From 6582f116bce9bce2270e21a170c9393490e9f3f6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: luxagraf Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2016 11:23:19 -0400 Subject: moved published pieces and paid invoices to archives --- fuji-xpro2-review.txt | 44 ----------------------- invoices/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-02-29.doc | Bin 0 -> 12288 bytes invoices/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-16.doc | Bin 0 -> 12288 bytes panasonic-gx8-review.txt | 41 --------------------- published/fuji-xpro2-review.txt | 44 +++++++++++++++++++++++ published/panasonic-gx8-review.txt | 41 +++++++++++++++++++++ scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-02-29.doc | Bin 12288 -> 0 bytes scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-16.doc | Bin 12288 -> 0 bytes scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-31.doc | Bin 0 -> 12288 bytes 9 files changed, 85 insertions(+), 85 deletions(-) delete mode 100644 fuji-xpro2-review.txt create mode 100644 invoices/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-02-29.doc create mode 100644 invoices/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-16.doc delete mode 100644 panasonic-gx8-review.txt create mode 100644 published/fuji-xpro2-review.txt create mode 100644 published/panasonic-gx8-review.txt delete mode 100644 scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-02-29.doc delete mode 100644 scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-16.doc create mode 100644 scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-31.doc diff --git a/fuji-xpro2-review.txt b/fuji-xpro2-review.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a430924..0000000 --- a/fuji-xpro2-review.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,44 +0,0 @@ -It's been barely five years since Fuji plunged into the consumer camera market with the fixed lens X100, and a mere four years since the company's flagship X-Pro1 hit the market. This relatively short time in the market is notable because Fuji's new X-Pro2 may well be one of the most fully realized visions of what a camera should be to hit the market in years. - -If Fuji's vision of what a camera should be happens to align with your own, the X-Pro2 can feel, if you'll pardon the over-used word, magical. The understated look -- from the front there's no logo or even camera name -- and rangefinder-style design combine to create something that feels pulled out of an entirely different era of photography. In my case I can say that not since I sold my Nikon F3 have I picked up a camera and headed out the door for the sole purpose of taking photos. This is a camera that demands to be used. - -The X-Pro2 is not revolutionary. Fuji is not trying to break fresh ground here. Instead it takes everything that makes the X line appealing and improves all of it. - -There's better image quality thanks to the new 24MP X-Trans CMOS III sensor, autofocus is faster, buttons have been moved to better locations, menus have been rearranged and are now easy to customize, and there's a new film simulation mode based on Fujifilm's Neopan ACROS black-and-white film. Even video, which has previously been a weak point in Fuji systems, has been drastically improved in the X-Pro2. - -The X-Pro2 is also very deliberate about what it *doesn't* have. There's no articulated screen, no touchscreen and no 4K video. This is an opinionated machine designed for a specific type of photographer. - -Judging by comments from Fuji execs, the X-Pro2 sensor is probably capable of 4K video, but it won't be coming, not even via one of the company's famously feature-adding firmware updates. If 4K video is important to you this is not the camera for you -- end of story (the rumored XT-2 will likely have 4K video). - -The X-Pro2 is also not a "full frame" sensor, though its output is on par with most full frame systems I've used. The X-Trans III is an impressive new sensor; Fuji has managed to improve the pixel count considerably without sacrificing anything. The infamous waxy skin tone problem at high ISO has also been eliminated. Speaking of high ISO, the X-Trans III can go all the way to 25600, though to my eye anything above 6400 starts to get noisy. - -From the front the X-Pro2 is nearly identical to its predecessor. There's a slightly larger grip, but otherwise most of the changes are on the back, specifically the button layout. The buttons themselves are largely unchanged, but new layout means you can access nearly everything with your right thumb without ever taking your eye off the viewfinder. - -The one new button is the focus joystick, a little nib that allows you