Today we are featuring the fourth micro 4/3 camera in the market after the Panasonic Lumix G1, GH1, and the Olympus E-P1 Digital PEN, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1. I had the opportunity to attend a pre-media introduction of the GF1 courtesy of Panasonic Singapore. This hands-on preview is not meant to be a full-fledge review but a mere walk-through of the camera, sample photographs, and my personal opinion based on the units that were available for me to test.
Note: The units are not production units and are pre-production samples, final product may have slight firmware and software differences than the unit(s) reviewed. Illustration images are shot with a Canon DSLR and a Panasonic TZ-3, specific images shot with the Lumix DMC-GF1 will be showed in the caption, if no caption is specified, it was NOT shot with the GF1. All images are either cropped and/or resized, no further image corrections were applied. RAW was not tested. First, the official specs according to Panasonic:
Sensor • 4/3 type MOS (‘Live MOS sensor’) • 13.06 million total pixels • 12.11 million effective pixels • RGB (Primary) color filter array
LCD monitor • 3.0″ Low temperature Polycrystalline TFT LCD • 3:2 aspect ratio • Wide viewing angle • 460,000 dots • 60 fps • Approx 100% frame coverage • Brightness (7 levels), Color (7 levels) • Modes: Off / Auto Power LCD / Power LCD
Focus modes • Auto Focus • Manual focus • Face Detection • AF Tracking • 23-Area-Focusing/1 Area Focusing • Single or Continuous AF • AF detection range: EV 0-18 (F3.5 lens, ISO 100) • Pre AF (Quick AF/Continuous AF), AF+MF, MF Assist(5x, 10x)
Flash • Manual pop-up • TTL auto / manual • Guide no. 6.0 (ISO 100, m) • Sync modes: Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction, Slow syncro with red-eye reduction, Slow syncro • 1st /2nd curtain sync • Flash power: Up to +/- 2EV in 1/3 EV steps • Flash X-sync speed 1/160 sec
Kit lens options • Lumix 20mm F1.7 G ASPH (pancake) • Lumix G Vario 14-45mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Sensitivity ISO 100-3200 Dimensions 119 mm x 71 mm x 36.3 mm Weight (body only) Approx. 285 g (10.05 oz)
The key competitor for the GF1 would be the popular Olympus E-P1. The E-P1 is extremely popular and has been selling like hotcakes world-wide. The retro design of the Olympus made many buyers put the new sensor/mount format question aside and embraced the form factor of the camera and lens while accepting the benefit of having a small camera with large sensor benefits.
The Olympus is not perfect, however, with some glaring issues with auto-focus that made many users, like myself, feel it’s an “unfinished” product, no matter how revolutionary it may have been. Panasonic attempts to bridge the technological superiority of their expensive Lumix GH1, form factor of the E-P1, and providing features that were left out from the Olympus.
The Panasonic GF1 will be sold in two kit packages in Singapore, Kit One being the body plus the Lumix G Vario 14-45mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH, while Kit Two will include the Lumix 20mm F1.7 G ASPH “pancake” prime lens. No local prices were available as of this writing.
Additional auto-focus lenses from Panasonic include the Panasonic Leica D Summilux 25mm F1.4 ASPH, Panasonic Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-50mm F3.8-5.6 ASPH. Mega OIS, Panasonic Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-150mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH. Mega OIS, and the Leica DG Macro Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 Macro.
Leica DG Macro Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 Macro
The Olympus micro 4/3 lenses available for the Olympus E-P1 will work on the GF1 as well. Standard Olympus 4/3 lenses can also be used with an optional adapter (sold separately).
Form Factor
Externally, the Panasonic GF1 looks like an enlarged Panasonic LX3 and does not follow the DSLR-like form factor of the G1/GH1 series. According to Panasonic, the GH series would be Panasonic’s line of digital cameras that offer superior video features while the GF1 spearheads the high-end, still-photography line.
