my g1 arrived today

[washy21]

Whilst popping out for a sandwich at lunch yesterday I went into the local camera shop and had a hold of the G1. Must admit to being underwhelmed - I certainly think the M adaptor is key and does make it interesting, but the camera itself was just another modern digital camera to me.

That's exactly how I felt Austerby. I had my hands on one and very nearly took the plunge; however, something stopped me: namely, the styling of the damn thing, which sounds ridiculous, but don't we make a lot of purchases are how we feel about design? I'm waiting to see what happens with the Olympus 4/3 or I might look at the Sigma DP2 when it arrives (Not interchangeable).

I'm probably like a lot of people here that wants rangefinder styling with the ability to take LTM or LM lenses. It does seem that no one wants to engage fully with that concept other than Leica themselves.

In a nutshell - I NEED a cheaper smaller interchangeable lens camera to chuck in my bag - one that if it goes down I won't cry at the cost of replacement. Yes the G1 would meet that need but the designers have failed to turn that need into the 'I WANT IT NOW' feeling that one gets from time to time.

😱

 

[Ronald_H]

Whilst popping out for a sandwich at lunch yesterday I went into the local camera shop and had a hold of the G1. Must admit to being underwhelmed - I certainly think the M adaptor is key and does make it interesting, but the camera itself was just another modern digital camera to me. The viewfinder was good and the size handy but it didn't immediately say "buy me" when I picked it up. When the time comes that I want to replace my (perfectly adequate) D70 then I'll certainly be looking at what is available in this mount.

Really? I did the same a few weeks ago. I admit I don't think much of the faux SLR styling but it has its advantages. It's very inconspicious. It looks like an older compact, or a recent SLR look-a-like. Add a blue or red color and no one will take it seriously. But it IS basically a very decent digital camera, on par with good entry level SLRs. Which means it is very good. A good photographer will be able to do amazing things with it.

Amazing is also the word for the manual focus implementation. I hear people complain about it, but frankly I suspect that they are not yet mentally prepared to admit it is actually better than any other camera, ever. Surely nothing can be better than an M Leica, especially not this toy-like soccermom digital camera with a Panasonic nameplate on it? I very much admire the thought that has gone into it, on so many levels. Maybe you would have done it differently, but they did think long and hard. It feels very sorted.

All those adapaters are also a big plus, but the crop factor is limiting for some kinds of photography. But people who like to use fast, longer lenses will be deliriously happy with it.

To me it screams 'buy me' louder than anything since, well ever. Yet I resist. The promise of HD video added to this package keep me from buying. If they implement it as well as the rest of the camera it will be so fantastic. HD video shot with Leica primes? FANTASTIC!

Btw, I owned a D70 and it will be adequate for the rest of your life, only people will laugh at your paltry 6Mp...

 

[Austerby]

Btw, I owned a D70 and it will be adequate for the rest of your life, only people will laugh at your paltry 6Mp...

😀

I know. Having an out-dated digital camera is much more radical these days than using a film camera.

BTW I don't doubt that the G1 is a fine camera, it's just that it doesn't meet any of my current needs. I very much look forward to the shots that others produce with it and I do recognise it as being the most interesting and significant development in digital cameras in recent times.

I don't doubt at some point I will have a micro 4/3 digital with M-adaptor but not yet and not this model.

 

[gdi]

Really? I did the same a few weeks ago. I admit I don't think much of the faux SLR styling but it has its advantages. It's very inconspicious. It looks like an older compact, or a recent SLR look-a-like. Add a blue or red color and no one will take it seriously. But it IS basically a very decent digital camera, on par with good entry level SLRs. Which means it is very good. A good photographer will be able to do amazing things with it.

Amazing is also the word for the manual focus implementation. I hear people complain about it, but frankly I suspect that they are not yet mentally prepared to admit it is actually better than any other camera, ever. Surely nothing can be better than an M Leica, especially not this toy-like soccermom digital camera with a Panasonic nameplate on it? I very much admire the thought that has gone into it, on so many levels. Maybe you would have done it differently, but they did think long and hard. It feels very sorted.

All those adapaters are also a big plus, but the crop factor is limiting for some kinds of photography. But people who like to use fast, longer lenses will be deliriously happy with it.

To me it screams 'buy me' louder than anything since, well ever. Yet I resist. The promise of HD video added to this package keep me from buying. If they implement it as well as the rest of the camera it will be so fantastic. HD video shot with Leica primes? FANTASTIC!

