Any users /views on Panasonic G series 4/3 cameras?

Howard, I've had a G1 for several years, after owning a couple of compacts, a Nikon D40 DSLR and a Canon film SLR, and it's definitely the most usable and enjoyable camera I've had by a long chalk.

It's relatively compact, easy to handle, the menus and controls don't befuddle and the picture quality is at least up with the D40. Other good points for me are the optical viewfinder and rotatable screen. I was unfortunately born with one old woman chromosome and hate getting fingerprints or scratches on LCD screens, so it's good to be able to fold it out of harm's way.

I only have the 14-45 zoom at present, and an Olympus FL36 flash I got off epay, but have a hankering for the 20mm f1.7 for indoors work sans flash and will likely get one soon. 

Hi

I have the GF1 with standard zoom and pancake 21mm. Its a great camera [except no view finder] I can imagine it being all the camera most people could ever need. Next time I see you, you can try it.

Julian

I use an Olympus Pen but do have one Lumix lens, a 45-75mm Lumix G f 4.0-5.6 that I'd wholeheartedly recommend. Small, light and very nice quality. My other lenses are Olympus (14-45 and 9-18).

I came from an Olympus DSLR to the Pen and have not missed the viewfinder at all (nor the bulk etc). I really enjoy using it, with enough controllability and a lovely size and balance. I note they are about to bring out a Pen with built in electronic viewfinder called the OM-D but I will not be tempted. When i bought the P{en I must confess I did not actuallt try the Panasonic G series cameras, I have a longstanding love of Olympus via OM1, 2, 4 Ti that is illogical I know, but fixed!

Bruce 

Nothing wrong with that, fab series of cameras! 

J

ps - don't forget the 3ti!

I bought a G3 kit, body, 14-42 and 45-200 lenses, last August and have been delighted with the results it produces.

It is easy to use either in auto or full manual modes and everything in between.

The only thing you need to get use to is the digital viewfinder and the power saving settings are tucked away in a sub menu.

Highly recommended.

Straight off the camera with strong side lighting to cope with.

Jono

Following this thread with interest. 

I am a point and shoot cowboy that relies on the camera to do all the work. My first camera was a  35mm olympus is1000 that gave me some beautiful photos. I now have a panasonic TZ3 which I am real happy with 85% of the shots I have taken. 

Recently at an evening family gathering I took a great number of shots using the party mode and no flash, this gave a much better and natural presentation of the mood and lighting than when using the flash. I hate the use of flash in those circumstances as it just lights up everything so wrong.

At the time the images looked great on the tz3 screen but only when I viewed them a month later on the computer did I see how terrible the smudging from movement was that it made half of them un useable.

Since then I have decided to upgrade. I also spoke to a very helpful salesman that uses DSLR for film making which was real impressive, photos and video from one machine, never miss an opportunity for either, I have nearly made my mind up for a Canon DSLR.

The thing is the tz3 just gets slipped into my pocket or my wife's bag which I cannot see happening so much with a DSLR. 

If you are looking at the LX5 for a £150 more (depending on budget) the GF3 is a 4/3 sensor and comes with an interchangeable 14-42mm power zoom lens which seems to be pocketable or £300 pounds for the same camera and lens without the power zoom.

Have you thought about the sony nex models? They have an even larger APS-C sensor and seem to work very well in low light which is great for me but maybe not as pocketable as the GF3 above.

I hope you don't mind my post H

cheers

Lots of good user reviews and in the mags and sites too for the G. I can't remember reading anything saying it's awful

I guess it comes down to the sort of usability you want and then budget and size

Do you really want to be carrying/swapping lenses again, or prefer a fixed lens with fixed focal length? Or a fixed but zooming lens?

The swappable lens on a smaller body market is getting really hot and I believe the Pannies have a big market share. The Sonys I found just felt weird in the hand. Olympus is now in big with the OM-D. If your budget is up to it, how about the new Fuji X-Pro1?

I got a Fuji x100 a while back, sort of got it at first but then a little while later wondered what all the fuss was about and now think it's terrific (especially since firmware updates). If the X-Pro1 is like an X100 +, then it's likely a good thing. If fixed focal length is OK then I recommend X100 highly. Although Fuji's are a bit like Alfa Romeos, brilliant at what they're supposed to do (IQ) but not for everybody.

As well as thinking about the form/functions you require, you might also want to check out user pictures on Flickr. Just type in various camera names in the search box and see what comes up. There are good and bad pics on there and cleary some picture takers are better than others, then there are the limitations of software but you do at least get the feel for the sort of pictures that are available from some cameras and not others.

Still think 'hands on' is your best guide. Bit like buying HiFi.

(NB Just to throw in another option, I still find my Canon S95 the best overall balance between dinky size, usability, IQ and convenience...It's not perhaps the absolute best IQ, the very smallest size, the biggest zoom range if compared with every other single camera on the market but for all factors combined overall, I think it's a tough act to beat)

My preferred compact for the past two years or so has been the Ricoh GXR. Bit of a weird design, it comes with swappable lens/sensor units. I have the two APS-C sensor units, with 28mm and 50mm fixed lenses, respectively. After a host of firmware updates, it's become a fast and reliable camera, with the best (fully customizable) user interface this side of Nikon.

Cheers,

EJ

Any decision BigH47?

Just occurred to me that without using a powered zoom it will be difficult to zoom in and out when using the camera in movie mode. I suppose that it will cause a lot of camera shake when twisting the lens which will need to be edited out of the movie, this may mean that depending on the moment it may or may not be cut out.

So looking at portability a GF3 with the 14-42 powered lens may be the one. Still thinking about the nex5.

Is it me or do the Olympus pens have a better image in the lower iso range on the dp site review. I have dialled in GF3, nex5 and canon GX1 to compare against.

Another question, can a 14mm (or a 16mm in the case of the nex5) pancake lens be all you need on a trip out.

Cheers

No decisions yet, I have not been able to find a shop with much stock, so will probably wait 'til our next visit to London.

May just get a wide range tele for the EOS 350. 

Try Clifton Cameras in Stroud. They have a great select of cameras all charged up and ready to go. I tried the G3 against a Nikon and a Cannon, not sure of models but near the bottom of their ranges, and preferred the G3 with a selection of lenses.

Also the staff were very friendly a helpful and they appeared to have everything in stock from UK distribution.

Jono