[ostling41]

Originally Posted by wings

_______________
That (second shot) would be a bulbul? I am guessing because of its crest and reddish vent.

See post #58.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by wings

Amazing! they are all so sharp. Neil, according to dpReview.com you don't necessarily get AF on all 4/3rd lenses using an adapter since this is a "micro" 4/3rd camera with 11contact pins, but the review overall was very favorable, especially on the quick response and clarity of the 460,000 pixel articulating LCD.

What I didn't understand is that the specs says it has HDMI Output but it does not shoot HD video?

My Olympus 25/2.8 Pancake lens didn't AF on the G1 until I updated the firmware of the camera and the lens. Now it does with the adapter , although a bit slower and noisier than the kit zoom.
I did a test yesterday with the two lenses and will post a comparison shortly. Early view is not much difference and the zoom may be better.
I guess the HDMI output was there for the future.
Neil.

[Neil]

I've posted some photos in the Gallery section digiscoped with the G1 at the Mai Po Wetlands this week. This is a typical digiscoping situation - Spring cloudy/haziness over water from 30 - 200 metres. Here are a range of distance shots all taken with the Swaro 45x eyepiece and in Auto Focus. Neil

Panasonic Lumix G1 and Swarovski STS80HD scope and Sw45x eyepiece and DCA adapter

[Neil]

Following up to the Olympus 25/2.8 Pancake lens on the G1 . Here is a composite photo showing a crop of photos taken with the Pancake lens and the G1 kit zoom lens at roughly the same magnification. Can you tell the difference? Neil

Panasonic Lumix G1 plus Swarovski STS80HD scope and Sw45x eyepiece and DCA adapter
using Lumix kit zoom (14 - 45x) and the Olympus 25/2.8 Pancake lens ( setup on a balance bar to allow for AF )

[ostling41]

Originally Posted by Neil

Following up to the Olympus 25/2.8 Pancake lens on the G1 . Here is a composite photo showing a crop of photos taken with the Pancake lens and the G1 kit zoom lens at roughly the same magnification. Can you tell the difference? Neil

Very similar shots, but the reduced depth-of-field in the lower photo indicates this was taken with the pancake lens.

[SteveClifton]

Just a quick question about the pancake lens Neil.

I have the zoom and 30x wide eyepieces, and would like to know how much vignetting you get with each one (and compared with the 45x, which I don't urrently have).

Thanks,
Steve

[Neil]

Originally Posted by ostling41

Very similar shots, but the reduced depth-of-field in the lower photo indicates this was taken with the pancake lens.

Well spotted Allan. Yes , the bottom photo is the Olympus lens. I will continue to use the kit zoom as I get AF when screwed into the DCA adapter and it's nice to have the zoom range. I'm still waiting for a better quality prime around 35/50 mm. Neil.

[wings]

[
The Panasonic 14-45mm lens takes a 52mm filter; the Pentax SMC XW14 eyepiece needs a 43mm thread. I could not find a single step-down ring that went from 52-43, so I had to do it with two step-down rings: 52-46, then 46-43. It all attaches very solidly (with a significant risk of getting rings stuck on if you are not careful about the torque rotating the camera can apply). However, it results in really huge and horrible vignetting at all focal lengths.
______________

According to SRB-Griturn (www.srb-griturn.com) "if you try to fit a small accessory to a large lens, you may actually cause the image to be cut off (vignetting). Stepping to a smaller size accessory with a wide angle lens is the most risky."

Check out SRB's website for Stepping rings. They have a 43mm/52mm combo (lens/Accessory) but I don't know if this is reversible.

Dennis

[wings]

The Panasonic G1 was adjudged to be the 2008 Camera of the Year in Popular Photography Magazine.

[Nando]

Hi all,

First of all sorry for my English that is not the best.

Neil, I have been reading all your post and it’s very interesting, and it seems that the G1 is quite good for digiscoping. I have some doubts about this camera and I’ll be grateful if you can answer me.

1) With the lens 14-45 if I have understood well there aren’t any vignetting with a ocular as x25 or x30 in swaro or kowa, but the speed that you get, it seems that is enough to take good photos (seeing your excellent photos) but the “f” (3.5-5.6) is quite high if you compare with lens 50mm 1.8 from canon-nikon in dslr, what do you think?
2) Another question about this lens is how working the autofocus. You have told us that works perfectly but I’ve seen the AF is external in this lens. Then when you press the button to take a photo, the G1 over the ocular move forward and back until focus well? And if the autofocus is continuous, the camera is moving continuously?
3) And the last point is about the noise that this camera makes when you take a photo. At this moment I’m using a 350D from canon and I like nothing two point, the vibration and the noise from the hit of the mirror. I hope this two point are solved with the G1 but I have read that the G1 is quite noisy when you take a photo, is that true?

Thanks a lot

Best Regards
Nando

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Nando

Hi all,

First of all sorry for my English that is not the best.

Neil, I have been reading all your post and it’s very interesting, and it seems that the G1 is quite good for digiscoping. I have some doubts about this camera and I’ll be grateful if you can answer me.

