LUMIX G9 High Resolution Mode, Wah Lau Eh!

Wah Lau Eh. What it means: A Hokkien phase which when translated stands for "My Father Eh", "Wah Lau Eh" is an expression typically used to portray surprise or disappointment in Singapore and Malaysia.

The Panasonic Lumix G9 is the first Lumix model that implement the HIGH RESOLUTION MODE (Hi-Res Mode).

I was intrigued with this mode ever since Panasonic announced it.

When I received the review G9 from Panasonic New Zealand, I spend nearly three days (out of the seven given days) experimenting with this mode.

As a matter of fact, if I would plonk down NZ$4,099 for this camera (with the kit lens), the Hi-Res Mode is a deciding factor.

What is this Hi-Res Mode then?

Basically, when you set the G9 in this mode it will take 8 similar pictures in quick successions, each exposure will have a HALF A PIXEL SHIFT, the camera will then combine the eight shots into a whopping 80MP Hi-Res file.

The Hi-Res image measures 10368×7776 pixels, and will print to 35x26in using the photo-quality 300 ppi print standard.

To get more information on this mode, I suggest you visit this Panasonic UK site.

To capture a successful Hi-Res image there are two rules you must follow...

1) Your G9 must be mounted on a solid tripod.

2) Your subject must not move or having something moving during exposures.

For this experiment I was using the expensive Leica branded kit lens that come with the G9.

At the same time I thought this will be a good chance to compare this NZ$1,290 Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4 ASPH with a Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-35mm f2.8 II which cost $1,195.

The Panasonic, while being shorter in the long end, have the advantage of a brighter, constant F2.8 light gathering ability.

** Thanks to Mity Visionz for loaning his Panasonic 12-35 for comparison.

This was my first shot from the Lumix G-9 in High Resolution Mode.

It was taken from the carpark of the Oversea Terminal, Wellington, New Zealand.

This is also my favourite vista for lens testing and review.

Everything look great, except, if you notice the white streak on the top right corner of the clear blue sky!

What was it?

An UFO?

Lets enlarge it and see what it was!

When I look carefully, there are actually TWO area that needed attention which I circled in red, below.

Turn out that the white streak in the sky was a FLYING SEA GULL, captured  during the EIGHT exposures, the bottom circle were of two men walking, which is acceptable. The streaky sea gull was easily clone out in Photoshop for the Hi-Res print.

This is Moi holding up a 12X18" photo print of my first Hi-Res capture, the print look great with very fine detail which need to be seen to appreciate.

More High Resolution shots with two different lens...

 Shot with the Leica 12-60 at ISO200 F8, 40mm.

Shot with the Lumix 12-35 at  ISO200 F8, 35mm.

Both lenses were shot of the same scene on the same G9 on the same tripod in Hi-Res Mode, I should have checked and make sure the Leica is set at 35mm instead of 40! Apart from that, both captures looked identical. Some observers reckoned the Leica zoom have a slightly better saturation than the Lumix. What you reckon?

As for a not so scientific test of the sharpness of these two popular zooms, I did a shot of this target below, with both lens...

The 100% crops

Can you notice the difference?  I cannot!  Come end of the day, they are just lenses, personally I really like the constant F2.8 of the Lumix. But how often do I really need that 2.8 at 35(70mm eqv)?
The Leica no doubt went to F4 at 35mm but the excellent OIS allow it to shoot at slower speed to compensate. Finally, I think the longer end of the Leica at 60 (120mm eqv) will win me over!

More Hi-Res captures with different lenses...

With Lumix 7-14/4

The shots above was shot with my favourite Lumix 7-14 ultra wide. 

This was shot with the Lumix 12-35. it cannot be a Hi-Res capture because there is a flying sea gull ;)

Famous Last Words...

For me, the new HIGH RESOLUTION MODE of the Lumix G9 is the deciding factor if I intend to buy this exciting camera, I am sure a lot of landscape photographer will do the same.

If you like STUNNING DETAIL in your landscape capture, this new feature in the Lumix G9 is HARD TO BEAT!

My ex colleague got two prints from me, signed by me, no less.. the one I am holding is the Hi-Res print captured with the G9.  The "angry" Tui bird was captured with my Lumix GX85.