Panasonic G1 Test shot(s)

<a href=" title="Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr"><img

src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/3028026831_daba5a3984_o.jpg" width="675" height="900" alt="" /></a>

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Handheld, manually focused (TFT screen) ISO800, 1/50s.

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The smaples at imaging resources don't look better than E3. At ISO 1600 it shows less detail and more noise.

Nice pic! - What are your impressions of the G1 Vivek?

Manu, The E3 is the 4/3rds flagship camera. For all that bulk, heft and price it better deliver something better!

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Gordon, Put simply, I wish the M4/3rd was made available a few years ago. It would have saved me going through a purchase/sale of an Epson R-D1s.

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If you have (Leica, etc) fast primes, they make this camera sing. I am excited about using this camera. At the moment I am busy making some adapters (for my own use, I can't wait the commercial ones) to use lenses with short back focus.

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Here is a shot made with a fast prime at f/2. The OOF (smoothness) is better on the G1 than it was on film.

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<a href="http://forum.getdpi.com/gallery/files/7/8/4/_1000291s.jpg"><img src="http://forum.getdpi.com/gallery/files/7/8/4/_1000291s.jpg" width="900" height="675" alt="" /></a>

Thanks for the info and images Vivek, they look good. I had a chance to look at this camera in a shop and it seemed pretty niffty. What lenses are available for this camera?

Hi Al, There is only one "fully" compatible zoom (supplied in a kit) lens for this system at the moment. Using a forthcoming adapter from Panasonic a few lenses from the 4/3rds can be used with almost all the capabilities and all other 4/3rds lenses as well (with a bit limited compatibility).

 

If you find/buy suitable adapters and are willing to do manual focusing and stop down metering, the choice of lenses already available are literally limitless due to the very short camera registry of this new system. For example all of Leica screw mount or M mount lenses can be used using suitable adapters.

 

One other major plus about the EVF (electronic view finder) in G1 is that it doubles as a superb personal "slide" viewer.

Images (captured/processed) seen through this give a 3D experience like (actually better, IMO) viewing well exposed/sharp Velvia slides through a high quality projector. The liveview/viewfinder technology alone is worth the camera.

Vivek thanks very much. Yes I found focusing with the live view was very fast. And what a quiet camera it is. I didn't try the EVF slide show you discribe. It's certainly a camera of interest to me.

Vivek,

 

This is the first 4/3 camera that has even slightly piqued my interest. However, the lack of fast primes is still a thorn in the four/thirds system.

 

1. How is manual focusing with Leica or other manual lenses?

 

2. Do you (or anyone) know what existing four/thirds lenses will and will not work on the G1 with the forthcoming adapter? For example, the Olympus 14-35/2 lens which seems like it would be fascinating for low light "rangefinder" style shooting.

Josh,

 

Here is more information on the lens compatibility:

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/PanasonicG1/

 

There is some limitation (don't know exactly what as I do not have anything with the 4/3 system).

 

On the EVF based manual focusing. It is easy and accurate. You can choose a small spot in the frame enlarge it ~200% and do the fine focusing. It is as accurate or better than any RF focusing but it is not as fast as RF focusing.

 

I am putting together a M4/3rd to Leica M adapter primarily to make use of my Canon 50/0.95. Yes, I can focus with this lens wide open accurately. If a Canon 50/0.95 can be used manually on the G1, any other Leica lenses can be used.

 

The examples I posted here were using an f/1.4 lens (first) at f/1.4 and an f/2 lens wide open (2nd). Let me add here that the first one had an exposure compenstaion of +3eV and another +0.35 eV in post. Image quality is pleasing.

 

Al, Yes, the camera is very pleasantly quiet. Awesome. I never buy new cameras as soon as they come out to the market. This is the only exception. This was not available in the Netherlands and my sample comes from Munich.

I read Novaflex is going to come out with an M adapter next year. I don't know how the metering will work out with it, I know the AF is via communication with the lens not contrast type thats in the body. It would be nice if they had at least focus confirmation with manual lenses. I don't have any Idea what pattern the metering is with manual lenses.

 

I too hope that the Novaflex info is true, and I hope the equivalent of the Oly 520 in M4/3 will come out.

Focus confirmation would be nifty, but I'm guessing we won't be that lucky. Probably a technical reason why it isn't possible.

 

I would be happy if someone would just come out with micro four-thirds 24/28/35 f/2 or f/1.4 (35mm equiv) lenses. It would be like having a digital Contax G2.

Focus confirmation isn't necessary. One has to try the camera with a manual focus lens to see if what I am saying is true or not.

 

I am now busy building my "little" system. I will give more information on the adapters, etc after my system is near completion.

