hotshoe finder with a g1 or g2

[northeast16th]

anyone tried using a hotshoe finder with a g1 or g2? because i've heard the camera's finder is a bit pathetic, so i figure you could get a third party hotshoe mount finder and get used to it pretty quick. only question is the accuracy of the autofocus. for anyone who has tried, would love to hear what you think. i was thinking of getting a 35mm hotshoe finder, which would work well with the older non-green sticker g1 models.

just a though, but maybe some of you have some insight on why it would or wouldn't work well.

cheers!

scott

 

[cysewski]

First it works great, because the autofocus on the G1 is actually excellent. I have been using the 17mm Olympus and Finder on a G1 for street photography and am impressed. Actually the finder on the G1 is also excellent. What is amazing is that I have a finder, and LCD, and a viewfinder viewing system on a single camera. I am anxious to try the 20mm to see how it works.
Steve

 

[chilohm]

First it works great, because the autofocus on the G1 is actually excellent. I have been using the 17mm Olympus and Finder on a G1 for street photography and am impressed. Actually the finder on the G1 is also excellent. What is amazing is that I have a finder, and LCD, and a viewfinder viewing system on a single camera. I am anxious to try the 20mm to see how it works.
Steve

I think you might be talking about the digital Panasonic G1 and not the Contax film camera!

I have used a Contax G2 for a few years now, and have got used to the viewfinder. Although it is small, it is bright and clear, and the way it auto zooms to the lens you have attached is great. You would have to use an accessory viewfinder for the 21 and 16mm lenses, but I wouldn't bother with it otherwise.

BTW the autofocus is great, but you would, of course lose the light-meter display in an accessory viewfinder.

 

[uhligfd]

If you want to use a finder on the hotshoe, unfortunately you will have to have cosmetic surgery first and clip your nose off since it interferes big time with the protruding built in finder. That was my experience with the G2 until I found one of those double hotshoe Voigtlaender accessories. Now my external finders sit to the left of the hotshoe, above the camera and I still have my nose.

Good luck!