Keep my GF2 or get a S95?

I have had a similar experience. I have a G2 (similar size and weight to the GH2) and I love it for the way it handles and the controls. I also had an E-P1 (which I liked quite a lot...in theory) but I found that it always stayed in the cabinet. For me the GF2 was a bit too small for my hands and yet not quite small enough to be pocketable. So, I sold the E-P1 I went the point and shot route (a Panasonic ZS3 and an LX3) and each time I came away unhappy with the IQ. For me m43 is a nice happy medium where it is small compared to a more conventional DSLR and yet has very good IQ.

In your position I'd stick with the GF2. It's a terrific little camera (I had one for a while). If you're set on getting a new camera than I'd say look at something like a GF3 or E-PM1 but I doubt you'd really be improving that much on what you already have.

 

It will be hard to be satisfied with S95 pics after getting used to m43. I've been using S90 for almost two years but haven't touched it since I got E-PM1+14mm. I suggest just keep your GF2 and use it with pancake for compactness. These days I just use my iphone for snapshots.

 

That's funny you mention that, I also use my iPhone for snaps. I agree, when I had the GF2 it was a nice compact package with the 14 on it. Now the 14 sits on my E-P1 and it's also nice an compact relative to my G2. You'll be better off keeping what you have.

 

Keep your GF2!

 

I think the OP was refering to much cheaper S95. I'm gonna keep my S90 until it dies because after I discovered CHDK it became much more valuable to me for silent time-lapse photography.

 

I'd say if you need the pocketability for daily use and you don't have an iPhone (particularly a 4S), then the S95 is a great option - particularly since you can get them for under $300 now that the S100 is out. But if you really don't need a camera that small, keep the GF2. For anyone else simply looking a good, non-interchangeable lens compact, check out the Fuji X10 and Olympus XZ-1.

 

I picked up the S100 recently as a 'carry all the time' camera.
The E-P3 even with the 14mm, is too big for pockets. And the iphone4 just doesn't have enough control to replace a good pocket camera.
The S100 is perfect for someone who likes to tinker around with settings.

I haven't actually seen a EPM1, I wonder if anyone uses that with the 14mm, or 17mm as a 'larger' pocket camera?

 

There is an issue with the Canon S100, with three out of three samples tested by dpreview.com exhibiting significant lens decentering, where the edges are noticeably softer on one side than the other. Until that gets explained/fixed/resolved, I would be leery about buying an S100. Perhaps it was an assembly or lens manufacturing problem that has been corrected, but when spending that kind of money....

 

To my understanding Canon S90/95 Sony CCD sensor may actually be better than Canon's own new CMOS sensor. If there is IQ improvement, it's likely to come from the new processor. Haven't 1/1.7" cameras reached their IQ limit a few years ago?

 

I have owned the Canon S95 for about a year, and it is by far the best point and shoot camera I've ever had. I also have an Olympus E-P1, and the two cannot be compared, since one is HUGE (E-P1)compared to the other (S95). I also had the pleasure of playing with the S100 today, and that will be my next P&S camera, after the prices drop a little, and CHDK comes out. In terms of comparing it to the Panasonic GF2 or Olympus PENs, there is no comparison. Neither of the Panasonic or Olympus cameras will fit in a pocket, so what's the point of comparing them.

 

The OP's definition of pocketable is "will fit in a bag"

https://www.mu-43.com/f76/tempted-compact-18637/index9.html

 

Can I also ask a question since this is relating....Does anyone have comparison pictures to the GF2 vs S95? I'm still wondering if a good photographer can make a picture of similar IQ with an S95 as they could with a GF2.

I just bought a GF2 after being used to using Canon P&S cameras and still trying to learn where the GF2 excels compared to an S95 other than interchangeable lenses. Playing with an S95 was great and the JPG pictures it takes are amazing for the size. The GF2's sensor seems just as noisy as the S95 when you bump it up taking JPGs. Maybe I need to get unlazy and shoot in RAW?

 

If you click that link above, there's the nearest thing I have to a comparison. But it's with a 500D, GF-1 & Canon G10, which I believe has same sensor as S90 if that's any indication.

Edit: and all of those photos are jpegs straight from the respective camera

 

The S95 is very good, but it is still a compact. It is however far more portable than any m43 camera and it's low light capability is excellent.
I'll always choose the G1 for proper photography, but the S95 is great for out and about and social where a bigger camera is just not appropriate.

These are all S95 shots which will give you an idea of its low light capabilities, I never use a flash.

 

Wow I love the colour of the S90. I've always loved the colour from Canon P&S. I learned the most using my Canon G5 until it stopped working long ago. Being able to exploit an SD980IS was rewarding as I got a lot of great pictures with that considering a small sensor but it was in my pocket when I needed a picture!

I've been tweaking my GF2 since I only got it a week ago but it seems like it needs a tad more work to make the photos more saturated in colour than I'm used to. I've never cared to shoot in RAW yet just because I didn't want to have to post process every picture I took. I liked that I can take the card out and copy a picture(s) to my friend's computer and it's done. Although RAW does do JPG at the same time. I didn't want to store a huge file because I'd feel obligated to keep it as well as my tweaked JPG. I'm so used to taking pictures at lower megapixel so save on space as I don't really print my picture except for the odd 4x6 or 5x7. Hopefully this GF2 will give me the DOF that's closer to an SLR because I love how the subject of the picture pops out and tells the story!

 

+1

I love my S95, and it has a place in my line-up. Much smaller than my E-P3, which is much smaller than my DSLRs. Each have their place, and the S95 is a very capable camera in its own right. Much better than any phone camera, even if just for the better ergonomics.

 

GF2 is not a point & shoot, the S95 is. Thus apples & oranges are being looked at :smile:

 

Apples and oranges? Yes, but the S95 is far from being a simple P&S.