Which m4/3 would you buy now?

[nightfly]

Thanks for all the replies.

The G3 sounds pretty good. Don't care about video at all but the tilting LCD does sound like something I'd use (although I'm more of a sucker for the more rangefinder looking models).

Maybe wait for the GFX announcement and see what shakes out.

 

[x-ray]

I purchased the G3 with the kit lens. I'm used to really top quality equipment, Hasselblad and Canon digital, so my expectations are high. The G3 I received exhibited many dead pixels when shooting exposures of 1 second and longer. I returned the camera and received another that had more dead pixels even at shorter exposures plus numerous stuck pixels. The images looked like they were covered with black pepper and salt. I always shot raw and processed in Capture 1.

Not only was I disappointed with the sensor I felt the lens was marginal in sharpness. You can say I was not impressed and returned the camera.

Considering the quality of the G3 vs price I feel the G3 is way over priced. Construction was rather poor IMO for a camera ofvthis price. I felt the quality of my Canon G10 was better and image quality with the G10 was better at lower ISOs.

Based on my experience with the G3 I would look at the Canon G12 and would expect it to produce better images.

I was looking for a compact travel camera and wound up getting a little larger camera. I purchased the entrylevel Nikon D3100 SLR with the kit lens. Its larger than the G3 but quite small for an slr. Image quality is way superior as is the lens. Dynamic range, overall sharpness, color and image noise are better as well plus the camera is much more versatile. Oh yes, its much less expensive too.

 

[Thardy]

I've been looking into 4/3rds for some time now. My conclusion:

The Panny G3 would be my choice if making a purchase (and I might be soon). It has a noticeably better sensor than all other Panny and Oly offerings (excluding the GH2). Tiltable LCD, built in EVF, and best video (excluding the GH2). All for a very reasonable price (B&H has it for $627 w/kit zoom right now).

The long-rumoured GFX is starting to firm up and it will not have a tilting LCD or a built in EVF according the latest (and likely reliable) rumours. It will also use the same sensor as the G3 but different processing. Despite having more direct control options (knobs etc) it doesn't sound better to me.

People who waited for a significant upgrade to the GF1 are pretty disappointed.

 

[Shade]

The more I use my ep3 the more impressed I am. Sure it lacks a few benefit of an aps-c sensor, but I don't find it bad at all. I ended up selling both the kit lenses and bought the 12/2, 201.7, and 45/1.8..

 

[jaredangle]

I personally like the GF2, and wouldn't mind having one to mount my Nikon or Contax primes on for some video. I've been wanting to do a short 'pure cinema' video somewhat like the famous Baraka movie shot on 70mm.

 

[Frank Petronio]

The external EVFs seem like a really lousy way to go - weaker specs, wonky attachments - when you can get a mint Pany G1 body with a really nice built-in EVF for less than $200. $350 with the excellent kit lens.

I doubt the sensors were truly improved on either brand until this current generation of the GH2 and G3. And with the in-between models it seems the ergonomics and user interfaces got worse rather than improved!

I'd wait for the prosumer Pany body and maybe get a G1 now, it will make a good back-up later.

 

[Taipei-metro]

I personally like the GF2, and wouldn't mind having one to mount my Nikon or Contax primes on for some video. I've been wanting to do a short 'pure cinema' video somewhat like the famous Baraka movie shot on 70mm.

GF2 w 14-42, was $399, no tax, just few days ago on Samys Camera, L.A. CA.

 

[jaredangle]

GF2 w 14-42, was $399, no tax, just few days ago on Samys Camera, L.A. CA.

Yeah, when I spring for it, I'm getting it from BH, but with no kit lens, so it's around $299, not counting the adapter cost. Great deal!

 

[filmtwit]

Personally I'd avoid the micro-4/3rds like the plague as I hate it for the 3 months I had one. Though my coworker now swears by the Nex system at this point.

 

[jhthomasii]

i played with one of those nex cameras at the shop the other day. its like a piece of paper with a can of soda bolted to the front.

 

[kpas]

G3 + 20/1.7

 

[Shade]

Nex cameras are great, but somehow the ep3 is more appealing to me as a 2nd body..

 

[raid]

I have the EP-2 now, and I will wait before buying into any additional M4/3 system. The EP-2 is a good digital camera that allows me to use lenses from obsolete camera systems.

 

[Shade]

If you already have ep2 then upgrading to ep3 doesnt sound very beneficial. There are improvemenrs yes im sure, but it wouldnt be anything too significant..

 

[shadowfox]

i played with one of those nex cameras at the shop the other day. its like a piece of paper with a can of soda bolted to the front.

That's what I thought too.
I remember seeing a guy last year in a Hong Kong camera store with a brand new Nex, trying to mount a huge old (heavy) manual lens, I remember thinking: either the camera's lens mount or the guy's patience will wear off first, neither will take a long time.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I have had a Panasonic GF1 for some time and I have to say I'm more than happy with the image quality but the camera itself has two features that have led to a decision to sell it. I was looking for an RF-like camera that would be suitable for travel - light and compact - with a zoom lens and have a similar feel to my M6 and Bessa cameras.

I probably made a mistake in ordering the 14-45 kit zoom with it as it's quite a slow and bulky lens and renders the combination less compact than I wanted. The other thing was the lack of a viewfinder for which I compensated by getting the accessory EVF. It works sort of OK but it adds to the bulk and is a compromise at best. I tried using legacy lenses on the camera too but for my purposes they were a bit of a pain. I tend to use the GF1 on auto-everything and the results are quite satisfactory in either jpeg or raw.

So I've pre-ordered a Fuji X10 and when it arrives the GF1 will be sold. I thought long and hard about the X100 but the single focal length was a stopper, and the just-heralded interchangeable lens Fuji X-series is too far away to wait for.