5,000 mile walk: 5DII users views of the GH2 for landscape, or something else?

[Quintin Lake]

I'm planning to walk 5,000 miles with full photo gear around the coast of the UK next year which will take about a year and wanted some advice. I'll be primarily shooting landscapes for publication and for gallery prints to size 60x90cm. My technique favours 16, 50 and 200mm focal lengths. I prefer the framing capability of a zoom over absolutes image quality of a prime. 

OPTION ONE

5D2
17-40mm
70-200mm f4 IS L
=2KG

OPTION TWO

GH2

14-140mm
7-14mm
+1.15KG

I own the Canon Setup which I use daily and am very happy withe the quality. I've tried the Panasonic setup in a store and like the ergonomics and reduction of weight and size that would be a big advantage but I just can't figure out if I'd miss et IQ of the Canon, I've downloaded RAW test images but am still unsure. To help me decide I'd be very interested to hear 5DII users views of the GH2. Whichever option I chose I plan or carrying Gitzo 531 (.4KG big table tripod 56cm height w/o centre column) and Macbook air 11" for Lightroom RAW processing.

Which of the options above would you choose and why?
Are there any other lightweight systems that offer 16-200 mm range that i should consider?

Cheers
Quintin

[lowep]

so many new compact muscle cameras will come out between now and next year that it may be better to wait a while before you decide

[stever]

i assume the GH2 alternative is the result of Panasonic offering you a big money sponsorship

in addition to the resolution and format (for the print size you're contemplating) issues, the Panny lenses are slower and GH2 noise worse - not a good combination in the English climate

the 70-100 f4 is great.  i wish there were a better choice than the 17-40, but it's my travel lens also.  hate to add to your burden, but the 50 1.4 doesn't weigh much (or even the lighter, disposable 1..

i think it will be a year, or more likely two before the new mirrorless cameras demonstrate their quality and reliability, get menus and deficiencies rectified, and have quality lenses available that will satisfy all but a few professionals as a primary system

[Chairman Bill]

For a saving of 500g? I'd stick with the Canon.

[Quintin Lake]

Thanks for your replies

@ lowep agree with you but I want to decide by march this year to get used to carrying / using on training walks

@  stever , I wish about the sponsorship! Though now you mention it I might have a punt at contacting them when I get my website Castwalk running. GH2 because of the lens choice especially on the wide end. Very true re: slower lens and noise. 50 1.8 might make it in there in case of breakage. My thoughts are the same regarding your timeframe for full maturity for mirrorless i'm loathed to spend on anything which won't give me at least 3 years of service.

@ Bill, its nearly a 1Kg difference (double the weight)

Anyone convinced GH2 is the way to go?

[Chairman Bill]

@ Bill, its nearly a 1Kg difference (double the weight)

Yeah, my misreading. I'd still take the Canon. Strip the weight from elsewhere.

[Quintin Lake]

and a lighter tent is cheaper than a new camera!

[lowep]

CanonG1X

FujifilmXPro1

[theguywitha645d]

Not a 5D user, but someone who has walk 1,200km with two medium-format cameras (three times), I would go first for the quality you want--you can save weight other ways. I did decide not to carry a tripod and underwear can last twice as long before a wash if you turn them inside out.

The most important thing is to be able to carry it in a way that will be convenient for use. The second most important thing and not far behind in importance is your pack does not take all your energy to actually do work. Really work on pairing down your gear. I would not put anything in my bag I "might" use or even use occasionally. I find my creativity can easily substitute for a missing focal length or piece of gear.

Get the best boots you can afford. I really like some Scarpa models. Oddly enough, paved roadways are the hardest on your legs and feet.

[theguywitha645d]

A weather sealed system would be great for this project.

[Chairman Bill]

Forget boots - comfy trail shoes. Lighter, easier on your feet. What rucksack? Something from Granite Gear or Golite will be lighter than something from Lowe Alpine or Berghaus. My Crux AK 47 is a great pack for dragging up mountains, but coastal paths don't need that sort of ruggedness. You can continue to cut the weight of gear & easily lose that extra kilo.

[theguywitha645d]

Forget boots - comfy trail shoes. Lighter, easier on your feet.

Not with my experience. Trail shoes where short lived and caused damage to my feet.

[uaiomex]

Up to a kilogram heavier for the entire rig I would not mind carrying a FF system. But only you know best.

As indicated by other fellows, new cameras are popping everyday. One better than the former.
Check this out:
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/x/fujifilm_x_pro1/sample_images/img/index/ff_x_pro1_006.JPG
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/x/fujifilm_x_pro1/sample_images/
Eduardo

Yeah, my misreading. I'd still take the Canon. Strip the weight from elsewhere.

[Quintin Lake]

i agree  I'll be using a zpacks exo pack, innov8 terroc shoes (5 or 6 pairs). I use crux in the mountains too - great packs, agree overkill for the coast. I'll be trying chest carry if i go for the 5d.

[uaiomex]

Or add an extra 1k miles to the journey if you carry only a G1X 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAQG1Q2d5pQ&feature=related

Eduardo

i agree  I'll be using a zpacks exo pack, innov8 terroc shoes (5 or 6 pairs). I use crux in the mountains too - great packs, agree overkill for the coast. I'll be trying chest carry if i go for the 5d.

[Wayne Fox]

I'll be primarily shooting landscapes .... and for gallery prints to size 60x90cm.

I think you might get away with that using the GH2 on some images (not any real latitude for cropping) , but for that large I think the canon images would be visually superior. Guess it depends on how important the large stuff is and how good you want it to be.

[Jeremy Roussak]

Forget boots - comfy trail shoes. Lighter, easier on your feet. What rucksack? Something from Granite Gear or Golite will be lighter than something from Lowe Alpine or Berghaus. My Crux AK 47 is a great pack for dragging up mountains, but coastal paths don't need that sort of ruggedness. You can continue to cut the weight of gear & easily lose that extra kilo.

And you never know when an AK47 might come in handy, either.

Jeremy

[Paulo Bizarro]

I would take the 5D, no doubts there. The GH2 might work as well, but with the 5D it is easier to use filters, the whole thing makes more "sense" than a 4/3 camera.

Whichever camera you decide on, also consider a backup? Even though if the camera breaks, it should be easy enough to find a replacement withn a reasonable time frame, given that there are plenty of photo stores in th UK.

[Fine_Art]

Get the custom shoe insoles. I tried the Dr Scholl's custom fit in the store with very positive results. My boots are far more comfortable. My expectations were to return a marketing ploy product. It really works.

[theguywitha645d]

Get the custom shoe insoles.

+1