This was not a planned purchase at all, I just came across it while looking through a well known auction site. It had such a good price on it, no problems with the camera itself and the seller assured me it was in 100% working order. I couldn’t say no.

After my initial setup of the Pen-F I took it out on my normal testing route with the Olympus 14-150 f4.0-5.6 II mounted on it. I also have the original version of this lens and have used it extensively when I've been travelling. I've noticed lately that my original has become de-centered on one side and is quite noticeable when looking closely at the images (this is only on the later hight MP cameras. It works great on the Panasonic GF1 for example). The question was, get it repaired or purchase the second version. After careful consideration I chose the latter.

Well, what a turn-up for the books this camera is. If I remember rightly I recently mentioned these bridge cameras in one of my posts and I briefly thought about purchasing one. I looked at the pricing and they really were too expensive - especially the Sony offerings.

I’m sure we all do it from time to time; just browsing the Internet to see what’s new, what’s on offer, and if there’s any acquisitions to be made, on the cheap that is. Well, I was guilty of this a few weeks back and I came across something I was hoping I was not going to see. An Olympus Pen-F with the 17 f1.8. And it was at a price I just couldn’t say no to. Well I am a bit of an Olympus fanboy. I like their cameras and the images they produce. Some swear by the SOOC jpg but I’ve always been a raw shooter and that’s what I’m going to stick to partly due to the fact that I’m not capable of getting good OOC exposure and I know the look I’m looking for, something I can produce from a raw file but find it extremely difficult in adjusting jpg files.

NOTE: This is an older post but the points in it are still relevant for me today. I still have the equipment and also have an *istDS ans a K100Super. The lenses are just superb.

Don't you love it when you rediscover something you really hadn't seen for some time? It's like meeting an old friend you haven't seen in ages. This happened to me when I went through my camera gear as my interest was re-vitalized again after a long break. I came across the Panasonic GX7 and realized it really feels good in my hand. Looking through the viewfinder (which isn't the best) and realized it tilts up 90 degrees, fits nicely into the street photography niche. It is small, unobtrusive and perfect for the small MFT lenses offered by Olympus (I just can't get used to calling them OM Systems) and Panasonic.

Presently there are three iterations of the E-M5 camera. The original E-M5 camera, the E-M5II and the E-M5III. Olympus kept that nice ans easy for us.

I believe I've mentioned that the Panasonic GM5 really got my attention after I took it with me to the south of France last year (as an afterthought). The camera and the lenses made for it are so small and light you really don't realise that you're carrying them around with you.

Having being enchanted by the Fujifilm X-T1 and X-T10, I was really looking forward to purchasing the X-T2 when it came out. Come to think of it I was also looking forward to the Olympus E-M1 II. However, as I realized what the manufacturers were charging for these engineering marvels I sat down and thought it all through again. 

I thought I would update this piece with a couple of images from this camera that has been printed on Alubond at 60cm x 45cms and both are hanging on my wall as I write this. My wife wasn't impressed by my choice and she stated clearly she wouldn't have picked either for printing. That's when sh was seeing the two on the screen. Yes, they didn't look at all impressive when viewed that way but once she saw them printed at that size, she was delighted. Let me tell you something. They look just fine. Actually I wouldn't be able to tell which camera and lens was used. Just goes to prove again that all cameras today can give you great image quality. We're all spoilt for choice. Enjoy.

Known in Germany as the TZ101 and as Panasonic Lumix DMC ZS100/TZ100 elsewhere (which I haven't a clue as to why) was purchased as my pocketable go anywhere daylight camera. The reason for the daylight is because of it's f5.9 aperture at the long end. As many of you know I like to shoot long and I wanted something small with a longish lens. It didn't have be fast at the long end, that would make the camera a lot bigger than it is. I have a special task for this camera in fact and it could be perfect for the job. I just hope it's image quality holds up. From what I have read so far it looks as though it will do the job.

This is supposed to be the little brother of the GX8. I see the GX85 as the big brother of the GX7, a halfway house if you like. If you look at the images below, you can hardly tell the cameras apart, and I have to hold it and look at it to tell the difference. OK, my G85 is brown which makes it easier to tell which is which, but at the bricks and mortar shop both cameras were black and I really couldn’t tell the difference.

This is supposed to be the little brother of the GX8. I see the GX85 as the big brother of the GX7, a halfway house if you like. If you look at the images below, you can hardly tell the cameras apart, and I have to hold it and look at it to tell the difference. OK, my G85 is brown which makes it easier to tell which is which, but at the bricks and mortar shop both cameras were black and I really couldn’t tell the difference.

