I know I have started this post with a bold claim, but bear with me and I think you might start to agree with me. I make no secret of my love of photography and of my DSLR. I really enjoy developing my skills as a photographer and have even recently done my first commercial shoot.
My favourite subject is obviously Baby as she is such a great model, although I also enjoy many other areas of photography, I love the connections and emotions you can capture when you photograph people. Through the photos I share here on my blog, we have so many memories to look back on in years to come.
A couple of weeks ago we were invited to a photography masterclass organised by Panasonic. I was so excited, as a photography event has got to be my perfect event to attend. It was held at the gorgeous National Trust site, Osterley Park in London. I was also thrilled that Katy was going to be there with her girls. Osterley Park is so beautiful, a real gem of countryside perfection.
The event was to showcase the Panasonic Lumix GX80 4K camera, which I was so excited to get my hands on. Panasonic ambassador and professional photographer Emma Drabble was on hand to tell us all about the camera and show us some of her wonderful images taken on the Lumix GX80.
Emma, in her presentation, highlighted her desire to capture a variety of moments in her children’s lives, not simply the happy ones. She has been influenced by the work of ground breaking American photographer Sally Mann, who caused controversy with her candid pictures of her children.
After the theory part of the morning, we got to go outside into the grounds and try the cameras for ourselves with Emma and the Panasonic team on hand to assist us.
Ted comforting a poorly Baby
Panasonic Lumix GX80 highlights
- Shoot, Select and Save with 4K video. Simply press the 4K button, then press and hold shutter and the camera will record the scene in 4k video. Then you can go back and scroll through all the the images that make up that film and choose the precise frame you want to save. You will truly never miss a thing. It will also keep the video too, should you want to use that or select further frames at a later date.
- Compact camera that allows you to add different lens.
- Discreet flip screen that allows you to hold the camera low (away from your face), glance down on your shot while looking at your subject.
- ‘Post focus’ option. Just press the post focus button and take the picture. Then when you review the image you can touch the screen where you want the focus to be and that part will become in focus.
- Completely silent shutter, so helpful when photographing kids or doing portraits.
- Dual image stabilisation (body and lens) for clearer, crisper images.
- Shoot through the view-finder or the screen. You can select a setting that detects where you eye is and offers you the screen if you are looking at that instead of the view-finder.
Just as we were trying out different lens on the camera, Baby got quite poorly and we had to leave a little early. Bless her she had Tonsillitis and a sickness bug.
It was such a great event and I was so impressed with the Lumix GX80. I will share another post in a few weeks when I have got to grips with it a little more. However, if you are on the look out for a new camera then I would advise you to check out the Gx80.
Disclosure: We received our own Lumix camera in return for sharing our thoughts.