Some noticeable features you will find on the GF1 include an AF-assist light under the “Lumix” logo on the front of the camera, a flush-mounted pop-up flash, a hotshoe, and the notch protruding as a hand/finger grip. Compared to the Olympus, the GF1 looks more like a contemporary digital camera such as the Canon G-series. The camera body is available in silver, maroon, black, and white. The rear of the camera is dominated by the LCD screen and surrounded by control buttons all around. The buttons give a firm feedback while still staying pretty flush against the surface of the rear plate. The main camera setting adjustment is controlled by a thumb wheel while menu and parameter items are controlled by the four-way button with a center button.
The LCD is considerably brighter, sharper, and provides more detail than the Olympus E-P1’s dated 230,000-pixel screen. When manual focusing, the screen automatically zooms in to aid focusing and is a lot more useful than the E-P1. However, it was mentioned that when third-party, manual focus lenses are used, auto-magnification will not work and you have to zoom manually via the controller. On top of the screen sports a port that allows an external electronic viewfinder (EVF) to be mounted. The EVF is useful in cases where the main LCD is exposed to high-glare situations such as bright sunlight, direct light, or simply if the user prefers to hold the camera at eye-level like a proper camera instead of holding the camera at arm’s length when composing. Adding the EVF makes it a lot more intuitive to use if you are used to using a DSLR. The EVF houses a 0.2″ full-color LCD screen with 201,600 pixels. The resolution may seem low, but if you consider the fact that all those pixels are displayed on such a small screen, it is adequate for general shooting and the image on the screen doesn’t suffer from any noticeable lag. The colors displayed on the EVF is slightly different from the image showed on the main LCD, however.
Panasonic provides ample diopter adjustment for spectacle users and the EVF can also be swiveled vertically, allowing the photographer to frame the shot like a waist-level finder and proves to be incredibly useful for low-angle shots. The EVF seems well-built, however, the thin hinge may be too fragile for rough-handlers, thankfully, a nifty hard-leather pouch is included for the EVF. Another noticeable feature on the GF1 that is absent from the Olympus would be the pop-up flash. Rated only with a guide number of 6, the flash is not powerful, however, it is creatively deployed. The flash unhinges and extends vertically instead of a simple hinge (possibly to maintain the low-height of the camera) and seems to be well built. There is no wobble on the flash itself neither does the hinge mechanism, the flash locks in place with a very reassuring click as well.
The weak flash is not really an issue, I think, as any frontal, on-axis flash rarely results to appealing results anyway and having a small flash for fill-flash purposes is just about right for a camera like the GF1. In fact, the weaker flash makes it pleasing for common indoor gatherings preventing overblown exposures in close range.
Image taken with GF1, pop-up flash, subject 3ft from camera.
Flash exposure is very pleasing and in aperture-priority mode, automatically functions as a fill-flash producing a good balance between ambient and flash exposure. Lastly, the base houses the usual battery and SD card compartment with the tripod socket is aligned to the center of the lens mount (unlike the Olympus). The battery compartment is very well made unlike the TZ series of Panasonic pocket cameras, the door snaps shut with much security.
Lenses
We were allowed to use the two standard lenses available for the GF1, the 14-45mm zoom lens and the 20mm prime lens. I prefer the prime lens as it just looks great on the camera. With the pancake mounted, the camera looks minimalistic while still look serious enough to be a journalist’s tool.
Taken with GF1 and 20mm Pancake Lens @ f/1.7
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The Lumix 20mm F1.7 G ASPH pancake lens produces a soft, thin depth-of-field and pleasing bokeh with its seven circulated aperture blade construction. The lens is sharp and focuses really quickly, I think all buyers should consider the GF1 with this lens over the kit lens package. The kit zoom lens makes the GF1 appear to be an oversize Lumix LX3, as mentioned earlier. The Lumix G Vario 14-45mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH will provide an equivalent field-of-view of a 28-90mm lens due to the 2x crop factor. While the focal range is very useful, the lens is mediocre in terms of design. There is considerable distortion and vignettes heavily, but the focus is lighting fast, very silent, and very accurate. The Mega O.I.S also works well for this lens. Panasonic only had a non-functional prototype of the Leica DG Macro Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 Macro, so I was not able to test that option.
