[Closed] Panasonic GF1 thoughts?

You can get an external view finder, I think (for a price). I have a G1, which is similar, but has a vf, and I really like it for times when I can't be arsed to take my big DSLR with me.

[url= http://www.bythom.com/panasonic_GF1_review.htm ]http://www.bythom.com/panasonic_GF1_review.htm[/url]

Assuming the last thing I did was set some camera setting with the menus, it'll take 24 button presses to get to FORMAT.

on my D300 it's 2 buttons pressed at once, twice with release in between...

Loads of discussion on [url= http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=176358 ]talk photography[/url]

Ta.

Yeah I've been on talk photography which is very useful, but I seem to remember seeing a couple of people on here had them and I was wondering about taking it out biking etc

I've read that the external view finder isn't all that great.

I think they are fantastic wee cameras. I was toying with getting one myself for when the 5Ds are too much like effort. Only thing stopping me is price... and the thoughts that there may be some interesting things about to crop up that I can wait for (large sensor compacts/Canon and Nikon bringing some alternatives to the m4/3 type camera arena... though possibly with a different sensor size), new version of the Lumix LX3 expected this year etc.

If you like the GF1 then go for it. Take a look at the Olympus Pen-2 which should be on the shelves very soon too as an alternative. It's basically the original PEN sorted a bit and may be a little better than the Panasonic (the GF1 gave Olympus a bit of a kicking, the PEN-2 is a response to that)

I've got a Panasonic G1, which is just a little bigger than the GF1. I really like it a lot. I have the 20mm lens and that makes it a very compact camera, with a lovely viewfinder and good controls. It's not a pro camera, but there is no shutter delay like a compact camera so a single action shot is fine. And it's tiny so you can slip it into your camelback and not feel it. The GF1 is even smaller, so I think it would be great. I understand that the GF1 performance is similar to my G1.

Ok thanks, will take a look at the PEN-2 - seen the PEN-1 compared to the GF1 in a few reviews.

manonsoul - any example pics? 🙂

I have the GF1 with the 20mm lens.
I have this as a more portable option on rides to my Canon DSLR.

To date, the DSLR hasn't been used since getting the GF1 - its that good.

Took some action shots - jumping off a ladder drop - last weekend, in poor light - results are superb - on the "idiot mode/Ai" as well.

The lack of view finder I agree with, would be better with one, but thats not the "style" of a bridging camera. Also the 20mm lens means you have no zoom so its back to walking backwards/forwards to capture your shot - which has a sense of fun in itself.

For the actual quality of pictures and its HD filming it seems outstanding.

Thanks.

Took some action shots - jumping off a ladder drop - last weekend, in poor light - results are superb - on the "idiot mode/Ai" as well.

Lemme see please! 🙂

love my GF1, went from a D80 to the GF1 and havent really missed the D80.
Was out with the kids sledging yesterday and was using the GF1 to shoot video of them. Something i wouldnt have been able to do with the D80.

Here's a link to my flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shoei/sets/72157622862540530/

plus the 365 im doing, all bar one so far are GF1 pics.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shoei/sets/72157623113006796/

grum -Let me have an email address and will send over - if anyone else can post pictures - welcome to, don't use Flickr, etc.

Nice pics - love this one

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Weirdly enough I'm in Lancaster too. I recognize the place with the clock - near Burton-in-Kendal?

JCapel - thanks. It's grum@sourpuss.info

It's basically the original PEN sorted a bit

it's a modern camera with retro styling

Weirdly enough I'm in Lancaster too. I recognize the place with the clock - near Burton-in-Kendal?

yep, tis our offices.

Finding that im being more adventurous with the GF1 in taking pics, plus dont feel as "in your face" when pointing it at street performers or using it at parties.

I never used the optical viewfinder on my cameras and don't miss it at all on my GX200.

Oh and you can get much cheaper cameras with full (if awkward) manual control.

Yeah I can't say I ever use it on my Ixus

shoei - are you just using the 20mm pancake?

I'm afraid I don't have any pics online grum, I don't use flickr or anything. I'll send you an email with a few this evening if I can.

Thanks manonsoul that would be good - email in profile

btw this is the pic JCapel sent me
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Oh and you can get much cheaper cameras with full (if awkward) manual control.

Not at that size camera with a big sensor.

