Who's getting the GF-1?

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I am really interested in the 7-14mm someday. The alternative is the Sigma 10-20/3.5 for my DSLR, which is not much cheaper and is gigantic by comparison. The notion of a tiny little wide zoom really excites me.

 

[Tuolumne]

Japan Exposures carries the 7mm-14mm zoom. It's about $1200 - not cheap, but cheaper than the least expensive Leica lens of any kind.

/T

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Why isn't is available in the US?

 

[Tuolumne]

Why isn't is available in the US?

Beats me. None of the G1 OEM after-market lenses have been available in the US. I had to buy the tele-zoom on eBay from a Canadian seller and the wide zoom from Japan. What gives, Panasonic?

/T

 

[Rhodes]

I will get one, when I have the money for it and/or the GF-5 cames out and the GF-1 is cheap...😀

 

[JoeV]

I still prefer my G1 to all of my other cameras: any film camera, R-D1, even medium format film. I'm not saying it's better - just a hell of alot of fun to use and acceptable or better image quality for me...
/T

Ditto.

It may not be styled like a rangefinder-ish-looking camera, but functionally it's superior than most. And the camera can be configured to be operated in different usage modes. Like flipping the rear LCD to face outward, there you have a basic P&S-style camera (like the E-P1). Or flip the LCD out and facing up like the waist-level viewer on a TLR. Or, you can use the kit lens and shoot it like an SLR. Or adapted lenses with zone focusing and it makes a great street camera, especially with fast glass in dim lighting using the EVF.

Specific to this discussion, the diopter adjustment on the EVF is great for us middle-aged eyeglass wearers.

~joe

 

[ruben]

Along these digi threads I learn many RFF friends associate the classic rangefinder "look" with a rectangular flat and smalll camera..

It is possible that the announced GF with an attached pancake will be pocketable. But then you will have payed for a pocketable chastrated device, and nothing else. My advice: shrink your dreamabout pocketable size dslr and throw it to the basket, instead of throwintg to the basket your money,

Take a G1, do away with its flippable back, do away with its most advanced from all EVF, do away with its hand grip, and here you have small GF !!!

And what kind of pocketable dslr would have you bought that once you take out the pancake and put another lens it will stop from beiing pocketable and start to be a nonsense device.

And if you do not intend to exchange the pancake, what would be the smartness of purchasing an exchangeable lens camera instead of the already exixting P&S ?

And if the optional dismountable EVF will be the difference, will it still be pocketable ?

Your money is your money. I cannot claim that on the long range I have been wiser.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[android]

Here's a shot from the GF1. It was imported into Lightroom and converted to DNG. The export was jpeg & re-size to 800px. Otherwise no modifications ;-)

Here's the scaled down image:

And here's the Flickr page if anyone wants to see the full sized image:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/android_6699/3952180964/

The camera was bought in Japan and, as is the way with Panasonic, it only has Japanese language support. It was quite a bit cheaper than buying in the UK though and my wife being Japanese means she can help me get to grips with some of the more exotic functions though basic usage is fairly simple.

So far it feels like a great little camera. Am hoping to pick up the M-mount adapter this weekend so will upload some pics with random M-mount lens.

Andy

 

[ruben]

Hi Andy,

I am happy you feel you are happy. As for the evidence you are showing us an ISO 100 image, while this micro 4/3 subforum has dealt with ISO 3200 and 1600 raw images.

Best
Ruben

 

[android]

Hi Andy,

I am happy you feel you are happy. As for the evidence you are showing us an ISO 100 image, while this micro 4/3 subforum has dealt with ISO 3200 and 1600 raw images.

Best
Ruben

Sorry if I missed the general gist.. I'll take a couple of shots at ISO 1600/3200 in a day or so and link to those.

 

[Ken Ford]

I've been giving the GF-1 serious consideration, but I'm just not sure. I'd like to see what Olympus has up their sleeve; in addition, I want to see what happens to M8 prices.

The way I see it is the GF-1 with a 20/1.7 plus the EVF and 45/2.8 would set me back almost $2K, at which point a used M8 with my existing CV 28/1.9 and a used 50 is very appealing.

 

[ruben]

Sorry if I missed the general gist.. I'll take a couple of shots at ISO 1600/3200 in a day or so and link to those.