to move the area of focus around. The autofocus system itself has been improved with a total of 273 AF points across the frame. To navigate between points you can use the nib joystick. - -As someone who's used to doing a half-press of the shutter to lock focus and then recompose, the genius of the nib was not immediately apparent. Once you have the nib though you start to realize that the half-press and recompose method is really a hack around a shortcoming of most cameras -- the AF lock button is never where you want it. This is true with even the X-Pro2, though you can swap the AE and AF lock buttons, which will put FL right under your thumb. However, by the time I figured this out I'd already become fluent with the nib. And now, having returned the X-Pro2 I am ruined; constantly feeling for a nib on my camera that's not there. Suffice to say, the nib is brilliant -- except for fast moving subjects, in which case I revert to half-pressing the shutter release -- and as an added bonus it frees up the arrow keys to handle other shortcuts. - -Other shortcuts abound and Fuji's customization options allow you to more or less create the button layout you want. Just head into the menu and set each button to do whatever you'd like. In the X-Pro2 this customization has been extended to the onscreen menus as well. When you press the menu key, the first menu that comes up is a user customizable screen. Given the number of hardware controls on the X-Pro 2 I could never find more than two things to put on the custom menu -- my custom film simulation presets and the timer function -- but there's plenty more room if you need it. - -Any camera system though is only as good as its lenses and Fuji lens are every bit as good as they're hyped to be. The all metal construction makes even some of my nicest Nikon lenses feel like the cheap plastic they are. Fujinon sent the new 35mm f2 (50mm full frame equivalent), which in addition to being an ideal for the optical viewfinder, can take advantage of the X-Pro2's much improved autofocus speed. - -Autofocus has been a weak spot in the Fuji X system as a whole, but particularly with the X-Pro1. The X-Pro2 is much faster. Autofocus single shot mode is DSLR fast. Continuous mode, not so much. It's getting there, but if you shoot sports this is still not going to cut it. Again, this camera is designed for specific types of photographers, sport photographers are not one of them. - -The hybrid viewfinder in the X-Pro2 gets a welcome update. Alongside the optical and pure EVF modes is a new hybrid mode that uses the optical viewfinder, but adds a tiny thumbnail EVF view in the lower right quarter of the screen. Personally I used the optical viewfinder almost exclusively, though the hybrid mode is useful in manual focus mode since it becomes a zoomed in view of details. The X-Pro2's EVF remains thoroughly okay. It's nowhere near the gorgeously bright EVF of the XT-1, but it works and is useful when you're using lenses that don't work well with the OVF. That said, the whole reason to buy the X-Pro2 over a DSLR-style camera is for the rangefinder feel, of which the OVF is a big part. - -Other welcome new features in the X-Pro2 include dual memory card slots. That's welcome news for anyone shooting high stakes gigs like weddings, but there's also an option to use one card for JPG and one for RAW. That means you can take advantage of Fuji's many film simulation modes, but also record an unadulterated RAW file if you change your mind later. - -RAW aficionados will be glad to hear that Fuji has introduced an option to use losslessly compressed RAW files. The compression drops file size from approximately 50MB per image uncompressed to approximately 20MB per image, though be sure that your favorite RAW software editor supports the new compression. At the time of writing only [Silkypix](https://silkypix.isl.co.jp/en/) and the latest version of [Lightroom](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html) support it. - -The X-Pro2's weakest point is battery life, which is really bad, especially if pre-focusing is turned on (which it is by default). Battery life is bad enough that you should get at least one spare battery, probably two or three if you're a pro shooting multi-hour events. I typically got about 150-180 shots out of a battery depending on the settings (pre-focus especially kills battery life). - -The X-Pro2 is not a perfect camera. There's no such thing, but if there were the X-Pro2 would be damn close. It's not for everyone, but it has a certain Je ne sais qua, that will make it perfect for the right kind of photographer. As I said at the beginning, the X-Pro2 