Video
Like my Olympus E-P1 review, I really do not know how to shoot video well, so all I can say is that the AF works wonderfully (and silently, even with the kit lens) and is a big relief over manual focus-only or pre-focus-only options from most other cameras.
Image Quality
It’s hard to gauge image quality with a pre-production unit and without objective testing guidelines, so let’s take a look at ISO noise control first. Note that the images below are CROPPED images but are not modified with any noise-reduction or exposure adjustment. The samples range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200, please click the thumbnail for the large crop.
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The ISO performance is pretty similar to the Olympus E-P1, so it’s splendid and matches most DSLR’s performance. ISO 3200 is still very usable and I can predict a clean 8R print. I’ll end this section with some more sample images. The pre-production unit tends to under-expose about half-a-stop and renders orange rather brownish while other colors appear bright and vivid.
Taken with GF1 and 20mm f/1.7
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Taken with GF1 and 20mm f/1.7
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Taken with GF1 and 20mm f/1.7 @ 16:9
I’ve been going back and forth about the Panasonic Lumix GF1 and the Olympus E-P1, there is a clear reason for that if you’re not acquainted with the recent micro 4/3 camera releases. The two cameras have more in common than differences and I’m pretty certain that potential buyers of both cameras will make the purchase decision based on appearance and ergonomics more than technical differences. Thanks to one of the attendees for bringing an Olympus E-P1, I was able to snap some shots with the GF1 right next to it.
The Panasonic GH1 has several objective technological advantages over the E-P1, partly because the Olympus took advantage of the slow release of Panasonic and released the E-P1 early. However, the shortcomings of the E-P1 allowed Panasonic to correct Olympus’ oversight with the Lumix GF1. However, the E-P1 captured quite a chunk of the micro 4/3’s first batch of followers with a camera that not only works great, but looks stunning as well. The E-P1 appeals tremendously to film camera users who grew up with 70’s metal cameras and those who want a large sensor’s image quality in a smaller-than-entry-level DSLR market.
Many of my readers know that I’m very impartial to brands, and just because I like the Olympus tremendously doesn’t mean I can turn a blind eye to my previous AF issues with it. The E-P1 seems to work much faster with Panasonic lenses, maybe that’s the magic bullet, along with a possible firmware update. If that’s the case, then the GF1 will have a tough hill to climb competing against the only competitor it has right now.
There are rumors of the Samsung mirror-less Nx series will be coming out by the end of the year, and industry giants such as Sony and Nikon are having possible mirror-less releases in the near future as well. If this pushes through and the mentioned companies can utilize existing DSLR lenses, it will be a very fierce battle that will be tough for a small player to compete against companies with better camera experiences and deeper budget.
The insane cost of accessories for all Panasonic camera models is a major turn off, with a standard-capacity battery costing twice as much as Canon/Nikon DSLR high-capacity batteries will be tough to swallow especially if you’re buying the GF1 for travel and you need multiple batteries. The LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH is a wonderful and unique lens offering superb optical qualities, focal range, and focus speed, but it’s a tough sell at the same price as pro-grade lenses from Canon and Nikon.
Olympus E-P1 or Panasonic GF1? Tough call, you can’t go wrong with either. As a camera, I’d pick the GF1 in a heartbeat, it has better AF, better UI, better features, and better lenses. However, that Olympus retro styling is extremely hard to ignore, and with the two cameras being so similar internally, it’ll all boil down to cost and availability of accessories, which I think Olympus has an upper hand.
Hopefully, I can get a chance to do a comprehensive review with both lenses in the near future, but if you can’t wait, I don’t think anyone will be disappointed with what the Panasonic GF1 offers. It’s a solid camera inside-out.
Technorati Tags: micro 4/3, Panasonic Lumix, Olympus E-P1 Digital PEN, , Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1, review, Olympus
September 12th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Trying to see the higher ISO samples – you indicated that clicking on the thumbnails would allow us to see a large crop, but clicking the thumbnails did not do anything. Maybe you had forgotten to post a link to those thumbnails? Thx in advance.