I have just got the 20mm lens and love it!! Here is an example - not very scenic 🙂
[img] [/img]
[url= http://www.autresdirections.co.uk/pblog/ ]http://www.autresdirections.co.uk/pblog/[/url]

are you just using the 20mm pancake?

yep, only got the 20mm lens. may get the 14-45 or thr 40-200 at some point. as it now, just enjoying taking pics again.

I have played with one but overall I think it is not quite there yet. I am comparing them to a LX3 and a Nikon D40 and can't see real benefits.

I do fail to see the point of picking it over a good compact or a small entry level DSLR. I mean why else would you be getting a DSLR if not for the fact that allows the flexibility of lenses. The moment you need a different focal length than the 20mm - and believe me you will need it - you've lost any benefit of portability compared to a small normal DSLR. On top of that you've lost image quality (especially when it comes to noise at higher ISOs), you get higher shutter lags, no viewfinder, very limited/expensive selection of lenses and accesspries and all that while paying twice as much as a decent low end DSLR.

Do they look cool? Absolutely, but I wouldn't pick one when I can have an LX3 and a D3000 for the same amount I would pay for the GF1 or the PEN alone.

The price is certainly something that puts me off. I saw some comparison pics though and even with a bigger lens its a reasonable amount smaller than an SLR.
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The LX3 looks good though.

I've just bought the LX3 and its pretty pocketable. Low light performance is good. Lots of manual control but i've not played with it enough yet

I do fail to see the point of picking it over a good compact or a small entry level DSLR.

Because it's more niche? The equivalent of a SS full suss? 😛

I do fail to see the point of picking it over a good compact or a small entry level DSLR

1. Bigger sensor than any compact
2. More compact than any DSLR (even with the bigger lenses)

TBH, I would not buy one as my only camera, but it is a great alternative for when you don't have the energy to carry a DSLR.

fwiw - the Pen EF1 has an improved 4thirds sensor and performs well at higher iso than earlier 4thirds cameras. if you can live without a zoom and your pockets are deep enough - quite simply put the Pen EF1 or Pana GF1 are superior "compact" cameras.

some playing around snaps, nowt special, its a bloody good camera! (still getting my head around it as I come from a 35mm old russian camera obsession!)

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(if you want to see any as high res just say, converted using iPhoto)

a couple more

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its a cracking bit of kit!

Saw these over at TP - I think they look great. I'd like to see some hi res versions.

Hi Res, try this.

First image is the full image obviously resized.

[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4203167285_0b32668259_o.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4203167285_0b32668259_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

2nd is a 100% crop of the skyline.

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At ISO 100 I can't tell the difference between my DSLR and the GF1.

nice Mr Pipps, what are your thoughts of this little beauty then, I'm very impressed by it!

nice Mr Pipps, what are your thoughts of this little beauty then, I'm very impressed by it!

I could use if for some Pro work, and tbh no one would know the difference with the finished picture.

Pretty impressive - might be getting a s/h one off TP - fingers crossed! 🙂

thats a tidy deal with all those lenses! (I'm still working on the budget to see if I can get one or two of the zooms, that said if your after the lot I'll leave alone!)

All sold to other people now 🙁

Gonna get one anyway on my credit card I think 🙂

if your gonna buy one, try Mathers of Bolton. Got mine from there, brilliant people to deal with.

Thanks yeah I'm gonna get it from there I reckon - cheapest price and 3 year warranty apparently if you buy in store - they're not too far from me.

Well I only went and did it! 🙂

Been up in Patterdale this weekend but forgot to take a bloody memory card. 😡

So here's a couple of quick snaps in crappy light in the house. Very chuffed so far, seems like exactly what I was after.

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So how does everybody find the 20mm as an all around lense? Can it actually manage to be kept on the camera for a days worth of shooting or you longing for a bit more / less zoom?

Or has everybody opted for the 14-45 zoom which is a lot more versatile but not even close to pocketable? 🙂

I guess I am not really able to comment yet - it's my first 'proper' camera and I've not used it much yet, but I can't see myself 'needing' another lens any time soon.

Here's another pic.
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So is that the 20mm one?

but I can't see myself 'needing' another lens any time soon.

I have an 18-200mm on my D300 and am continually frustrated by its lack of range at both ends 🙂

10-24 Tamron / Nikon if you have the money and a fixed 400mm also if you have the money are your best friends.