Btw, I owned a D70 and it will be adequate for the rest of your life, only people will laugh at your paltry 6Mp...

Sounds like the greatest thing you never bought ! 🙄

I am reserving final judgement on manual focusing in very low light until I get an adapter. But I can assure you the perception that focusing an M8 at F5.6 in the dark is a lot easier than the G1 is not a result of my lack of mental preparation. 🙂

 

[washy21]

HD video shot with Leica primes? FANTASTIC!

Oh my God - my Noctilux - what would that look like.

I too am concerned with the manual focus; more specifically, how easy/quick is it to operate with a leica lens. I suppose I could be tempted, but it's issues like this I have to sort out in my head. My camera shop has the G1 but no adapters. I would probably just have to take the plunge and if I was dissapointed then so be it.

The Olympus prototype looks good, but again it looks like there will be no EVF. If that is the case I won't buy that either; okay you can probably obtain external VF but how accurate will it be.

But not to worry - I'll have to make do with the M8 and Noctilux for now.

😛😛😛:dance:

 

[Ronald_H]

But not to worry - I'll have to make do with the M8 and Noctilux for now.

😛😛😛:dance:

I feel your pain... 😛 But you do realize that a single scratch on the barrel of that Nocti will cost you more in resale value than a G1 + lenses, do you?

The G1 is dead impressive... to me. YMMV of course. The M8 is creeping into 'affordable' territory for me (everything is relative), but for that amount of money I'd rather buy a Nikon D300 + G1 or a Nikon D700.

All of this of course doesn't substract one bit of the sheer joy I feel when burning Tri-X in my M2...

 

[Dralowid]

I've had a look at the camera with kit lens. I'm half way there. To help me with my indecision I have resolved to get an M or maybe an R adaptor first, try the thing out in my friendly store and then decide. If it all goes wrong the adaptor goes to 'That Auction Site'. Nearly there....

Michael

 

[RayPA]

You jumped!!! Congratulations. My birthday is around PMA time so for now I have not.

Thanks!

@Austerby: I think that's what makes the camera so interesting. It is underwhelming at first (my first thoughts too). It has a stripped down feeling to it without a lot of "heft," certainly not on par with an M body or pro gear at all. Of course, the proof is in putting the thing to use, which I haven't really done—beyond walking around the house taking snaps and page-turning through the manual. However, Panasonic seems to have done it right. The features that matter, the lens, the evf, the ergos, are very nice. There is something special/different about this camera.


.

 

[back alley]

i find the camera addictive. it's all i have been using since i got it.

 

[washy21]

I feel your pain... 😛 But you do realize that a single scratch on the barrel of that Nocti will cost you more in resale value than a G1 + lenses, do you?

LOL. Yes, but you only live once and I try to be careful with it - I take it that on th G1 it would be a 100mm f1 - I bet that takes some focusing.🙄🙄😉

 

[Tuolumne]

i find the camera addictive. it's all i have been using since i got it.

I was too embarrassed to admit it, but so long as you went first...me, too. Actually I have been shooting my M4-P but every time I see the results I think, "That would have been better with the G1."

/T

 

[splitimageview]

🙂 The G1 is indeed fun. You know it's getting addictive when you have been using a 50mm lens on it, and then go to another camera with a 50mm, and say 'wow, that's a pretty wide angle!'

 

[kxl]

Joe - Congrats!!! I am seriously thinking of getting one for 3 reasons:

1. Complement my current gear
2. point and shoot with the kit lens
3. Be able to use my M-mount lenses on it - the prospect of using my CV 35/1.2 on it as a low light portrait lens is making me salivate

However, it that third bullet item that is giving me pause. Anecdotally, I have heard that in low light, manual focusing gets a little tricky, especially when swinging from relative darkness (e.g., a typical street scene at dusk) to a light source (e.g., a street lamp). I have also heard that you pretty much have to open up your lens to its max aperture for easy focus, and that trying to focus when stopped down, such as f5.6 or less, gets a little dicey. Again, these are all Internet anecdotes (so they must be true 😀)

So, until are more G1 owners and the m4/3 to M adapters are more widely used, especially with fast lenses in low light, I may try to control my GAS.

 

[Tuolumne]

🙂 The G1 is indeed fun. You know it's getting addictive when you have been using a 50mm lens on it, and then go to another camera with a 50mm, and say 'wow, that's a pretty wide angle!'

