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Archive 2017 · Olympus E-M1 ii vs Panasonic G9

  
 
Mikehit
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p.1 #1 · Olympus E-M1 ii vs Panasonic G9


I currently have the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic Gx7 and was looking at getting the E-M1 mkii to replace the E-M5.
However, the announcement of the G9 has really thrown a spanner in the decision.

Having played with the E-M1 (original) I really like the LiveBulb and the focus stacking. The G9 has focus stacking and (as far as I can tell) no LiveBulb. Both claim dual IS but the way it works with own-lenses makes it a wash as far as I am concerned.
Other than that it seems a difficult decision.

What other features/specifications do you see that would make you go either way (even if you do not actually intend to buy one)



Nov 16, 2017 at 05:23 AM
Wilbus
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p.1 #2 · Olympus E-M1 ii vs Panasonic G9


Good question and something I and others have discussed in several other threads but it's always fun to discuss it again

I've been thinking about the E-M1.2 for along time as well but have decided against it for reasons such as the EVF and display not being updated as well as a few other things, though I know the camera would be a massive upgrade over my E-M1.

The G9 looks to solve most my issues with the E-M1.2 and looks to be the better upgrade for me from my E-M1.

There are two things with the different systems that makes choosing one over the other a bit difficult.

Dual IS with the brands lenses where Oly works for Oly and Pana for Pana. With shorter focal lengths it's not an issue since the IBIS in both the G9 and E-M1.2 is/will most likely be quite amazing.
For longer lenses I imagine one will gain maybe about a stop or maybe two in shake reduction by using the brand lenses with the right body, such as the 300mm F4 with the E-M1.2 and the new PL 200 with the G9.

The other thing is focusing, or rather continues and/or tracking focus.
I tried the GH5 with Oly lenses and the camera was quite a bit faster with Oly lenses then my E-M1 is with Oly lenses so for S-AF I have no doubt the cameras work with each brands lenses without a problem.

C-AF might be a different issue since Panasonic trusts there updated DFD and Olympus believes in PDAF. In theory the Panasonic lenses should work just as well with PDAF sensors on the E-M1.2 but the Olympus lenses won't work as well with DFD. My quick tests on the GH5 showed that the Oly lenses worked pretty even with C-AF though. It will be interesting to see how the G9 behaves with C-AF and Olympus lenses.

Live bulb is one feature that is great to have tough I rarely use it. Focus stacking on the other hand is something I do use.

More over, the G9 body and layout of the entire camera feels much more natural to me than my E-M1. Changing focus settings from S-AF to C-AF is much faster, as is changing drive mode for example. Not only that but changing between the different focus modes (225, single, pin-point etc) was way faster as well. Something I have never really gotten used to with the E-M1.

I intend to by the G9 or wait for the E-M1.3, not sure which yet.

The G9 has a lot going for it, fast burst rate (though a little small buffer), AMAZING EVF (I've tried it), great body and controls, good enough size though not as small as the E-M1.2 but it enables it to have some extra controls without being too cramped, like the joystick for example. Better use of the touch screen and over all quicker to handle FOR ME.

E-M1.2 has got the high res mode that will most likely work better with up to 1 min exposure per sensor shift giving it 8 minutes over all. The G9 is suposed to be max 1 second which further limits it. E-M1.2 is a camera, like my E-M1 that can go through hell and high water and still come out on top. The G9 is suposed to be as durable but I have no experience with Panasonic.

Lens selection, like I said before, mostly long lenses will be affected so not a huge deal I think. I really want the 200mm F2.8 which might push me towards the G9 more. But then again the 300mm F4 is longer, same weight more or less and already tried and proven to be among many photographers. Add to that, Olympus seems to be on a roll lately with their new PRO primes where they have finally made some slight changes and perhaps downgraded the overall sharpness a little bit in turn for great bokeh and rendering unlike the 12-40, 40-150 and 300 PRO lenses that all suffer from nervous bokeh but also have superb sharpness.

So all in all, hard choice. I won't be getting the E-M1.2. I think I will get the G9 unless I feel it will lock me down to Pana lenses only in the future.

/Rasmus



Nov 16, 2017 at 10:40 AM
jefflee
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p.1 #3 · Olympus E-M1 ii vs Panasonic G9


This is really a hard question. I am going to replace one of Gx8's and most likely it will be with the G9, although I do like the longer exposures of the EM1 ii for the HD images as well as live composite. However I got the PL100-400 as I really like the convenience of a zoom.

While Panasonic does not have live composite it does have the ability to shoot 3 images which it will then combine (actually useful as it looks like it builds the exposure like Live Composite at the end of the 3rd expsoure (useful for EAA astonomy).

6K stills while only JPG is a real draw for me, 30 fps with focusing should be great for BIF. If you dial in the JPG settings, 18 mp files should be ok for lots of things.

