Best 12 Megapixel 4/3?

[Lflex]

I have a Pana GF1 and a GH1. The GF1 was a very popular entusiast camera, and is very compact and capable, I would advise against it if you even remotely think you will need a electronic viewfinder - the add on evf is bad and the formfactor benefit is lost. In that case a GH1 is a good choice. It has an excellent finder and a articulate screen.
If high quality video has your interest, GH1 is great. Both cameras can be hacked to make even better video.
Both are excellent at 400 iso and fine at 800.

 

[mh2000]

I don't know how the system seems confused, it seems fairly well established at this point to me.

There are other m43 cameras going for less than $200 that are not "3 times worse" than the new E-P5, but the E-P5 is the newest and best Pen... and getting the newest and best always goes for a premium.

Even though I seem to be more drawn to Oly, the GX-1 looks like a really nice camera. Back when it looked like Oly photographic wing was going to be shut down, I looked at the GX-1 and thought, "if no more Pens, then the GX-1 for my Oly lenses... I don't 'need' IS."

$1000 for a body without a lens, EVF... and not to forget its sensor is M4/3... Its predecessor with the same sensor is selling for $500 including a lens.

The whole M4/3 market seems very confused and strange.

 

[mh2000]

And the EP-3 is essentially "discontinued," now. The EP-3 didn't start out at this price!

I doubt the EP-5 is three times the quality, just newer.

 

[Al Patterson]

And the EP-3 is essentially "discontinued," now. The EP-3 didn't start out at this price!

I understand, I'm just wondering why people buy the latest and greatest when they can buy last year's model at closeout prices. I guess my being out of work for a few years has made me look at our consumer culture in new ways. Let someone else pay the large share of depreciation, then buy...

 

[colyn]

Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic G1 are my favorites.

 

[sevres_babylone]

Once you narrow your choices from the suggestions here, I recommend you visit www.43rumors.com where sales and clear-outs are often listed.

I can't really offer more advice than has been posted. While I have a G1, I basically bought it as a back-up for my R-D1 (bought a converter) and rarely used it, and an E-M5, which I love, but which is above your price range.

 

[Dave Jenkins]

The Panasonic G3 is an amazing camera for the money. Image quality is very close to the OMD, which I also own, the menu system is much easier to navigate, and I personally like the way it handles. With careful shopping, you should be able to get a new one for $250 or less. I do think though, that it's a RAW-only camera. Out-of-camera jpegs are nowhere as nice as the OMD's, or any Pen for that matter.

 

[Dunn]

It is interesting how someone will pay $1000 for a new camera and a couple years later someone can pay $500 for the exact same camera.

 

[Mystyler]

It is interesting how someone will pay $1000 for a new camera and a couple years later someone can pay $500 for the exact same camera.

I don't think so, it happens with almost anything you can buy. I bought a $1000 dishwasher for $499 because it was the old model, I got $4000 off my car when I bought it because it was the previous year's compliance plate. They were still selling the same car, mine was cheaper because it had an '05 build date and not an '06, etc...

If you want the newest, latest and greatest, you'll pay more for it. It's been like that since I started spending my money. It happens a lot more with cameras now because they are seen as digital consumer goods and we all know how much digital good rapidly depreciate. When they're no longer new, as capable and perfectly serviceable as they may be, they're no longer "best" and in order to shift them they have to be priced low. Depending on your needs or wants, great deals can be had. With digital gear, I like to buy somewhere in-between, usually. As previously mentioned, the E-P3 started off around the $1000 mark and now I can buy it for $300, walk in off the street!


Incidentally, I don't think that the E-P5/VF-4/17mm lens combo is such a bad deal. Others may disagree, of course. 😎

 

[mh2000]

Well... I'm still shooting my E-P1, which I bought for $300 after it was discontinued with the release of the E-P2, so I'm not chasing the latest and greatest, but there is excitement buying something that is new and the new "best."

I did buy the Oly 45 for list of $400 because I wanted it immediately and didn't want to wait for it to drop in price, which it did.

I understand, I'm just wondering why people buy the latest and greatest when they can buy last year's model at closeout prices. I guess my being out of work for a few years has made me look at our consumer culture in new ways. Let someone else pay the large share of depreciation, then buy...

 

[biomed]

I have had a GH3 for several months now and it is a great camera! The WiFi function works pretty well. I use an ipod. Wireless operation does drain the batteries of both devices quicker than non remote operation does.

As for recommendations for a camera, the G3 is a good deal right now. Can't highly recommend the 14-42 kit lens. If you want a "kit" zoom in that range go with the 14-45. It has a metal mount (the 14-42 has a plastic mount) and is a much better lens overall, IMHO. There is nothing wrong with the older Olympus and Panasonic bodies either. It is true that the newer generation cameras perform better at the higher ISO settings. That said, I still use my G1 and GF1 and carry them along with my G3 and GH3 when I bring everything on a long trip in my hard case.

 

[Tom Diaz]

Agreed with the others. The 12mp sensor, while not terrible, is junk compared to either of the 16mp m43 sensors.

Grab a GX1 or a G3 (depending on whether or not you want a viewfinder). The G3 blows the 12mp cameras out of the water in terms of image quality and it should be quite cheap now.

Right on.

I just bought a G3 for $249 from B&H. The GX1 is a good bargain these days, too, but it'd cost more like $400 with the EVF. Why not have my EVF built in, I said to myself?

The G3 is significantly more compact than my G1 that it replaced, by the way.

TD