Do it at RAW amd under favourable lighting conditions, meaning that the lower the light the worst will be the final image, even if that low light is within what the camera tells you it can overcome.

Gppd Luck,
Ruben

 

[back alley]

maybe this is not as obvious as i think it is...but, neither the panasonic or the oly m4/3 cameras are a satisfying substitute for a rangefinder camera. my rd1 still feels like and is a rf camera, my g1 is not.

don't get me wrong, i really like my g1 but i sold the 4/3>m adapter because i saw no real need to put my m lenses on it.
i have the rd1 for that.
the g1 is great and tons of fun with it's kit lenses and they are impressive lenses.

i don't think it's an either or decision, having both is ideal but for an rf aficionado it's the rd1 or one of the leica drfs.

 

[android]

maybe this is not as obvious as i think it is...but, neither the panasonic or the oly m4/3 cameras are a satisfying substitute for a rangefinder camera. my rd1 still feels like and is a rf camera, my g1 is not.

Absolutely but I bet a lot of people here have different reasons for their love of rangefinder cameras. I became interested when a good friend showed me his Bessa while I was hauling around a Canon DSLR. I never felt comfortable with the Canon's bulk and ended up switching to the R-D1s because it was smaller and created extremely high quality images.

So for me rangefinders were always more about size and quality. The focusing system I can take or leave (though a viewfinder is preferable). Now the micro 4/3 system is here and I believe that for the first time the rangefinder doesn't have as much appeal as it once did... I guess I just don't feel that sentimental about the kit, it was always the end result.

Anyway, this is probably the wrong forum to pitch 4/3 over an RF! Anyone that wanted to see the GF1 perform at 3200 ISO, here's a shot that I've admittedly played around with in Lightroom. I know the request was for certain photographic conditions but I don't feel that inclined to put up a series of low quality shots as I'm sure there will be reviewers that do that soon.

Here's the link to Flickr page if anyone wants to see it any larger.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/android_6699/3955672266/

Sorry if I haven't demonstrated the camera any better but there is a GF1 Flickr pool. There are many examples there.

Andy

 

[ruben]

Here's the link to Flickr page if anyone wants to see it any larger.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/android_6699/3955672266/

Sorry if I haven't demonstrated the camera any better but there is a GF1 Flickr pool. There are many examples there.

Andy

On the contrary Andy, I think you have shown here something new: the combination of the GF with the 20mm f/1.7 new lens.

I do not know the level of your lightroom play, but the result looks more than srespectable for iso 3200.


Cheers,
Ruben

 

[ryanwhalen]

I just put a deposit on one of these today here in Taipei. I sold all my dslr gear in anticipation of buying an EP1. But I was disappointed when I handled it. I've been waiting since for this thing to hit the streets. My patience has run out, so I'm buying a Japanese import which should be here this week. The price is right, and I want a digi cam again. I plan on putting a VC 40mm viewfinder on top of it and using it like I use my CL (but all digitized with autofocus...).

If anyone has a link to an English or Chinese manual that'd be great. I can't read Japanese, so I'm going to need a manual to help me figure out the features on the Japanese camera. Also, why doesn't Panasonic provide language options? Is it some sort of marketing control issue? I've only had Konica-Minolta/Sony digi cams before and they've always let me choose my language from a menu...

 

[ryanwhalen]

I forgot to add that I also bought a Canon 55/1.2 on ebay last night ($100, seems good for such a huge hunk of glass). I plan on adapting this and using as a portrait lens. I'll post results when I get all the gear in the same room.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

October 20

October 20

Excellent, please do post the photos. I think I'm sold on the thing...does anyone know when it's shipping?

I'm seriously interested in this one. It has a viewfinder, is not to bulky or heavy, is about 1/3rd the price of a D300s, will take my CV/Leica lenses with one adaptor and all my legacy Nikkor Prime SLR lenses with another.

Major outlet today tells me they'll have stock in Sydney on October 20th. I just want to view and handle it before laying down the folding stuff.

 

[atelier7]

i'm interested. do you think the GF1 will "develop" into a system? or will it be too exclusive, i.e few third party options and expensive pany prices meaning most will end up using the GF1 as a one body, maybe 2 lens (short zoom and prime) kit?

 

[Ezzie]

I'm more than tempted too. But might have to sell a camera to do it. The R-D1 or the D2X. And I don't want to sell either really.