Panasonic GH2, 100-300mm, f/5.6, 1/200, iso 320
The other day my good friend John Barclay asked how I'm getting on with the Panasonic GH2 I acquired in January. So this is a good time for an update.
Going along with our location move to the Seattle area, my wife and I are intending some lifestyle changes. One of which is that we plan to walk several miles every day. There is a lovely park by our home just right for walking. Yesterday I brought the GH2 along with me.
The camera was tucked away in its case when the most amazing thing happened. Directly in front of us a bald eagle, with about an 18" long fish in its talons, broke through the trees not ten feet over our heads. Chased by three ravens, looking to hijack the meal. Welcome to the PNW! It was really something.
Had the camera been in my hand, I don't believe I would have gotten a decent shot of the scene (which lasted only seconds). Maybe if I had the Canon, and the right lens was on. But the GH2 is just not that fast. You can bet I got it out and began carrying it at that point though.
So as to the camera itself, I would say that I really like what it can do. Like today's image. The effective focal length is 600mm when fully zoomed. In a comparitively tiny package. No way I'm going to carry this kind of Canon glass on a casual walk. Or any walk for that matter.
So I like what it can do, i.e. very decent images, and several lenses in an easy to carry format. It's size means you don't intimidate people (and birds?) when you point it at them. But I have to say the actual experience of making images with the camera doesn't do that much for me. This is as compared to my Canon gear. If someone is stepping up from a point and shoot, I'm sure it would be great. For me, when I'm changing settings to get what I'm after, it always feels a little clumsy. Perhaps I just need to use it more. Been kinda busy these past few months. We'll see and I'll let you know!
