In the market for a camera - Page 2

[RaG]Ethel · 13-Aug-2012, 09:59

movies with either the classic lenses or official lenses are very easy. It will continously autofocus with proper lenses, or you can set it to hold focus and then re-focus when you press the shutter button.

With the classic lenses the helios is nice as it has a 2 stage aperture ring. The 'camera' style clicks round from f2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16 and then inside that is a ring that opens the aperture 'film' style anywhere from wide open until the set stopped down aperture. The camera can't quite keep up in changing the brightness though so lags a second or so to readjust.

I took the gf1 out and about at holy island yesterday. Compared to a DSLR ...

- it's lighter .. a lot less tiring than having a big DSLR round your neck.
- it's not *that* much smaller with the 14-42 lens on it. A g2 or g3 would feel about the same (there were a few people out with them) and would be even more flexible with the articulated screen and built in viewfinder.
- having said that, I didn't miss the viewfinder though, framing on the screen was easy enough.
- I really want the 20mm f1.7 pancake lens .. with this the small form factor of the gf1 (or gf2/gf3/gx1/ olympus pl3 etc) would shine
- battery life was a bit short. Only took one battery out with me and it was dying after 250 shots and 10 mins of video. I've got one spare but I suspect I'm going to need more. Maybe half the life of my DSLR battery

[RaG]Ethel · 13-Aug-2012, 10:02

btw the 'thistle' shot above was with the kit lens, so you don't need any of these more dificult manual lenses to get the fancy shots ... just that having an interchangeable lens system gives you the scope to do this later on if you fancy it.

DizMatt · 13-Aug-2012, 10:15

I wouldn't bother with a CSC without a pancake lens, it looks like a real gem and something that a compact camera just can't do

GroovYF · 13-Aug-2012, 10:50

I'll take the EOS M and that 22mm pancake please!

milou · 13-Aug-2012, 12:11

I find the 14-42 kit lens is really good with a GF2 (the cam has excellent battery life). The Canon Powershot s95 is brilliant too.

Kit lens:

45-175 zoom with ISO 400:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/47682080/misc/400.jpg

DizMatt · 13-Aug-2012, 12:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroovYF

I'll take the EOS M and that 22mm pancake please!

I'm buying a 7D for the same price as this lovely piece of kit!

GroovYF · 13-Aug-2012, 12:23

A Canon S95 I could justify to have alongside my 5D MkII... not so sure on that M model!

Orange · 13-Aug-2012, 15:00

http://bit.ly/RH7R16

LX7 deliciousness. Will post some Olympic pics later.

DizMatt · 13-Aug-2012, 23:02

didn't know that was out!
I love my lx5
a real cut above the standard compact
and on some shots, until you start pixel peeking the shots could be from my dslr

[RaG]Ethel · 15-Aug-2012, 09:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by [RaG]Ethel

by the way there is a second hand Lumix G2 on the TP forums now with a 14-42 lens, £180

http://www.flickr.com/photos/6819684...7629768405099/

Articulated screen would be very handy with a toddler, get camera down to their level and shoot from above. Downside is only 720p and it's not as dinky as the gf1/2/3 or the olympus e-pl3 for example

now £170

DizMatt · 15-Aug-2012, 10:28

nice piece of kit

[RaG]Ethel · 16-Aug-2012, 08:59

it went for £155. That's ridiculously good value

Orange · 16-Aug-2012, 10:12

Isn't the lens alone worth more than that?

[RaG]Ethel · 16-Aug-2012, 10:20

not quite, but still a massive bargain

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Th...5108777&sr=1-1

milou · 16-Aug-2012, 10:37

I've just replaced the GF2 (and 14-42) with a G3 (and 14-42) (which only cost 300 quid (after 50 quid cash-back)) on the basis that selling a GF2 with the kit lens is a better proposition. The difference between body only and kit was only £40. I think the 14-42 is very underrated. The older kit lens (14-45) can be sourced but often gets a higher price as it's a metal mount, and has on-lens IS.

Orange · 16-Aug-2012, 12:03

Again for the novice, what are the benefits of the G3 over the GF2 if you're using the same lenses? More control?

[RaG]Ethel · 16-Aug-2012, 12:09

slighty better video, slightly better sensor ... so you'd be able to shoot 1600 or 3200 iso with less noise. Improved handling in that you have an eyepiece as well as the articulated screen which is very handy for low level macro shots.

milou · 16-Aug-2012, 12:24

I really wanted the viewfinder. The VF for the GF2 isn't great apparently and it's a £200 option for the newer models. As Eth says, the articulated screen is great and all settings etc can also be changed via the VF. It's a little larger (not much) than the GF2. I guess the GX1 is the natural successor: a nice package for £650 >> http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-p...inder/p1531417 but I didn't fancy spending that much.

