Panasonic announces the LUMIX LX100 II with 24-75mm LEICA DC Lens
- 17 MP [4:3 aspect] high-sensitivity multi-aspect four thirds MOS sensor. 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1 multi-aspect modes taken from 21.77 megapixel total count*.
- Leica DC 24-75mm lens [F1.7-2.8], with POWER O.I.S. [Optical Image Stabilizer]
- 24p / 30p 4K video and exclusive 4K PHOTO modes plus focus stacking.
- Electronic Viewfinder EVF [2,764k-dot], and large 3-inch touch sensitive monitor [1240k-dot]
Hosta - flowers in color
While the intent is to create a book, using sepia or color is still a big debate. Here is an image that adds to the dilema.
Notre Dame Basilica in monochrome
This was another hand-held image inside Notre Dame. I used the G9, a camera that has the best image stabilization I have experienced. I had not enlarged a image from the G9 so tried with this one. Using On1's resizing I enlarged this to a 60 inch image at 300 ppi and saw no significand degredation in detail or quality.
Using the new Panasonic Leica 50-200mm
I received the newly released Panasonic Leica 50-200 mm f/2.8-f/4 lens yesterday. I paired it with the G9 for this image. This is the first and only image captured with this lens and I am in love with its quality. A lot more testing to do but I have no doubt it will perform exceptionally well. What is great is that the lens can be coupled with the 1.4x and the 2x teleconverters. Stay tuned for more on this piece of glass.
Panasonic Lumix GH5s - Performance
The GH5s is a 10.28 MP camera optimized for movie recording and low-light performance. Its large individual pixel size allows impressive low-light performance to an extended ISO 204800, along with Dual Native ISO technology at ISO 400 and ISO 2500. The camera is designed for low light video parformance but its stills capapbilities are exceptional. It records 14 bit RAW files that provide ample editing felibility and has a burst shooting rate of 12 fps with single-shot AF, or up to 8 fps with continuous autofocus. What I found trully impresive is the camera's capability to focus really fast in very low light conditions.The camera does not have in-body image stabilization nor does the 8-18mm lens. This image was shot as a three image panorama, hand-held and stitched using Lightroom.
The Milky Way and a Photo Workshop - Acadia NP
On a whim last weekend, we drove up to Acadia for a night. The weather report looked decent so we took a chance. The weather was just perfect. The sunset was nice though a cloudless sky does not make for great images. We waited for darkness as the moon went lower on the horizon and the stars appeared. Not much waiting and we started photographing the Milky Way. It is amazing how many cars just hang around with their headlights on (just perfect for astrophotography). Folks running around without a care - so what if I hit your tripod - I did not mean to - it just happened. We managed to get a few shots and a panorama that I will post later.We decided to come down Cadillac Mountain and head for Boulder Beach to photograph the Milky Way with the boulders in the foreground and Otter Cliffs as an anchor on the right. As we approached the walkway to the spot where you climb down, we met two photographers. Strangely there was a lot of shouting from some people down at Boulder Beach. They were yelling about lights and how they were doing a workshop etc. - extremely rude. The two photographers who were up on the walkway indicated that the workshop leader asked them to leave Boulder Beach as he was conducting a workshop. Excuse me - this is all a National Park and we all have a right to be there. As a workshop leader, these people need to be considerate and courteous to fellow photographers - not be nasty and rude. Based on this feedback Monica and I decided not to go down but shoot from the overlook above. You need a light to get to the overlook so as Monica started toward the overlook the shouting started all over again. She was rudely told to switch off her headlight - now must one walk in the dark and risk a fall? There is a way to accommodate other photographers in situations like this. Give them space and the time to set up, it is a public place after all. There is enough room and the stars are not running away. I did look up to see who it was that was conducting this workshop, I don't know him, but I hope he learns a little photographer's etiquette.Here is an image captured from Park Loop Road:
Nature Photography Day - June 15, 2018
It was June 30, 2014, 4 years ago that I photographed this Hyena in the Okavango region of Botswana. Felt this to be an appropriate image for Nature Photography Day 2018. I still have a few spaces open for my Tanzania Migration Safari in August - message me if you would like to participate.
