My G1 arrived! [Archive] - Rangefinderforum.com

Gordon Coale

02-27-2009, 01:17

My Panasonic G1 arrived today. I think my head is going to explode. What an amazing camera! I've been trying to wrap my head around what all the menus let me do. This is a test shot I did this afternoon. Then there is Silkypix, the raw converter. This is a black and white conversion done with a Taste downloaded from <a href="http://www.silkypixuk.com/">www.silkypixuk.com/</a>. I will try to print on 13 inch paper next. I have an ltm adapter on the way for my Summitar 50/2 and CV 25/4. I don't think the Jupiter 12 will make it. Woohoo!

KEH

03-03-2009, 16:35

back alley

03-03-2009, 16:38

congrats to you both.

as i have said before, the g1 is a hoot! i have been having more fun with it than i have had in ages.

dcsang

03-03-2009, 16:40

Seeing as how this is a new thread - can one of you G1 enthusiasts give me the "Coles Notes" (or "Abridged") version of why the G1 is so great? :)

Thanks,
Dave

Pickett Wilson

03-03-2009, 16:45

I think the G1 has shown a lot of people that the difference between $600 dollars and $5,000 dollars in a camera/lens isn't as much as they thought.

Gordon Coale

03-03-2009, 16:56

I printed the "Linds" black and white above full size at 10x13. Wow! I showed it to a retired photographer that I do some printing for and he asked if it was 120 or 35mm. He was impressed. I don't know how anyone can complain about the image quality. That was with the kit lens. I have a Leica thread mount adapter and a Pentax M42 adapter ordered. More fun on the way.

Gordon Coale

03-03-2009, 17:28

I think the G1 has shown a lot of people that the difference between $600 dollars and $5,000 dollars in a camera/lens isn't as much as they thought.

Bingo! It's also the right size.

KEH

03-03-2009, 18:01

dcsang

03-03-2009, 18:35

Small, light, quiet, articulated screen for discrete shooting, clean to 800 ISO, pretty good user interface, very good electronic viewfinder. Plus the short mount to sensor distance means that virtually any lens in the world can be adapted to work on the body.

A hoot, as Joe says.

Kirk

While I appreciate all those things (save for the "discreet" thing - no camera is "discreet" these days; ok.. maybe P&S digitals are) it still doesn't tell me what is "the big deal" about this camera. Give me something that REALLY makes this camera different from the others.

Cheers,
Dave

back alley

03-03-2009, 19:34

it's small
light weight
feels good in my hand
fits easily in my smallest camera bag and also into my biggest coat pocket
the 14-45 kit lens is small and very sharp
auto focus is quick and silent
controls are easy to access and set up
with the right adapter there are so many other lenses that can fit and work on the body
i like using my zm lenses on it
i like the images i get with minimal photoshopping

dcsang

03-03-2009, 19:52

Thanks Joe..
I'm looking at this camera now because it can use the M-mount (or M42 I understand, or FD or ....).
Am I understanding what I read elsewhere though - I can't find a "crop factor" that will tell me how much I should be multiplying the focal length by in order to determine what the effective focal length would be on the G1

Gracias,
Dave

BTMarcais

03-03-2009, 20:17

Gordy- let me know how you like the 24mm super tak with the G1 when you get the m42 adapter... It'll be good to know the lens is getting some use!
-Brian

lkgroup

03-03-2009, 20:33

Gordry- Leo from Burlington here.

Congrats on the G1, your picture looks great.

I have some really nice M42 lenses. Where did you find the adapter for the M42 lenses? Is it a single adapter or a combination of adapters?

Show some more pictures, I'm getting tempted with this camera.

Leo

back alley

03-03-2009, 20:36

crop factor is 2.

so your 35 becomes a 70 and so on.

a bit limiting for wides but great for something a bit longer.
my 50 sonnar is a 100/1.5

Keith

03-03-2009, 20:44

Bingo! It's also the right size.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68015&d=1236133693

Wow ... nice straps! Where did you get those? :angel:

Pickett Wilson

03-03-2009, 21:37

Besides, the M8 is so...yesterday! ;)

Gordon Coale

03-04-2009, 12:07

I have some really nice M42 lenses. Where did you find the adapter for the M42 lenses? Is it a single adapter or a combination of adapters?

Leo

Leo,

It's a single adaptor. I bought it on eBay from ciecio7, a seller in Poland. He guarantees infinity focusing. I will report back on it.

