Photography: A “quick walk” through Manila with the Lumix GH3 Camera from Panasonic
The cool Panasonic Lumix GH3
Out now in Sports + Travel Magazine - Singapore and Hong Kong
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to test the Panasonic Lumix DMC GH3 16.05 Megapixel Camera for Panasonic and Sports + Travel Magazine in Singapore. - A DSLR-like Micro Four Third System.
I only had a couple weekends to shoot, but for a camera this small and lightweight, this little marvel performed extremely well;
I actually fell in love with it!
I am not going to beat around the bush, but rather get to the point right away; for me a camera has to perform, including in extreme conditions.
In this post I am not about to embark on a technical and complicated test review I rather talk about the things that made me fall in love with this little marvel.
Of course before I went walkabout I quickly flipped through the manual that I found easy to read and not complicated at all, I was in no time up and running.
I really like the Magnesium alloy body, it is dust and splash proof and the
buttons and dials are well located.
Now shooting in a city environment did not give me the extreme conditions but I did manage to test the Lumix GH3 during a tropical downpour one day.
Most of my settings were on Aperture Priority using ISO 200 in most cases; see below some of the settings underneath the images.
The Lumix GH3 has a fairly fast autofocus and processing of the images with a high end SD card is just great.
But what really surprised me was the Image quality, shooting RAW and JPG for comparison and using only Aperture 3 for the post processing.
Very sharp and colors are natural and true, no Photoshop or any other software was used.
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
The late afternoon tropical monsoon rain had just stopped and I was at the right time at the right spot for this amazing view of Makati City, Manila’s Business district.
Lens-LUMIX G VARIO 14-140/F4.0-5.8
ISO 400
Focal Length 48mm Length (35mm) 99mm
Exposure Bias: -0.33 ev
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/1600
Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
Auto White Balance
Great Image quality when used with the LUMIX G VARIO 12-35/F2.8 lens or the LUMIX G VARIO 14-140/F4.0-5.8 lens.
I liked in particular the 12-35/F2.8 lens; small and fast, a perfect companion for everyday use and ideal for street photography.
With just these two lenses you can almost cover everything, I had one mounted on the camera and put the other one in my “pocket” ideally suited for those of you who like to travel light.
Besides these two lenses, Panasonic offers a great range of other lenses fit for any type of photography.
For those of you who like the feel of a bigger camera there is the extra Battery Grip available with all the controls and additional power, available separately for the LUMIX GH3.
Oh… before I forget the LUMIX GH3 has a build-in powerful popup flash that performed just great and of course you can always get an additional flash and
mount on the available hot shoe.
Another very cool feature is the WiFi capabilities, very nice indeed, now you can use your iOS system like iPad or iPhone and Android to control your camera remotely.
I love also the swivel screen perfect for your low angle shots or shooting in awkward positions the screen is sensor activated and switching from Viewfinder to Live View is very quick. But if you don’t like this then you can always turn it off very easy.
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Sunset at Manila Bay
Lens-LUMIX G VARIO 12-35/F2.8
ISO 200
Focal Length 35mm Length (35mm) 70mm
Exposure Bias: -0.33 ev
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/30
Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Pattern
Auto White Balance
Hand held
Very handy and cool is also the viewing of your images using the touch screen, so much faster and easier than the conventional scrolling.
As mentioned above, for me a camera has to perform without getting to complicated and the Lumix GH3 does exactly that with great image quality, a superb range of lenses and other accessories.
Then of course there is the exceptional HD Video capabilities, super high quality and the camera is easy to use when shooting.
See below some more images taken with the Panasonic Lumix GH3.
I have no hesitation to take the Lumix GH3 along for any assignment be it in the desert or taking it for a walk in the busy streets of Varanasi in India.
GD
Original above and cropped image below, very high quality and sharpness
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
China Town Manila - Great details and very true colors.
Lens-LUMIX G VARIO 12-35/F2.8
ISO 200
Focal Length 19mm Length (35mm) 39mm
Exposure Bias: -0.33 ev
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/400
Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
Auto White Balance
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
China Town Manila - Great details, sharp and natural colors.
Lens-LUMIX G VARIO 12-35/F2.8
ISO 200
Focal Length 17mm Length (35mm) 35mm
Exposure Bias: -0.33 ev
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/640
Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
Auto White Balance
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Binondo Church Manila - very good in high contrast and low light situations sharp and natural colors.
Lens-LUMIX G VARIO 12-35/F2.8
ISO 200
Focal Length 17mm Length (35mm) 35mm
Exposure Bias: -0.33 ev
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/640
Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
Auto White Balance
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Shooting out of the car window along Manila Bay (Image is only cropped)
Lens-LUMIX G VARIO 12-35/F2.8
ISO 200
Focal Length 16mm Length (35mm) 32mm
Exposure Bias: -0.33 ev
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/640
Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Pattern
Auto White Balance
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Here is an interesting one of my son Brandon using the Pop up Flash in auto mode.
