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DrP the focal length remains unchanged.
The field of view for a given focal length is different between 4/3, DX and FX (35mm) format cameras.
For a given field of view (NOT focal length) and aperture, a bigger sensor will give you a shallower D.O.F. (as you can use a longer focal length for the same FOV).
but depth of field is achieved by the lens aperture, which at f1.7 for the 20mm pancake lens, is a pretty narrow depth I've found....
Only canon is 1.6, typical apsc is 1.5. DOF is based on focal length, focus distance and aperture.
OK, take your 20mm f1.7 as an example. At 5' at f1.7 the DOF is .96'
A 28mm (42mm equiv) is the closest lens to compare on apsc. That needs an aperture of f2.5 to get the same depth of field with the same field of view and focus distance.
If you set that same 28mm to f1.7 your 20mm would need to be at f1 to match its depth of field.
You might not care of course. Shallow DOF is a pain in the arse in may ways, but it is quite a significant difference.
[url= http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html ]DOF calculator for your amusement[/url]
If you go bridge I would definately look at the FZ Panasonics, the FZ45 (£240 new on eBay) seems to be the best and a used FZ18 (about £120ish on eBay).
I have been through all this in the last week or so. I needed a zoom for a recently aquired Canon 350D and it was costing as much as the FZ's. In the end I bought a used 28-300 Tamron lens but like bikes its all a compromise! I know it wont be as good as a good one but I am hoping it will be better than the pics from an FZ and I wont be good enough to notice the differnce.
The G9 offerred earlier is a great camera.
Stevie,
I am a novice with a camera.
I had a canon D500 SLR (picked as it did HD filming) with a Sigma lens plus the kit lens. Was a right pain to lug around on days out - but took some cracking pictures.
I also had a Panasonic GF1 with the 20mm pancake lens and the 14-45 zoom lens.
I sold the GF1 deciding having to fairly pricy cameras was OTT - the second I sold the GF1 I regretted it, so - sold the Canon and lens and bought for the 2nd time the GF1 - best decision going - take it everywhere - does better HD filming than the canon - the 20mm lens gives remarkable shots (better than the zoom lens I find) easy to use menus - am using more of this camera than I ever managed with the canon's menu's. can't recommend highly enough, copes fine with action shots - got some great snaps jumping at chicksands.
Also have Panasonic Lumix TZ8 - this is a really cracking compact at around £200 - previously had canon IXUS 95 which is similarly priced.
The panasonic stuff is really good.
Friend has Sony NEX5 - seems very similar to GF1 - but fiddly menus to navigate.
Hope this helps.
Have a look around this guys web site he talks more common sense than most.Also dont get to caught up in the technical side of cameras most of the modern stuff take gr8 photos.Being able to see a gr8 shot is far more important.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/
Ken Rockwell makes a living by talking outrageous cock that then gets flamed in every forum in the world, which drives traffic to his site. It's a brilliant strategy, a bit like the Clarkson of the camera world.
Google nikon's village idiot and see who's at no. 1 🙂
[url= http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/3656290/art/panasonic/lumix-dmc-fz38-digital-ca.html ]this is a good deal[/url]
RE depth of field, I imagine you are right....
You might not care of course.
You are also correct here too.... 😉
DrP
The sensors are smaller which makes the depth of field deeper, which in many ways is an advantage but if you want to isolate a subject and put everything else out of focus you have less felxibility.
The main advantage of the 4/3 system I think is the small size of lenses, particularly zoom ones. I've got the 40-150mm zoom which is equivalent to 80-300mm, and it's significantly smaller than most of the Canon/Nikon standard kit lenses I see.
That's one reason I bought Oly - small and light.
I have just bought a Panasonic FZ-38 and would heartily recommend it. Looked around at lots of bridge cameras and fell on this one. Full auto is awesome and then can start fddling with different settings in turn. Only problem I have is that it felt a bit plasticky to start with but features available have softened me to that.
If you have the funds though that Sony NEX5 is a very impressive piece of kit, friend of mine brought one to a party the other week. He put it in panorama mode, held down the shutter and spun about 270 degrees in the living room, almost instantly the thing put up a panorama shot stiched together perfectly.
I'd recommend a bridge camera right now. Say a Canon G11/10 off ebay... £200 maybe?
Logic is that if you want to learn, buy something that will let you learn. Once you know how much you enjoy it, sell the bridge and commit to an SLR.
If you buy an SLR you'll then need extra lenses, filters, tripods, batteries... and note that many of these will be specific to the brand you choose, so you'll be stuck with a Nikon/Canon forever.
The key to taking good photos is understanding composition, light and the mechanics of shutter speed/aperture/ISO/etc. You can learn that from a bridge just fine!
Thanks again for all the input guys, very much appreciated.
Its a bridge camera i will be buying but just need to get to a decent camera shop to see which one suits me...don't think its going to be anytime soon due to this effing snow! 🙁
Liking my G1 here over my Nikon D300 but also still like my LX3 for pure pocketability.
I suppose the G2 is better than the G1.
Olympus E-pl1 body at SRS for 249
[url= http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/4652/Olympus-E-PL1-Black-Digital-Camera-Body.html?referrer=froogle&utm_source=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=pid4652 ]E-pl1 body @ SRS[/url]
Personally I think this is a cracking deal, this has in-body stabilisation and will be good for a variety of lenses (get an adapter off ebay). Its small and light, quality is decent for the money.
If you go the DSLR route for 400 quid you might consider a Pentax K-x or K-r which will give a lot of more expensive cameras a serious run for their money. Pentax make very good prime lenses.
Heres a link thats well worth a read and should upset a few of the muppets with a gear fixation
http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/recommended-cameras/