Author Topic: I have never been more tempted to get a GF1 (Read 2444 times)

voyager · « **on:** June 11, 2011, 06:11:45 PM »

Let's just say both my Pentax K-x and my E-P1 have recently disappointed me beyond belief. Right now, although this will probably change the next time I take them out and get good photos, both of my cameras seem totally unable to get a nice sharp and properly exposed photo of anything, especially my main subject, the Golden Gate Bridge. I think it's time for something different, which means either a Canon or Nikon, or the GF1. Since I've always been interested in the GF1 and the used prices are about the same as the E-P1 now, think I should do it?

Panther · « **Reply #1 on:** June 11, 2011, 07:01:59 PM »

I just saw one today in our local camera store

cosinaphile · « **Reply #2 on:** June 11, 2011, 07:03:29 PM »

voyager get an adapted slr lens ....trust me

lisandra · « **Reply #3 on:** June 11, 2011, 08:06:23 PM »

Quote from: voyager on June 11, 2011, 06:11:45 PM

Let's just say both my Pentax K-x and my E-P1 have recently disappointed me beyond belief. Right now, although this will probably change the next time I take them out and get good photos, both of my cameras seem totally unable to get a nice sharp and properly exposed photo of anything, especially my main subject, the Golden Gate Bridge. I think it's time for something different, which means either a Canon or Nikon, or the GF1. Since I've always been interested in the GF1 and the used prices are about the same as the E-P1 now, think I should do it?

Get it if youre sure it wont disappoint you the same way

voyager · « **Reply #4 on:** June 11, 2011, 08:19:48 PM »

Well, I know the autofocus is better, which is one of the main reasons I can't stand my other two cameras, but otherwise I'm not really sure. I suppose someone who has had both the E-P1 and GF1 could help.

WheeE-P1 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 11, 2011, 10:28:49 PM »

I've had both - returned the GF1. Hateful camera IMO. Fiddly, unintuitive. It took pictures that I didn't take. Unnatural colours especially with skin tones. Run away from it Voyager.

A more complete answer is as follows.

I initially had a GH1 but the banding issue reared its very ugly head. Terrible. Somewhat fixable on photos but video was impossible to deal with. What on earth Panasonic thought they were doing letting quality control get this bad I just don't know. I've had their stuff for years so I'm not anti the company. I'm just a few feet from one of their plasmas right now.

I stumbled across an E-P1 with the 17mm pancake on sale and thought what the hell. As I've said elsewhere here I like it because it disappears in my hands. It takes the photos that I take. It's not perfect but it's a camera that works like a camera not a piece of electronics that happens to also take pictures. I have a couple of manual lenses which I like so the autofocus isn't an issue really for me. Single point focus and removing focus lock from the shutter is a good way around some of the AF issues if you don't want to manually focus lenses.

So I was considering the 20mm 1.7 during the mostly-unavailable period a month or two ago. Then Amazon UK suddenly dropped the price of the GF1+20mm to not a lot more than the lens on its own (even if you could get it). And so I placed the order and the box arrived a few days later.

I gave it a real chance, I really did and was disappointed, both in the lens due to the slow autofocus (on both bodies) and the overall results I got from the GF1. There's no point in a sharp lens if you miss the picture because it's still focussing. The GF1 exposure wasn't a match for the E-P1, and the missing wheels I found irritating. IBIS is something I really, really missed. The GF1 just felt like a piece de resistance for an electronics designer, rather than a camera maker.

So apologies to those GF1 lovers - I'm not starting a flame war and unless Voyager asks anything more specific question-wise I have nothing else to say - but since he asked, and I have experience of both cameras, I spilled the beans. YMMV.

voyager · « **Reply #6 on:** June 12, 2011, 02:39:39 AM »

Well thank you for your honest opinion on it. I've gotten over why I was so mad at the E-P1 and I like it again. Mostly the problems with the .ORF files being so incredibly unopen to edits when underexposed just a little bit is something that I can't quit being irritated over.

Panther · « **Reply #7 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:24:27 AM »

WheeE-P1,
So if I read your response correctly, you also don't like the 20mm too - correct?
(I have the Oly 17mm myself too)

rparmar · « **Reply #8 on:** June 12, 2011, 06:06:22 AM »

I need more information because I do not understand anything in this thread.

My Pentax K-x takes perfectly wonderful photos with any lens I have tried. It certainly has no problem focusing on large immovable objects like bridges! It also exposes well, providing I apply some intelligence as a photographer. (Use spot metering when appropriate, and so on.)

My Olympus E-P1 takes perfectly wonderful photos with any lens I have tried. It also has no problem focusing on large immovable objects, with the very nice Panasonic 20/1.7. If anything the auto-exposure is better than the Pentax, and I can conveniently spot meter with the AEL button.