Diane B

03-04-2009, 13:13

Here's a chart of most of the adaptors out there and where you can find them. I don't think the Polish Ebay guy is on it though. Some are direct adaptors (as--I have the Cameraquest FD adaptor--FD to m4/3rds)--some use multiple adaptors and it gives both of them.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dx428wg_10fdvsmtd7

Tuolumne

03-04-2009, 13:48

It's hard to describe how much fun this camera is to use. It's a little like reading a description of the M3, after which most people would either say "so what" or be put off completely by the idea of a rangefinder. You really have to try it to understand it. The thing is - it's so damn easy to use it makes me feel guilty using it. It really will make almost all the right decisions by itself. All you have to do is, account for highlights/backlight, press the button and shoot. Panasonic does the rest. Uhhh...isn't that what Kodak used to say! ;-)

/T

digitalintrigue

03-04-2009, 15:24

I'd second that, the keyword is 'fun.' I have not shot with anything else since I received it in November. I haven't even read the manual yet, it's still in the box. :)

dcsang

03-04-2009, 15:39

I'd second that, the keyword is 'fun.' I have not shot with anything else since I received it in November. I haven't even read the manual yet, it's still in the box. :)

Looks like I'm going to have to go into my local shop and try one out then.
I'm trying to imagine the "fun" but I don't know.. I'm a bit gun shy due to craptacular ergonomics on Panasonic's LX-3....

Dave

JoeV

03-04-2009, 16:28

For me, the G1 just feels right, does everything right. I even like the sound of the shutter (minus the electronic beep tone).

As for image quality above ISO800, I haven't experimented with it but I understand that for B/W images it puts out a rather film-like granularity.

I like the idea that it operates, with the kit lens, as a system, meaning that the firmware in-camera corrects for lens aberrations, giving the kit lens an image quality well above its price point. Which is one reason I think that some have been disappointed with edge and corner image quality using M-mount manual lenses.

~Joe

Diane B

03-04-2009, 16:31

Congrats, Gordy. I was using my new CQ 4/3->M adapter on a recent trip to London, as seen here:

http://flickr.com/photos/khamilton/sets/72157614653330653/

Here is one with a Leica 50/2:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3618/3323800497_4421ea0b9c_o.jpg

You will be pleased to know that I have one of your wrist straps permanently attached to the G1.

Kirk

Kirk, I like this photo--the students and the sculpture work well together--for me at least.

Gordy, I too, have one of your straps on my G1--black with red string. Love it and its getting softer as I use it. Looks great too.

Diane B

Diane B

03-04-2009, 16:40

I'd second that, the keyword is 'fun.' I have not shot with anything else since I received it in November. I haven't even read the manual yet, it's still in the box. :)

I'm a female--so obviously I read manuals LOL---but not THIS one. I tried, I really tried. I usually read my Canon manuals but they are pretty intuitive for me after years. But--except for a few odd things, just using the G1 lets you figure it out. Run through all the menus and see what they are about--and do, try all the other options--buttons and so forth.

And--it is just fun. I have 3 other bodies and lots of lenses, but have shot primarily with the G1 since the first of January (though not much 'serious'). I added 2 FD lenses to my one, bought a set of FD extension tubes plus one (12, 20, 25, 36mm) for under $20 like new--possibly ARE new. So--I have lots of options and will add a few more as other lenses are available or find alternatives. Just fun--love MF with it.

Diane

Cindy Flood

03-04-2009, 17:00

Congratulations, Gordy on your new G1. This camera is fantastic.

G1 and Leica Summarex 85 f/1.5http://www.pbase.com/cindyflood/image/107391008/large.jpg

Trius

03-04-2009, 17:59

LI'm trying to imagine the "fun" but I don't know..

Dave

Dave: No fair comparing to six months with J ...

Hey, will someone please make a decent wrist strap for the thing???

back alley

03-04-2009, 18:02

i'm using a luigi strap on mine, works great!

dcsang

03-04-2009, 18:15

Dave: No fair comparing to six months with J ...

Hey, will someone please make a decent wrist strap for the thing???

Oh Earl.. if I was comparing to six months with J I would have said "I'm trying hard to imagine the BLISS" ;)

Dave

back alley

03-04-2009, 18:33

j ?

.

dcsang

03-04-2009, 18:58

j ?

.

Ya Joe..
her name is Josee (I don't have my French language keyboard so I'm missing an accent over the first "e").

Here she is in a bikini on our recent trip to the Dominican - (shot with the GR Digital II :D)

http://www.chang-sang.com/photo/030409/R0011871.jpg

Cheers,
Dave

back alley

03-04-2009, 19:10

one of my wives was named josie...

yours is quite the looker ;)

joe

ampguy

03-04-2009, 19:32

that we are not following the rule of thirds in this image. Perhaps I have been reading too many photo books.

Ya Joe..
her name is Josee (I don't have my French language keyboard so I'm missing an accent over the first "e").

