Pany G1 w 20mm - Experiences?

[Frank Petronio]

I used to use a G1 with the kit zoom and liked a lot of the aspects of the system but... moved on before the 20mm lens was introduced. Now that the 20mm is old news, I'm thinking about picking one up for another round, as it is a fairly compact package. Heck I might even get a red body this time around ;-)

Before biting the bullet....

• Any caveats from real-world users?

• Lenshade options?

• Does anything even come close in the same category? Any of these APS-C sensor cameras like the Samsung with its pancake?

I think I can find a G1 w the better old kit lens in the $450 range and a mint 20mm for $300, which seems to be several hundred less than any newer APS-C solution.

Sound like a plan?

 

[kdemas]

Frank,

The G1 (or GF1 as well) and the 20mm are a terrific combo. The lens is a real steal, amazingly sharp, medium contrast and very little distortion. Best of all, I just like the way it renders.

As for shades I actually have used one from a Contax G2 lens I had if memory serves me correctly and also one that I picked up on eBay. The lens is extremely flare resistant, to the point that I really don't use a hood with that combo any longer.

If you pick up that 20mm I doubt you'll be disappointed, terrific little lens.

Kent

 

[Frank Petronio]

Sounds like knocking the glass out of an old filter is the best shade ;-) I just like something to catch the edge and keep the glass from contacting surfaces too easily.

Hmm... looking kind of evil at the old D300... it's quivering.

 

[dogberryjr]

I bought the GF1 to use with Leica and Canon lenses, but once I used the 20mm that plan went out the window. It's a really nice lens.

Caveat? Mine arrived with a bit of dust in it. It doesn't affect anything, but still.

 

[shadowfox]

Frank, I even use the 20mm on my E-P2.
The onboard IS plus the f/1.7 max aperture is quite effective for less-light situations.

 

[RayPA]

I used to use a G1 with the kit zoom and liked a lot of the aspects of the system but... moved on before the 20mm lens was introduced. Now that the 20mm is old news, I'm thinking about picking one up for another round, as it is a fairly compact package. Heck I might even get a red body this time around ;-)

Before biting the bullet....

• Any caveats from real-world users?

• Lenshade options?

• Does anything even come close in the same category? Any of these APS-C sensor cameras like the Samsung with its pancake?

I think I can find a G1 w the better old kit lens in the $450 range and a mint 20mm for $300, which seems to be several hundred less than any newer APS-C solution.

Sound like a plan?

Sounds like a great plan! I have a G1, and I'd love to have a G2 (touch AF would be great with that gorgeous LCD)--unfortunately Panasonic doesn't offer a G2 body-only option. Anyway, I've no regrets about the 20mm. I like to use it as a street shooting lens, where it's pretty quick. It's not too bad on flare.

Anyway, looking forward to the upcoming 14/2.5.



/

 

[kdemas]

Frank,

I really enjoy using my 45/2.8 P Nikkor on the D300 of you like a mid-range manual focus portrait option. Unfortunately I've been hooked by the 24-70/2.8 on that body, what an incredible zoom (and I don't usually love zooms).

Another fun lens on the G1 is a Contax G 35/2 Biogon, or 45/2 Planar, with an adapter. They are incredibly sharp and there are some new adapters that don't make the focusing too fiddly.

Kent

 

[kdemas]

OK, not trying to spam the thread but it was bugging me as to which hood I used on the 20mm. It is a Heavystar hood, purchased off eBay for a whopping $9.95. Very nicely made for what it is.

There are some up there (I have no connection to this guy, it just works well):

See them here.

 

[RayPA]

OK, not trying to spam the thread but it was bugging me as to which hood I used on the 20mm. It is a Heavystar hood, purchased off eBay for a whopping $9.95. Very nicely made for what it is.

There are some up there (I have no connection to this guy, it just works well):

See them here.

Kent, my shot was sans hood. It was my first shoot with the lens before I picked up a hood. I did in fact buy a Heavystar hood (that place is my first-check source for hoods--especially because they're just down the road from us!).