demands to be used and that alone will do more for your photography than faster autofocus or larger sensors. Just remember to grab an extra battery on your way out the door. - - -rating: 9/10 - -Wired: -A photographer's camera, the understated X-Pro2 is the most fully realized camera in Fuji's X series. Improved autofocus system and new sensor. Hybrid viewfinder. New Acros film simulation mode. - -Tired: -The X-Pro2's weakest point is battery life -- it sucks. Buy two or three extra. The EVF is okay, but not not as vibrant as the XT-1. diff --git a/invoices/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-02-29.doc b/invoices/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-02-29.doc new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a2c7a93 Binary files /dev/null and b/invoices/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-02-29.doc differ diff --git a/invoices/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-16.doc b/invoices/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-16.doc new file mode 100644 index 0000000..698954b Binary files /dev/null and b/invoices/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-16.doc differ diff --git a/panasonic-gx8-review.txt b/panasonic-gx8-review.txt deleted file mode 100644 index eeb0c92..0000000 --- a/panasonic-gx8-review.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,41 +0,0 @@ -The micro four-thirds camera format debuted in 2008 and was immediately a hit. These compact machines have interchangeable lenses, giving them much of the versatility of pro-level DSLRs, but in more diminutive and portable bodies. While the smaller micro four-thirds sensor means the image quality suffers a bit, most photographers were willing to forego the extra megapixels for a lightweight camera they could take anywhere. Even as the micro four thirds standard has matured and these cameras' capabilities have blossomed, that travel-friendly portability has remained one of the main selling points. - -[wiredtired wired="The new 20-megapixel sensor offers 4K video support and improved dynamic range over the GX7, the previous model. Solid, well-constructed body is comfortable to shoot with. Dual image stabilization system, fast autofocus, and improved high ISO performance make this camera's low light capabilities among the best you'll find in this class." tired="Loses the lightweight, highly-portable advantage that makes micro four thirds so appealing. Image quality gains aren't as large as the jump in sensor resolution would lead one to assume. The dual IS feature requires a compatible Panasonic lens."] - -Which is why Panasonic's GX8 micro four thirds shooter represents something of a challenge. If you love micro fourth-thirds format for its photographic versatility and the ability to capture stunning video, then you'll love the GX8. But it's not terribly small when compared to other MFT cameras, so if you're drawn to the category primarily for its petiteness, the GX8 may not be what you want. - - -The GX8 is the sequel to Panasonic's GX7, a powerful and sublimely designed compact camera that arrived three years ago. But this new camera has less in common with that GX7 and much more in common with Panasonic's larger, video-centric GH4. In fact, if you took the GH4, shrunk it slightly, then upped the still image resolution a bit, you'd have the GX8. - -Like its predecessor, the GX8 features a magnesium alloy frame, but unlike the GX7, the GX8 doesn't use too much plastic and keeps the body mostly metal. The result is the sturdiest, most well-built micro four thirds camera I've tested. But the trade off is that the GX8 has gained a bit of weight, tipping the scale at over 17 ounces (nearly 20 percent heavier than the GX7). The GX8 is also wider, taller and thicker than the GX7. It's no DSLR behemoth, but it is a substantial camera. - -The GX8 still manages to fit nicely in the palm, and it's not so heavy that I ever felt the need to carry it in a bag. It's comfortable to wear at the ends of a strap. I found the grip on the right side a bit large, but the level of comfort will largely correspond to the size of your hands. - -

Take Control