Lens-LUMIX G VARIO 12-35/F2.8
ISO 200
Focal Length 35mm Length (35mm) 70mm
Exposure Bias: -0.33 ev
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 0.31250s
Flash fired, automode
Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Pattern
Auto White Balance
Hand held
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Shooting in pouring rain at Fort Bonifacio
Lens-LUMIX G VARIO 14-140/F4.0-5.8
ISO 200
Focal Length 54mm Length (35mm) 112mm
Exposure Bias: -0.33 ev
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/640
Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
Auto White Balance
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Nice color and details of the Graphics at Fort Bonifacio
Lens-LUMIX G VARIO 12-35/F2.8
ISO 200
Focal Length 23mm Length (35mm) 47.0mm
Exposure Bias: -0.33 ev
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/200
Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
Auto White Balance
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
My son Jason using only available light from the window
Lens-LUMIX G VARIO 12-35/F2.8
ISO 400
Focal Length 33mm Length (35mm) 68.0mm
Exposure Bias: -0.33 ev
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/60
Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
Auto White Balance
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Intramuros, the old Spanish part of Manila - pleasant contrast
Lens-LUMIX G VARIO 12-35/F2.8
ISO 200
Focal Length 24mm Length (35mm) 48.0mm
Exposure Bias: -0.33 ev
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/320
Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Pattern
Auto White Balance
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
At the American cemetery - I switched to the black and white setting on the GH3
Lens-LUMIX G VARIO 14-140/F4.0-5.8
ISO 200
Focal Length32mm Length (35mm) 66.0mm
Exposure Bias: -0.33 ev
Aperture: f/5.0
Shutter Speed: 1/60
Aperture Priority
Metering Mode: Spot
See below the basic specs:
Magnesium alloy body with weather sealing (dust and splash proof)
ISO 200-12800 (extended range of ISO 125-25600)
6 fps continuous shooting
AF speed of 0.07 seconds
1.7 million dot equiv. 16:9 ratio OLED viewfinder (873 x 500 pixels)
614k dot 3" OLED rear screen (640 x 480 pixels)
Full HD 60p/50p video with 30p/25p option
MOV (h.264), MP4 and AVCHD formats
Video bit rates of 50Mbps in IPB and 72Mbps in All-I compression modes
Timecode support in MOV(H.264) and AVCHD formats
3.5mm mic socket and headphone socket
Four channel wireless control for the optional DMW-FL360L external flash
PC socket
iOS and Android app control via Wi-Fi
The View from my Car Window continuous…a very different perspective, frustrating but rewarding Photography…edited in Aperture 2 and exported to PhotoShelter never leaving Aperture, sounds familiar…
Aperture has just been updated to 2.1.1
Apple has just released Aperture 2.1.1, and update to the program that "supports general compatibility issues, improves overall stability, and addresses a number of minor issues."
A few recent images from this series are on my Blog Gallery click here
or on the image above.
You might have to refresh your Browser in order to view the new images..
Sometimes we don’t realize what is around us when we travel by car… traveling to meetings or other appointments, visiting friends or family members. In short we spend a lot of time in our vehicles, trains, busses etc.
Shooting from your car window…glued to your seat never leaving the car, of course you have to have a Driver or go by Taxi. This can be challenging but also rewarding a very different perspective from the car window… you might remember I did something similar in Mumbai, India.
I had to discipline myself not to jump out of the car at times, but then that was the whole Idea in the first place, and I am not finish yet by all means…a lot more to come.
Not easy… moving, your view been blocked by other vehicles when you just about to press the shutter, trucks pull along side of you, or you have to stop at a red traffic light… see something and then of course comes Green, oh no… missed that one too.
We see these images every day as we drive to work or go to meetings, never realizing what is around us since we have to pay attention to the traffic. But as a passenger or with a driver you can create some amazing images, of course you have to bring your Camera along to the Board meeting… “A word of advice don’t try this, if you driving the car this could lead to major traffic jams and crashes…”
For more on the “The View from the Car Window” go my PhotoShelter Archive there you find images from Mumbai, India and Manila, Philippines.
PS.
All images have been taken with out ever leaving the car, edited in Aperture 2.1 then exported direct to PhotoShelter using the Plug-in from PhotoShelter never leaving Aperture. In other words I was “glued” to my car seat and also to my seat in front of my Mac BookPro using Aperture 2.1.1 now if that is not a coincident, then I don’t know.
GD
