There’s been quite a bit of discussion online around Panasonic’s introduction of phase detection hybrid autofocus aka PDHAF or PDAF in its two latest cameras the Lumix S5 II and S5 IIX.
Lumix camera users have been asking Panasonic for PDAF for years now instead of the depth from defocus aka DFD autofocus system upon which Panasonic has hung its hopes despite performing below par compared to other cameramakers’ autofocusing systems.
Panasonic introduced its video-oriented Micro Four Thirds flagship camera the GH6 in 2022 and with it still relying on DFD Lumix users are asking for an upgraded GH6 with PDHAF, perhaps a GH6 II.
Is a GH6 Mark II already on the slate for release later in 2023 or might Panasonic first be planning a return to smaller and more stills-oriented M43 cameras, this time with improved IBIS and the PDAF we’ve been wanting for so long?
Some Lumix small camera, small lens snapshots from earlier today
We bought our one small Lumix M43 camera, a GX8, not long after our first Lumix M43 camera, the GH4, for producing video for an unfunded global human rights charity where we were volunteering.
We chose the GX8 as a second camera primarily for video, for two-camera setups as well as a back-up for the GH4 if it went down on location.
We soon discovered the GX8 was an excellent stills photography camera as well as a fine video camera though without all the specifications of the GH4, and it had 3-way in-body image stabilization for stills only, Panasonic’s first venture into this essential feature for all cameras whatever their sensor size and intended use.
Then there’s the almost unique tilting electronic viewfinder aka EVF, rivalled only by Leica with its pricey Visoflex 2 detachable tiring EVF for its pricey M-System cameras.
Previously Panasonic had relied on IBIS for its zoom lenses but, with the exception of a couple of its longer prime at the time, not its single-focal length optics.
Although we defaulted to prime lenses for our pre-digital film work, zoom lenses have advanced in leaps and bounds since trying out and quickly returning our first one.
When we ordered our GH4 we had no hesitation adding an Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro standard zoom lens after comparing one to a Panasonic Lumix GX Vario 35-100mm f/2.8 Power OIS zoom.
The clincher for choosing the M.Zuiko Pro despite its lack of IBIS?
Its solid non-plastic body and its manual clutch focusing ring.
In our humble opinion every lens for serious documentary stills and video production should come with manual clutch focus aka MCF, no questions asked.
If Olympus could do it for its M.Zuiko and M.Zuiko Pro primes and zooms then surely all others can do it too.
We’ve been asking for MCF for Fujifilm and Panasonic lenses for years and, lo and behold, Panasonic’s brilliant available light and darkness zoom lens pair, the Leica DG Vario-Summilux 10-25mm f/1.7 Aspheric and Leica DG Vario-Summilux 25-50mm f/1.7 Aspheric came with exactly that.
Thank you, Panasonic, and now please add MCF when you revise other lenses for the extra resolution demands the GH6’s 5.7K 60p option may well demand.
Panasonic Lumix GH6 with Vario-Summilux 10-25mm & 25-50mm f/1.7 zoom lenses, a core M43 kit for 4K documentary video production
If Panasonic comes up with a GH6 Mark II with PDHAF then we’ll add one to the top of our video production wishlist along with the two f/1.7 zooms, but they’re a little too large for daily carry.
Instead for that we want a radically upgraded version of our beloved GX8, one suitable for professional stills and video work and not aimed at “street photography” with a reduced feature set as happened with the GX9.
That request is not just ours alone: we’ve been amazed at how so many GX8 users are asking the same question as well as GX7 and GX9 users.
Panasonic GX8 with two zoom lens kit
Although we often carry our GX8 with Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro zoom attached as one and only camera and lens combo each day, when we want to be even more discrete we choose our Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspheric Mega OIS collapsible zoom instead.
The 12-32mm’s optics may not be as advanced as those in the 12-40mm and the former lacks any form of manual focusing much less MCF, but its optics are good enough when the GX8’s raw files are processed in DxO PhotoLab Elite with its superb DeepPRIME XD denoising and demosaicing feature selected.
We’ve come to rely on DxO’s DeepPRIME XD function for all our M43 raw files and have seen some amazing results with it especially with images shot in available darkness with less than stellar lenses.
Video often benefits from less than razor-sharp optics based on the number of videographers adding softening filters to their lenses and there’s the benefit of the 12-32mm’s optical image stabilization aka OIS that works for video when the GX8’s IBIS does not.
