X1, the Son of M8

[cfc247]

I never used a GF1, but I use an E-P1. That is not a DSLR inspired design. I have optical viewfinders for my lenses--12mm, 17mm, and 21mm--and it handles very much like all my viewfinder cameras. The 12mm and 21mm are manual focus lenses with DoF scales, although for a 35mm format camera, but that is easy to compensate for. I do like the idea of the shutter speeds and aperture being on dials on the top of the X1, but it is not that hard to set that with the Olympus controls.

A couple of questions. How do you zone focus with the X1? And why didn't the viewfinder/GF1/20mm combo prove workable?

Thanks for your comment on the E-P1. As for the GF1 w/20mm combo, the only way to manual focus is to use the focus ring on the lens (focus by wire) with no scales of any kind, neither on the lens or the screen. I guess with MF lenses mounted via adapter, the scenario changes a bit. But that makes the camera almost full RF size, with the protrusion of the adapter and lens. Even if one was to find a MF lens for the GF1, it would be terribly slow, unless you buy a 21 summilux at around 5k, or was it 6k? In any case, the only fast lenses available on the GF1 are 35mm and up, making them only good for "bokeh" hunters. There is no affordable or sensible option for a normal lens other than the 20mm pancake.

With the X1, zone focus is acheived via a focusing scale that comes up on the screen in MF mode. Some have complained that the scale does not include a more detailed scheme. I find it very usable since most zone shooting I do is at about 6, 10ft, or infinity.

I hope that answers your question.

 

[jsrockit]

I never used a GF1, but I use an E-P1.

I feel the E-P1 is more DSLR than rangefinder... simply due to the fact that it doesn't have dedicated shutter speed and aperture knobs. I know this is being picky, but it's the same convoluted menus and knobs that do too many things that make the GF1 and E-P1/2 more like DSLRs. These companies need to simplify sometimes.