Picked up my new camera today....a GF1

Status
Not open for further replies.
The 80 - 250 sounds fun! With the x2 sensor you will have a focal length of 500mm!!:thumbs:
 
From the Novaflex list it seems you will need the Contax/ Yashica mount. Give them a ring to check. it's about £170.

Brian
 
Last edited:
That Leica Macro-Elmarit 45mm looks a damn good lens!!!!!
 
45mm Lens arrived safe and sound at 7.50am today...

Thanks for great deal Dave Proctor

:thumbs:
 
Like the Novaflex Andy it does say Yashica/ Contax. As far as I know the two are compatable except for the latest Contax re auto exposure. Anyway at £25 it's worth agamble.

Brian.
 
Well I ordered one of them ClearViewer thingamys - will let you know how I get on when it arrives. Got a few old MF lenses to play with too but my damn adapter hasn't turned up from HK yet.
 
Graham why not go the whole Hog, Darkcloth, loupe and a bloody great wooden tripod. :)

Brian.. Beginning to like the EVF.
 
"Beginning to like the EVF"

Once you've got your thoughts together you should post a full road test.
 
BrianT said:
Graham why not go the whole Hog, Darkcloth, loupe and a bloody great wooden tripod. :)

Brian.. Beginning to like the EVF.
Click to expand...

:)

Yeah was tempted by the EVF but for the sake of £35 or so I think the Clearviewer is worth a go. Given how good the GF1 screen is it makes sense to me to try and use it. Would rather put £170 towards a lens than spend on a viewfinder personally. :p
 
AndyWest said:
That Leica Macro-Elmarit 45mm looks a damn good lens!!!!!
Click to expand...

I was confused reading the review at dpreview.com. They say it's not so good for portraits. Looks like they are saying that the DOF isn't very shallow and the bokeh not good? Does this hold true from anyone's experience with the lens? If and when I get a GF-1, I'll be wanting a good macro/portrait lens. ;)
 
BrianT said:
Graham why not go the whole Hog, Darkcloth, loupe and a bloody great wooden tripod. :)

Brian.. Beginning to like the EVF.
Click to expand...

you can write in jest but that sounds perfect to me. If there was a back to front and upside down option on the screen, I'd be using it. :lol:

ground glass is still the way forward in my book. ;)
 
I am massively tempted by this little camera. I really need something to keep with me as I just don't take my s5pro everywhere that I should because of size. I love it for weddings but it's just too big for a general carry-around camera.

I also really like the idea of having a camera that I would just use primes with, the 20mm pancake would be ideal. I love the simplification of photography that this would offer.

Now how do I find the £600 odd quid? Best get saving!
 
BrianT said:
From the Novaflex list it seems you will need the Contax/ Yashica mount. Give them a ring to check. it's about £170.

Brian
Click to expand...

Thanks for your suggestion Brian but this is a bit pricey for me.
 
AndyWest said:
I did find this on ebay but not 100% sure it will fit but should be fine. Maybe someone else could confirm please.

http://photography.shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=Contax%2F+Yashica+to+micro+4%2F3&_sacat=30059&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_dmpt=UK_Photography_CameraLenses_Lens_caps_hoods_adaptors_ET&_odkw=Contax%2F+Yashica+to+gf1&_osacat=30059
Click to expand...

This seems much more in my price range if it works Andy, thanks for the link. I'll wait a short while to see if anyone else has any thoughts on the compatibility of this before ordering one. :thumbs:
 
grum said:
Well I ordered one of them ClearViewer thingamys - will let you know how I get on when it arrives. Got a few old MF lenses to play with too but my damn adapter hasn't turned up from HK yet.
Click to expand...

Whats a clearview thingamy? Do I need/want one? how much? where from?:thinking:
 
Woof I just don't think the LCD screen is usable for general photography. It's not only in bright light, it's the silly Praying Mantis stance that it forces the user to adopt. The EVF is neither good nor bad but what it is is the only eye level viewfinder that is available that shows what the camera is doing. Yes you could buy third party finders but then you would have to use the screen.

I truly believe that the GF1 lens interchangeability with third party lenses is little more than a marketing tool. To my knowledge there isn't a reasonably wide angle lens available in any form which is fast enough bearing in mind the GF1 rather limited performance re high ISO.

The only alternative is for Panasonic to bring out a small range of prime lenses with optical viewfinders to go with them. They have the standard with the 20mm now all they need is a 10/12mm and a 45mm all at a decent speed.

Would I encourage the purchase of the EVF? Yes I suppose so, but it is hellishly expensive . In operation it does work well apart from the rear dial is too small and makes enlarging the image awkward, but the actual view of the subject isn't up to the rest of the camera. Actually for me the ability to put the camera up to the eye makes the EVF price worth while.

Incidentally the eyesight correction control is excellent as is the seamless switchability between finder and screen...............and it's a very reasonable size.

As I have said before the GF1 for me is an "If only" maybe I'm impatient.