If you’re considering the tiny 12-32mm zoom, only available secondhand these days or bundled with a lower-tier Lumix camera, then please also consider the Lumix G Vario 35-100mm f/4.0-5.6 Aspheric Mega OIS lens as its natural telephoto companion.
We don’t have one – we have an Olympus telephoto zoom instead – but we’d love to add one when we can as this smaller, more affordable and collapsible alternative to the Lumix GX Vario 35-100mm f/2.8 Power OIS zoom gains great reviews and was recommended by the late, great M43 reviewer and former Fleet Street press photographer David Thorpe.
Panasonic GX8 with Lumix three prime lens kit
Our GX8 came with a prime lens bundled as part of a promotion, the often-underestimated Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 Aspheric prime lens, and a spare battery.
Although we’ve never been dedicated standard normal lens users whatever the sensor or film format, the 25mm f/1.7 comes in handy when we want the feel of a Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex camera with 80mm standard normal prime lens by flipping the GX8’s EVF up to 90 degrees.
Until their demise in 2015 with the dissolution of the successor to original manufacturer Franke & Heidecke, the Rolleiflex TLR 120-rollfilm cameras were documentary, portrait and fashion photographer favourites and they’re still in demand on the secondhand market.
Franke & Heidecke made a number of variants beyond the 80mm standard-normal Rolleiflex including the first we had with a 75mm perfect normal lens, a wide Rolleiflex with 50mm lens and a telephoto Rolleiflex with 135mm lens.
There’s two ways of simulating these four Rolleiflex TLRs with a GX8, the first by attaching one or two zoom lenses.
The second is by having a nice little set of matched primes such as the Panasonic Lumix G 14mm f/2.5, 20mm f/1.7, 25mm f/1.7 and the OIS-equipped 42.5mm f/1.7.
I’d opt to leave out the standard normal 25mm f/1.7 for stills as the perfect normal 20mm f/1.7 is so, well, perfect but the 25mm lens is better for focus pulling given its normal length and not pancake sized barrel.
All four Lumix G primes have lightweight plastic bodies and quality optics though I can’t vouch for their performance with 5.7K video production and their glass is excellent even if it wasn’t designed and branded by Panasonic partner Leica Camera.
I’ve certainly come across documentary movies and narrative shorts being made with these Lumix primes on GHn series cameras as well as the GX8.
Contax G2 with three prime lens kit
A little bit of a history lesson!
I’ve been a rangefinder camera user even from before our two Leica M System cameras and lenses dating back to discovering two Linhof 4″x5″ and 120-rollfilm cameras hidden in a closet at art school.
Two analog rangefinder cameras that I’ve had the pleasure of owning or using include the Contax G2 and the Minolta CLE which developed from the Leica CL.
Minolta CLE with three prime lens kit
In partnership with Zeiss, Contax G1 and G2 maker brand Yashica expanded the bundled 3-prime lens set comprising 28mm, 45mm and 90mm wider and longer and in-between with 16mm, 21mm, 35mm and 35-70mm lenses.
The Leica CL and Minolta CLE stuck to their core set of three prime lenses.
I’ve never had the pleasure of using a Contax G2 or a Minolta CLE but pictures of proud owners using those cameras remind me so much of the look and feel of our GX8 whether equipped with a 12-32mm zoom or a 25mm prime lens.
A radically updated successor to the GX8 can’t come soon enough.
Links
- B&H Affiliate Link – click here to research and purchase or pre-order your choice of cameras, lenses and accessories for stills photography and video production whatever your genre and subject matter.
- B&H Affiliate Link – Panasonic Lumix Digital Cameras – M43 Cameras – M43 Lenses – “Full Frame” (35mm sensor) Cameras – “Full Frame” (35mm sensor) Lenses
- DxO – website
- Ken Rockwell – Contax G2, (1996-2003) – “The Contax G2 is the world’s most advanced rangefinder camera.”
- Ken Rockwell – Minolta CLE, Compact LEICA Electronic (1980-1985) – “The CLE is all about small and good; the perfect realization of the LEICA Dream.”
- Micro Four Nerds – Dear Lumix, from the Micro Four Thirds Community… – Video by Emily Lowrey about what she wants to see coming down the turnpike from Panasonic: small M43 cameras!
- Wikipedia – Contax G
- Wikipedia – Leica CL
- Wikipedia – Minolta CLE
- Wikipedia – Rollei
- Wikipedia – Rolleiflex
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