Edit: I don't want to look at any more links as otherwise I'll convince myself that I should have bought the GX1.

[RaG]Ethel · 20-Aug-2012, 09:46

just splurged on the 20mm f1.7 !

milou · 20-Aug-2012, 12:04

Very tempting. It's supposed to be excellent.

DizMatt · 20-Aug-2012, 14:01

pics?

[RaG]Ethel · 20-Aug-2012, 14:20

bloody hell, just bought it this morning! Gimme a chance. It should be here wednesday

[RaG]Ethel · 04-Sep-2012, 13:57

Only took the GF1 + 14-45 + 20mm on holiday with me. Loved it - small and dinky and the 20mm is a beaut. The camera has an annoying tendency to try and shoot everything at f1.7 on program, but whacked on A priority it could get reasonable landscapes. Took some long exposures which came out pretty well too (handy that it has 40s 50s and 60s between the usual 30s and Bulb). Ultra wideangle is the only thing missing and that is a very pricey lens ! (bit cheaper for the olympus equivalent but it's not as wide). My next project is to make a tilt shift lensbaby type arrangement with an adaptor ring, an old nifty fifty and some inner tube

[RaG]Ethel · 04-Sep-2012, 18:40

30s f4.5

Bilb · 07-Sep-2012, 12:23

Sooo tempted to just switch down to a much smaller camera now, and do away with the D80 and all that jazz.

HooT · 01-Oct-2012, 10:25

OK. I've looked at several of these and as ever I'm going up the chain and finding myself in a price range I can meet.
Now completely sold on the G3 but can't afford it..
Tempted by the GF2 but now not sure.

DizMatt · 01-Oct-2012, 17:05

nice pic
I saw a GF2 this weekend and liked it a lot, very small and pocketable.
will put one on my shopping list

esp with the pancake as an option!
anyway, no prep or process, or flash, but this is a random handheld shot from when I was stood in a bar for various reasons today and had my camera in my hand

edit:sorry to mislead, this is shot on a Lumix LX5
resized only to 1600px

full picture for peeping

Orange · 01-Oct-2012, 19:18

I love everything about by GF2.

DizMatt · 01-Oct-2012, 23:22

yeah the GF2 looks good, the shot above was on a LX5. fixed lens jobbie
Looking at the GF2 and GF3 myself, does the GF2 have a hotshoe but the GF3 not?
always liked lumix, which is why I bought the LX5 in the first place.

HooT · 20-Oct-2012, 22:07

Well! I went a bought a G3 with a 14-42 lens. Will probs pick up a few more in the coming months but this little beauty is a joy to use.

The iAuto button is perfect for the Mrs too as it fixes any picture no matter how shit into something gorgeous.

Thanks again for all your comments, feedback and recommendations lads. Much obliged.

13-Aug-2012, 09:59	#31
[RaG]Ethel Alfa Male Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northumberland Posts: 12,947	movies with either the classic lenses or official lenses are very easy. It will continously autofocus with proper lenses, or you can set it to hold focus and then re-focus when you press the shutter button. With the classic lenses the helios is nice as it has a 2 stage aperture ring. The 'camera' style clicks round from f2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16 and then inside that is a ring that opens the aperture 'film' style anywhere from wide open until the set stopped down aperture. The camera can't quite keep up in changing the brightness though so lags a second or so to readjust. I took the gf1 out and about at holy island yesterday. Compared to a DSLR ... - it's lighter .. a lot less tiring than having a big DSLR round your neck. - it's not that much smaller with the 14-42 lens on it. A g2 or g3 would feel about the same (there were a few people out with them) and would be even more flexible with the articulated screen and built in viewfinder. - having said that, I didn't miss the viewfinder though, framing on the screen was easy enough. - I really want the 20mm f1.7 pancake lens .. with this the small form factor of the gf1 (or gf2/gf3/gx1/ olympus pl3 etc) would shine - battery life was a bit short. Only took one battery out with me and it was dying after 250 shots and 10 mins of video. I've got one spare but I suspect I'm going to need more. Maybe half the life of my DSLR battery __________________ photoblog

13-Aug-2012, 10:02	#32
[RaG]Ethel Alfa Male Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northumberland Posts: 12,947	btw the 'thistle' shot above was with the kit lens, so you don't need any of these more dificult manual lenses to get the fancy shots ... just that having an interchangeable lens system gives you the scope to do this later on if you fancy it. __________________ photoblog

13-Aug-2012, 10:15	#33
DizMatt PostPrandial Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: just ootside Gatesheeed Posts: 8,650	I wouldn't bother with a CSC without a pancake lens, it looks like a real gem and something that a compact camera just can't do __________________ Photo Portfolio Bits 'n Pieces : General Random Gallery : All new photoblog : My Flickr ........................I read it on Wikipedia...so it must be true!........................