Here she is in a bikini on our recent trip to the Dominican - (shot with the GR Digital II :D)

http://www.chang-sang.com/photo/030409/R0011871.jpg

Cheers,
Dave

Gordon Coale

03-04-2009, 20:56

Hey, will someone please make a decent wrist strap for the thing???

Trius,

I do: http://www.electricedge.com/gordy_s_straps/store/wrist-lug/index.htm

shimo-kitasnap

03-04-2009, 21:24

speaking of 24mm super taks, um.....anyone wante the original pentax case for it? I sold a 24/3.5 a few years ago and forgot that i had the case to it and now have an empty case.

So how's the electronic vf compared to say a rebel xsi's vf? I kind of wish I had kept my M mounts now that people can use them on this new G1. If i'm worng correct me, but isn't using any lens for 35mm on the G1 goind to double it's effective focal length? I was swayed away from purchasing an oly e420 becuase the focal lengths were all doubled and they had nothing fast and wide that wasn't super huge or super expensive.

djonesii

03-05-2009, 04:25

Shimo ....

Yes, all doubled. The fast wides live in the for the moment cheap cine lens world. You lose around 15% or so of the pixels due to vignetting is 3:2, and very few at most apertures in 16:9

I have taken a few nice images with the Kodak 25mm cine lens, and am diligently looking for a 12.5 mm, this will give me effectively a fast 25 and 50mm setup. The 40mm CV 1.4 in M mount gives pleasing results.

Many on this forum say that the lenses loose some of their character relative to an RD1 or an M8, however, for the price, I'm a half full kind of guy and say that the lenses have a much nicer drawing ability than the kit lens!

With the economy, I find it hard to justify an M8, where as I can indulge my gear obsession at the $150 level with Cine lenses!

Dave

KEH

03-08-2009, 13:44

Can't resist jumping in again. Shot this morning at the Dupont Circle farmer's market, G1 with CV40/1.4 SC. Without 40mm framelines I was never very happy with this lens, but it seems to shine on the G1.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3540/3338548093_c69689ce12_o.jpg

Cheers,
Kirk

Trius

03-08-2009, 15:54

Trius,

I do: http://www.electricedge.com/gordy_s_straps/store/wrist-lug/index.htm

Gordy -- My tongue was firmly in my cheek, sans emoticon. :D

I have one of your (superb) straps on my 35SP, and will order a couple more once I get off my fat arse. ;)

Burkey

03-09-2009, 07:51

KEH

03-10-2009, 03:05

Kirk - thanks for posting the image. Very nice indeed. I'm still waiting for my adapters to arrive but my 40/1.4 will most likely be the first lens I try on my G1.
By the way, how fast was the focusing process for you?
. . . Burkey

Thanks. You can get pretty good at manual focus. Just eyeballing it through the viewfinder is possible, but a little hit or miss a wider aptertures. I find that I do the 2-button press sequence while raising the camera to the eye, so it is zoomed when I look through the vf. Focus is then quick and precise. Zooming stops and framing can begin when you half-press the shutter.

Kirk

Burkey

03-10-2009, 05:54

Thanks, Kirk. I'm particuarly interested in any focusing issues using the CV lenses.
. . . Burkey

pbhome

03-11-2009, 22:49

From my experience, I think manual focus is much easier than trying to focus on SLR/DSLR.

So far, I have not missed any, yet. Here's a list of lens that I tried:
- M42 CZJ 135mm f/3.5
- K-mount SMC-FA 77mm f/1.8
- K-mount SMC-A 50mm f/1.4
- M-mount Summicron-C 40mm f/2.0
- LTM CV Ultron 35mm f/1.7
- LTM CV Heliar 15mm f/4.5

Here's an example of SMC-FA 77mm f/1.8 at F2.0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3332897148_79f09a6a56_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbhome/3332897148/sizes/o/

Burkey

03-12-2009, 03:08

pbhome - nice image. Have you found focusing to be easy and quick to do? I just got an email saying that my adapters are in route. 'Very much looking forward to using them.
. . . Burkey

helenhill

03-12-2009, 04:15

FAB Fleur shot, Cindy
The G1& the Summarex Rocks...Beautiful

Cheers-H

pbhome

03-12-2009, 11:58

pbhome - nice image. Have you found focusing to be easy and quick to do? I just got an email saying that my adapters are in route. 'Very much looking forward to using them.
. . . Burkey

Burkey,

Thanks.

For me, the focus is easy, and quick (I hardly need to zoom in for focus.) It is comparable with manual focusing. I would say the speed is between a rangefinder and a SLR. Even though it is slower than a Leica rangefinder, it is more accurate especially with fast tele lens.

-PB