Hi all
Well, I have had my GH2 + 14-140mm now for two days! yesterday was dull, today very bright and sunny. My first impressions (subject to radical reworking at a later date): When I opened the box I was surprised by the size and weight of the 14-140mm. It is much heavier than I expected and looks almost 'oversized' on the GH2 body. A nice fat lens for a slim camera. This combo is still lighter than the K5 + 18-135mm but perhaps in use the difference doesn't feel that much.
The EVF, well Amin was right - it *is* better than the one on the G1 but they are not poles apart. It does seem clearer and less grainy though and a little larger. I honestly do not understand those who say the EVF is *better* than a good OVF or that the view from the GH2 EVF is as good as an OVF. I think it all depends on the lighting, contrast levels etc. I find it harder to view through the EVF in bright sunlight and the unnatural 'look' draws me in less.
However, it doesn't 'wobble' as much when the view is magnified - much steadier than the one on the G1's. Manual focusing legacy lenses is therefore a pleasure - the magnified view providing much better accuracy than the green hexagon in the OVF, I think. On the other hand I have seen what Ashwin and Jono have done recently with manual focus lenses on their K5s!
Highlight recovery is harder than on the K5, you need to be more careful not to blow them. Shadows seem fairly amenable to being boosted, actually I was pleasantly surprised by this.
The 14-140mm optical quality? Well, we all know that Panasonic get up to software 'tricks' but then we have the option in Lightroom to apply lens corrections to Pentax lenses too. I was surprised to see yesterday some quite severe CA at the extremes when shooting a dark object against a bright background or vice versa, after boosting the shadows? I thought the 'software' was supposed to take care of that? On the other hand, I have seen something similar on the 18-135mm.
Noise? Well,certainly at base ISO, nothing to worry about. K5 will excel at higher ISOs no doubt but we don't know how much Pentax are 'cheating' with their RAW NR. Probably not cheating any more than Panasonic are with their lens corrections.
Today, however, in bright sunlight, I think it excelled. Overall IQ? Well, this is so subjective but I would say they appear to be much sharper than those from the K5. I don't know why. The images also seem to have a more 'clinical' look, not sure how to explain it.
Overall? I think I prefer the K5 body but the GH2 isn't bad. I prefer the dynamic range and overall 'look' to the K5 images but prefer the GH2 sharpness.
I was thinking maybe I don't need the 14-140, as the beauty of these cameras is the small feel and light weight. I may sell the lens but I will keep the GH2 for sure. On the other hand that lens does seem to be a great walkabout ... !!
I don't think that helps anybody and my opinion subject to change.
Lee
P.S. Battery life also seems short. I don't know if that's because I am using the LCD more, the IS in the lens drawing power or because I hven't done enough recharges yet.