September 13th, 2009 at 1:57 am
"According to Panasonic, the G1 and GH1 are Panasonic’s line of digital cameras that offer superior video features while the GF1 spearheads the high-end, still-photography line."
The G1 doesn't take video….. and the G1 and GF1 have the same sensor?
September 13th, 2009 at 2:11 am
Wongsta: Hehe, good point. Line edited. Thanks.
NYC: Hmm, links fixed.
September 13th, 2009 at 2:52 am
Thanks for the preview on the GF1. Quite true that the limitation now is the lack of lenses.
September 13th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
@Vernon – Yes, of course we're referring to AF-ready lenses.
September 13th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I suppose you mean dedicated lenses with AF because the Micro 4/3 format take more lenses than ANY mount via adapters. There's even one for Canon EF!
September 14th, 2009 at 2:06 am
I like this camera but very expensive for me, maybe 2nd, thanks !
I’m stay in jakarta, indonesia
September 13th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Hey David,
Thanks for the side-by-side pics with an E-P1. Pretty neat to see how small the E-P1 kit zoom looks even next to the 20mm pancake.
I knew you'd get your hands on a GF1 sooner or later
I'm still loving my E-P1, but I definitely wish it focused a bit faster. One (the only?) functional advantage of the E-P1 you didn't mention is in-body IS, so even lenses without IS like the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 are stabilized, which is great because I'm definitely eyeing that 20mm lens. This is a big deal for me–not a deal breaker/maker, but ranks high up there as I'm often pushing the limits of handholdability even with large aperture lenses.
I'm looking forward to seeing your full review of the GF1.
September 14th, 2009 at 3:59 am
NYC: Hi, there's no special tags or settings whatsoever with the images, just plain img src from image to caption. I've checked using IE, Chrome, Safari, and Opera (I don't use FF) and they work fine.
Yohan: Totally agree with you in that regard, in low-light, IS is a godsend at 1/30-1/60. My main reason for choosing an f/4 IS lens over a 2.8 for my main walkaround for my DSLR <span class="idc-smiley"><span style="background-position: 0pt 0pt;"><span>:)</span></span></span>
TatDP: They haven't confirmed the final color batch they'll sell in SG, but I guess the black and red will be a good bet (the red looks really nice actually). They didn't have the white unit during the session, just the black, red, and silver. Wish they had a metallic one like the E-P1, though.
Dan: Haha, right now, still a tough call without local pricing. The Pana 14-140 is a sweet, sweet lens to have with either system and frankly, it's almost too "personal" to choose one over another, the choice is tough to make as they're very similar. I like the GF1's technical capabilities, but one cannot ignore that the E-P1 isn't really that far off while offering better looks as well.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
David, do you have any comments on build vs the E-P1?
September 14th, 2009 at 12:21 am
@Mardenny: Hi, is there pricing already in Malaysia? May I know how much? Thanks
@Yohan: The E-P1 kit lens looks great when collapsed in storage position, but doesn't look as glamorous when extended, however. Regarding the IS, yes, it is an advantage to have it in-cam, however, if you're using m4/3 lenses, which are small, light, and doesn't really have a long lens available in the market other than the 14-140 (which already has OIS), the advantage is a little less obvious. I do agree that when mounted with 3rd party lenses that becomes a factor, but I don't want to put that angle into the equation as I feel that the camera should be reviewed with the OEM accessories in mind, and not 3rd party items that can be associated with the camera.
@Linh – The build is great, both cameras are very solid and have no creaks or play in the body. The GF1 is very solid and feels like a single piece of equipment instead of multiple parts clamped together. Both camera's paint finish seem to be a little prone to wear/tear scratches, however, so handle both carefully
September 14th, 2009 at 10:23 am
So…. David, which one bro? hehehe I am awaiting your cue
September 14th, 2009 at 2:31 am
It's often stated that IS is not very useful for short focal lengths, but I've found it as useful or even more when using shorter focal lengths. It either allows me to handhold a shot when I otherwise wouldn't be able to, or use an ISO setting a couple stops lower than I would have otherwise, producing less noise in the image. You're right though that this might not be a very obvious advantage, but once you discover it it's amazing how useful it is.
