Panasonic Lumix GM-1

[Prest_400]

I'm posting here as it's been about a couple of days since this camera appeared around on the web and nothing on here about it!
The Sony A7(r) has taken all the attention. And its got the right to, being what it is (First FF EVIL)

Well, it seems a diminutive body that should work well (size wise) with the pancake primes plus the pancake zoom it is introduced with. Seemingly an attack to the last wave of compacts with big sensor (RX100, GR, Nikon A).
Plus shrinks the body package of m4/3 options.
Heck, the EPL2 with kit zoom (14-42) is on the same ballpark size wise to my OM-1 with 50 1.8.

700$. I got an EPL2 that I got for a third of that on sale and now I don't yet want change; BUT, introducing this camera perhaps stirs up the sector and brings more options.

 

[GaryLH]

It is not a badly spec'd camera. On the surface, it does look like a it maybe a good seller. I am actually more interested to c how well the new pancake kit zoom does. I don't like the 12-50 that same w/ my omd-em5.

In terms of gr, rx100 and coolpix type competition, it is close, but a tad too thick for those who wear tight fitting pants for everyday, take anywhere put it in your front pocket usage..but doable. In terms of other aspects, closer to rx100 or Fuji qm1 competition IMHO.

For me, I would love to c someone do a foveon like sensor in m43 or 1 inch w/ a pancake 35 fov fixed lens, that I could put in my pocket instead.

If u are a gear head into digital... What a great time we live in. 😀
Gary

 

[Godfrey]

Fit the tiny 14mm f/2.5 and it will be a delightful pocketable that can also be used with other lenses in a pinch. I just wish they'd put a hot shoe on top so I could use an optical 28mm viewfinder.

G

 

[maitani]

unfortunately the new sony announcement, is embarrassing for panasonic and olympus
they lost all the advance they had, not listening to their customers will cost them more than just a few customers.
the small body argument is gone. selling used m43 has become impossible (even pretty recent models )i lately proposed an ep1 for free to somebody and they gratefully rejected.

 

[FrozenInTime]

unfortunately the new sony announcement, is embarrassing for panasonic and olympus
they lost all the advance they had, not listening to their customers will cost them more than just a few customers.
the small body argument is gone. selling used m43 has become impossible (even pretty recent models )i lately proposed an ep1 for free to somebody and they gratefully rejected.

The GM1 is not targeted at the same customers.
It's for those upgrading from a 1/1.7 or 1/2.3" sensor compact.
It looks to be a really tiny camera

 

[kdemas]

The GM1 is a neat little unit and let's not forget that lens size is a benefit of m4/3. Good (not world beating) IQ with high quality tiny lenses. I have a Sony A7R on order but those lenses are anything but small. A bit apples and oranges in my opinion.

I love my m4/3 gear, surprisingly good.

 

[Godfrey]

unfortunately the new sony announcement, is embarrassing for panasonic and olympus
they lost all the advance they had, not listening to their customers will cost them more than just a few customers.
the small body argument is gone. selling used m43 has become impossible (even pretty recent models )i lately proposed an ep1 for free to somebody and they gratefully rejected.

I disagree. I'm one of Olympus' customers, and they've done exactly what I wanted them to do. So has Panasonic, with their superb Leica-designed lens offerings. Note that I have a Leica M9 too, because it delivers what I wanted in a digital rangefinder camera. The new Sonys don't compete as a rangefinder.

It's mostly the equipment fetishists who swoon over the holy grail of FF this or that.

G

 

[bonatto]

Panasonic had something special with the GF1....

Nice to see this in such a compact form factor, but for me it begs the question, why?

Pentax tried it with the cute Q line, so it may appeal to that crowd, but now with a larger sensor.

I remember my mother once blurting something out in praise of that old M3 styled Minox. I guess manufacturers are free to follow at will. Others, chose to innovate, and as we can see with Fuji and now with Sony, it may be paying off.

Panasonic and olympus diluted their offerings, and I got tired of trying to keep up.

 

[aizan]

the gm1 competes most directly with cameras like the nikon j3, pentax q7, and sony nex-3n. seems like a very decent option. i would not mind a leica rebrand.

 

[Prest_400]

With the 20mm 1.7 it seems a little killer. Reminds me of my dad's Trip 35 on a concept side.
Foveon in m4/3. Now that would be nice! I like the more film rendering it has. However, people complain about its ISO performance. ISO 1600 is all I ever need every once in a while.

m4/3 is that middle land... True that it seems to be pushed above and below.
For DoF control (as some say; IMO, funny term) m4/3 has more DoF with smaller lenses which is better for wide and deep shooting (street scenes, interior, etc).
One thing that frustrates me a bit (on the print side) is that despite 4:3 is used by many compacts... It requires a bit of work around... Then frames and storage accessories still are stuck at 4:5 proportions. 2:3 has relatively OK options.

Obviously there is no comparison, market wise, to the Sony A7r. However, the sony has snatched the attention of everyone everywhere!

I am amused that it took too long to miniaturise Full frame again. 35mm could get quite small (those little compacts) with small lenses (not f2's however) but it was done.

Well, let's wait for a digital Rollei 35 😀 Now that would kill.
I'm one of those that like the market for "big" compacts. Can do fine with a small prime.