This is going to be the hardest decision I've made since going m43 as my only system. So far I am leaning toward the G9 but who knows what a software update will bring to the EM1 ii.

I do shoot video and the variable frame rate only the Oly often really reduces the bit rate according to the camera store review to below 100 mbps. Just another factor to consider.

Then there's the 200mm, that does have a draw for me also and I would want Dual IS with it. Fantastic times for M43 shooters....



Nov 16, 2017 at 11:49 AM
nandadevieast
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p.1 #4 · Olympus E-M1 ii vs Panasonic G9


I own a Pana 100-400 and because Panasonic and Olympus don’t talk to each other when it comes to Sync IS, would have been better if i had a latest Pana body for the zoom.
Having said that, i need to first know how big a deal Sync IS is and whether 100-400 will actually benefit from a Panasonic body in a substantial way...
G9 looks like a great camera indeed. I have shot with a Panasonic in the past, very successfully and i love their cameras.



Nov 19, 2017 at 01:37 AM
Wilbus
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p.1 #5 · Olympus E-M1 ii vs Panasonic G9


I tested the G9 in store last week. AF is lightning fast, feels much more snappy then my original E-M1. It feels almost instant and focuses in quite a bit of less light thinly E-M1 does.

I'm not sure how important sync IS will be, specially not since most long lenses now have IS built in, even Olympus and as such they are at least as good as the competition with the lens IS alone (compared to CaNikon for example). It's a question I've been asking my self as well but to be realistic, while IS helps a lot it is often not the IS you want for shooting long lenses since either the wild life or the athletes when shooting sports are moving. Faster shutter times are needed in order to avoid motion blur.

Same thing with AF, how much worse does the pure CDAF and DFD on Panasonic fair? Compared to the E-M1, it's quicker, quite a bit quicker. C-AF I have no idea about but the speed was real even with Olympus lenses for S-AF.

I'm strongly considering the camera, my E-M1 sadly enough feels very old after I tried the G9 but the fact is the E-M1, part from slower focusing and IMO worse handling (G9 body and controls was nothing short of excellent) doesn't really fall short anywhere else. Then again there are other things worth mentioning such as the fact that you can charge it and power it through USB while using it. This includes powering it through power banks which is a major benefit when out hiking or kayaking for example. Or when shooting in the extreme cold. Put on a down jacket, put a power bank inside your jacket close to your chest and a connect a 2 meter cable. You can power the camera through the power bank that doesn't get cold. Not to mention power banks as large as 20000 m.ah can be had for around $40, this is ten times the battery in most high end cameras. This could actually be a feature that makes me order the camera.

We'll see, the smartest choice is to wait another 2-3 years for the replacements of the E-M1.2 and possibly even the G9 and hope for a fix for the rolling shutter for example. But by then then E-M1 will be quite long in the tooth.



Nov 19, 2017 at 02:28 AM
nandadevieast
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p.1 #6 · Olympus E-M1 ii vs Panasonic G9


If you don’t have EM1.2, then G9 makes a lot of sense. For still photography, what changes they can make apart from converging video and stills completely...so you will as well shoot video if you want to shoot stills But to be honest still photography doesn’t need that kind of thing and 10 fps is cool with even most demanding application. They may up the mp’s but what? Maybe 24, so that also is not a big deal.
Low light performance yes, but I don’t see that happening in one go, it will be incremental and will take years to discern even an stop of gain.

One way to decide is basis lenses. If you plan to buy 200/2.8 then go for G9. If 300 then EM1.2.

Sync IS dies make a difference, i am already seeing that in case of my 12-100 and i have also owned 300 and it goes down to absurd shutter speeds. Not for action but then i don’t have much interest in BIF. B yes, but BIF not necessarily.

(On a side note):
100-400 gives me immens happiness, even holding it. When i got my 300 i had a mixed feeling because of size. I said ok this is the best you can get, and so on, but my heart inside had given the judgement. If there was no 100-400, then i actually had no compelling reason to stay with M43 because i could buy a Sony 100-400 of the same size and be happy with a more streamlined system as well as full frame. So yes, 100-400 PL fullfills the true promise of M43. For me its not merely theoretical as I loathe big equipment, and the very reason i opted for M43.

In my case, also, i look back and find that i hardly printed any pictures big enough so as to take advantage of a sharper lens in any meaningful way. At regular sizes, and upto 300mm, they are going to look same, and which is sharper will depend more on PP than the inherent sharpness of the lens.


Wilbus wrote:
I tested the G9 in store last week. AF is lightning fast, feels much more snappy then my original E-M1. It feels almost instant and focuses in quite a bit of less light thinly E-M1 does.