Interesting that the main differences between the E-P1 and GF1 become very apparent in low light. In low light the E-P1's IS is a nice feature to have, but the AF becomes even slower. The GF1 (probably) still has snappy AF in dim light, but no IS for lenses that would be likely candidates in such light like the 20mm f/1.7. Which should one choose? Depends on your shooting style and subjects, which for me the E-P1 is a better choice.
But that's just for how I shoot. Others of course will have different needs for which the GF1 will be perfect. If the GF1 had in-body IS it would be the clear favorite for every application, but since it doesn't the decision is not quite as clear cut.
September 14th, 2009 at 2:50 am
the thumbnails do not "work" for downloading in Firefox. maybe you have it set up strictly only for IE? If you were to use Firefox, would it work on your pc as well?
September 14th, 2009 at 2:52 am
I've had the EP 1 for several weeks now and got it mainly becuase of it's light weight and small size. However, I am considering selling it. I have been disappointed with the image quality (14-42 mm lens) and find the vertical dial in the top right of the camera back to be a big negative. My thumb lies right over it, and I am often unintentionally changing settings by moving it.. Also, I feel Olympus tried to pack too many features into the camera – the choices are overwhelming. For example, I would probably never use the art filters. I upload images to my computer and if I want to alter them, I use Photoshop. In addtion, in order to use other Olympus lenses you have to buy the adapter ($189); if you want to use Leica or other lenses, you need still another adapter. Plus, some won't mind not having a viewfinder, but I am finding it harder to get used to just using the LCD screen than I thought. I wish the CF 1 was out before I bought the EP 1.
September 14th, 2009 at 2:56 am
Hi, do you know from that session whether they'll sell the White GF1 in singapore?
September 14th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Copyscape? LOL!
September 14th, 2009 at 4:55 am
David, Nice review.. do they told you when will be available in Singapore ? and How much will be the SRP for this one here in Asia?
September 14th, 2009 at 6:04 am
Alvin: No clue, the marketing head said that there's no release date nor final pricing yet in SG.
September 14th, 2009 at 7:32 am
No, the GH1 is the video, not the G1… The G1 was the first try, and not really fits into their strategy any more
And though G1 and GF1 have same sensor type (Live NMOS 4/3) the remaining electronics have been updated. This gives the much better high ISO performance of the GF1 (and E-P1) than the G1 (and even GH1)
September 18th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Any idea when it will be released in Singapore? Suppose to be Oct but is that confirm… and is it like the beginning of oct… cos flying off in the mid of Oct.
September 19th, 2009 at 8:06 am
David, Can you say that that the difference in the AF performance isn't that big?
September 20th, 2009 at 2:21 am
@Daniel – No, I didn't mean that, the AF difference is instantly noticeable if you've tried both. However, a couple of E-P1 users who were present tried using the Panasonic lenses on the E-P1 and the AF was improved (on the E-P1), leading us to think that the main fault of the E-P1's AF is in its lenses, but the E-P1 still does the focus-racking motion before locking focus and the GF1 doesn't. In addition, the GF1's AF sensor is still more sensitive and again, has an AF assist light. However, if you plan to use fast primes only, the AF differences may be quite negligible for most users.
Mike: No news yet, they just told us to look out for announcements, unfortunately.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:30 am
hi David, nice review
I was looking at the E-P1, so looks like will wait for GF1 to be out before deciding….Heard that in HK, its list price is set at HK$7,490 (20mm f1.7 kit)…though can get around HK$6500 with some smaller retail shops for pre-bookings. Any idea what's the list price set in Singapore yet?
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:42 am
Hi Christine, no, they haven't announced it yet, neither do the stores I've asked so far.
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
David, great review. very informative.
do you happen to have any high ISO raw files available?