 

Yes, a couple of commercial adapters (M4/3 to Leica) are propose/rumored and presumably will be available soon through the usual sources (Gandy, etc).

I heard the M4/3 to Leica was initially an R lens adapter, with the M which I bet will be a much bigger seller to follow. For me the R to EOS would be much more in demand because of the full frame Dslrs Canon makes. Some nice wide primes would be nice since the zooms like the 7-14mm are kind of slow. A nice 24mm field of view on a 35mm format in an f2.0 would be nice.

This whole m4/3 thing is so exciting and I see really enormous potential in it. The more I hear about the live view system and the fast contrast AF, the more it seems to me like the days of pentaprisms and flip-up mirrors might be numbered. Small, quiet unobtrusive cameras that offer the best that the new technology has to offer - what's not to like?

 

BTW: I ordered mine from B&H a couple of days ago after getting the "now in stock" email and it shipped yesterday for delivery on Monday ... I just can't wait to get my sweaty mitts on it :-)

I agree especially since the live view on a high definition evr will be easier to make a dual video and still camera since no mirror movement is involved. I would be nice if their was one that had a less severe crop factor then 2x. For rangefinder users having accurate vf framing while not having a mirror bouncing up and down seems a good middle ground.

<i>..the more it seems to me like the days of pentaprisms and flip-up mirrors might be numbered.</i>

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I would include RF focusing to that as well. :-)

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The Panasonic G1 (as implemented, the live-view) has surpassed all my expectations.

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Gordon, You may not want your mitts. In fact, you may wish for tiny fingers. This camera is little and I can't grip it with more than two fingers. :(

The G1 is about the same size as an M8, one of the posts had them side by side. Its a good size.

Photos aren't the real thing. They can be misleading.

Here are the M8 and G1 photos I spoke of side by side comparison. They are shaped differently but the grip of the G1 should be more ergonomic than the M8 without an accessory grip.

 

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1033&message=29863459

<blockquote>This whole m4/3 thing is so exciting and I see really enormous potential in it.</blockquote>

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Yeah, but they have been pitching good stuff from the 4/3 system for years now and I haven't seen anything that fits my "rangefinder for the digital age" type wants. M3/4 is exciting. But I need to see a range of fast primes and usable cameras before I get too excited.<p>

<blockquote>Here are the M8 and G1 photos I spoke of side by side comparison.</blockquote>

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Not that I care about looks very much. But the M8 is still a much better looking camera. I guess that's what $4600 more will get you.

<i>They are shaped differently but the grip of the G1 should be more ergonomic than the M8 without an accessory grip.</i>

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False. Go check them out in a shop if you do not use either of them. It is that tiny hand-grip that on the G1 that is bothersome. Fit enough for only a child's hand.

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I agree with Josh. Not only the M8 is a better looker but it also handles better ergonomically.

Sorry I compared it to the M8, price wise there is no comparison, and if you don't need corrective filters and its better weather and condensation handling it would be a less costly improvement on the M8. The hope here is an affordable way to use the M lenses on a digital platform.

 

I note the 25mm f1.4 leica lens and I hope someone will come up with a 10mm and 14mm fast primes too. That would more or less fill in the wide end gap with reasonably fast primes.

 

I cannot wait until they have one in Austin TX. to play around with.

When you get your adapters finished, lets see some photos of the G1 with some classic glass on it Vivek!

Just FYI - B&H sold out of their first batch of G1s almost immediately. It seems to be a pretty hot ticket item

at the moment.

 

Other than on that popular internet auction site that we all know however, nobody seems to be selling the 4/3

lens adapter. I am looking forward to playing with my Summilux 25/1.4 on this camera while I'm waiting for a nice

range of lenses to evolve for m4/3 as it has for 4/3. I'm sure this will happen, and that we'll see adapters for

other lenses as well (so who knows, I might even be able to use my M glass on it at some point soon) and in light

of all of this, I see enormous potential for this system.

 

While considering an $800 G1 against a $5000 M8 may not be a very fair comparison, we should not forget that the

G1 does have a few things going for it that the M8 does not ... more accurate framing, image stabilization, no

need for IR filters on the lens etc.. I'll be interested to see how much less (if any) I end up using my M8 going

forward.

Patrick, You are already looking at them ( I can not say what these lenses are at the moment)! ;)

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Here is a macro shot (1/6s, handheld!!, ISO200, f/8, 1:2 magnification):

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<a href="http://forum.getdpi.com/gallery/files/7/8/4/_1000269s.jpg" ><img src="http://forum.getdpi.com/gallery/files/7/8/4/_1000269s.jpg" width="900" height="675" alt="" /></a>

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Gordon, I actually checked the UV/IR response of G1. There is none. Very very good.