13-Aug-2012, 10:50	#34
GroovYF Octave Doctor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Halifax Posts: 22,278	I'll take the EOS M and that 22mm pancake please! __________________ photoblog

13-Aug-2012, 12:11	#35
milou keeping it elderly Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Coast hugging Posts: 6,081	I find the 14-42 kit lens is really good with a GF2 (the cam has excellent battery life). The Canon Powershot s95 is brilliant too. Kit lens: 45-175 zoom with ISO 400: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/47682080/misc/400.jpg __________________ 100% zimmer photoblog Last edited by milou; 13-Aug-2012 at 12:15.

13-Aug-2012, 12:23	#37
GroovYF Octave Doctor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Halifax Posts: 22,278	A Canon S95 I could justify to have alongside my 5D MkII... not so sure on that M model! __________________ photoblog

13-Aug-2012, 15:00	#38
Orange member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 6,608	http://bit.ly/RH7R16 LX7 deliciousness. Will post some Olympic pics later.

13-Aug-2012, 23:02	#39
DizMatt PostPrandial Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: just ootside Gatesheeed Posts: 8,650	didn't know that was out! I love my lx5 a real cut above the standard compact and on some shots, until you start pixel peeking the shots could be from my dslr __________________ Photo Portfolio Bits 'n Pieces : General Random Gallery : All new photoblog : My Flickr ........................I read it on Wikipedia...so it must be true!........................

15-Aug-2012, 10:28	#41
DizMatt PostPrandial Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: just ootside Gatesheeed Posts: 8,650	nice piece of kit __________________ Photo Portfolio Bits 'n Pieces : General Random Gallery : All new photoblog : My Flickr ........................I read it on Wikipedia...so it must be true!........................

16-Aug-2012, 08:59	#42
[RaG]Ethel Alfa Male Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northumberland Posts: 12,947	it went for £155. That's ridiculously good value __________________ photoblog

16-Aug-2012, 10:12	#43
Orange member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 6,608	Isn't the lens alone worth more than that?

16-Aug-2012, 10:20	#44
[RaG]Ethel Alfa Male Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northumberland Posts: 12,947	not quite, but still a massive bargain http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Th...5108777&sr=1-1 __________________ photoblog

16-Aug-2012, 10:37	#45
milou keeping it elderly Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Coast hugging Posts: 6,081	I've just replaced the GF2 (and 14-42) with a G3 (and 14-42) (which only cost 300 quid (after 50 quid cash-back)) on the basis that selling a GF2 with the kit lens is a better proposition. The difference between body only and kit was only £40. I think the 14-42 is very underrated. The older kit lens (14-45) can be sourced but often gets a higher price as it's a metal mount, and has on-lens IS. __________________ 100% zimmer photoblog Last edited by milou; 16-Aug-2012 at 10:50.

16-Aug-2012, 12:03	#46
Orange member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 6,608	Again for the novice, what are the benefits of the G3 over the GF2 if you're using the same lenses? More control?

16-Aug-2012, 12:09	#47
[RaG]Ethel Alfa Male Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northumberland Posts: 12,947	slighty better video, slightly better sensor ... so you'd be able to shoot 1600 or 3200 iso with less noise. Improved handling in that you have an eyepiece as well as the articulated screen which is very handy for low level macro shots. __________________ photoblog

16-Aug-2012, 12:24	#48
milou keeping it elderly Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Coast hugging Posts: 6,081	I really wanted the viewfinder. The VF for the GF2 isn't great apparently and it's a £200 option for the newer models. As Eth says, the articulated screen is great and all settings etc can also be changed via the VF. It's a little larger (not much) than the GF2. I guess the GX1 is the natural successor: a nice package for £650 >> http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-p...inder/p1531417 but I didn't fancy spending that much. Edit: I don't want to look at any more links as otherwise I'll convince myself that I should have bought the GX1. __________________ 100% zimmer photoblog Last edited by milou; 16-Aug-2012 at 12:29.

