Horseshoes and hand grenades - why the GF-1 might be close enough for me

I have my doubts that the X1 images we're seeing are anything more than a preliminary design study. IMO an X1 is probably coming and quickly at that, but it isn't what we're seeing. Time will tell.

Fun thought on the X1 pic that's going around: many are guessing the flush circular thingy is a pop-up flash. What if it's actually a pop-up VF? It's on the correct side.

I think I am exactly the target market for an X1 type of camera:

  • I'm a dedicated film M user that also uses digital for other shooting - all my action stuff is on Nikon DSLRs now, I haven't fired up a F2/F3/F4 in a few years.
  • I'm comfortable with digital workflow and wish I could more easily do my M work in digital - shooting film and scanning works for me now, but I'd prefer a 100% digital method.
  • I'm not made of money, and the M8 is financially impossible for me.
  • Most of my M shooting is done with a single lens, a 35.
  • I really don't care if the X1 can use my existing M glass.
What would get me to sign on the dotted line for an X1 or something similar?

  • An APS sized sensor.
  • Full metered manual; adding aperture priority, shutter priority and program modes would be nice but not essential for the way I shoot.
  • Manual focus using a lens mounted ring; AF would be OK so long as it can be turned off and not intrusive.
  • A minimum of buttons and gadgets on the camera back.
  • A decent EVF, or (preferred) an OVF with some kind of focus confirmation. Even showing the focus point position and a simple green dot that illuminates when in focus would be sufficient. No need for RF-type coincident image focusing, just show me that confirmation light and what it's based on.
  • Take-no-prisoners quality fixed focal length glass in the 35mm-40mm equivalent range.
  • Usable up through EI 800.
What would kill my interest deader than a Contax?

  • MF or exposure control using widdle bitty buttons on the back of the camera.
  • The typical slow zoom.
  • No provision for a decent EVF or OVF that has in-view focus confirmation. I despise using digicams at arms-length.
  • Gadgetry that is intrusive to the basic functionality.
 
I've been adamant that I won't buy a camera without an optical VF but I just bought a G1 for my wife. She was complaining about lugging a Pentax K10D and a couple of lenses around so the G1 looked like a good option. I must say that I'm impressed enough that if the EVF of the GF! is close to s good, I may have found an acceptable digi replacement for both my Hexar AF and my beloved Contax T.
 
I'm not so much intersted in a replacement for any of my film-based cameras as I am in possibly replacing my Olympus C-8080 (which is, in fact, on long-term loan from someone) with something which can serve better as my singular digital camera. This might just be the ticket, but time will tell.


- Barrett
 
I think Panasonic has a winner with this camera. It's as if they have a spy here on RFF designing a camera based opinions formulated here.

rover said:
It doesn't look like the new 20 has Super Mega OIS. Not a bad thing, that may help keep the cost down a little.
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$399 for the lens.

dazedgoneby said:
According to dpreview, there is an optional evf.
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Yup! and the EVF looks nice atop the camera:
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC...ble-Digital/dp/B002IKLJUK/ref=pd_bxgy_p_img_b

But looking nice and working are two different things.
 
I agree with the previous. There seems little to stop a digital equivalent of Hexar AF function apart from seeing a market. With a mount providing focal length information the electronic framelines could easily be adjusted, and even to compensate for focus point fov changes for certain lenses if desired. Actual focus lock point could perhaps also be added , but is a bit more tricky apart from centre, as this would have vary with the frame lines as well.
 
I'm definitely buying one of these with the 20mm lens and a 40mm CV viewfinder. Provided I can rely on the autofocus, it'll closely approximate my CL + 40.

I've recently sold all my dslr gear in preparation for the digital Pen. I was a bit disappointed with the screen/af though so I figured I'd wait for the GF1. It ticks enough of my boxes that I'm buying one as soon as I can get my grubbly little hands on one. My camera bag is going to be so much lighter/small and my shoulders are going to be so much happier.
 
dazedgonebye said:
I still think that perhaps the best way to use this sort of camera is with an external optical finder and trust to the AF.
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Yeah, but with the Hexar, you see the AF point (even if it can be a trifle off) in the VF. With an external optical finder, focus will be a guess. I strongly suspect that at portrait distance, and wide-open (which is how I shoot at least 99% of the time) this will result in a huge number of misses.

This camera could stand in for the Hexar AF, at least with the 20mm f1.7 lens.
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I don't think so, unless there's psilocybin involved. it's just another at first glance promising, over-priced and over-featured consumer cam, with no damned proper viewfinder. I'd pay a lot for a full-frame compact with a fixed 35/2 lens, but I sure won't pay $1100 (or whatever) for the GF-1 and EVF.
 
I've been giving this more thought over the last two weeks.

I'm very concerned about the vast number of fiddly buttons on the GF1 and with the poor reviews of the EVF to date. I'm only half kidding when I say what some of those buttons need is a nice coating of hot glue to deactivate them.

I'm still considering a GF1 with a shoe mount OVF, but at this price point I'm beginning to think I'd do better with a used R-D1 variant or even saving a bit more for a used M8. I do have a C-V 28/1.9 Ultron that I could dedicate to a DRF body, it doesn't get much use on the M6.

I just don't see the GF1 as being the silver bullet for my shooting style. Maybe the rumored Oly with built-in EVF would do it.

If something spec'd like the X1 with a decent viewfinder added would come along in M4/3, I'd be more interested... cut out all the geegaws and gadgets, give me a "real" camera that just happens to take M4/3 glass.

Imagine M4/3 body with a good built-in EVF (no RF) and the X1 top plate and backside control set with the focus ring on the lenses. Keep the thumb wheel but make its function user assignable - I might want it to be exposure compensation, but you may want it to be ISO and she may want it to be WB. User's choice.

(And yes - I'm rebelling against the "no gear Sunday" movement! :D )
 
Played with the GF1 yesterday on a demo day from the dealers. The optional VF is small. The Dial button at the back of the camera is better than the G1 which is located below the shutter. It is a tiny camera with lots of buttons on it, so there is limited among of space for the thumb. Felt more solid then the G1, but it suppose to be lighter. But I still find the CL to be more comfortable than the GF1.
They should be able to lock the buttons on the camera, they can do it on cell phones, why not on a camera?
 
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