That's funny! 😀

/T

 

[splitimageview]

However, it that third bullet item that is giving me pause. Anecdotally, I have heard that in low light, manual focusing gets a little tricky, especially when swinging from relative darkness (e.g., a typical street scene at dusk) to a light source (e.g., a street lamp). I have also heard that you pretty much have to open up your lens to its max aperture for easy focus, and that trying to focus when stopped down, such as f5.6 or less, gets a little dicey. Again, these are all Internet anecdotes (so they must be true 😀)

The EVF will adjust pretty quickly from a dark scene, to a bright scene. It's not instantaneous though.

Not necessary to open up to max aperture to focus, except in VERY dim light, dim enough that handholding isn't even possible (without flash.)

Focusing stopped down is easy if the ambient light is sufficient. If not, open up the aperture. 🙂

 

[George S.]

I've been interested but there's a few concerns holding me back.
1. I want to see the Olympus first
2. Joe, it may be me, but your shots look a bit underexposed. And I like vibrant color, (not cartoonishly vibrant) which I don't see.
3. Not sure how I'll like not going w i d e. I have the ZM 25 also.
4. Joe, your lenses posted in your signature are all 50mm and wider. Let's see how you feel about the crop factor in 3 months.
5. My Olympus E-410 is also quite small with the 25mm pancake lens on it, and I have a real VF and a largish LCD screen. And the 410 gives me a lot of creative control already. And the kit lens is 14mm (28 in the real world, not too bad)

It would be a huge plus for me to be able to use Leica lenses on one, but the crop factor is a sticking point for me. (You could have guessed that already, huh?)
I can already use some very fine Olympus OM lenses on the -410.
Arrrgh! I thought I was getting this GAS under control....

 

[back alley]

I've been interested but there's a few concerns holding me back.
1. I want to see the Olympus first
2. Joe, it may be me, but your shots look a bit underexposed. And I like vibrant color, (not cartoonishly vibrant) which I don't see.
3. Not sure how I'll like not going w i d e. I have the ZM 25 also.
4. Joe, your lenses posted in your signature are all 50mm and wider. Let's see how you feel about the crop factor in 3 months.
5. My Olympus E-410 is also quite small with the 25mm pancake lens on it, and I have a real VF and a largish LCD screen. And the 410 gives me a lot of creative control already. And the kit lens is 14mm (28 in the real world, not too bad)

It would be a huge plus for me to be able to use Leica lenses on one, but the crop factor is a sticking point for me. (You could have guessed that already, huh?)
I can already use some very fine Olympus OM lenses on the -410.
Arrrgh! I thought I was getting this GAS under control....

i also want to see what oly comes out with and i hope they do something soon.
i like that darker look as oppossed to more greys in a scene. i don't think the g1 shots are very much different than my film shots.
i am worried about wide and hope that panasonic comes out with something to fill that need.
i am very much looking forward to the 20/1.7 that is in the works. it could be my next street lens.

as for wides, i do have the 21 zm lens and 2 film cameras and i have a 12-24 sigma for the sony a300 so i can still meet that need head on for now.

as i've said before, the ability to use my zm lenses on the g1 is a treat and a bonus.
the g1 kit lens is 14-45 (28-90) and is sharp, small and focusses silently so i am quite happy with it as street lens. and the small 45-200 (90-400) is very easy to use and reasonably sharp.

for now i am a happy camper.

 

[Diane B]

as for wides, i do have the 21 zm lens and 2 film cameras and i have a 12-24 sigma for the sony a300 so i can still meet that need head on for now.

as i've said before, the ability to use my zm lenses on the g1 is a treat and a bonus.
the g1 kit lens is 14-45 (28-90) and is sharp, small and focusses silently so i am quite happy with it as street lens. and the small 45-200 (90-400) is very easy to use and reasonably sharp.

for now i am a happy camper.

Don't you think the 7-14 f/4 will handle the wide end if its good? I have the 12-24 (and several other WA zooms) for my 5D so I'm covered for now also. I'm looking forward more to the 20 f/1.7--hope its soon, but I, too, am a happy camper.

Diane

 

[back alley]

i prefer something a bit wider than 28. the 25 was fine till i got the 21.

joe

 

[splitimageview]

I'm hoping the 7-14 is a stunner. It's going to be so small...my kit would be 7-14, 20/1.7, and a variety of adapted primes. The kit lens is excellent but too slow for me.