2013-05-13T21:00:00
Rated 4 out of 5
Fantastic Little Camera
As a 63 year old photographer I was getting tired of lugging around my Canon 40D, w/17-85, 50f1.8, and Tamron 70-300f4-5.6, and felt that I wasn't getting any enjoyment out of my photography, so I sold off my Canon gear and bought my G5 kit, I love the small size and lightness of both lenses. I have played with this for 3 weeks now and enjoy shooting once again. A couple of minuses are where the SD card goes and the short battery life (320 shots) compared with the Canon battery (600 shots or better) So after playing around the day I got the G5 I had to recharge the battery before grandsons birthday party. I wasn't a big fan of SD cards over CF cards thought they were to small but know don't have to worry about bent pins in the camera if putting the card in wrong. OK THEN.
Back to the review. You can shoot video then a still picture and back to video almost without thinking. For stalking our cats around the house this camera fits the bill with its flip screen you can put the camera on the ground a still see your subject without looking through the eye finder. Another plus is the touch screen you can take the picture, using the eye finder you can move the focus point around using the touch screen so you can compose your shot then move the focus point to what ever you want in focus. There are 4 different guide line patterns for composing your shot the rule of thirds or tic-tac-toe board, a twelve boxes with an dashed x covering upper left/right to lower left/right, a movable vertical and horizontal lines and an off for a cleaner screen. There are a number of different filter effects, and art filters.
As stated before I have only had the camera for 3 weeks in the third week now so will post more of a review as I get to know my little friend.
With the gift certificate I was going to buy a flash but after using the camera the first day I thought another battery would be better so I bought 2 and another 8gb card. I am sticking to the Panasonic battery after reading about 3 party batteries not talking to camera, not showing battery life.
But am glad I made the switch.
Only complaints: The battery life and where the SD card goes (in same place above the battery) that's why only 4 stars
MEL S.