/

 

[JoeV]

I use a step-up ring on the 20, enabling me to use the same filter sizes as on the 14-45 Lumix lens. It also serves as a mini-lens shade (the ring, that is).

It's a great lens, as others have said. It does have issues from time to time with autofocus in dim light, occasionally when you half-press the shutter button it wants to start out searching for optimal focus in the wrong direction, then reverses and finds focus okay. It only slows me down by a second or so, so it's not a big problem. The overall image quality with this lens is so good that I can live with this small problem.

I find myself going out with the G1 with only one lens. If it's daytime outdoors, I usually just take the 14-45, since I have a wider selection of focal lengths at hand, and the main advantage of the 20 being its wide aperture isn't really all that useful in bright light without piling on a stack of neutral density filters. But the 20 really gets picked when it's indoor and/or night time and I want a "normal" angle of view.

There are also times, like last week, when I went out in daytime street shooting with a Rokkor manual lens, but that's the subject of another discussion.

Overall the 20 is a great lens. As for your choice of the G1, I can't compare it against other bodies since I've only used the G1 in the u4/3 format. I suppose for your purposes if video is not a consideration, then the G1 is the obvious choice, given its great EVF and swivel LCD. For myself, if I had to replace the G1 tomorrow, I'm not certain I would even get the G2, I don't see any advantages to it over the G1; I'm not certain that image quality is that much improved, since it's the same sensor.

~Joe

 

[Steveh]

Another vote for this combination from me - I love the portability, the user interface of the camera and the quality of the lens - having all the in camera distortion correction is handy as well. The full size version of this shot is very sharp indeed, and no barrel distortion to be seen:

 

[bwidjaja]

Another satisfied user. Though since I put the 20mm lens for my GH1, i hardly gotten any chance to use old lenses with it because my wife basically took it over...

 

[raid]

This could be the best way for me to get into digital photography.
Can I use other lens mounts too or only the lenses designed for this camera?
The 20mm 1.7 sounds very good.

 

[M4streetshooter]

This could be the best way for me to get into digital photography.
Can I use other lens mounts too or only the lenses designed for this camera?
The 20mm 1.7 sounds very good.

There are adapters to use almost any lens out there. Most are available from the bay or from Camera Quest.
I am now just using the dedicated lenses because after a long time using legacy and adapters...I forgot about my images....
The 20 and the 17 for me are mandatory.

 

[wblynch]

This could be the best way for me to get into digital photography.

Can I use other lens mounts too or only the lenses designed for this camera?

The 20mm 1.7 sounds very good.

That's the famous beauty of the G1. Your choices of manual legacy lenses is nearly unlimited.

 

[ampguy]

Frank and Ray,

I've been watching ebay, and it looks like you can sell those kit zooms for ~$200 or so and get really good deals on new bodies.

The new G2 zoom is supposed to be as good, but is a bit shorter (42mm?), lighter, and doesn't have one of the switches on the lens, but is switched on the body, I think it might be the auto/manual focus switch.

 

[KEH]

This shot is from the 20/1.7 on a G1. The lens is truly excellent, as others have said, and it is a very good body - but night shooting at higher ISO is not recommended. The Oly EP2 body gives better high ISO and works very well with the 20/1.7.

Cheers,
Kirk

 

[dfoo]

I definitely want to get the 20mm for my wife's E-PL1. Sounds like an ideal lens for her. Fast and small.

 

[kdemas]

Frank and Ray,

I've been watching ebay, and it looks like you can sell those kit zooms for ~$200 or so and get really good deals on new bodies.

The new G2 zoom is supposed to be as good, but is a bit shorter (42mm?), lighter, and doesn't have one of the switches on the lens, but is switched on the body, I think it might be the auto/manual focus switch.

That new kit zoom is a bit of a step down, even Pany says it's "nearly as good". Not a bad little lens but the original is really pretty darn good for what it is.

Ray- The Heavystar hoods are surprisingly good, I was impressed when mine arrived.

 

[raid]

What exactly is a "legacy" lens?