Help me decide- To keep Panasonic G1 or to return G1 and buy Canon T2i

[amjain10]

Got a good price($399) on Amazon on G1. However I am having second thoughts on keeping it as I am getting grainy pictures. It might be my fault (I am a beginner). Can someone take a look at the attached picture and tell me if its a camera issue or an issue with the settings.

Here is the image: tinyurlcom/G1-Grainy

Please put a dot between tinyurl and com as the forum wont let me post links

Thanks!

 

[Light Artisan]

Just post the photo here.

 

[usayit]

http://www.tinyurl.com/G1-Grainy

Color Space: sRGB
Compressed Bits Per Pixel: 4
Contrast: Soft
Custom Rendered: Normal process
Date Time Digitized: 2010:12:27 15:27:40
Date Time Original: 2010:12:27 15:27:40
Digital Zoom Ratio: 0
Exif Version: 2.2.1
Exposure Bias Value: -0.66
Exposure Mode: Auto bracket
Exposure Program: Portrait mode
Exposure Time: 1 / 13
Flash: Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
FlashPix Version: 1.0
FNumber: 3.5
Focal Length: 14
Focal Length In 35mm Film: 30
Gain Control: High gain up
ISO Speed Ratings: 400
Light Source: unknown
Max Aperture Value: 3.613281
Metering Mode: Pattern
Pixel X Dimension: 4000
Pixel Y Dimension: 2248
Saturation: Normal
Scene Capture Type: Standard
Sensing Method: One-chip color area sensor
Sharpness: Soft
White Balance: Auto white balance

 

[amjain10]

Thanks usayit. The forum wont let me upload either as I am a new member.

 

[usayit]

First, I see is that the exposure time is 1/13th which seems to contributed to the some of the softness of the photo from hand movement. Was this shot on a tripod?

Second, the camera is set to a creative mode (portrait mode). While these modes make it easier to take a photograph, it often does not leverage the camera's best abilities. In this case its a mode that leverages pretty aggressive noise reduction. I also see a bit of underexposure which often brings out the worst of a sensors ability to render with little light. I personally, prefer to turn off all in-camera processing (as much as allowed) shoot raw and process with noise reduction (etc) in lightroom (or similar). The final outcome is often significantly better.

Either of the top two will attribute to lower image quality regardless of the DSLR of choice.

Third, (this probably more directly answers your question) is the camera itself. I own the E-PL1 and the G1. The micro 4/3rds system has many advantages over the traditional DSLRs from Nikon and Canon but they are still behind in terms of handling low light. In good light, the G1 produces excellent results. Much better than "bridge cameras" of similar size and specifications. It is a relatively new format and improving fast BUT low light performance just simply needs more improvement. More specifically, the G1 is the FIRST m4/3rds camera released from Panasonic thus does not take advantage of the latest improvements from Olympus / Panasonic. Later models much improve (E-PL1 included) in so many different ways..

So weigh in the adv and disadv (lenses for example on the Canon will be larger in size).... and if low light situations ranks very high on your list, you may want to consider the Canon T2i. Don't expect huge improvements as if you jumped into a Nikon D700 or a Canon 5D MII but it will certainly be there especially as you go beyond ISO 800.

You can examine sample photos (even side-by-side comparison) here: Digital Cameras, Digital Camera Reviews - The Imaging Resource!

 

[amjain10]

usayit

Thank you for your time. You are absolutely right about the shutter speed. Its way too slow for a handheld shot. Do you think that the grainyness could be due to slow shutter speed.

Also, I tried the same shot in P(Program) mode and the camera did not give me an option to go faster than 1/13 shutter speed. Perhaps that the low light limitation with this camera that you referred to.

I tried changing the white balnce to daylight with no significant reduction in the grainyness.

Another thing- the background was not uniformly lit. Half of it had some somelight and the other half was in teh shadow of the window pane. I only see grainyness in the part that was under the shadow. Could this be due to uneven background lighting.

Thanks again

Amit

 

[amjain10]

Also, I forgot to mention, even in Program mode(P) with ISO 200, the grainyness was there. So could it just be uneven background light.

 

[usayit]

Thank you for your time. You are absolutely right about the shutter speed. Its way too slow for a handheld shot. Do you think that the grainyness could be due to slow shutter speed.

Grainyness... no. But overall IQ and how the mind perceives a quality picture.. yes.

Also, I tried the same shot in P(Program) mode and the camera did not give me an option to go faster than 1/13 shutter speed. Perhaps that the low light limitation with this camera that you referred to.

Its not about what mode (or even camera)... Its about exposure which is 100% the photographer. The majority of the photo is underexposed. Any DSLR's sensor performs least in the shadows. You need to take control of the camera and expose to the right. As the light goes down, the margin of error becomes less. Dynamic range is less. Noise becomes more apparent in the darker shadows etc. A "better" camera will just buy you more margin of error.... but in the end, you'll need to learn how to "work" the camera.

After proper exposure, comes proper post process.... a whole topic all together.

I tried changing the white balnce to daylight with no significant reduction in the grainyness.

As mentioned prior, some cameras will perform better at higher ISOs. But the one thing common across all cameras is the photographer using it. Focus on proper exposure. This is important at any ISO setting. Perhaps some practice in proper light will help you understand how to shoot in low light. You are not just taking a photo... photography is essentially capturing light.

This is a G1 performing in very very difficult lighting conditions at ISO 640.

This is the G1 performing at well above what I would shoot at ISO 1600 but you get the idea.... even at a horribly high ISO 1600 a proper exposure can leverage the max a sensor can deliver.

btw... don't cross post... it simply just annoy people (as you probably figured out)

 

[amjain10]

Thank you for the detailed reply. I appreciate it.

Just need one more clarification:

You said - The majority of the photo is underexposed. Any DSLR's sensor performs least in the shadows. You need to take control of the camera and expose to the right

Can you clarify- "expose to the right". How to do it?