this price it's overpriced.
Pentax - well, it's been said before but their range is bizarre. The K1 is a beast (in features and size/weight), but there's a serious lack of lenses. The APSC cameras don't seem to offer anything over the rest of the DSLR pack. Then there's the 645z which seems an ace camera and actually has a decent lens line up for it, but compared to the Medium Format marketing noise that Fuji and Hasselblad were making at the show, Pentax seemed like they'd blown their budget earlier in the fiscal year and had nothing left for the show! I left their stand wondering where they are heading. I suspect they're the most likely to fold when the inevitable industry consolidation kicks in.
"Kodak" - I put it in quotes since it's clearly only Kodak in name - just a face on JK Imaging (whoever they are!). Whatever the name, the company are producing quite a range of kit now, including some m43 gear. However, in what was in most ways a very busy show for all exhibitors, whenever I looked at their booth/stand (which was pretty large) it seemed like an island of empty space with most visitors just walking by. I think there's quite a brand image problem there. I suspect most people when they see Kodak today think cheap Chinese point and shoot wrapped in a faux Kodak wrapper. I wonder if they'll survive?
MF Digital - Fuji and Hasselblad - there was a lot of interest and marketing activity on their stands - especially Hasselblad. It's not remotely where my interest lies so I didn't really play around much, but it does seem that at least for photographers MF is alive and well. I guess the high-end studio and fashion guys will be drawn to it.
Canon - huge stand. Probably the biggest at the show (although Fuji, Nikon and Sony were all huge too, with Oly a little behind). I played a little with the EOS M5. It's probably at the same level as the E-PL3 was back in 2012. The basic camera is fine, but the features and usability are still lagging m43 by a way. They have some catching up still to do. I also played with the G1Xiii. I was impressed with the size and feel of it, but images I took revealed a less than stellar lens and of course it's pretty slow so I suspect it doesn't in reality offer much better IQ than the G5Xii which uses a 1" sensor but has a much brighter lens. It also lacks some basic features important to me such as back-button focus and highlight blinkies/zebras.
Nikon - sorry, but my eyes glazed over and I fell asleep as I approached their stand. I felt like I was stepping back 10 years! Maybe they'll wise up to mirrorless at some point?
Anyhow - that's about it. Just a few observations. Hope it wasn't too boring!!
I didn't really have any specific gear intentions (and I didn't buy anything either) but I thought it would be good to checkout the G9 and the A7iii. I also looked at a few other things that caught my eye. Anyhow, here's a bit of reportage, if you're interested...
Panasonic G9 - I was expecting big and I was expecting ugly and I wasn't disappointed! It really has reached the point now where the "Pro" m43 cameras are emulating DSLRs from a styling perspective. So much for progress! The same is almost true of the EM1.2, but it's just that little bit smaller and so still manages a sort of "cutsy" look. I know this is all rather superficial and personal, but there you go. Part of the reason for me getting in m43 was to get away from the big black blobs that Canikon cameras have become.
However, from a usability perspective, I have to admit that the G9 is actually very nice. The button defaults suit my tastes better than Olympus and the drive dial is much easier than pressing a button and selecting from an on-screen list. I also really like the AF selector switch and the AF joystick. Then there's the EVF - it's superb; a bit of pincushioning but really nothing that's a deal breaker. My eye was also drawn to the sort of shimmering that happens during AF. It's quite weird really, but again, not a deal breaker. What I really did like about the display is that you can set zebras at 105% - that's great since it really should allow better control of exposure to control highlights. Menus etc looked very nicely laid out - no complaints. About my only gripe is that the positioning of the front dial, being set behind the shutter, didn't naturally feel right - but I'm sure i'd get used it it. 9/10
I shot some test images with it, and the IQ looks pretty much the same as my EM1.2. Again, 9/10.
So would I get one? - probably not. I still don't like the styling and that sort of matters for me. I also would miss some Oly features like LiveComp and LiveTime. However, they are both excellent cameras and I can't see how anyone could go wrong with either.