Lumix GH5, GH-5S and G9 Firmware updates announced - (Availability May 30, 2018)
Panasonic yesterday announced new firmware updates for the Lumix DC-GH5 (Firmware Version 2.3), DC-GH5S (Firmware Version 1.1) and DC-G9 (Firmware Version 1.1) to further enhance their performance and usability. The firmware updates will be downloadable on May 30, 2018The new firmware includes the following upgrades: LUMIX DC-GH5 Firmware Ver.2.3
- Improvement of AF performance
- Improvement of Body I.S.(Image Stabilizer) performance
- mprovement of sound recording performance
- New functions
- Other improvements
LUMIX DC-GH5S Firmware Ver.1.1
- Improvement of AF performance
- Improvement of sound recording performance
- New functions
- Other Improvements
LUMIX DC-G9 Firmware Ver.1.1
- Improvement of AF performance
- Improvement of Body I.S.(Image Stabilizer) performance
- Improvement of High Resolution Mode
- Improvement of sound recording performance
- New functions
- Other improvements
The new firmware programs will be available at LUMIX Customer Support Site on 30 May, 2018. http://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html
Eurasian Spoonbill
Late February is the time when most Eurasian Spoonbils return North to their summer abode. However I was luck to see a few stragglers at the Keoladeo NP. The birds are still in breeding plumage though the colors are not a vibrant.I planning a 2019 photo tour and workshop for Birds, Tigers, Landscapes and of course Agra for the Taj Mahal. Let me know by email or a comment if you are at all interested. 
Anhingas can look good too
Really wanted to see the G9's performance with dynamic range and the ability to capture good shadow detail. I was very pleased with the performance as you will see from these images.
Burrowing Owls of Cape Coral
After a full day of disappointments at Corkscrew and Ding Darling, I got to Cape Coral just as the sun was setting. Made it to three nests, each with just one owl. There were two owls in the in the first one but one scampered down the burrow as I was focusing on the pair.All images were captured hand-held.This last image was captured after the sun had set and you can see the camera's performance at ISO 8000. 
Venice Rookery - The Lumix G9 and the Leica 200 f/2.8 + 1.4X
It was a very cold 40 degree morning at the Venice Rookery, Florida and I wanted to capture birds in flight. Many of the birds were hunkerd down while a few went about their chores, bringing food and nesting material. This image was captured using the Lumix G9 with a preproduction version of the Leica 200mm f/2.8 prime coupled with the 1.4X teleconverter. The preproduction version is great and I am sure the production version will be even better.
Space Coast Wildlife & Birding Festival 2018 - last post
This Roseate was in good light and I liked it as a square crop. The image of the Pin-tail pair was another digiscope image that has been cropped for composition. 
The Luna Moth - albeit not in a natural environment the moth stayed on the gymnasium wall at Eastern Florida State College for hours. Used the 30mm macro on the G9 handheld and I continue to be impressed with the IBIS. The 30mm macro is currently discounted and available for under $300.
Rain is Good
It rained all morning and then we had a little break and the light got better, albeit not like the golden hour, the clouds helped diffuse it enough.The next image of the Black-crowned Night Heron was a daily image. Always in the same mangrove by the road. In all the days there was no action from this bird. 
The Glossy Ibis is another digiscoped capture - wish the light had been better for this one. It would have definitely brought out the iridescence. 
Digiscoping with the Lumix GH5
When your subjects are at a distance, long lenses are good but a spotting scope and camera will get you the better shot. These were all captured using a Lumix GH5 adapted to a Swarovski 85mm optic module with the STX eyepiece and the 30mm TLS APO. The camera was attached via a MFT adapter.
G9 - A fairly severe crop
The warbler was at a distance so the subject was very small in the frame. Normally I would discard most of these images but decided to see what I could recover despite a severe crop. This image is a 17.5% crop from the original RAW file. I have not applied any noise reduction to prevent any softening of the image.
Digiscoping with the GH5 and a Swarovski Scope
The Osprey above was photographed using the Panasonic Lumix GH5 attached to a Swarovski Spotting Scope. The optic was the 85mm optic module with the STX eyepiece and the 30mm TLS APO. The camera was attached via a MFT adapter. The image above has not been cropped. ISO 800 1/320sec.