- -The rangefinder-style layout adds some retro appeal, but aside from the eye piece being on the far left there is no functional difference between the GX8 and, well, any of Panasonic's SLR models. I went in thinking the rangefinder-style design was a bit gimmicky, but after a few weeks of use, I came out a convert. Then again, I used to shoot film rangefinders all the time, and I still prefer them to SLRs. I also shoot with my right eye pressed to the viewfinder, which allows me to keep my left eye on the scene. If you shoot with the left eye, the rangefinder layout becomes less appealing. - -[pullquote quote="The GX8's 20-megapixel sensor makes it the highest resolution micro four thirds camera currently on the market."]The GX8's retro vibe extends to the physical knobs and switches for selecting shooting mode and focus mode, and the exposure dial. There's also a dedicated AF/AE lock button and the usual assortment of four-way control pad, function and Q buttons. As with most cameras in Panasonic's fleet, many of these controls are customizable. As somebody raised in the ancient days of film, it's a pleasure to see more features emerging from the depths of touchscreen menus and landing back on the camera body. - -That said, Panasonic has some of the most well designed menus in the camera world and, as noted, you can assign pretty much any menu function to any button you'd like. The end result is a highly customizable set of controls that are easy to tweak to fit with how you shoot. - -The electronic viewfinder is big, bright, and one of the best I've used. It's on par with what FujiFilm packs into its new XPro 2. The GX8's EVF has a nice feature that allows you to rotate it up so that you can look straight down into the camera, which gives you that momentary sense of nostalgia for that old Rolleiflex, but also turns out to be very useful when shooting video. That said, using an EVF is an acquired taste---one I haven't fully acquired yet. But I have no major complaints. - -

Lookin' Sharp

- -The GX8 has a new 20-megapixel sensor, which replaces the 16-megapixel sensor in the GX7. It's not a huge difference, but it does make the GX8 the highest resolution micro four thirds camera currently on the market. In terms of image quality, I could not tell a huge difference between sample images taken with the GX8 and those from the GX7. If you're planning to print for billboards, you'll likely see a difference. Otherwise, the change is not as dramatic as I had hoped. Image quality isn't all a new sensor brings though, and I did feel like the dynamic range I got from the GX8 trumped what I've seen from the GX7. - -The GX8 also gains some higher ISO capabilities. The GX8 will let you shoot all the way up to ISO 25,600. As you would expect with very high ISO, there's quite a bit of noise at the top of the camera's range. If you're posting images to Instagram, you can probably get away with using 6400 ISO. If you plan to make prints, I would consider 1600 the upper limit, though in some situations you might be able to use images at 6400. The maximum shutter speed is 1/8000s, or can go up to 1/16000s if the electronic shutter is used instead. - -One place the GX8 trumps its predecessor is with the autofocus system. It's fast and accurate. The in-body image stabilizer works to keep things sharp too. And even better, there's a new dual IS system which takes advantage of both the in-body image stabiliser and the lens's optical image stabiliser. - -For testing, Panasonic sent along the Leica DG Summilux, 15mm f/1.7 lens, which supports the new dual IS system and, while I wasn't expecting to be bowled over by it, I was. I was able to routinely hand-hold shots of durations lasting as long as one second, bracing the camera against my face, and get an image with no visible blur. This significantly improves low-light performance and makes the 1600 ISO limit mentioned earlier less of a problem. In fact, I never encountered a low-light situation the GX8 couldn't handle. Of course to get the dual IS you'll need a newer lens that supports it (Panasonic has been rolling out firmware updates for some older lenses as well). - -There's a new 4K Photo mode that uses the camera's 4K video engine to capture short burst of footage from which you can pull 8MP still images. It sounds gimmicky, but it actually works pretty well in situation you know that the 10fps is going to let you down. The images are not nearly the quality of what you get otherwise, but they're good enough to get some images of the kids' soccer match on Instagram. The GX8 also has a host of features one would expect on a new camera: stop-motion video; time lapse, panorama, and HDR modes; Wi-Fi connectivity, and support for NFC pairing. It's thoroughly of the times. It's even a touch ahead of the time with support for Panasonic's much touted "post focus" feature. - -

Moving Pictures

