new Panasonic GF-1 micro 4/3rds pics leaked

There was a thread on this the other day. And Mike Johnston's just opened one.

Like you, am watching developments closely... :)

I understood Panasonic has IS in the lenses, Olympus in the body. A bit of a shame if you want to use M-mount lenses on the Panasonic, but I don't know how much of a shame - some people have gone through this and said it's not an issue.

Either way, I'll probably go for the GF1. Viewfinder and IS issues don't bother me as much as size and price.
 
FrankS said:
Could this be "the one"?

:)
Click to expand...

No. Can't be.
This form factor is good BUT the proper aspect ratio with regards to the sensor is paramount. I need a 3:2 native aspect ratio not a 4:3.
This form factor, size and weight, with a native 3:2 sensor (aps-c) of equal or better performance. Then, it would be entirely possible that 'it could be the one', for me anyway :)
 
Yes, I'll probably go for the GF1 if the Samsung NX isn't in sight or is too expensive or isn't that good or can only take a slow kit zoom.

And by that time maybe the Zeiss Ikon Digital will be here?
 
The race is on, that's for sure. Exciting times for the rangefinder aesthetic.

Is it true that Pany is not going to use in body IS in their micro 4/3rds? That is a mistake, IMHO. Their in body IS on the LX series in very good and I much prefer in body stabilization, like the Pentax DSLR's, over the in-lens systems. We're not all sports photographers after all - 2 stops is a wonder applied to all my lenses.
 
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DougFord said:
No. Can't be.
This form factor is good BUT the proper aspect ratio with regards to the sensor is paramount. I need a 3:2 native aspect ratio not a 4:3.
This form factor, size and weight, with a native 3:2 sensor (aps-c) of equal or better performance. Then, it would be entirely possible that 'it could be the one', for me anyway :)
Click to expand...

Well, maybe it is time to rethink your take on this camera. The GF-1 is rumored to have the same multi-aspect sensor as the GH-1. As it is my pet fascination within the format, I'll gladly explain it again: the sensor is large enough (and 3:2, I'm told) that it covers the full image circle for 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9 formats. In other words, if you take the diagonal measure of the 4:3 sensor in most fourthirds cameras, it is long enough to cover a 16:9 rectangle with that diagonal and tall enough to cover the 4:3 rectangle. The 3:2 rectangle with that diagonal fits in the middle. On the GH1, you most certainly can shoot 3:2 without it being a crop at all, and I imagine it will be the case here as well.

Of all of the innovations this new format offers, this is my favorite by far. The m43 standard explicitly specifies only the diameter of the image circle, and makes no mention of aspect ratio. Theoretically, an m43 camera with a 1:1 aspect ratio could be released, using the same glass and entirely within spec (we can dream).
 
Panasonic has always had in-lens IS. My understanding is that even the IS in the LX cameras is lens, not sensor, based.

It is disappointing though, and the reason that I'll (likely) wait for the next Olympus compact before deciding what I'll buy. So much great about the E-P1, so much great about the rumored GF-1. So little shared between their greatness.
 
Wiyum said:
Of all of the innovations this new format offers, this is my favorite by far. The m43 standard explicitly specifies only the diameter of the image circle, and makes no mention of aspect ratio. Theoretically, an m43 camera with a 1:1 aspect ratio could be released, using the same glass and entirely within spec (we can dream).
Click to expand...

[FONT=&quot]Image circles are fine but at some point a transducer is used to capture the light.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]For the sake of discussion, the APS-C sensor (3:2) has a surface area of ~370mm2. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]My interest is in using the 3:2 aspect ratio only. Does the GH-1 produce a 3:2 image using a greater surface area (>370mm2) than that of an APS-C sensor? In other words, when measuring the actual surface area of the sensor that’s used to produce a 3:2 image, which sensor uses the greater area (mm2) to produce the 3:2 image? [/FONT]
 
When I need to crop a picture I always try to crop it to maintain 3:2 even if I need to crop out some relevant material. Not sure if I need to see a shrink about this behavior but I prefer my prints be uniform. This isn't a deal breaker for 4:3 and I am sure I'll get used to it...(hands shaking..reaching for shrink's business card).
 
DougFord said:
No. Can't be.
This form factor is good BUT the proper aspect ratio with regards to the sensor is paramount. I need a 3:2 native aspect ratio not a 4:3.
This form factor, size and weight, with a native 3:2 sensor (aps-c) of equal or better performance. Then, it would be entirely possible that 'it could be the one', for me anyway :)
Click to expand...

