From G7 to LX2 - G7 build quality and dynamic range?

[lordjim]

Well, I also had a problem with my G7 after only 10 days of ownership. Two days of use.

There was a crack noise when zooming and then a lens error message on the screen. Fortunately, it was within the 14 days of purchase. So I brought it back to Best Buy and got a full refund.

I may purchase another one later on. However, for the time being, I just had a good deal on a Panasonic DMC-LX2. I look forward to receiving it.

Prior to that incident, I also found it very difficult to use the G7 to shoot contrasty scenes: resulted in blown up skies or lost shadows. It may be due to my limited skills in photography but it seemed to me that the dynamic range of the G7 is a bit too narrow. What do you think?

[avwh]

Contrasty scenes are among the toughest for a P&S. Those kinds of wide dynamic range shots require enough knowledge & experience with the controls of the G7 to "override" what it will otherwise try to do, left to using its own brain. The G7 is really a P&S in size, but its features and controls are closer to a DSLR than a typical P&S, IMO.

It helps to tweak the global settings in My Colors to reduce both sharpness and contrast, which means less in-camera processing. It also helps to shoot most contrasty scenes at -1/3 exposure; that will usually reduce greatly the blown highlights.

I think it takes more than 2 weeks to learn the G7's ins and outs (unless you take a LOT of pictures and experiement, or also read some of the forums that follow the G7 pretty closely ) - because it has a LOT of features and controls and settings that take time to learn and master over a broad range of shooting situations.

I've been "collecting" some sites with galleries of G7 photos (for inspiration and to see what others have done with the camera). Peruse a few of these to see what the G7 is capable of:

http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/powershot_g7
http://helios.phpnet.org/canon%20G7/
http://www.flickr.com/cameras/canon/powershot_g7/
http://www.him2.smugmug.com/gallery/2800111#149448511
http://allenh.zenfolio.com/

[lordjim]

I think it takes more than 2 weeks to learn the G7's ins and outs (unless you take a LOT of pictures and experiement, or also read some of the forums that follow the G7 pretty closely ) - because it has a LOT of features and controls and settings that take time to learn and master over a broad range of shooting situations. / (http://allenh.zenfolio.com/)

I fully agree but mine broke after 10 days only. I may buy another one but I am still wondering.

Thanks for the advices and thanks a lot for the links. I love looking at what the others can do with that camera.

[DC9]

I've had the little camera now for about two months and while I always wish I had my 30D with me I don't want to carry it to work all the time. I've posted a few shots I've done with the little wonder on this thread. All the photos are straight out of the camera with no Photo Shop. I shot them AV wide open with ISO 200.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=315889

[richarddd]

A while back I borrowed a friend's LX2 and shot with it for a day. I did not like the way it handled and was not very impressed with picture quality (I shot jpg, not RAW). I recently bought a G7 and am much happier with it. I really like the controls and handling. I'd have liked a wider angle lens and better optical viewfinder, but you can't have everything. I also like the image quality.

[lordjim]

Well I received the LX2. It is a beautiful object: light and small. I do like the way it handles. Love the 28mm, the 16:9 format and its RAW capability. I found the dynamic range better than the G7: more forgiving.

However, noise is an issue starting at 100iso (noise reduction is therefore applied in JPEG and has a direct impact on sharpness). The G7's pics appear definitely sharper. I was a bit disappointed on that end. I am sure great image quality can be achieved in RAW (just need to look on pbase to see what can be achieved) but noise or sharpness is an issue in JPEG. Too bad because it could have been the perfect wide angle P&S.

I am not sure what are the differences with its Leica counterpart apart from the price. The specs appear exactely the same.

In short, I miss the G7 so I will get a new one, hoping to have more luck this time.