I am just asking cause a friend wants a portable but flexible camera and was thinking if he has to get the 14-45 then it is not all that great as it is still too bulky. But if you can get by with the 20mm for all day shooting then that is a whole different story.

I think I will just experiment, set my Nikon at 27mm and keep it there for the whole day, see how I get along.

How about the zoom lens that comes with the PEN 1

http://www.photozone.de/olympus--four-thirds-lens-tests/452-oly_m1442_3556

A lot flatter when closed than the other zooms.

Is there a disadvantage to using that with the Panasonic? I guess you don't get image stabilisation.

Joe

So is that the 20mm one?

Yup. That was a jpeg straight out of the camera - just been playing with the RAW files in lightroom and the look pretty amazing imo.

I have an 18-200mm on my D300 and am continually frustrated by its lack of range at both ends

Is that a problem with the lens or the user? 😛

Is that a problem with the lens or the user?

I've never asked the lens(e) for its opinion.

I have three Panasonic lenses, the 14-45, 45-200 and the 20, and right now I am really enjoying just using the 20. This was taken when it was almost dark:

[img] [/img]

I am just asking cause a friend wants a portable but flexible camera and was thinking if he has to get the 14-45 then it is not all that great as it is still too bulky. But if you can get by with the 20mm for all day shooting then that is a whole different story.

I think I will just experiment, set my Nikon at 27mm and keep it there for the whole day, see how I get along.

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/why-40mm.html

I have been checking out the pictures coming out of the GF-1s of the world and it looks like a very capable camera. I just find the 20mm (40mm equivalent) a bit unconventional. A 17 or a 25 wouldn't have scared me all that much.

Edit: Thanks for the link! I guess it is more normal than I thought and you just have to work with it. Hm my friend is up for dillemas as he is between the GF1 and the 20mm and an LX3

and a fixed 400mm also if you have the money are your best friend

5thElefant he has a D300 which is a 1.5 crop camera. and if a 200mm (ie 300mm) is not enough the next logical step is a 400mm (600mm) 🙂

Ah, I thought we were on GF1s.

Blame simonfbarnes he sidetracked us with his not quite enough 18-200 lens :p

is not enough the next logical step is a 400mm (600mm)

except I'd want all the intervening focal lengths too...

Blame simonfbarnes he sidetracked us with his not quite enough 18-200 lens :p

except the 400 cropped up before I mentioned my lens ?

Nop the 400 cropped up right after you mentioned your lense 😉

And there is no need for the rest of the steps you can crop from a 200 you can take a few steps back from a 400.

taken with the 20mm...

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(Tate Gallery, St Ives)

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(Maximillian Cervantes III, second most photographed seagull in St Ives a few days ago.)

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(taken whilst walking from Sennen Cove to Lands End)

its a cracking little lens & camera!

oh and here's a dinosaur

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Nop the 400 cropped up right after you mentioned your lense

ooops, you're right 🙂

And there is no need for the rest of the steps you can crop from a 200 you can take a few steps back from a 400.

the other problem being that my camera is so routinely covered in shite that I dare not change the lens due to all the crap that immediately gets onto the sensor 🙁

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I'm sure my pics are still not amazing but I'm blown away by the quality of the camera so far.

I like em Grum especially the warehouse one, I find the B&W Dynamic setting very addictive!!

Cheers - it's your fault I ended up getting this camera really! 🙂

Not messed about with the b+w settings on the camera too much yet.

Another.
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MrNut do you use the 20mm exclusively or do you have/drag around other lenses? Admittedly it is encouraging that the possibilities are there even with a fixed 20mm lens

yep, 20mm is all I'm using at the moment but I'm after getting an m42 adapter so I can stick my old russian lenses on it

Im on just the 20mm and love it.
Takes all the hassle out of lugging lens for no reason, but makes you think about what your shooting.

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I see your in lancaster as well Grum.

The Dynamic B&W is great, i have that on my C1 setting.
Trying to find settings that will emulate Velvia and Reala for the other custom banks or "My Film" mode.

Gotta say, am warming up to the idea of one... But I can't see me parting with my D40 or my LX3 so I have to persuade myself that I need yet another camera... I can happily live with one bike but not with one camera it seems :p

shoei,

Trying to find settings that will emulate Velvia and Reala for the other custom banks or "My Film" mode.

if you suss them out can you post em up please?