The Panasonic 12-60 f3.5-5.6 is the kit lens that accompanies the G81 camera. It was either get the camera only or get the kit with the lens for a pittance more. I selected the second option. I’m certain I can sell it on a popular auction portal for a higher price than what I paid for it if need be.It has Power O.I.S. built in so theoretically using this in conjunction with the IBIS of the G81, stability should be pretty good. Not as good as Olympus I think but Panasonic have made some great advances in lately. The G81 also incorporates a new shutter mechanism to combat shutter shock which has plagued previous Panasonic cameras.This post is meant as an initial look at the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60 f3.5-5.6 as well as the new G81 camera (known elsewhere as the G85). The camera still retails presently for €450 body only. If bought separately the lens  would have cost €450. Buying the package which I did (camera + lens), I got a really good deal. This lens can no longer be bought in Germany, only on a popular auction site where it will cost you around €250.

Since this article was first posted I have purchased the X-S20 which has a slightly different approach to it's design and is a much better camera than the X-T10. Not a big surprise there as the X-T10 was brought onto the market in 2015, the X-S20 is 2023. That's 8 years of technology development to bring into new cameras.

Panasonic G1. Lens not recorded.

UPDATE: Since I originally published this post I have updated both of the below mentioned cameras to the X-T5 and the X-S10. This doesn't mean that the former cameras are rubbish and the image quality is bad, it's just that everything evolvs and the newer cameras offer a little more than the previous models. 

Some time ago I bought a fountain pen because I like writing with a fountain pen (pretty old fashioned eh?). But like everything else you have to like something to keep using it, and use it well. Because I didn't really connect with the first pen I bought, I bought another one. That was ok too but I felt there was a pen out there just waiting to be bought that would suit me to the ground. Finally I found one that felt good in the hand and allowed me to write a little better, or so I thought. I paid a lot for that last pen and all the other pens I bought are now somewhere in a drawer, hidden away and not being used. That last pen cost as much as all the other pens together. Do you think I learned my lesson? Not likely. I did exactly the same thing when I picked up photography again after many years and a tripod is a must. I think everyone goes through this phase until at some point it clicks.

The reason for my purchase of the Sony Alpha Axx cameras when they first came out was to have an FF sensor (a very good sensor) in a small and light package. Since my first purchase I must admit that GAS got the better of me and now I have a few of these little marvels. Each has it's own use and I use certain lenses on certain cameras. The A7r is a marvel but it is LOUD and has a few problems, but the images it turns out are simply superb. I know now that the A7rII will be purchased at some point down the road, but not at it's present price point. Just too expensive. The A7s is the best for low light but I have no intention of purchasing the A7sII. The A7II has IBIS and I use all my older manual lenses on it. It doesn't help everyone I know, but it does help me get sharper images. One other Sony I did acquire however was the RX1. I got it at a great price and couldn't pass it up. That fixed 35 f2 lens is from my favourite lens produces, Zeiss, and it shows. If ever you get a chance to try one out, try it. You'll be amazed at the files. It's not fast and the battery capacity is a joke but I just carry more batteries. It's not like they're big and heavy. The Rx1rII is out there now and it does everything better and faster, but lets face it, I'm not made of money so that camera will stay with Sony. I'm quite happy with the files from my original RX1.

This is just a general note on the m43 equipment I use and a few thoughts on how that could change. The more I use the Panasonic GX7 the more I like it. I can see why some people would find it too small but it fits my hands perfectly, which tells you something about the size of my hands. The Panasonic 7-14 f4 ( while having some problems with flare) has really surprised me by how good it is. I think I must try this lens on the GX85 which is the successor to the GX7 to see if there is a difference if at all. I doubt it but you have to try it out to find out. The ergonomics might be better but you never know.

Fanboy...ismFanboy. It's a bit of a derogatory term for someone defending something to the bitter end. These people can often be found on Internet forums where everyone is anonymous. Nobody is allowed to criticise or speak-up for another product or they get slammed. Personally I don't like the word, but like most things in life you can't have everything and so the word is here to stay I fear.

I have now used the Olympus E-M1 and E-M5 II extensively for four solid days. One complaint I have is battery consumption. I don't believe it's down to the cameras but to the third party batteries I've purchased. I haven't bought any Olympus original batteries because I had such good experience with the older type batteries used in their older models. I am now possibly regretting my decision to go the same route with these new batteries. Quality doesn't seem to be quite up the old standard. Some of these batteries seem to die after only about 30 images; some I couldn't even insert into the E-M5 II because they've expanded (possibkly a sign that they'll eplode if I keep using them). These batteries can be disposed of immediately because they will not hold a charge. I think I will have to change my strategy on battery purchases, especially when it comes to these Olympus third party ones.

After going through all of my images from my Loire Valley trip (and deleting some 90% of the images), I have come to the conclusion that a couple of things have to change. I always tend to do this type of thing, it's the only way you're going to find out what works, what doesn't and what you have to change. I normally don't like a post-mortem, but this is exactly what I am doing here.