Noll
Well-known
Hi all, I recently jumped in with m43. I wanted something to compliment my film RF's & SLR setup and a body for adapting manual lenses. After seeing a G3 for $150 at KEH, I decided to go for it - mainly for the built-in EVF and better IQ over the G1.
My only other digital is an Olympus e510 dslr, so this is my frame of reference for the issues below.
1 - Build Quality - this thing is nowhere near the sturdiness of my e510, which has taken a beating over the last 4 years. The G3's on/off switch feels flimsy, the scroll wheel feels cheap and uncomfortable, and the rest of the buttons aren't much better. I do a lot of hiking and biological field work so this is a concern for me. Anyone heard of parts on this camera commonly breaking or cracking?
2 - The button to switch the evf and lcd is in the wrong spot. Can this be reassigned to a fn? (sorry I'm too lazy to look up the manual online)
3 - A better (bigger) grip would be nice.
4 - Any other setup tips that make this camera more user-friendly - especially with manual lenses? I haven't yet gotten on with the touch screen - maybe this will help.
I can probably live with a few of the above-mentioned issues as long as the EP-x / EPL-x series aren't all that much better - (at double the price for an EVF + used EPx body). I know they don't have the grip or flip screen and the EPL is all buttons. An OM-D is definitely out of my budget for a few years.
Well anyway, what the heck should I expect for $150 these days? Thanks in advance for any helpful advice.
My only other digital is an Olympus e510 dslr, so this is my frame of reference for the issues below.
1 - Build Quality - this thing is nowhere near the sturdiness of my e510, which has taken a beating over the last 4 years. The G3's on/off switch feels flimsy, the scroll wheel feels cheap and uncomfortable, and the rest of the buttons aren't much better. I do a lot of hiking and biological field work so this is a concern for me. Anyone heard of parts on this camera commonly breaking or cracking?
2 - The button to switch the evf and lcd is in the wrong spot. Can this be reassigned to a fn? (sorry I'm too lazy to look up the manual online)
3 - A better (bigger) grip would be nice.
4 - Any other setup tips that make this camera more user-friendly - especially with manual lenses? I haven't yet gotten on with the touch screen - maybe this will help.
I can probably live with a few of the above-mentioned issues as long as the EP-x / EPL-x series aren't all that much better - (at double the price for an EVF + used EPx body). I know they don't have the grip or flip screen and the EPL is all buttons. An OM-D is definitely out of my budget for a few years.
Well anyway, what the heck should I expect for $150 these days? Thanks in advance for any helpful advice.
Noll
Well-known
OK so I'm actually starting to warm up to this thing on my own here. I'll probably keep it 
1 - I'm just going to have to baby this thing a little more. Bracketing my shots will keep me from having to fiddle too much with the scroll wheel.
2 - I can't seem to reassign the LCD EVF button, so the LCD screen will stay folded in most of the time during shooting to avoid chimping.
3 - Still not happy with the grip, but the whole manual lens thing kinda necessitates 2 hands anyway...
4 - 1080 video with OM zuiko primes is really something special!
1 - I'm just going to have to baby this thing a little more. Bracketing my shots will keep me from having to fiddle too much with the scroll wheel.
2 - I can't seem to reassign the LCD EVF button, so the LCD screen will stay folded in most of the time during shooting to avoid chimping.
3 - Still not happy with the grip, but the whole manual lens thing kinda necessitates 2 hands anyway...
4 - 1080 video with OM zuiko primes is really something special!
Thardy
Veteran
I have a three MFT cameras in my household. One is the GF1 which has almost attained cult status for some reason and two Olympus EPL-2s. The G3 looks a bit different than those models, but should serve you quite well considering the price and features.
Sam N
Well-known
1) I've traveled extensively with my G3 and it's never given me any trouble.
2) I don't remember the last time I used the OVF/LCD button. I just unfold the screen when I want to shoot high or low angles or use the menus and fold it back up again for eye-level shooting.
3) Yes a bigger grip would be nice for larger or MF lenses.
4) You can also review your shots on the EVF, so you can chimp without looking like one. I use fn1 as AEL and fn2 as a q-menu button. I rearranged the q-menu to get rid of all the stuff I'll never use.
The sensor blows away all the 12mp m43 cameras. The new Sony sensor in the latest m43 cameras is better, but this one is no slouch.
2) I don't remember the last time I used the OVF/LCD button. I just unfold the screen when I want to shoot high or low angles or use the menus and fold it back up again for eye-level shooting.
3) Yes a bigger grip would be nice for larger or MF lenses.
4) You can also review your shots on the EVF, so you can chimp without looking like one. I use fn1 as AEL and fn2 as a q-menu button. I rearranged the q-menu to get rid of all the stuff I'll never use.
The sensor blows away all the 12mp m43 cameras. The new Sony sensor in the latest m43 cameras is better, but this one is no slouch.
biomed
Veteran
The G3 is the most compact of the Panasonic SLR style u4/3 bodies. In the downsizing it lost the EVF switching sensor and many of the physical function controls have been assigned to the touch screen. Although the camera is a little on the small side for my hands and downsized battery yields less photos per charge, I think you will find it to be very capable. The IQ is very good. The articulating LCD is great for low angle shots.
RObert Budding
D'oh!
I've looked at m43 cameras several times, but I've never pulled the trigger. The problem is that I end up comparing files to those that I get from my Nikon D700. Then I decide that the D700 isn't that heavy.
Tom Diaz
Well-known
I just got a G3 two days ago, to replace my old G1. (I also own a GF2.) There are already several things about it that I like a great deal:
1. The promise of even better image quality than the G1. The m4/3 stuff does not measure up to my Leica M9, but I'm not so reluctant to take it with me everywhere, either. Also, I have shot some excellent stuff with the G1--things that look terrific in 13x19 prints, which are the largest I usually make. The quality point I am making would, of course, go for any m4/3 camera.
2. It is very compact for something with SLR-type viewing. I have a little center console under the armrest of my small car. The G3 will fit in there with two extra lenses! (The G3, 25mm f/1.4, 14-42mm kit zoom, and 14mm f/2.5.) Not bad! I now have an excellent kit with me wherever I go.
3. It shares the same battery as my GF2. I like to have an extra battery, so... now I have three batteries and could carry the GF2 instead of one of those lenses in the car console, if I wanted to.
4. Very, very good deal for what it is. Mine was $249 brand new! (B&H) Think about it--it's not that much bigger than a GF2 and it has a built-in EVF. A GX1 plus an EVF for it would be a little over 400--also a very good deal in my opinion, but I decided I'd rather have the G3 because I always have the EVF mounted anyway, so the GX1 might not have been any more compact.
So there you have it. I'm very happy till Panasonic comes out with something more like what I really want. (That will be the subject of another thread.)
Tom Diaz