As you know the GX8 will feature a new “Post Focus” tech which will be added via future firmware upgrade. Panasonic says that “By combining high-speed, high-precision DFD (Depth From Defocus) auto focus technology and the 4K Photo burst images in 4K resolution are shot at 30 fps while shifting the lens to set focus on approx. 501 areas (*TBC).“.
I wondered if that feature is really something useful or just a gimmick nobody will ever use. Diyphotography says the Post Focus feature is “impracticable” because:
1) It becomes impractical to use for much else besides still life or landscape photography. The types of photos where this technology could be really handy, such as child photography, action/sports, macro photography of insects, etc., all happen in fractions of seconds. Sure, you can still use the feature and settle for a change in perspective for each recorded point of focus, but why not just use AI Servo and shoot in burst mode?
2) If I’m shooting still life or landscape photography, I’ll just take my time to select the damn focus point I want the first time around. Besides, how many of us can hold a camera truly still for a 2-second exposure?
I guess we have to try this for real to see if it’s really something meaningful to use.
Some more GX8 tests and image samples:
Panasonic GX8: An Evolving Review by Jacob James.
Image samples by Lumix Germany.
Image samples by Reality Scanner.
Preorders:
Black GX8 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Panasonic. In Eu at WexUK.
Silver GX8 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Panasonic. In Eu at WexUK.
FZ300 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Panasonic.
43 Responses
I only see benefits for focusstacking incamera.
Combining 30 frames per second in a single picture with a huge depth of field.
Ideal for extreme macro photography.
+1 It would be great for Focus Stacking. The only camera that implement internal focus stacking is the Olympus TG-3.
Precisely this.
Anyone who can’t see the utility of the Lytro or this feature has never shot macro at anything higher than 0.25x magnification before.
Or implement AF for manual lenses…
“I guess we have to try this for real to see if it’s really something meaningful to use.”
Even more obscure features often find broader use.
It is quite ironic that the criticism of new features not only pointless (nobody tried yet that in real life) but also it adds the negative connotation to the reviews.
That suspicion about new feature matches mine. My idea is following: Post focus is distinguishable from simple burst mode by its working mechanism. In burst mode, AF tracking is accompanying(tracking burst) to burst shot or AF should simply off for attain high FPS. On the other hand, post focus works with gradual focus shift with video level of FPS(30 frames per second). Maybe this is not what it supposed to be(Lytro-like light field camera), but still can be helpful option for creative shooters whether sports action or still life. We would have one more tool for expression. It’s not useless garbage IMHO.
Well, isn’t it the whole point to have an alternative to servo? Tbh I found DFD tracking not that impressive and this thing might be more reliable to get at least one sharp frame vs DFD.
Just because setting the focus point for servo tracking might also take precious fractions of second?
3) Landscape at 4K?
This useless discussion has been going on since the first ELV, touch screen, flip screen, IBIS, Live View, ….
…if not since autofocus, auto exposure, flexible roll films, dry plates… “If I’m shooting still life or landscape photography, I’ll just sensitize my own damn plate with mercury fumes!”
+1
Nothing wrong with the feature, but isn’t the problem the execution at this time? 4K is rather low resolution.
Its kind of funny that he’s already written off the feature without actually using the camera. I guess you could call that a pre-hands-on review?
Genius.
Not really.
6 fps burst mode is a whole lot different than 30 fps, now isn’t it? That guy is clueless.
One great use will be for stacked macro photos. Definitely for product shots. Maybe architectural? I’ll need a faster computer if I’m stacking 60 frames, but the lower resolution won’t be as big a deal, could actually be helpful.
“Focus bracketing” is not an uncommon technique in photography – Done manually. Yes, you get variation between the shots, but when your choice is to miss the shot completely, that’s acceptable.
Auto-focus-bracketing, if it could be done at a rate far in excess of the normal photo FPS will make it much more useful.
On a tripod for macro shots, I think this new feature will be useful for bracketing as you say. I see limited use for it other than that, but a “nice to have” I suppose. I’d rather they work on what Olympus does with increasing resolution by taking multiple exposures. Not sure how their IBIS is aside from Olympus, though one preview I read was not impressed with the new Pana IBIS compared to Oly IBIS.
Can somebody clear up this hybrid stabilization on the GX8? I am reading 4 axis IBIS and 2 axis lens = 6 axis, but I don’t understand how the GX8 4 axis IBIS is any different than the GX7 2 axis IBIS.
GX7 IBIS: Rotate around left/right and up/down axis.
GX8 IBIS: Bodily move left/right and up/down + GX7 IBIS.
If you prefer:
GX7: X/Y axis rotate.