20-Aug-2012, 09:46	#49
[RaG]Ethel Alfa Male Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northumberland Posts: 12,947	just splurged on the 20mm f1.7 ! __________________ photoblog

20-Aug-2012, 12:04	#50
milou keeping it elderly Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Coast hugging Posts: 6,081	Very tempting. It's supposed to be excellent. __________________ 100% zimmer photoblog

20-Aug-2012, 14:01	#51
DizMatt PostPrandial Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: just ootside Gatesheeed Posts: 8,650	pics? __________________ Photo Portfolio Bits 'n Pieces : General Random Gallery : All new photoblog : My Flickr ........................I read it on Wikipedia...so it must be true!........................

20-Aug-2012, 14:20	#52
[RaG]Ethel Alfa Male Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northumberland Posts: 12,947	bloody hell, just bought it this morning! Gimme a chance. It should be here wednesday __________________ photoblog

04-Sep-2012, 13:57	#53
[RaG]Ethel Alfa Male Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northumberland Posts: 12,947	Only took the GF1 + 14-45 + 20mm on holiday with me. Loved it - small and dinky and the 20mm is a beaut. The camera has an annoying tendency to try and shoot everything at f1.7 on program, but whacked on A priority it could get reasonable landscapes. Took some long exposures which came out pretty well too (handy that it has 40s 50s and 60s between the usual 30s and Bulb). Ultra wideangle is the only thing missing and that is a very pricey lens ! (bit cheaper for the olympus equivalent but it's not as wide). My next project is to make a tilt shift lensbaby type arrangement with an adaptor ring, an old nifty fifty and some inner tube __________________ photoblog Last edited by [RaG]Ethel; 07-Sep-2012 at 14:28.

04-Sep-2012, 18:40	#54
[RaG]Ethel Alfa Male Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northumberland Posts: 12,947	30s f4.5 __________________ photoblog

07-Sep-2012, 12:23	#55
Bilb Amazeballs! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Elite Elevated Equine Division Posts: 11,283	Sooo tempted to just switch down to a much smaller camera now, and do away with the D80 and all that jazz. __________________ @TomJJarvis

01-Oct-2012, 10:25	#56
HooT spam tbh Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Poland Posts: 849	OK. I've looked at several of these and as ever I'm going up the chain and finding myself in a price range I can meet. Now completely sold on the G3 but can't afford it.. Tempted by the GF2 but now not sure. __________________ http://sig.planetside-universe.com/Hoo7.png Planetside 2: Woodman Server : Hoo7 (NC)

01-Oct-2012, 17:05	#57
DizMatt PostPrandial Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: just ootside Gatesheeed Posts: 8,650	nice pic I saw a GF2 this weekend and liked it a lot, very small and pocketable. will put one on my shopping list esp with the pancake as an option! anyway, no prep or process, or flash, but this is a random handheld shot from when I was stood in a bar for various reasons today and had my camera in my hand edit:sorry to mislead, this is shot on a Lumix LX5 resized only to 1600px full picture for peeping __________________ Photo Portfolio Bits 'n Pieces : General Random Gallery : All new photoblog : My Flickr ........................I read it on Wikipedia...so it must be true!........................ Last edited by DizMatt; 01-Oct-2012 at 23:23.

01-Oct-2012, 19:18	#58
Orange member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 6,608	I love everything about by GF2.

01-Oct-2012, 23:22	#59
DizMatt PostPrandial Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: just ootside Gatesheeed Posts: 8,650	yeah the GF2 looks good, the shot above was on a LX5. fixed lens jobbie Looking at the GF2 and GF3 myself, does the GF2 have a hotshoe but the GF3 not? always liked lumix, which is why I bought the LX5 in the first place. __________________ Photo Portfolio Bits 'n Pieces : General Random Gallery : All new photoblog : My Flickr ........................I read it on Wikipedia...so it must be true!........................

20-Oct-2012, 22:07	#60
HooT spam tbh Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Poland Posts: 849	Well! I went a bought a G3 with a 14-42 lens. Will probs pick up a few more in the coming months but this little beauty is a joy to use. The iAuto button is perfect for the Mrs too as it fixes any picture no matter how shit into something gorgeous. Thanks again for all your comments, feedback and recommendations lads. Much obliged. __________________ http://sig.planetside-universe.com/Hoo7.png Planetside 2: Woodman Server : Hoo7 (NC)