September 24th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
excellent review and pics. honest opinions, whereas some reviews tend to steer clear of saying which one the reviewer likes better than another.
some typos, though, and grammatical errors.
i'd be happy to help out in future.
September 25th, 2009 at 1:16 am
@JMPSMASH: Thanks, unfortunately, the launch venue wasn't very well lit and there were quite a few of us trying to test the camera, I didn't want to monopolize the unit at that time to shoot in a more controlled environment.
@Steven – Thanks, article was published at 2AM in a rush, sorry about that, will edit when I have the time
September 25th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
From CNET Asia:
http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2009/09/24/panasonic-a...
"While the US pricing for the GF1 was available at its announcement, the Asian pricing was made known only today. The camera will be sold in two different bundles in Singapore–with the 14-45mm zoom lens or the 20mm F1.7 pancake optics, for S$1,299 (US$917.70) and S$1,499 (US$1,058.99), respectively. For now, the company has no plans to sell just the camera body alone.
With regards to the optional electronic Live View Finder add-on, Panasonic was not able to confirm its price. However, at an earlier meeting with the firm's representatives, we were told that this attachment will cost around S$300 (US$211.94).
We were also informed that the white version of GF1 won't be available in Singapore for the time being. Shutterbugs in other Asia regions will have to check with their local Panasonic offices if they are interested in this color variation. "
October 5th, 2009 at 3:27 am
To those of you having doubts about Panasonic lenses, check this out.
http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/panasonic_20_...
October 8th, 2009 at 5:36 am
hi what are the stores i can buy a panasonic gf1 in the philippines? thanks…
October 12th, 2009 at 7:56 am
David,
I am just wondering whether the micro 4/3 Panasonic auto-focusing lens, when fitted to the 4/3 Olympus “Pen” EP-1, would improve the EP-1’s allegedly notoriously slow autofocusing, or not (because the autofocus is also a function the firmware and/or design of the camera as a whole?)
The EP-1 has an advantage over the Lumix of having its shake-control inside the camera body; the GF-1 relies on this at the lens, albeit, note, none is fitted to what is destined to be its “prime” the 1.7.
There has also, already been a firmware update for the little Olympus which may, or may not, improve the slow focus.
My question is, is the slow focus a function of the lens? In which case fitting the Panasonic lens should fix the problem. Or, the slow focus of the Olympus is due to Olympus's in-camera software or mechanism, in which case putting on the Panasonic lens will not do anything to help.
October 12th, 2009 at 8:51 am
According to E-P1 users that brought their PEN units to use with the Panasonic lens, they said that the AF of the E-P1 improved noticeably, which leads to a conclusion that bulk of the AF issue with the E-P1 is the lens' fault.
The E-P1 still has to travel the entire focus range before locking focus unless AF-L i sutilized, which makes it slower than the GF1, I haven't had the chance to try the E-P1 with its new firmware, however.
DPReview just gave the Panasonic 20mm a big thumbs-up in their latest review, unfortunately, this lens is quite hard to come by (stand-alone) right now.
November 1st, 2009 at 5:26 am
Dear David,
Thanks for posting this nice review of the pre-production version of the Panasonic GF1 Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera. I appreciate all the time and effort you put into writing it, and the pictures are a great addition to the text.
I own two MFT cameras myself: the Panasonic G1 and the Olympus P1. I considered getting the Panasonic GF1, but the Olympus P1 does several things I need:
1. will autofocus Four Thirds lenses
2. supports the Olympus EX-25 macro extension tube and EC-14 and EC-20 teleconverters
3. has in-body image stabilization.
None of the Panasonic MFT cameras offer any of these features — not even the GF1.
By the way, you mentioned that the MFT system has no long lenses except the 14-140mm 10x superzoom video lens. What about the 45-200mm super-telephoto lens? With an equivalent focal range of 90-400mm, that certainly qualifies as a long lens. The optical (in-lens) image stabilization definitely helps with handheld shooting (though mounting the camera on a tripod with the image stabilization turned off is the recommended way to shoot with a long lens).