- -Finally, a word about video: The GX8 could be the best micro four thirds camera out there right now for video---at least in terms of image quality. Two things keep it from besting Panasonic's video superstar, the GH4. First, there's no way to output video over HDMI at all while recording, and second, instead of the industry standard 1/8-inch microphone jack, the GX8 uses 2.5mm microphone socket. This means you'll need an adapter for just about any microphone you hope to use. Despite those quibbles (which will give the professional filmmaker pause, but probably don't matter for most of us) the actual video output is amazing. And yes, it shoots 4K video, too. - -The GX8 ends up being a very capable performer and probably my top pick in the current Panasonic micro four thirds line up. That said, if you prize portability above all else, I strongly suggest laying your hands on one of these cameras before you commit. It's bigger than you might think. - diff --git a/published/fuji-xpro2-review.txt b/published/fuji-xpro2-review.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a430924 --- /dev/null +++ b/published/fuji-xpro2-review.txt @@ -0,0 +1,44 @@ +It's been barely five years since Fuji plunged into the consumer camera market with the fixed lens X100, and a mere four years since the company's flagship X-Pro1 hit the market. This relatively short time in the market is notable because Fuji's new X-Pro2 may well be one of the most fully realized visions of what a camera should be to hit the market in years. + +If Fuji's vision of what a camera should be happens to align with your own, the X-Pro2 can feel, if you'll pardon the over-used word, magical. The understated look -- from the front there's no logo or even camera name -- and rangefinder-style design combine to create something that feels pulled out of an entirely different era of photography. In my case I can say that not since I sold my Nikon F3 have I picked up a camera and headed out the door for the sole purpose of taking photos. This is a camera that demands to be used. + +The X-Pro2 is not revolutionary. Fuji is not trying to break fresh ground here. Instead it takes everything that makes the X line appealing and improves all of it. + +There's better image quality thanks to the new 24MP X-Trans CMOS III sensor, autofocus is faster, buttons have been moved to better locations, menus have been rearranged and are now easy to customize, and there's a new film simulation mode based on Fujifilm's Neopan ACROS black-and-white film. Even video, which has previously been a weak point in Fuji systems, has been drastically improved in the X-Pro2. + +The X-Pro2 is also very deliberate about what it *doesn't* have. There's no articulated screen, no touchscreen and no 4K video. This is an opinionated machine designed for a specific type of photographer. + +Judging by comments from Fuji execs, the X-Pro2 sensor is probably capable of 4K video, but it won't be coming, not even via one of the company's famously feature-adding firmware updates. If 4K video is important to you this is not the camera for you -- end of story (the rumored XT-2 will likely have 4K video). + +The X-Pro2 is also not a "full frame" sensor, though its output is on par with most full frame systems I've used. The X-Trans III is an impressive new sensor; Fuji has managed to improve the pixel count considerably without sacrificing anything. The infamous waxy skin tone problem at high ISO has also been eliminated. Speaking of high ISO, the X-Trans III can go all the way to 25600, though to my eye anything above 6400 starts to get noisy. + +From the front the X-Pro2 is nearly identical to its predecessor. There's a slightly larger grip, but otherwise most of the changes are on the back, specifically the button layout. The buttons themselves are largely unchanged, but new layout means you can access nearly everything with your right thumb without ever taking your eye off the viewfinder. + +The one new button is the focus joystick, a little nib that allows you to move the area of focus around. The autofocus system itself has been improved with a total of 273 AF points across the frame. To navigate between points you can use the nib joystick. + +As someone who's used to doing a half-press of the shutter to lock focus and then recompose, the genius of the nib was not immediately apparent. Once you have the nib though you start to realize that the half-press and recompose method is really a hack around a shortcoming of most cameras -- the AF lock button is never where you want it. This is true with even the X-Pro2, though you can swap the AE and AF lock buttons, which will put FL right under your thumb. However, by the time I figured this out I'd already become fluent with the nib. And now, having returned the X-Pro2 I am ruined; constantly feeling for a nib on my camera that's not there. Suffice to say, the nib is brilliant -- except for fast moving subjects, in which