I'm not sure how important sync IS will be, specially not since most long lenses now have IS built in, even Olympus and as such they are at least as good as the competition with the lens IS alone (compared to CaNikon for example). It's a question I've been asking my self as well but to be realistic, while IS helps a lot it
...Show more



Nov 19, 2017 at 09:19 AM
Wilbus
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p.1 #7 · Olympus E-M1 ii vs Panasonic G9


nandadevieast wrote:
If you don’t have EM1.2, then G9 makes a lot of sense. For still photography, what changes they can make apart from converging video and stills completely...so you will as well shoot video if you want to shoot stills But to be honest still photography doesn’t need that kind of thing and 10 fps is cool with even most demanding application. They may up the mp’s but what? Maybe 24, so that also is not a big deal.
Low light performance yes, but I don’t see that happening in one go, it will be incremental and will take years
...Show more

Funnily I just pre-ordered the G9 before reading this response from you

Well yes, 9 fps with mechanical shutter and C-AF (if it works) is fast enough for most situations. Remember the Nikon D3 was 9 fps and that was considered very fast and more then fast enough for sports and wild life. We've all been spoiled. What worries me more with the 9 fps and mechanical shutter is black out time between the frames.
20 fps with electronic is totally black out free and looked amazing when I tried it but we'll see how useful it is considering rolling shutter.

No low light performance won't make any huge advancements I think as long as the sensor technology stays more or less the same. And if the sensor changes to organic, who knows, maybe the lenses won't play nice with that and we'd have to change those as well. Also, 20mp or even 16mp really is a good sweet spot. I wouldn't want the 80mb files from the Sony A7R III and Nikon D850 even though I would love the quality from those files. Compromises have to be made.

I've been thinking both about the 300, 100-400 and 200 F2.8 and I kind of have pros and cons with all three. Since I ordered the G9 I think I might order the 100-400 next year when I can afford it and then, when funds allow, the 200 F2.8 for the best of both worlds.

I had almost settled on the 300 F4 but we'll see. Yes one looses some functions by using one brand with the other but I think it's important to remember one thing, and that is we don't loose the optical quality of a lens. We merely loose some features such as FN buttons (enough of these on the cameras anyway) and in one or two steps of IS in some cases.
I expect my 12-40 and 40-150 will work as good or better with the G9 as they do on my E-M1 and of course the PL 25 as well. The 60mm macro and 45 1.8 shouldn't be any trouble either.

Thanks for reassurance regarding the 100-400. It does look like a nice lens and combined with the 200 F2.8 you get the alternative to go really fast as well.

As far as printing, well, I have a wall print from a 10mp Nikon D80 in 2006 that looks great in the size of 100cm x 70cm and I regularly print A2 size from my E-M1 so print size is no problem with m43.



Nov 19, 2017 at 03:25 PM
k-h.a.w
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p.1 #8 · Olympus E-M1 ii vs Panasonic G9


I'll stick with my Olympus gear. Here is a shot from my backyard.
https://photos.smugmug.com/KHW/Pics-by-Date/2017-11-19-E-M1230040-PROMC-14-Woodpecker/i-7fjGTSq/1/8376ca92/X2/_B199638%20House%20Finch_2100x2100-X2.jpg
Olympus E-M1MarkII + M.300mm F4.0 + MC-14 @ ISO 200, FOCAL LENGTH 420.0 mm, APERTURE f/7.1, EXPOSURE TIME 0.00063s (1/1600).

K-H.



Nov 20, 2017 at 12:53 AM
Wilbus
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p.1 #9 · Olympus E-M1 ii vs Panasonic G9


k-h.a.w wrote:
I'll stick with my Olympus gear. Here is a shot from my backyard.

K-H.


K-H don't make me change my mind!

Lovely shot! I like your backyard

Both brands are great and they compliment each other quite well I think. In reality, there would probably be space for both in a camera bag. Like I said, the 300 is most definitely on my list still even if I get the G9. We'll see how it performs with the 40-150 PRO first

Edited on Nov 20, 2017 at 09:46 AM · View previous versions



Nov 20, 2017 at 12:58 AM
Mikehit
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p.1 #10 · Olympus E-M1 ii vs Panasonic G9


Wilbus - I have just created a thread with a link from a pro sport photographer shooting the rugby international this weekend. He doesn't directly compare with his Nikon/400 f2.8 but seems very impressed with the Panasonic G9/200 2.8 + 2xtc. And had a photo printed in a national paper as well!

I am so close to pre-ordering one myself.



Nov 20, 2017 at 09:18 AM
Wilbus
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p.1 #11 · Olympus E-M1 ii vs Panasonic G9


Thanks Mikehit, just saw it on 43rumors as well and have joined the FB group but haven't been accepted yet. Thanks for the extra links, I must say it does look good even though it is impossible to determine from web sized samples only. He also posted on 6400 ISO with a portrait of his kid I believe and it looked very nice as well, but again, only web sized. He did write he was very impressed with the high fps as well as very fast focusing though so it bodes well!

Hey, pre-order it, YOLO

My "YOLO" attitude will probably extend to the 200 F2.8 or 300F4 once I have enough cash for it.



Nov 20, 2017 at 09:51 AM





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