Hi guys - googled and ended up here - hope I can learn a few things from the posts here.

Just bought my GX1 in the UK last week - mainly to take holiday snaps and hopefully catch some good shots of my 3 year old boy who doesnt like his photo taken.... hopefully this GX1 is quick enough ;)

I must admit going from a Canon point and shoot (after owning a DSLR a while back) to this is pretty daunting...... Auto this and auto that - Scene mode this or Creative - it seems this has a lot of options .... but Im not sure what is useful and what is gimmicky ....

to shoot Raw or Jpg - or both ?
what size image?
What type of focus etc ?

I have lots of questions but I will read through the forums and see if I can pick up any tips to start.

If anybody could point me out some tips to start with that would be great. Its a pity there isnt a good dummies guide to the GX1 available !

Anyways Hi from the UK and hope to contribute real soon.

Welcome! Another GX1 owner here. I would start with just P-mode, which is almost fully auto. That's what I use most of the time, unless I am looking for specific effect, like photographing something moving quickly, then I'll switch to the Shutter Priority and see how high of a shutter speed I can get away with.
I shoot usually Jpeg, unless it's a dark situation, then I might use RAW so I can later process a cleaner photo. I use Largest size Jpeg. Usually center - focus. Sometimes I will switch to spot focus if it's small object like a bird . You'll want to watch White Balance . you can use the presets, or follow the camera menu to make a preset by focusing on a white object.
I find the burst shooting mode can be very useful. Rest is really just composition.

half the final result of a good photo can be post-processing. If you don't have a good program, like Adobe Lightroom, I'd get that first. Then you can straighten, crop, adjust colors, lighten , darken, and do more complicated things if you want.
Enjoy!

Raw vs Jpeg: if you don't mind doing a bit of post processing in lightroom, I'd strongly recommend Raw. Yes it takes a bit more time, but I find that I learn more about what/how I was shooting, and can get better final images than from Jpeg. If you don't care to spend that time, Jpeg can be fine, especially if you spend time making sure the exposure is correct while shooting.

As for what mode to shoot in, I spend about 85% in Aperture, 14% in Manual, and 1% in Shutter priority modes. In three years of owning first a GF1 and now a GX1, I don't think I've ever used a scene or creative mode. The things I find myself using most are ISO, aperture, shutter speed, AF mode, meetering mode, and the fire control/bracket. But I also bought into the system from a point and shoot b/c I wanted to learn and control what the camera was doing, not let it pick for me.

Hi Conuk
I use a GF2
I have a 3 year old boy too (and 6 and 8 year old boys). When I’m shooting these fast moving targets, I use;
S - Shutter priority - around 200, to freeze motion
ISO - Auto
AF Mode - Face detect or centre focus.

If I can get them stillish for a portrait (environmental portrait)
A - Aperture priority - around 2 (with the 20mm 1.7).
ISO - iIso, Intelligent ISO.
AF mode - Face detect

Have fun.

Jason

Congrats on the GX1 ... I had one set-aside then switched at the very last second and picked-up an E-P3 (it's for my G/F and I think she needs the IBIS.)

Waiting to see pixs of the kid.

Gary

__________________
"Everywhere you look there are photographs, it is up to us photogs to see them."- Gary Ayala
My Snaps are Here: Unsharp At Any Speed
Critiquing my images is welcomed and greatly appreciated.

Congrats and welcome, also from the UK.

another uk and gx1 owner here - welcome

hey guys - thanks for the welcome and info above.
I did manage to get out and take some shots ... yep just auto and IA mode... quite happy with what it could do.

Now Ive read up a bit more and your tips above the next photos Ill experiment more with the other modes.

At least I can now capture him.... moody or not ;)

also if I may guys - which bags are you using for your GX1.

I just have the 14-42 non zoom lens.... just want a small bag that neatly holds them and a couple of batteries.....

Actually as for the batteries is there a good alternative to the £50+ panasonic ones?
I can see some on Amazon etc - anybody got experience of these ?

I have a GX1, 7-14mm, 14-45mm, 45-200mm lenses, external EVF, 52mm polarizer, extra memory cards and extra battery in my Think Tank Retrospective 5, and there is room for maybe one more (small) lens. It's a quality bag and pretty stealth (doesn't really look like a camera bag).

Oh, and I got the Wasabi battery from Amazon. Seems to work fine, although I guess the battery metering isn't accurate, but for the price difference I don't mind.