G1 with Nokton 50/1.1: not bad at all

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I got the GF1 when it came out and decided to replace my DSLR rig with m4/3. No regrets at all. But when it came time to buy the accessory EVF, I figured, for that much money, why not just get a used G1 body?

So that's what I did. I've had it for a couple of days and am surprised to find what lens I'm enjoying the most on it so far:

For the most part, I haven't been terribly impressed with M lenses on m4/3--I've rather favored the Pen F lenses for manual focus work. But the Nokton feels very well balanced on the G1 (it's a bit much on the GF1) and I have been finding it extremely easy to focus precisely using the EVF, even at f/1.1, even without using magnified view. Unlike M wides, which have disappointed me somewhat, this lens renders very nicely on the G1...I think it actually handles better than on the R-D1 (though not, perhaps, than it does on the M7, where it usually lives).

Here are a few pics from today, all at 1.1, just to see if I could do it.

(The softness here isn't just the lens--it's mostly from the two layers of thick bus stop glass I was shooting through!)

 

[JoeV]

These are very nice. Although I don't have a NoKton, I do use an assortment of fast Minolta MD lenses. I like the way the G1 handles and find, as did you, that the G1's EVF is more than adequate for the job, even without magnified view turned on.

I recall about a year ago, when the G1 was first released, the early adapters (such as I) were criticized for choosing a camera with such ugly looks, what with the SLR-like "hump" in the middle, and the handgrip. But when you start to add on external flashes and EVF's to the subsequently released u4/3 models (we won't mention them by name out of politeness) then the G1 really starts to look like the best design overall, what with all of these external add-ons built into a rather sleek package. Of course, I'm totally biased, so this is mere opinion on my part!

~Joe

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

I'm curious after reading ltm/M wide lenses don't do so well on m4/3 bodies. I've picked up these sentiments from a few other users in various threads.
How come the wides didn't live up to expectations on the digital bodies?

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I'm curious after reading ltm/M wide lenses don't do so well on m4/3 bodies. I've picked up these sentiments from a few other users in various threads.
How come the wides didn't live up to expectations on the digital bodies?

I think it's because the m4/3 sensor is optimized for lenses that project at a more direct angle of incidence; ie., head on. So the corners are smeared with RF wides, even though the sensor is so much smaller than full frame. 50mm and up performs very well, though. Sean Reid has a good article about this on his site, complete with samples, but it's behind the subscription wall.

By all accounts, m4/3 does great with the wides designed for it, like the 7-14mm zoom. I'm eager to get one of those myself.

 

[reala_fan]

By all accounts, m4/3 does great with the wides designed for it, like the 7-14mm zoom. I'm eager to get one of those myself.

Your 50mm f1.1 shots look great!

Do you have a 'smeared corners' RF wide angle shot to post for comparison?

I sure would like a Panasonic 7-14mm too....price is high but the quality seem good.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

The M4/3 cameras digitally "fix" the distortion from their purpose built wide lenses. They can't fix the non-coupled lenses, so you get the distortion.

 

[reala_fan]

The M4/3 cameras digitally "fix" the distortion from their purpose built wide lenses. They can't fix the non-coupled lenses, so you get the distortion.

But...

The Konica Hexanon wide angles show no corner smearing at all on m43.

I believe the shorter registration distance of the RF lenses is the problem.

See message #1 this post for a Hexanon 21mm f2.8 SLR lens on m43 example:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82380

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Yes, I meant the RF lenses. Lenses designed for SLRS should work better.

 

[dogberryjr]

I tried my Nokton on the G1, but I couldn't get used to the focal length. Have to give it another whirl.

 

[gho]

Nice demonstration of the Nokton's performance. I too find the design and ergonomics of the G1 quite adequate and did not understand why some reviewers were criticizing its look as not "boxy" enough.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Well...a lot of us are really tired of the minivan-like DSLR "look" that most popular cameras have these days. It would have been cool if Pana had gone for some interesting new design instead. But in person, I'm finding the G1, though unimaginatively designed, to have pretty clean lines and a nice feel.

 

[KEH]

Agree with the ugly duckling looks, but the G1 is quite functional and fluid to use. A new shot with the Oly 50/2 macro (manual focus only):

Columbia Rd, WDC.

Cheers,
Kirk