I hate to break it to you, but Panasonic already uses a multi aspect ratio sensor, so 3:2 is possible wihtout cropping:
Multi-aspect ratio

Like the Panasonic LX3 compact camera the GH1 now uses a multi-aspect ratio sensor. At any aspect ratio (even at 4:3) it only uses a crop from the total available sensor surface which is slightly larger than a standard Four Thirds sensor in order to accomodate the different aspect ratios. At first sight this may seem strange but the result is that the lens offers the same diagonal angle of view regardless of selected aspect ratio, making it much easier to get a feel for the behaviour of the lens. It also means you make the most of the sensor area, getting similar pixel counts in all modes.


So my friend, it could be 'the One'!

It looks promising. Pana is really bringing out interesting cameras these days, and if this cam combines the strong points of the G1 and E-P1, yes then I will be tempted. I really wanted to buy the E-P1, but the mediocre screen and AF put me off. That 20mm looks good too!
 
damnation, every time I buy a new digital camera the next gen comes out. I bought the Ep1 less then a month ago and this panasonic with viewfinder attachment (as it seems) and smaller body is coming not to mention panasonics much better auto focus system and better LCD screens and a flash. The only thing I can be happy with is my EP1 looks a lot better and I hate panasonic's menu system....

Oh well....same thing happend with my GRD, I bought it and two days later the GRDII came out. I bought my EP1 and the next day the GRDIII came out...

to hell with all this digital stuff! :D

ps. I will have that 20mm lens though
 
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Yeah the focus is slower but I found these days shooting photos at night that in low light it is no slower then my old Canon 20D with an L lens on it so yeah not so bad.

I too will buy panasonic and olympus lenses, I want an ultra wide zoom, a normal prime with a ridiculously big aperture (I guess 1.7 will suffice for now) and a nice loooooong zoom or a all in one zoom and a nice prime. Seems Panasonic fills in all these gaps a little too nicely, too bad that ultra wide is so expensive and the all in one 28-300 zoom is monstrously big on my EP1.
 
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Ronald_H said:
I hate to break it to you, but Panasonic already uses a multi aspect ratio sensor, so 3:2 is possible wihtout cropping:
Multi-aspect ratio


So my friend, it could be 'the One'!
Click to expand...

[FONT=&quot]My understanding is that previous gen m4/3 sensors shot at 4000*3000 (12mp effective) for 4:3 mode and if you wanted to shoot 3:2, they just cropped the 4000*3000 image.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“The 2009 Micro Four Thirds camera Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 extends the aspect ratio capabilities to native 16:9 and 3:2 image formats, by incorporating a bigger sensor matrix that uses the full diagonal of the image circle in all three formats. This is called multiaspect capability.”[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The result is 4128*2752 in 3:2 mode @ 11.6mp effective. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Granted, an APS-C native 3:2 will give you a greater surface area but the hit is not as big with this new m4/3 technology as with the old. For me this keeps the m4/3 products using this technology in contention when it comes time to buy. My preference, all things being equal, would be the native 3:2 APS-C sensor. But if some company using the m4/3 multiaspect sensor builds a better camera then that’s the one I buy. For me, multiaspect sensors keep m4/3 in the game and a viable option.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Interesting development in the evolution of this ‘standard’. :)
[/FONT]
 
I travel a lot, and my dream camera has always been a light, large-sensor body with interchangeable lenses. The goal is to carry two bodies, and a set of high-quality zooms and perhaps a couple of primes, plus needed camera accessories (battery chargers), plus a laptop with necessary accessories (power supply), in a carry-on bag that would also hold regular travel stuff -- extra eye-glasses, pens, notebooks, a novel, etc.

All to fit in an overhead, even on smaller regional flights. The m4/3 systems are very close. I have both a G1 and an E-P1, which, in their differences, and their abilities to use the same lenses, are complementary.

I no longer think these will be supplanted by the APS-C systems, because I'm not sure an interchangeable lens system can be made much smaller than the Pentax K7, even if a builder went to a EVF. I have a Nikon system for heavy-duty work with both a D3 and a D300. If you put a G1 next to a D300, you can see that it is definitely smaller, and lots lighter, **but it's not way, way smaller.** an APS-C with an EVF will fall someplace between those. The larger sensors also inherently require larger lenses.

The upshot is, the m4/3 system is a major step for travelers and other people who need a high-quality, but lightweight system, and I don't think APS-C will be able to encroach on that...the K7 may already be approaching the lower limits on size for a full-function APS-C camera.

I'm also intrigued by the idea of a removable, but full-function EVF for the rumored new Panasonic. Again, it makes it easier to pack and to carry, and gives you options in use.

The big drawback to using both the Olympus and Panny cameras together, for a traveler, is that the batteries are different, and you have to carry two bulky chargers. I wish the m4/3 spec had included batteries...

JC
 
From the pics alone this camera shouts "I am The One". Therefore if there is out there a smart folk owning an already obsolete (but lightly used) G1 - I am open minded to help negotiations (by email please)

Be smart and hurry. Tomorrow prices will near zero.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
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