Laowa 7.5mm f/2 vs SLR Magic 8mm f/4

By Louis Ferreira | Published: June 5, 2017

image courtesy of Linghk

Just found an interesting comparison buried in my inbox that’s worth sharing. The Laowa 7.5mm f/2 vs SLR Magic 8mm f/4 comparison, done on the Olympus OM-D EM10 can be seen at DPReview and Flickr. The comparison simply consists of images and some discussion via the forums, but I also received another excellent review of the SLR Magic 8mm f/4 that is worth reading if you want more details here.

Regular Edition:
Black 7.5mm lens at B&H Photo / Adorama
Silver 7.5mm lens at B&H Photo / Adorama

Lightweight Edition for Drones:
Black 7.5mm lens at B&H Photo / Adorama
Silver 7.5mm lens at B&H Photo / Adorama

SLR Magic 8mm f/4: B&H Photo / Adorama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFgfXBTddAw

In a very short period of time m43 has received some excellent inexpensive options for photographers looking to shoot wide.

I think if I were picking one today it would be the Laowa 7.5mm, but you can’t go wrong with an SLR Magic lens today. Both companies have really improved their designs.

If you shoot video then these lenses become even better because the moving image hides a lot of the imperfections wide open.

Read More »

Posted in 3rd Party Lens| Tagged , | 3 Comments

Panasonic and Olympus Savings Sunday

By Louis Ferreira | Published: June 4, 2017


Panasonic GH4 Kit ($800):
B&H Photo
Panasonic GH4 ($500):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic G7 with 12-42mm lens ($300):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic GX8 ($200):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic GX85 ($100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic G Vario 7-14mm f/4.0 ASPH. ($100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 Asph. ($300):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic G VARIO 35-100mm f/4.0-5.6 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. ($150):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. ($150):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic G Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH. ($50):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH. ($30):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH. ($100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic G MACRO 30mm f/2.8 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. ($100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic G Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH Power O.I.S. ($200):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic G 42.5mm f/1.7 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. ($50):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic FZ1000 ($100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic FZ300 ($100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic LX100 ($150):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic LX10 ($50):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic ZS100 ($50):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama


Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II w 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R (Save $200):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II w ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R & ED 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 R (Save $200):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II (Save $100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II (Save $200):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Olympus PEN-F (Save $200):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro Zoom (Save $100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4-5.6 “R” Zoom (Save $100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f2.8 Macro (Save $100)
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II (Save $100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 30mm f/3.5 (Save $100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2.0 (Save $100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8 (Save $100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 8mm f/1.8 (Save $100):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-Tracker (Save $70):
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Rokinon Savings
Rokinon 50mm f/1.2 – Black
Rokinon 50mm f/1.2 – Silver
Rokinon 20mm f/1.8 ED AS UMC

Posted in Deals, Panasonic| Leave a comment

DXO: Panasonic GH5 Second to Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

By Louis Ferreira | Published: June 3, 2017


If you’re looking for IQ the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II get’s top marks,

“Comparing the image quality results of the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 with the high-end Panasonic DMC-GX8 and the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, we can see that although all three appear to share the same or a similar sensor, the Olympus may have adopted a slightly modified version, or at least tuned it to deliver slightly better results at higher ISOs. In our our Low-light ISO test, it delivered just over a half-stop advantage over the GH5 and GX8, and there’s a similar improvement (if slight in real terms) in dynamic range and color, at least at higher ISOs.”

, but if you want to shoot video the Panasonic GH5 is the way to go.

“Like its predecessor the GH4, there’s no doubt the Panasonic GH5 is oriented toward videographers, but there’s still plenty to like about the camera for stills use. In spite of the increase in pixel count to 20-MPix, noise remains at the same level as the earlier 16-Mpix GH4. Even when compared to the maker’s GX8 that uses a similar 20-MPix sensor, the GH5 has slightly improved dynamic range and color sensitivity.”

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic GH5: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Via DXO

Posted in Olympus, Panasonic| Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Panasonic High Dynamic Range Organic Sensor Tech

By Louis Ferreira | Published: June 1, 2017


Image Sensor World reported:

Panasonic publishes a paper in Japanese “Development of Simultaneous Capture Wide Dynamic Range Technology and Global Shutter Technology for Organic Photoconductive Film Image Sensor” describing, essentially, a way to control sensitivity on per pixel basis. It’s quite similar to the sensor presented at ISSCC 2017, but without the IR sensitivity

I tried running the document through google translate, but it is too large for the app. The global shutter performance looks promising and could challenge the technology inside the Sony a9.

Via Image Sensor World

Posted in Panasonic| 1 Comment

Panasonic GH5 Firmware Fix Recommendations

By Louis Ferreira | Published: May 29, 2017

12 Things Panasonic should fix in their next firmware update

  1. AF should work before recording in variable frame rate
  2. Auto ISO doesn’t tell you the ISO the camera is choosing while recording
  3. Manual focus assistance while recoding
  4. More control over custom settings
  5. Record audio with more frame rates
  6. Record at 48 fps with audio
  7. Access to lower bit rates
  8. Should be able to hot swap the battery in the battery grip without the battery being completely dead
  9. Doesn’t tell how much battery life is left in the camera and the grip
  10. Stretch the footage on the rear screen when using anamorphic lenses
  11. Fix the IBIS sway when walking
  12. Improve continuous autofocus when recording

Panasonic GH5: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Panasonic GH5 Film Maker Kit: B&H Photo

Posted in Panasonic| Tagged | 2 Comments