Gotta say, am warming up to the idea of one...

I'm no expert at all but I am blown away by the quality you can get from such a compact package - I had it in my coat pocket earlier and it was a bit disconcerting because I couldn't really feel that it was there.

I can see myself taking it with me pretty much everywhere, which was what appealed to me. Yeah it's expensive, but well worth it imo.

+1 🙂

My GF1 lives with me most days. Bought a nice crumpler bag that it fits in along with other bits and bobs.
Dnt know if i'd be brave enough to carry it on the mtb round some trails though.

I came down from a D80, grip, sb600, siggy 70-200 f/2.8, 30mm f/1.8 plus a couple of other lenses and havent really missed the D80 at all.
Used to be a hassle to dig out the D80 and lug it all around.

Bought a nice crumpler bag that it fits in along with other bits and bobs.

Which crumpler did you get? I am hoping to take it out biking but haven't been out for a while.

Dnt know if i'd be brave enough to carry it on the mtb round some trails though.

That was gonna be my next question, who has taken it or planning on taking it on some mtbing around a roughish trail. It is too expensive and big to feel comfortable dragging it around biking and whatnot and in that respect it is like my D40 with its lenses. The LX3 on the other hand seems a lot less fragile - even if only for its non removable lenses and more compact dimensions.

Which crumpler did you get? I am hoping to take it out biking but haven't been out for a while.

Its a MuffinTop 5500. A shoulder/courier style. GF1 fits nicely in one corner, room for the gorrila pod next to it and a large area left to carry kids drinks/jumpers/buttie box. Front has the memory cards/lens cloth/odds and sods.

It is too expensive and big to feel comfortable dragging it around biking

I don't think so - expensive maybe but definitely not too big, and very solidly built.

The GF1 is a near perfect travel camera.

For 16 days I lived with it strapped to me as I climbed through the valleys of central Nepal up to Annapurna Base Camp at 4,200 meters.

I covered the camera in sweat. I hit it against rocks (unintentionally). The air was often dusty and this dust, by the end of the trip, had worked its way into every nook of the GF1. And yet it performed flawlessly. Never once did it stutter or complain or fail to take an image when I asked it to. And only rarely did it take the wrong image.

The compact combination of Panasonic's GF1 body and the 20mm f1.7 Lumix pancake lens works with you as a traveler. It's a light, sturdy, capable, exceptionally well conceived photography kit that demands to be taken on adventures.

http://craigmod.com/journal/gf1-fieldtest/

Here's a bit of bikey porn.
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Its a MuffinTop 5500. A shoulder/courier style.

I really like the look of these for a dedicated photo outing, but I would quite like something that is only just bigger than the camera as well. Been looking at the Jimmy Bo 200 but I'm not sure if it will fit. Which gorillapod have you got, are they as good as they look, and do you use a ball head as well with it? Sorry for all the questions!

I've got one of these:

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[url= http://www.lutonarmysurplus.co.uk/daysacks.htm ]Finnish Respirator Bag[/url]

its got some compartments inside which is handy, I'm now thinking about pulling apart my old camera bag to pad out the inside just to give it some protection. Its also got a strap that goes around your waist so it could be used whilst riding.

You've done your research haven't you grum?

Nice blingy bike too 😉

Gorrila pod wise, its the original small one. Bought it to mount the SB600 flash on for doing "strobist" type stuff. Used it for holding my camcorder as well which weighs about the same as the GF1.

Small bags wise, how about the good old CCS range of bags. Ive got a Warthog case ive had for nigh on 20 years. Built like a tank.

I was out on a job the other day when my DSLR became overcome by water. Luckily I'd chucked the GF1 and 20mm in my bag. I sent the two best shots to the magazine editor one taken with the DSLR the other with the GF1. His preference was for the one shot with the GF1. Shortly to be gracing the front cover. I'll stick it up when it's been published.

Thanks shoei and MrNutt

This looks like it might fit the bill for a smaller bag - http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1041&thread=34343387

You've done your research haven't you grum?

Yup spent far too much time geeking out over reviews etc before purchasing. 🙂

Nice blingy bike too

🙂

just took this one, for use in the "which watch" thread, came out quite well for a snap me thinks:

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