Continuing from last time, I’m looking back on the past year since switching from K to MFT and then to L. Following on from the pros (what was good) in the previous post, this time I’ll cover the cons (what was disappointing).
【Cons】
1. Camera operability issues
Both the LUMIX S5 and G9proII offer a wealth of physical buttons and dials that can be freely assigned to various functions, providing a lot of room for customization, which is appreciated. However, unfortunately, I feel that their operability falls short of the PENTAX K-3III (personal opinion).
I learned how to operate a DSLR using the PENTAX’s divine Hyper Program(which allows you to seamlessly switch between three modes: program auto, aperture priority, and shutter speed priority), so I feel a tremendous sense of loss at losing this feature. Well, I do still have the K-3III, so I haven’t “lost” it, but still.
Furthermore, regardless of what it can or cannot do functionally, both LUMIX models feel sluggish in their movements. The response when pressing buttons feels dull. In particular, the startup time when turning on the power is noticeably slow.
When I occasionally handle the K-3III, I feel the pleasant weight of the metal in my hand, and the snappy response makes me want to exclaim “Wow!” out loud. The shutter feel and shutter sound are also superior. This is just my personal opinion, so please forgive me for being a bit blunt.
I wish the K-3III’s smooth operation could be conveyed through photos as well.
2. Aspect ratio issue
Since I started using the G9proII a lot, I’ve come to realize that the 4:3 aspect ratio of the MFT mount is difficult to work with. In particular, horizontal compositions tend to look a bit dull (maybe I’m overusing the word “dull” here). I hope you can understand my dissatisfaction with this “dullness.”
In a vertical composition… This photo, taken at the same time in Chinatown, is a typical example, but the 3:4 aspect ratio is definitely easier to stabilize and more convenient.
However, I feel that the tension in the photos tends to be lost because it is easier to take them. It could also be said that it is difficult to create a clear distinction between the horizontal and vertical axes. Perhaps this is because the center of gravity is not as critical as in 2:3 vertical compositions.
Given that there are so many masterpieces and excellent works produced with MFT, if someone says that “dullness” is simply a matter of skill, they would be absolutely right. Yes, I’m sorry. It’s just a complaint about my lack of skill and inability to use it properly. I’ve been shooting with this mount for years, and I feel a little embarrassed that I’ve only just realized this now.
That said, I can’t bring myself to crop out part of the image to make it 3:2, so I’ll need to keep practicing until I find that mental switch to switch to “4:3 mode.”
3. Video Issues
Like the aspect ratio, this isn’t so much a disappointment as it is something I need to overcome. Despite using a LUMIX camera, which is known for its video capabilities, for nearly nine years, I haven’t taken a single video.
It’s not that I have any particular principles; I just find it difficult to shoot video with a single-lens camera and haven’t tried it. I’m just watching the world rapidly move into the video age without doing anything about it. I wonder why.
I enjoy taking still photos of railway scenery, plants, and back streets, but when it comes to videos, I honestly can’t think of anything I want to film. I vaguely feel that my lack of interest in photographing people is holding me back, but since I haven’t even started yet, I’m not even behind the curve.
If things continue like this, both the G9 Pro II and the S5 will be a waste of their potential. However, this issue runs pretty deep, so it might not be easy to resolve.
That’s all for my personal reflections on the past year since switching from the K mount to the MFT/L mount. Thank you for reading all the way to the end.