GX8: X/Y axis rotate and translate.
For completeness:
EM-5: X/Y axis rotate and translate. Z axis rotate.
Thanks. There’s a nice gif on the Panasonic product page that animates it all. 4 axis should be a nice improvement with oly lenses.
Yes, I do think it’s a useless gimmick Unless you want to create “live pictures” like lytro and lytro does that better (still not much there IMHO).
I think it’s nice that Panasonic has pushed the tech envelope in many areas but adding useless photography ginmicks is distracting to photography and just adds unnecessary complexity.
Already comparing to Lytro? So you have used it and know how it works.
No 30p (NTSC) for EU, no bay
If you can separate out all the shots in a focus series, it would be a slick way to do quick macro focus stack sets (albeit at limited resolution). As long as a feature like this doesn’t get in the way, who care’s if it’s of limited use?
One use would be if you see a celebrity running away and you give chase. So you run after said celebrity with your camera aimed at him/her firing away.
Just like VLOG keep holding your breath for the so called firmware updates. Don’t believe the hype!!!
I’m waiting for the peaking update for my GH3. Almost out of O2…
Panasonic is starting to use so called firmware updates to market their cameras without delivering anything to their customers
Yep. For consistent firmware improvement, Fujifilm does care about its customers. They introduced better autofocus method for X-T1 recently. Panasonic? Meh… firmware is just another tool used by their enterprise greed.
Y’mean like how Olympus released firmware only for photogs that shoot fish underwater? Boy, they sure do care about their customers! Passing on the masses and taking care of the fish photogs!
Sorry, what does this have to do with Panasonic or Fuji?
Which reminds me…I didn’t see focus peaking mentioned in the specs. Did anyone?
CamerastoreTV review said its there.
Wait, he must have a time machine. “Impractical”? -huh…
The Internet is sure full of knuckleheads.
This full size shot at ISO5000 shows promise:
http://img01.quesabesde.com/media/img/noti/0089/p1000144.jpg
The translated review: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quesabesde.com%2Fnoticias%2Fpanasonic-gx8-lumix-analisis-muestras_13450%3Futm_source%3Dquesabesde%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Drss&edit-text=
I agree with the diyphotography aggravations, but would add that Panasonic creating a feature that can only be used with specific Panasonic lenses is not a good thing. µ4/3 should not be fighting itself like that. As such a small system, the companies that support it shouldn’t be trying to invalidate each other’s lenses.
I agree, but thing this is something to do with the lens electronic design. Some motor, sensor, redout could have been tweaked to alow this to pe practical and have practical r
practical/usable results.
So, focus stacking finaly comes.
Olympus tg3 has it for macro. I can see them implementing more of the multi shot stacking features in the future.
This idea through video and dfd is great. Resolution is what it is and does ibis work in 4k?
since most profesional work requires more than 8MP OlY will have an edge in product photography if the implement fast.
I wonder how will it be implemented. Stacked and aligned in camera? One new raw file alowing refocus? Exporable to a live picture like Lytro?
Anyway this is great and my be concidered an introducion of future.
by 2020 Pana is promissing 8k video and 33MP stils. If done then it will be highly useful in product photography, portraits, weddings, street…
And it will be silent.
Just point and take a one second video.
Richard Wong just updated his review, now it has pics to show shutter shock. Don’t understand why Pany left out EFCS. http://photobyrichard.com/reviewbyrichard/panasonic-lumix-gx8-review/
I fear this may be of limited use in its first implementation (as oly’s high res mode on the em5mkII not being handheld yet), but l’m open to be surprised. I doubt they would mention this feature if they didn’t have some interesting results in the lab.
overall, I find it amazing that in the span of just a few years mirrorless, and m43 in particular, are bringing so many totally new features to photography. Real innovation – perhaps not all of it equally useful, but overall, the mirrorless camera of say 2018 compared to 2008 will be another beast altogether, and I think we as users will have gained a lot in the process.
And it will be more exciting than just a dslr upgrade
The point is not just focus stacking… But if the gx8 will ne able to create a depth map. This would open things like 3d or maybe virtual dof control.
I’m torn by this camera. It offers most of the bulk of my GH3, and the GH4, but the ergo’s aren’t likely to be nearly as good. The grip on the GH bodies fits my hands perfectly. OTOH, I’ve come to love the pivoting finder on my GX7.
I think I personally would have been happier something closer to the GX7 in size and build, or else with a full size grip an more dedicated controls like the GH (or at least g7) bodies. For my needs I don’t need rugged, magnesium construction and weather sealing. Light weight is more important to my aging, arthritic body.
I’ll still check it out once it’s available, though.