I'd be careful about comparing the Panasonic 14-140mm video lens to any lenses from Canon and Nikon, pro or otherwise. The Panasonic lens was specifically designed for video and has high-end features such as a silent AF motor and seamless aperture adjustment. Panasonic is arguably the first camera manufacturer to get video right on a hybrid still/video camera. Even Canon and Nikon cameras struggle to keep up with what the Panasonic GH1 can do with video — like zooming with continuous autofocus while recording video, for example. The Panasonic GH1 and 14-140mm video lens are really in a class by themselves.
Finally, I want to invite you and all your readers to join the new Micro Four Thirds Photographers group I recently started on LinkedIn. If you're interested, here' s the link to the group profile:
David, thanks again for sharing your experiences with the MFT system. I think it's a great system with a bright future — it could well become the future of digital imaging!
Best wishes,
Fred Chapman
LinkedIn Group Owner
Micro Four Thirds Photographers
November 1st, 2009 at 6:48 am
Fred: Wonderful insights and such comments are highly valued as actual users with technical know-how will provide great insights to potential buyers more than general site previews or technical reviews.
I don't usually mention/review any video features of cameras as I don't know how to shoot videos well to do any current system justice, if you have some samples you're willing to share, please do post them so folks can have a better idea on what the system brings. That'd be lovely to have.
I'm not aware of the 45-200mm lens mentioned, thanks for pointing that out. That's a wicked long FL
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:46 am
Dave,
im still confused … EP1 of GF1…
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:20 am
Dave, tell you what, get both, whichever you like less, send it to me for Xmas
hehe.
November 10th, 2009 at 12:51 am
Dear David T.,
Thanks for posting my comment on your website, and for giving me such a warm welcome!
The 45-200mm zoom lens now sells for under US$300 at B&H. Yup, it does offer a "wicked long FL"
in a very small and light package, too. It uses Panasonic's Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which works really well. I'm amazed at how well it stabilizes the image at 200mm. I recently tried it while holding my E-P1 in one hand with the zoom lens set at 200mm, and the image on the LCD was really smooth and steady — not jittery at all like you might expect with such a long telephoto.
Unfortunately, I can't post any GH1 videos myself — I don't have that camera. I've read so many good things about it, though. I recently started a LinkedIn subgroup for Micro Four Thirds Videographers, and some of our members are using the GH1 for pro video projects. For example, Michael J. McNamara (from NYC) got Panasonic to sponsor an underwater video shoot he did with the GH1!
You're more than welcome to join any of the Micro Four Thirds groups on LinkedIn.
Thanks again,
Fred
November 10th, 2009 at 12:51 am
Dear Other David,
I feel your pain.
Selecting a camera is often a difficult decision. Here are some questions which might help you.
1. Do you want in-body image stabilization (IBIS) so that any lens you attach is image stabilized?
2. Do you want to autofocus legacy Four Thirds lenses?
3. Do you want to use the Olympus EX-25 macro extension tube or the Olympus EC-14 or EC-20 teleconverters with Four Thirds lenses?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you need the Olympus E-P1. If you answered no to all of those questions, the Panasonic GF1 will give you faster autofocus and a higher resolution LCD.
If you want to use an electronic viewfinder (EVF), you can get the Panasonic GF1 or the recently announced Olympus E-P2, which comes with an EVF as part of the standard kit.. If you like the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 fast prime pancake lens, you can buy the lens separately and use it with any of these cameras.
Good luck with your decision!
Fred
November 10th, 2009 at 1:17 am
P.S. The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 Four Thirds zoom weighs 3 pounds. The Panasonic 45-200mm f/4-5.6 Micro Four Thirds zoom weighs about 3/4 pound in comparison — that's one quarter of the weight! To be fair, the Sigma has a maximum aperture which is constant throughout the whole zoom range, and the Panasonic doesn't. Still, there's a whopping big difference in size and weight between the two zoom lenses. I know which one I'd rather take on a long hike.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:12 am
given the reviews of the 14-140mm, I'm considering gettingone for my GF1. However, I found an article online that said that the lens is too heavy for the GF1 build. Have you tried mounting the lens to the camera? Is it still portable? I like the portability of GF1 esp with the 20mm.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Jane,
I don't have either the GF1 or the 14-140mm superzoom lens, but I do have the E-P1 and the G1, the 45-200mm super telephoto lens, and some even larger and heavier Four Thirds lenses. I can offer some suggestions based on general experience.