case I revert to half-pressing the shutter release -- and as an added bonus it frees up the arrow keys to handle other shortcuts. + +Other shortcuts abound and Fuji's customization options allow you to more or less create the button layout you want. Just head into the menu and set each button to do whatever you'd like. In the X-Pro2 this customization has been extended to the onscreen menus as well. When you press the menu key, the first menu that comes up is a user customizable screen. Given the number of hardware controls on the X-Pro 2 I could never find more than two things to put on the custom menu -- my custom film simulation presets and the timer function -- but there's plenty more room if you need it. + +Any camera system though is only as good as its lenses and Fuji lens are every bit as good as they're hyped to be. The all metal construction makes even some of my nicest Nikon lenses feel like the cheap plastic they are. Fujinon sent the new 35mm f2 (50mm full frame equivalent), which in addition to being an ideal for the optical viewfinder, can take advantage of the X-Pro2's much improved autofocus speed. + +Autofocus has been a weak spot in the Fuji X system as a whole, but particularly with the X-Pro1. The X-Pro2 is much faster. Autofocus single shot mode is DSLR fast. Continuous mode, not so much. It's getting there, but if you shoot sports this is still not going to cut it. Again, this camera is designed for specific types of photographers, sport photographers are not one of them. + +The hybrid viewfinder in the X-Pro2 gets a welcome update. Alongside the optical and pure EVF modes is a new hybrid mode that uses the optical viewfinder, but adds a tiny thumbnail EVF view in the lower right quarter of the screen. Personally I used the optical viewfinder almost exclusively, though the hybrid mode is useful in manual focus mode since it becomes a zoomed in view of details. The X-Pro2's EVF remains thoroughly okay. It's nowhere near the gorgeously bright EVF of the XT-1, but it works and is useful when you're using lenses that don't work well with the OVF. That said, the whole reason to buy the X-Pro2 over a DSLR-style camera is for the rangefinder feel, of which the OVF is a big part. + +Other welcome new features in the X-Pro2 include dual memory card slots. That's welcome news for anyone shooting high stakes gigs like weddings, but there's also an option to use one card for JPG and one for RAW. That means you can take advantage of Fuji's many film simulation modes, but also record an unadulterated RAW file if you change your mind later. + +RAW aficionados will be glad to hear that Fuji has introduced an option to use losslessly compressed RAW files. The compression drops file size from approximately 50MB per image uncompressed to approximately 20MB per image, though be sure that your favorite RAW software editor supports the new compression. At the time of writing only [Silkypix](https://silkypix.isl.co.jp/en/) and the latest version of [Lightroom](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html) support it. + +The X-Pro2's weakest point is battery life, which is really bad, especially if pre-focusing is turned on (which it is by default). Battery life is bad enough that you should get at least one spare battery, probably two or three if you're a pro shooting multi-hour events. I typically got about 150-180 shots out of a battery depending on the settings (pre-focus especially kills battery life). + +The X-Pro2 is not a perfect camera. There's no such thing, but if there were the X-Pro2 would be damn close. It's not for everyone, but it has a certain Je ne sais qua, that will make it perfect for the right kind of photographer. As I said at the beginning, the X-Pro2 demands to be used and that alone will do more for your photography than faster autofocus or larger sensors. Just remember to grab an extra battery on your way out the door. + + +rating: 9/10 + +Wired: +A photographer's camera, the understated X-Pro2 is the most fully realized camera in Fuji's X series. Improved autofocus system and new sensor. Hybrid viewfinder. New Acros film simulation mode. + +Tired: +The X-Pro2's weakest point is battery life -- it sucks. Buy two or three extra. The EVF is okay, but not not as vibrant as the XT-1. diff --git a/published/panasonic-gx8-review.txt b/published/panasonic-gx8-review.