1) With the lens 14-45 if I have understood well there aren’t any vignetting with a ocular as x25 or x30 in swaro or kowa, but the speed that you get, it seems that is enough to take good photos (seeing your excellent photos) but the “f” (3.5-5.6) is quite high if you compare with lens 50mm 1.8 from canon-nikon in dslr, what do you think?
2) Another question about this lens is how working the autofocus. You have told us that works perfectly but I’ve seen the AF is external in this lens. Then when you press the button to take a photo, the G1 over the ocular move forward and back until focus well? And if the autofocus is continuous, the camera is moving continuously?
3) And the last point is about the noise that this camera makes when you take a photo. At this moment I’m using a 350D from canon and I like nothing two point, the vibration and the noise from the hit of the mirror. I hope this two point are solved with the G1 but I have read that the G1 is quite noisy when you take a photo, is that true?

Thanks a lot

Best Regards
Nando

Nando,
There is vignetting with the kit lens - a little at wide zoom 14 mm (10%) which disappears at 16 mm and then comes back at 25 mm on an eyepiece with 20 mm of Eye Relief (eg Swaro 30x ). So in 35 mm terms this gives you a range of 32 - 50 mm unvignetted. With the long Eye Relief of the Kowa the unvignetted image is more in the centre of the range (24 -31 mm ).
The 50 mm lens would be equivalent to 100 mm on this camera and you may get more light. I haven't done an accurate test of the kit zoom lens v fixed in same conditions. Mainly because I have a completely different setup using a balance bar with the other lenses and it takes some time to set up. The quality should be better with a fixed eyepiece which is much more important than the shutter speed which is good at the higher iso.
The AF is internal to the lens so you don't have to worry. That's how I can screw the DCA adapter straight into the front filter thread of the lens. It will move when zooming though.
The Canon's are excellent for noise handling , especially the 350D. Have a look at the images here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7892550...7613397600969/
Up to iso 400 no noise, at iso 800 there is some but it's easy to get out with Noiseware
The Magpie Robin and Night Heron were taken at iso 800 and I used a little Noiseware .
You don't have to use Mirror Lockup or the Self-timer very often as the vibration is minor. Just focus the scope close and let the AF do the rest.
Neil

[Nando]

Hi Neil,

Thank you for your answer. Only one thing more, is this camera quite noisy taking photos? I’m speaking about the sound that this camera makes (not the noise in the image) I ask you about it because for me it’s quite important if I buy a the G1to replace my old camera (350d), to reduce the sound that the camera making photos.

Thank you

Best Regards
Nando

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Nando

Hi Neil,

Thank you for your answer. Only one thing more, is this camera quite noisy taking photos? I’m speaking about the sound that this camera makes (not the noise in the image) I ask you about it because for me it’s quite important if I buy a the G1to replace my old camera (350d), to reduce the sound that the camera making photos.

Thank you

Best Regards
Nando

Nando,
It is noisier than a little digicam but much quieter than my Nikon D3. It is a "dull" sound so not as easy to hear as a DSLR.
Neil.

[Nando]

Hi Neil,

Thank you for all your explanation!!!! In summary, this camera seems very very good in general and quite good for digiscoping.
I think I’m going to buy it, but I don’t know if it’s worth waiting for a decrease of price from the new GH1.

Best Regards
Fernando

[Neil]

I've just been down to Singapore for a few days and took the G1 with me. I spent some time at the Jurong Bird Park and the Botanical Gardens where there is a nesting colony of Cattle Egrets. Here are some images with the G1. Neil.

Panasonic Lumix G1 plus Swarovski STS80HD scope and Sw30x and DCA adapter

Jurong Bird Park,
Singapore.
April 2009

[wings]

Excellent shots.

[Neil]

The G1 comes into it's own when following feeding waders out on the mudflats. The AF is so fast it can lock on even when a Terek Sandpiper is twisting and turning as it chases small crabs around in circles. Neil

Panasonic Lumix G1 plus Swarovski STS80HD scope and Sw45x eyepiece and DCA adapter

Mai Po Nature Reserve,
Hong Kong,
April 2009

[Cactusdave]

Super shots. No sign of haze problems that you often get in long range shots. I suspect that this is close to as good as it gets with digiscoping.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Neil

The G1 comes into it's own when following feeding waders out on the mudflats. The AF is so fast it can lock on even when a Terek Sandpiper is twisting and turning as it chases small crabs around in circles. Neil

Panasonic Lumix G1 plus Swarovski STS80HD scope and Sw45x eyepiece and DCA adapter

Mai Po Nature Reserve,
Hong Kong,
April 2009

Dave,
This was a good distance of 25 - 30 metres. It doesn't often get this good here. Neil

[Nando]

Great photos for this distance.

Fernando

[Martin Standley]

I've just taken the plunge and bought a G1 it should arrive tomorrow.
I've only used the Nikon 8400 and P5100 before.
Could anyone give some advice on the settings that I should use for digiscoping?
Thanks in advance.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Martin Standley

I've just taken the plunge and bought a G1 it should arrive tomorrow.
I've only used the Nikon 8400 and P5100 before.
Could anyone give some advice on the settings that I should use for digiscoping?
Thanks in advance.

Martin,
You will use similar settings as with the 8400.
Neil.

[Martin Standley]

Thanks Neil, I will give it a go at the wekend hopefully.

Originally Posted by Neil

Martin,
You will use similar settings as with the 8400.
Neil.

[spyaround]

I obviously need to work on my photoshop skills.

[YellowBudgie]

Hello,

Lumix G1 owners, how do you like this camera for other types of photography? Looks like a great dual use camera vs. a camera to keep with the scope bag/case.

Thanks