I've been offered a GF-1 body very cheap. I just can't decide whether to buy it or not Apart from the fact that it's a really nice camera, does it offer any advantages over my G1 or e-p1? The flash is one good point, and the form factor is good, but... Any comments appreciated. All the best, Colin
I would say it combines the AF speed and "peppiness" of the G1 with the form factor of the EP1. Kinda the best of both IMHO.
i have both the G1 and GF1, and I think they complement each other. I have one spare battery that I share between the two bodies. The form factor of the GF1 is great, but the grip is not as pronounced as the G1 so it is a bit trickier to hold with only your right hand. The build quality seems better on the GF1. The GF1 can shoot video (where the G1 cannot). My 20mm lives on my GF1 unless my wife wants to use it, in which case she prefers the 14-45mm kit zoom. I recently got the LVF1 (EVF) for the GF1, and the combination of GF1, LVF1, and 20mm makes for a seductive little package. If you can get it for cheap, buy it! --Warren
Hehe! Thanks for your comments guys. I will buy it. Just needed someone tip me over the edge! All the best, Colin
That was easy. Honestly, I can't comment as I haven't used any of the cameras you've listed but I do know that there are many who seem to be completely smitten with the GF1 and get great results, too.
Difference is that you can pocket the GF1/20mm pretty easily (coat/cargo pocket, not normal pants pocket) and have the LVF1 in another small pocket. If you need a quick shot, the LCD will have to suffice; otherwise, it takes just a second to pop on the LVF1. Can't do that with a G1. It's the same with the E-P1/2/L1.
unless you want video and as you have a G1 and EP-1 - I cannot see the point in adding the GF If you want another cam to complement your shooting set up - think about a good compact that is pocketable, (S95 springs to mind)
My gf1 body just arrived yesterday. I wonder what I was before that? Haven't had a chance to really produce anything with it yet, but first impressions of the handling, controls, and responsiveness are VERY good. I think its primary advantage over the EP2 is probably street and other quick reaction types of shooting. Which I don't have much of at all in my little hometown, so I feel a road trip coming on! -Ray
If it is cheap enough to flip at little or no loss in a few months it never hurts to try. I picked up a G1 recently and sold my viewfinder for the GF1 - it was useful but the resolution is so low I was annoyed every time I looked through it.
Ray, What will turn you on in a hurry is seeing the GF1 & LX5 as partners. The interface is very similar..... Oh and... Beings your from da Philly area makes ya a man wit or witout... a camera or onions....
I'm thinking of using the GF1 mostly with legacy primes - shorties... Has a nice form factor for that, and using the G1 and e-p1 with m43 lenses. I'm a bit of a magpie - have a Canon G10, G11, and G12, and an Samsung EX1/TL500 (which is a fabulous cam) an LX3 and LX5, and a couple of DSLR's I rarely use since taking up m43... All the best, Colin
Legacy lenses is one of the jobs I save for my Olympus. Both because of the IBIS and because the EVF is so much better for manual focus (the evf wouldn't affect you if you have an ep1). That said, I shoot with legacy lenses so little its almost academic. -Ray
Hi Colin All I can say is that if you have a strong and healthy relationship or no relationship at all and you've got the £$€'s then you must get the GF-1. You know I couldn't get away from buying a third body without getting some serious high iso noise!
I go with the point, it seems a little overkill, it really does not add much to what you have already. It is just more.
For stills its about a wash (although I've had very slightly better results from the OIS than the IBIS when shooting with the 45-200, but not all that consistently and its pretty tough to tell, and having BOTH on seems slightly better yet). For video, no question - OIS works, IBIS essentially doesn't. But for lenses without OIS (legacy, Olympus, and Pany's short focal length lenses like the 20, 7-14, and I guess the coming 14), IBIS is obviously better by its mere existence when the light gets low enough to matter. -Ray
