Panasonic GF-2 or Panasonic LX-5

jamesj

jamesj

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Im wanting to jump into digital and i'm not to sure what i want. I like the LX-5. I like that I can use the external Panasonic DMW-VF1 instead of the screen on the camera.

But i'm really liking the GF2 I would try to get it with the 20mm / F1.7. The only thing I really do not like is the silly touch screen, I also like that i can buy extra lenses.

Im used to using my canonet ql17 and yashica GT. so this is really new for me. I have read reviews online but i figure you guys are the best to ask and you have always been filled with information. any help would be appreciated.
 
Between these two, I'd go for the GF2 or even a GF1 with the 20/1.7, with an EVF. if you're used to the Canonet QL17 you'll get the same focal length/speed, which should make things feel more "at home". Also, with a bigger sensor you'll get shallower depth of field that you couldn't achieve with a compact.

I had an LX3, which is much similar to the LX5, and even though it's a pretty good camera, it still has a small sensor and is not pocketable. To carry around a camera which isn't pocketable, I'd take the GF2 instead. If you're looking for a pocketable digital compact, the s95 would be it. The advantage of the LX5 would be the zoom lens, more versatile, and a 24mm f2 at its widest is quite nice to have.

I feel the camera size to sensor size ratio is better on the GF2 than on the LX5.
 
Get a GF1, G1, or GH1. They are much more flexible than the LX-5 and don't have the silly touch screens of the GF2 or G2. The GF1 is hard to get now but the G1s and GH1s are available and are heavily discounted.
 
You may consider the gh1, it is mostly (except form factor) like the the gf1 but with evf. You can get it new at panasonic for really cheap. Check the panasonic fan page for great deal on the gh1.
 
If you have a choice between the two, get the GF2 + 20/1.7. However, it might be cheaper to get a GF1+20/1.7 kit as the GF2 doesn't come with the 20mm as a kit.

I had the LX-3 and still have the GF1. The LX-3/LX-5 are lovely, small and great for small sensor cameras, however, the focus speed and better.... I can't explain it any more than 'smoother' / 'less sketchy' of the 4/3 cameras is worth the extra weight.

Oh, and don't discount the GF2 touchscreen as 'silly' just from what people write on the internet - I had a play and it was nicely implemented. And, if you're used to a canonet, how often would you be changing settings &c. anyway?
 
thanx guys. Yeah thats what I was thinking i just needed comformation. My friend has a GF1 and she said she loves it.

I would be ordering the camera through work on a credit card and i might just have to go with the GF2, i think i can get over the touch screen.

@kully thanx for the information about the touchscreen. and as for switching lenses i would not be doing that much.
 
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you don't have to use the touch screen (i have read)...i might wait for the new g3...it seems like it has the best of all the previous models combined.
 
btw, there is a guy in the local flickr group that started to carry a lx3 around with him and is doing some incredible street portraits with it.

i just picked one up for about 200 bucks.
 
i have him bookmarked but have not visited that site in quite a while, my bad.

i need to use my little lx3 more than i have...
 
I was just in Hong Kong at the official Panasonic store trying out lenses and the rep there showed me a GF2 with the viewfinder thing. He and I agreed the Olympus one was much better, he also mentioned that a he uses panasonic lenses but on oly cameras because of color responce and because the viewfinder. If the viewfinder is important to you try one out first, you might be surprised how poor it is compared to the Oly one.
 
@avotius thanx for that, its nice to know.

I had used the olympus one at i think best buy awhile ago, i liked the oly ep2.

maybe i should just go off the wall and get a Ricoh GRD III
 
I have a GF1 with EVF +20mm/1.7 as well as a G1. The G1 has a great EVF, bigger and better than the GF1 but i prefer using the GF1 as it is smaller and feels better in use. The Oly evf is said to be better but at a cost of being unbelievably ugly. If the evf is the decider i would go for a G1,G2 or GH1. As said many times the pana 20mm/1.7 is a brilliant lens.
 
i had a grd and it was great fun...it has 'snap' feature which makes it perfect for street shooting.

for a p&s though i prefer a short zoom - different from my regular cameras, no zoom - i like having an alternative that is less like my regular shooters.
 
jamesj said:
What do you guys think of the Ricoh GRD III?

I have always wanted a GR1.
Click to expand...

The GRD series of cameras have the best ergo of all p&s cams out there I've had/played with. However, I had chosen the lx5 between the two because of the fast wide zoom on the Panny.
What I had done was setup my own "snap" mode on the lx5 giving me my own GRD, but without it's incredible handling of course.

To your original question... the Gf1/gf2 + 20 seems to be more of what you're used to given you're a canonet user. The EVF, though it's crappy, was important to me because mainly of its ability to tilt.... plus when it's bright out, it's hard to see the back of the gf1. You can always buy a 40mm VF from Voigtlander and the like...
 
I agree about those GR cameras. I love Ricoh's attention to true photo tool detail. They are fantastic and small, easy to use and highly customizable. The GRDIII is something I was seriously interested in when I got my EP1 but I wanted image stabilization and interchangeable lenses, otherwise I would get a GRDIII or GRX
 
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