Small digital

[giellaleafapmu]

Dear All,

about a year ago I asked about a possible small digital
camera with great image quality but at that time almost no
options were available (the only ones being Leica M8 and
Epson). Now it seems that finally something is coming to the
market. Namely, the new micro 4/3 format with the Lumix G1
and, in the future, the Olympus, and the Sigma models dp-1
and dp-2 and, and of course used Epsons (I do not count the
Leica here just because of its high price). Does any of you
have experience with any of these modes (I know for some of
them the only possible experience can be having seen the
prototype at a show but that is already something).
Specifically, if you had the chance of buying a Epson at a
decent price would you go ahed or would you wait for some of
the new products or would you save some money and go for the
Sigma?

GLF

 

[majid]

You can attach the Voigtlander, Zeiss or Sigma optical VF to the DP-1's hot shoe. Its high-ISO performance is disappointing for a large-sensor camera, and handling is far from responsive, but the image quality is absolutely superb.

Remember, the 4/3 format (and thus micro-4/3) has half the surface area of APS-C and 1/4 that of full-frame. All 4/3 cameras so far have poor high-ISO performance. The 4/3 sensor format is simply too small. If Fuji came out with a 4/3 sensor using the same technology in the F30/F31fd, there might be a chance, but Samsung's APS-sized compact line is more likely to deliver a camera with DSLR level low-light performance.

The Epson R-D1 will beat any compact in low light, and it also outperforms the M8, mostly because it has fewer pixels. If you slap on a 40mm f/1.4 Nokton, it is also relatively compact (fits in a coat pocket).

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

If you like a fixed 28 FOV then the DP1 is worth a look depending on what you like to shoot. It is slow, has an very poor LCD and is quirky in its handling but the RAW files have plenty of data and if you have a preference in for b/w then converting them via TrueGrain makes the high ISO not such an issue. ISO 50 is very sweet indeed. I use it a lot but it's certainly not suitable for everything i want to shoot. The GRD and GRD2 are very interesting as well for making certain kinds of images with the same 28 FOV.

 

[Migracer]

In the real world....

In the real world....

In my opinion...Digitals have their obvious place in our world, but film does to. Unless you are shooting for commercial advertising, billboards or making prints larger than 45 inches by 34 inches any of the 8 MP cameras with a state of the art lens (Leica,Zeis,Canon,Nikon) take absolutely fantastic photos. The caveat is, shoot at the lowest ISO, turn down or off the noise reduction, use the anty shake. Heck! I even shoot in very low light at ISO 100 and no, no flash. I will glad to email any one that wants to make up their own minds some examples shot with a 8 mp camera. Or down load the unmodified images from the test done by Digital Camera Review. Look at them in your photo editor and decide. Maybe one of the big four will license the Foveon X3 sensor used by Sigma, in my opinion the layered sensors give the most film like quality to digital images. It is a shame that Sigma does not have the horsepower to take it to the next level
http://www.dpreview.com/

Being a bit of a Mad Scientist My ideal digital Camera would be the Leica Digilux 1/Panasonic Lumix LC5 with a modern 10 MP chip. I am gathering parts now you will be the first to know..:bang:

I will take my soap box and go. Thanks!

One last trick I took this shot Friday morning with the digital. I under expose by at least 1/3 stop, download this image put it in your editor and modify the luminance to see the detail in the dark lower right of the image.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I feel compelled to point out that the Epson's IQ IS superb, at least in my view. 6MP may be small by today's standards, but I have not taken a single photo that I feel is lacking in resolution.

 

[retnull]

Did I see someone post a link to a adapter to put M-mount lenses onto micro 4/3 cameras (such as Panasonic G1)? Something from a Japanese site. (...or perhaps I dreamt it, while reading RFF while sleepwalking.)

 

[kuzano]

4/3 and M4/3 is exactly half full frame,, not 1/4

4/3 and M4/3 is exactly half full frame,, not 1/4

And the new Panasonic Lumix G1 is getting rave reviews and examples shown of low noise up to 1600. Spend a little time on the 4/3rds user sites.

I'm waiting on the smaller format M43 from Olympus, but if that was not in the works, I'd have ordered the G1 after seeing some of the results users are posting.

Smaller than the Oly 420.. good comments on the EVF, half frame 12mp sensor, contrast detection AF, interchangable lens system with two up already and adaptors for all the OLY, Pana/leica 4/3rds lenses.

 

[kuzano]

A picture of the Oly Micro 4/3 with lens adaptor.

A picture of the Oly Micro 4/3 with lens adaptor.

And here is a recent pic from a korean site of the Olympus Micro 4/3 mockup with the adaptor to take the full stable of full 4/3rds lenses, including the Panasonic/Leica variants for 4/3.

Naturally this adds to the size of the package, but with the 28mm pancake on the front, it's a coat pocket combo.

10 or 12Mp if they use the new sensor used in the Panasonic Lumix G1.