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eeb0c92 --- /dev/null +++ b/published/panasonic-gx8-review.txt @@ -0,0 +1,41 @@ +The micro four-thirds camera format debuted in 2008 and was immediately a hit. These compact machines have interchangeable lenses, giving them much of the versatility of pro-level DSLRs, but in more diminutive and portable bodies. While the smaller micro four-thirds sensor means the image quality suffers a bit, most photographers were willing to forego the extra megapixels for a lightweight camera they could take anywhere. Even as the micro four thirds standard has matured and these cameras' capabilities have blossomed, that travel-friendly portability has remained one of the main selling points. + +[wiredtired wired="The new 20-megapixel sensor offers 4K video support and improved dynamic range over the GX7, the previous model. Solid, well-constructed body is comfortable to shoot with. Dual image stabilization system, fast autofocus, and improved high ISO performance make this camera's low light capabilities among the best you'll find in this class." tired="Loses the lightweight, highly-portable advantage that makes micro four thirds so appealing. Image quality gains aren't as large as the jump in sensor resolution would lead one to assume. The dual IS feature requires a compatible Panasonic lens."] + +Which is why Panasonic's GX8 micro four thirds shooter represents something of a challenge. If you love micro fourth-thirds format for its photographic versatility and the ability to capture stunning video, then you'll love the GX8. But it's not terribly small when compared to other MFT cameras, so if you're drawn to the category primarily for its petiteness, the GX8 may not be what you want. + + +The GX8 is the sequel to Panasonic's GX7, a powerful and sublimely designed compact camera that arrived three years ago. But this new camera has less in common with that GX7 and much more in common with Panasonic's larger, video-centric GH4. In fact, if you took the GH4, shrunk it slightly, then upped the still image resolution a bit, you'd have the GX8. + +Like its predecessor, the GX8 features a magnesium alloy frame, but unlike the GX7, the GX8 doesn't use too much plastic and keeps the body mostly metal. The result is the sturdiest, most well-built micro four thirds camera I've tested. But the trade off is that the GX8 has gained a bit of weight, tipping the scale at over 17 ounces (nearly 20 percent heavier than the GX7). The GX8 is also wider, taller and thicker than the GX7. It's no DSLR behemoth, but it is a substantial camera. + +The GX8 still manages to fit nicely in the palm, and it's not so heavy that I ever felt the need to carry it in a bag. It's comfortable to wear at the ends of a strap. I found the grip on the right side a bit large, but the level of comfort will largely correspond to the size of your hands. + +

Take Control

+ +The rangefinder-style layout adds some retro appeal, but aside from the eye piece being on the far left there is no functional difference between the GX8 and, well, any of Panasonic's SLR models. I went in thinking the rangefinder-style design was a bit gimmicky, but after a few weeks of use, I came out a convert. Then again, I used to shoot film rangefinders all the time, and I still prefer them to SLRs. I also shoot with my right eye pressed to the viewfinder, which allows me to keep my left eye on the scene. If you shoot with the left eye, the rangefinder layout becomes less appealing. + +[pullquote quote="The GX8's 20-megapixel sensor makes it the highest resolution micro four thirds camera currently on the market."]The GX8's retro vibe extends to the physical knobs and switches for selecting shooting mode and focus mode, and the exposure dial. There's also a dedicated AF/AE lock button and the usual assortment of four-way control pad, function and Q buttons. As with most cameras in Panasonic's fleet, many of these controls are customizable. As somebody raised in the ancient days of film, it's a pleasure to see more features emerging from the depths of touchscreen menus and landing back on the camera body. + +That said, Panasonic has some of the most well designed menus in the camera world and, as noted, you can assign pretty much any menu function to any button you'd like. The end result is a highly customizable set of controls that are easy to tweak to fit with how you shoot. + +The electronic viewfinder is big, bright, and one of the best I've used. It's on par with what FujiFilm packs into its new XPro 2. The GX8's EVF has a nice feature that allows you to rotate it up so that you can look straight down into the camera, which gives you that momentary sense of nostalgia for that old Rolleiflex, but also turns out to be very useful when shooting video. That said, using an EVF is an acquired taste---one I haven't fully acquired yet. But I have no major complaints. + +

Lookin' Sharp