I am sure exactly the same is true of the Panasonic cameras though I have not used them.

User error? Perhaps explain more about what the problems are?

voyager · « **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2011, 06:08:26 AM »

Oh it's definitely user error. The only problem was the place that I was standing was far enough away from the bridge to where everything other than the bridge was dark. For some reason though, neither camera was able to lock focus on the bridge, which I found strange, despite the fact that I was trying to focus right on it.

WheeE-P1 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:17:59 AM »

Quote from: Panther on June 12, 2011, 05:24:27 AM

WheeE-P1,
So if I read your response correctly, you also don't like the 20mm too - correct?
(I have the Oly 17mm myself too)

It was fine - just rather slow to focus (probably about the same as the 17mm in real life usage) and not worth the extra as I already had the Olympus. If they were the same price and I had a choice of just one I'd probably go for it because of the aperture. It was quite a bit bulkier than the Olympus though.

Panther · « **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:20:20 AM »

Yeah..
Now that the Leica/Panasonic 25mm ƒ1.4 is coming out, I'm glad that I passed up on the 20mm ƒ1.7

rparmar · « **Reply #12 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:32:27 AM »

Quote from: Panther on June 12, 2011, 07:20:20 AM

Now that the Leica/Panasonic 25mm ƒ1.4 is coming out, I'm glad that I passed up on the 20mm ƒ1.7

Do you mean the large Four-Thirds lens?

Panther · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:57:16 AM »

No,
I mean the upcoming MICRO FOUR THIRDS Leica/Panasonic 25mm ƒ1.4

cosinaphile · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2011, 08:56:02 AM »

i own both and they both have pros and cons but i like the ep1 a bit better
i think they compliment each other nicely the panny afs faster and has more elegant manual lens implimentation,the ep1s files just jump from the camera
the best blues and well cooked but not overdone jpegs i think the best jpegs out there are from oly

niow if they could just make a fast prime

on your ep1did u accidently lower resolution or something ? check your settings

rparmar · « **Reply #15 on:** June 12, 2011, 02:59:32 PM »

Quote from: Panther on June 12, 2011, 07:57:16 AM

No,
I mean the upcoming MICRO FOUR THIRDS Leica/Panasonic 25mm ƒ1.4

Ah yes, sorry, I read about this moments after my previous post. But I'm assuming it is essentially the same lens; even the price is similar.

lisandra · « **Reply #16 on:** June 12, 2011, 03:01:37 PM »

Please don't ban me from the forum...but once again, um, how bout the g3?
Best AF out there, best JPEG out there, the best metering of any panny...

lisandra · « **Reply #17 on:** June 12, 2011, 03:03:25 PM »

Quote from: rparmar on June 12, 2011, 02:59:32 PM

Quote from: Panther on June 12, 2011, 07:57:16 AM
No,
I mean the upcoming MICRO FOUR THIRDS Leica/Panasonic 25mm ƒ1.4

Ah yes, sorry, I read about this moments after my previous post. But I'm assuming it is essentially the same lens; even the price is similar.

It's a brand spanking new design. Panny claimed at one point it was gonna be sharper...I certainly don't think it will.

asterinex · « **Reply #18 on:** June 13, 2011, 12:08:03 PM »

Quote from: voyager on June 11, 2011, 06:11:45 PM

both of my cameras seem totally unable to get a nice sharp and properly exposed photo of anything, especially my main subject, the Golden Gate Bridge

Instead of changing camera, why not change the subject?

voyager · « **Reply #19 on:** June 13, 2011, 06:40:49 PM »

I don't really have any interested in anything else.

lisandra · « **Reply #20 on:** June 15, 2011, 01:49:25 AM »

Let's talk nickel and dimes here.. what's the cheapest you can get a gf1 for?

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #21 on:** June 15, 2011, 05:18:43 AM »

I checked the other day on eBay and it seems that the $300.00+ range is common. I wound of thought it would be cheaper.

voyager · « **Reply #22 on:** June 15, 2011, 06:03:34 AM »

Have you seen how much the E-P1 is worth though? It's only worth $250 for the kit where the GF1 is $300 for the body only. I suppose I'll just have to deal with my E-P1, but it's not too bad, I've grown to like it.

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #23 on:** June 15, 2011, 06:46:24 AM »

isn't the GF1 not as good at ISO higher than 650/800 than the E-P1?
Or is it more the form factor with a large mode dial on top that attracts you?

voyager · « **Reply #24 on:** June 15, 2011, 06:52:17 AM »

I was actually looking more at the GF2, but mostly just because I wanted a change. It wasn't really anything against the E-P1.

Author Topic: I have never been more tempted to get a GF1 (Read 2444 times)

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