Sony A7iii - It feels not too dissimilar to the A7rii that I had. Slightly deeper grip and some nice new controls (e.g. the joystick and the AF-on button) but really it still feels very much like a Sony A7. And that's the problem really. With the 24-70 f2.8 on it, it feels huge. I know most of us have been around the whole m43 vs FF debate, but the truth is that whilst you can pick and choose lenses to keep an A7 system small and reasonably low-cost, to build something equivalent across the two systems would result in a kit that is a lot bigger, heavier and more expensive. That's just how it is. I knew when I handled it that my decision to cancel the pre-order was the right one
.Fuji X-H1 - Yeuk. I don't know why (maybe I was suffering show-fatigue by then), but the X-H1 didn't inspire me at all. Again, it's styling, but I found it big, angular and ugly. The surface contours around the top-display are so sharp that it looks like a prototype. I also found the reverse black of the little top LCD not to my taste. All this is personal I know, but there it is. I also found the Fuji lenses big and heavy (e.g. the 16-55 f2.8 is almost as big as the Sony 24-70). In comparison the 12-40 or 12-35 feel amazingly small and light. The Fuji 100-400 is a beast as well. About the only thing I do like about the Fujis is the way that the rear LCD tilts in both dimensions without swinging out. I really wish that Olympus did that!
Panasonic 50-200. WOW! This is a very nice lens. Light and compact but with a great feel to it. If I didn't already have the 40-150 f2.8 I'd buy this in an instant (well, the price might make my eyes water!!!). I think this is going to be a very successful lens for Panasonic. With 1.4 and 2.0 TCs available too, it'll be a very versatile option.
Olympus 17/1.2 - Another WOW. I was more impressed with this lens than I thought I would be. I'd firmly convinced myself that it didn't offer a lot more than the 17/1.8 that I already have, but truth be known it does! It's definitely sharper, even at f1.2 and the extra subject isolation is quite noticable. Another amazing optic from Olympus. At a tad short of £1000 though (that's almost $1400), I won't be buying it in a hurry.
Laowa 7mm f2. They had this on a "deal" for £449 - which still sounded too high for me. Optically it seems OK - but wide open the edges and corners are pretty poor. IMHO this is not a lens worth this sort of money. If it were £250, or even 300 I'd feel differently - but at this price it's overpriced.
Pentax - well, it's been said before but their range is bizarre. The K1 is a beast (in features and size/weight), but there's a serious lack of lenses. The APSC cameras don't seem to offer anything over the rest of the DSLR pack. Then there's the 645z which seems an ace camera and actually has a decent lens line up for it, but compared to the Medium Format marketing noise that Fuji and Hasselblad were making at the show, Pentax seemed like they'd blown their budget earlier in the fiscal year and had nothing left for the show! I left their stand wondering where they are heading. I suspect they're the most likely to fold when the inevitable industry consolidation kicks in.
"Kodak" - I put it in quotes since it's clearly only Kodak in name - just a face on JK Imaging (whoever they are!). Whatever the name, the company are producing quite a range of kit now, including some m43 gear. However, in what was in most ways a very busy show for all exhibitors, whenever I looked at their booth/stand (which was pretty large) it seemed like an island of empty space with most visitors just walking by. I think there's quite a brand image problem there. I suspect most people when they see Kodak today think cheap Chinese point and shoot wrapped in a faux Kodak wrapper. I wonder if they'll survive?
MF Digital - Fuji and Hasselblad - there was a lot of interest and marketing activity on their stands - especially Hasselblad. It's not remotely where my interest lies so I didn't really play around much, but it does seem that at least for photographers MF is alive and well. I guess the high-end studio and fashion guys will be drawn to it.
Canon - huge stand. Probably the biggest at the show (although Fuji, Nikon and Sony were all huge too, with Oly a little behind). I played a little with the EOS M5. It's probably at the same level as the E-PL3 was back in 2012. The basic camera is fine, but the features and usability are still lagging m43 by a way. They have some catching up still to do. I also played with the G1Xiii. I was impressed with the size and feel of it, but images I took revealed a less than stellar lens and of course it's pretty slow so I suspect it doesn't in reality offer much better IQ than the G5Xii which uses a 1" sensor but has a much brighter lens. It also lacks some basic features important to me such as back-button focus and highlight blinkies/zebras.
Nikon - sorry, but my eyes glazed over and I fell asleep as I approached their stand. I felt like I was stepping back 10 years! Maybe they'll wise up to mirrorless at some point?
Anyhow - that's about it. Just a few observations. Hope it wasn't too boring!!
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(It was a great price though).