+ +The GX8 has a new 20-megapixel sensor, which replaces the 16-megapixel sensor in the GX7. It's not a huge difference, but it does make the GX8 the highest resolution micro four thirds camera currently on the market. In terms of image quality, I could not tell a huge difference between sample images taken with the GX8 and those from the GX7. If you're planning to print for billboards, you'll likely see a difference. Otherwise, the change is not as dramatic as I had hoped. Image quality isn't all a new sensor brings though, and I did feel like the dynamic range I got from the GX8 trumped what I've seen from the GX7. + +The GX8 also gains some higher ISO capabilities. The GX8 will let you shoot all the way up to ISO 25,600. As you would expect with very high ISO, there's quite a bit of noise at the top of the camera's range. If you're posting images to Instagram, you can probably get away with using 6400 ISO. If you plan to make prints, I would consider 1600 the upper limit, though in some situations you might be able to use images at 6400. The maximum shutter speed is 1/8000s, or can go up to 1/16000s if the electronic shutter is used instead. + +One place the GX8 trumps its predecessor is with the autofocus system. It's fast and accurate. The in-body image stabilizer works to keep things sharp too. And even better, there's a new dual IS system which takes advantage of both the in-body image stabiliser and the lens's optical image stabiliser. + +For testing, Panasonic sent along the Leica DG Summilux, 15mm f/1.7 lens, which supports the new dual IS system and, while I wasn't expecting to be bowled over by it, I was. I was able to routinely hand-hold shots of durations lasting as long as one second, bracing the camera against my face, and get an image with no visible blur. This significantly improves low-light performance and makes the 1600 ISO limit mentioned earlier less of a problem. In fact, I never encountered a low-light situation the GX8 couldn't handle. Of course to get the dual IS you'll need a newer lens that supports it (Panasonic has been rolling out firmware updates for some older lenses as well). + +There's a new 4K Photo mode that uses the camera's 4K video engine to capture short burst of footage from which you can pull 8MP still images. It sounds gimmicky, but it actually works pretty well in situation you know that the 10fps is going to let you down. The images are not nearly the quality of what you get otherwise, but they're good enough to get some images of the kids' soccer match on Instagram. The GX8 also has a host of features one would expect on a new camera: stop-motion video; time lapse, panorama, and HDR modes; Wi-Fi connectivity, and support for NFC pairing. It's thoroughly of the times. It's even a touch ahead of the time with support for Panasonic's much touted "post focus" feature. + +

Moving Pictures

+ +Finally, a word about video: The GX8 could be the best micro four thirds camera out there right now for video---at least in terms of image quality. Two things keep it from besting Panasonic's video superstar, the GH4. First, there's no way to output video over HDMI at all while recording, and second, instead of the industry standard 1/8-inch microphone jack, the GX8 uses 2.5mm microphone socket. This means you'll need an adapter for just about any microphone you hope to use. Despite those quibbles (which will give the professional filmmaker pause, but probably don't matter for most of us) the actual video output is amazing. And yes, it shoots 4K video, too. + +The GX8 ends up being a very capable performer and probably my top pick in the current Panasonic micro four thirds line up. That said, if you prize portability above all else, I strongly suggest laying your hands on one of these cameras before you commit. It's bigger than you might think. + diff --git a/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-02-29.doc b/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-02-29.doc deleted file mode 100644 index a2c7a93..0000000 Binary files a/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-02-29.doc and /dev/null differ diff --git a/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-16.doc b/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-16.doc deleted file mode 100644 index 698954b..0000000 Binary files a/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-16.doc and /dev/null differ diff --git a/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-31.doc b/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-31.doc new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d13f947 Binary files /dev/null and b/scott_gilbertson_invoice_2016-03-31.doc differ -- cgit v1.2.3-70-g09d2