If you hold the camera with both hands, a large heavy lens will put strain on the lens mount. What you want to do is hold the camera body with your right hand (so that you can operate the shutter button) and support the lens underneath with your left hand. This takes the strain off the lens mount and will help you balance the camera better.
The 14-140mm lens is 3+ inches long. You'll need a different kind of camera case to carry it around when mounted on your GF1 (e.g., one of the holster style camera cases from Lowepro). The best thing would be to take your camera and new lens to a good camera shop and try some cases on for size to find the best fit. If you don't have a good camera shop nearby, you can take some measurements and order a case online from B&H.
Enjoy,
Fred
P.S. The 20mm f/1.7 pancake is a wonderful lens! I just got one for my E-P1.
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:35 am
Well said and balanced view on both the GF1 and EP1. Thanks!
December 14th, 2009 at 12:56 am
Hi David,
Just bought a GF-1. Can you help me to match a 3rd party external flash unit
(budget below S$200.00)? Thanks.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:10 am
The cheapest swivel/tilt flash for the Panasonic/Olympus m4/3 camera is the Olympus FL-36 (200USD) as the FL-20 and FL-14 cannot swivel/tilt, which is quite limiting in usage.
For third party, the Metz mecablitz 48 AF-1 for Panasonic/Olympus is a good choice, but it’s also over 200USD. The Metz mecablitz 36AF-4C AF can be had for less than 100USD and can be tilted.
There are Vivitar flashes that are compatible but they’re not exactly reliable, so if I were you, stick to the Metz 48AF-1 unit instead.
December 14th, 2009 at 3:04 am
S. H. Lew,
I agree with David — the Metz mecablitz 48 is a great choice! B&H has a special deal until the end of December which lowers the price to around US$200 and includes free shipping in the USA:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/532280-REG/...
When you compare flashes, remember to check whether they use 2 AA batteries or 4 AA batteries. In general, the more batteries, the greater the power and the faster the recycle time. The FL-36R uses only 2 AA batteries, while the Metz 48 uses 4 AA batteries and can take non-rechargeable lithium batteries, which are the absolute best for flash work (though not the most economical). Unlike the Metz 48, the Metz 36 does not swivel and will not accept lithium batteries.
In short, the Metz 48 does everything you could want in a flash. The company has a reputation for high quality products. You won't go wrong with that flash.
If you have US$200 to spend, the Metz 48 looks like the best buy. If you would rather spend US$130, the Vivitar DF-383 is a powerful, versatile, full-featured TTL flash with all the features you are likely to need on the GF1. I have the DF-383 and am happy with it so far. I haven't subjected it to heavy use, so I cannot speak to reliability, but I consider it a good value if you need a flash for occasional light use.
Good luck!
Fred
December 14th, 2009 at 10:06 am
There you go
Nothing better than a hands-on comment.
I do agree that Metz flashes are great. I had a couple of them back in the film days and their color temp is very pleasing (though lesser of an issue now with digital).
Thanks for providing your valuable input Fred
Dave
February 7th, 2010 at 7:09 am
Torn between choices,, which is more better in performance? I'd like to buy GF1 but It's almost the same price with the Nikon D90? pls enlightened us.. thanks…
February 7th, 2010 at 8:14 am
It's a totally different camera and frankly, it's not realistic to compare the two without citing your planned usage… It's like comparing a 2-door coupe vs an van.. While both can get you to your destination, are you carrying just one passenger or 5 luggages? Do you need to park it in small parking slots or do you need to go off road?
Same thing with these two options you presented. Both are excellent machines but there are more limitations to the micro 4/3 options in terms of situational use than a standard DSLR. However, if you don't like lugging a big camera, no amount of technical superiority of a full DSLR will do for you.