You could ask NorthernNikon, he tried mine recently...................trouble is he might report double vision. :)

Brian.
 
Last edited:
Jean there is no question of compatability, any properly made micro 4/3 mount featuring Yashica / Contax fitting will work in manual mode. Re cost? You pays your money and takes your choice. There are loads of people advertising on Ebay at a fraction of the cost from Novaflex but have a look at Cameraquest site for middle range prices from a very respected supplier.

Brian.
 
BrianT said:
Jean there is no question of compatability, any properly made micro 4/3 mount featuring Yashica / Contax fitting will work in manual mode. Re cost? You pays your money and takes your choice. There are loads of people advertising on Ebay at a fraction of the cost from Novaflex but have a look at Cameraquest site for middle range prices from a very respected supplier.

Brian.
Click to expand...

Thanks Brian, I will take a look at Cameraquest.
 
I think the GF1 has G1 innards stuffed into a smaller body. But it doesn't have the movie mode. In fact it is probably a better camera because the viewfinder is far superior. The LCD is the same as the GF1 but of real practical importance it swivels. The G1 cheaper especially after you add the cost of the EVF to the G1

In my book the only advantage of the GF1 is the size.

But I think it's been discontinued.

Brian.
 
I think there's a G2 on the way!
 
Well I did say I thought it was discontinued.

Also there are more dedicated Macro 4/3 lenses available . Mathers are still listing the G1 with kit zoom at £419 as opposed to the GF1 / EVF combo at £708. And that doesn't include the £50 cashback offer. So effectively the G1 is £369!

Brian.
 
Last edited:
BrianT said:
I think the GF1 has G1 innards stuffed into a smaller body. But it doesn't have the movie mode. In fact it is probably a better camera because the viewfinder is far superior. The LCD is the same as the GF1 but of real practical importance it swivels. The G1 cheaper especially after you add the cost of the EVF to the G1

In my book the only advantage of the GF1 is the size.

But I think it's been discontinued.

Brian.
Click to expand...

Thanks Brian.
 
Hello All

New here and have been observing everyone's comments on the GF1 and finally plumped for the GF1 Twin lens kit along with the EVF, an extra battery and a nifty Lumix G case (DMW-PGS19) all for the grand sum of £980. Got myself a real bargain (me thinks) along with the £50 cashback and free 3 year warranty, they threw in a Panasonic 4gb SD Card!! Yahoo!! My 2nd "RangeFinder" after my cherished Leica Digilux 2 which cost me over a grand a few years back.
 
Wai said:
Hello All

New here and have been observing everyone's comments on the GF1 and finally plumped for the GF1 Twin lens kit along with the EVF, an extra battery and a nifty Lumix G case (DMW-PGS19) all for the grand sum of £980. Got myself a real bargain (me thinks) along with the £50 cashback and free 3 year warranty, they threw in a Panasonic 4gb SD Card!! Yahoo!! My 2nd "RangeFinder" after my cherished Leica Digilux 2 which cost me over a grand a few years back.
Click to expand...

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the EVF in due course.
 
Its a lot better than the one on the Leica Digilux 2 (although as someone else posted earlier - that's not saying much!)

I'm looking to attach my Nikon lenses using an adaptor (yet to buy) and i think the EVF will enable easier focusing and handling on the bigger lenses.

Also like many others, i still prefer holding the camera to the eye (a la SLR) and in my opinion the EVF is definitely better than nothing.

My dealer discounted the EVF to £110 as i was buying so much gear. So for that price, it was worth taking his arm off for!!

I haven't tried the EVF on the GH1 so i don't know what i'm missing :-)
 
Wai said:
Its a lot better than the one on the Leica Digilux 2 (although as someone else posted earlier - that's not saying much!)

I'm looking to attach my Nikon lenses using an adaptor (yet to buy) and i think the EVF will enable easier focusing and handling on the bigger lenses.

Also like many others, i still prefer holding the camera to the eye (a la SLR) and in my opinion the EVF is definitely better than nothing.

My dealer discounted the EVF to £110 as i was buying so much gear. So for that price, it was worth taking his arm off for!!

I haven't tried the EVF on the GH1 so i don't know what i'm missing :-)
Click to expand...

I agree it will make the handling easy without a tripod for bigger lenses. The zoom option in live view, using manual lenses is excellent for accurate focussing though.
 
I think with the tiny EVF attached to the GF1, the camera really does look like quality Leica gear (from a distance) whereas without the EVF attached the GF1 looks rather like an oversized LX3 ?!

If you got the loot - buy it.

As for the case, a Panasonic DMW-PGS19, its not worth the RRP £35. Its cheaply made, with wafer thin velcro padding and a skinny shoulder strap. It'll fit the 20mm, 14-45mm, EVF, spare battery etc and with the micro 4/3 format, the gear hardly weighs a thing. But i get the feeling it wouldn't last a weekend trek. Still shame on me for craving the natty Lumix G logo on the front!
 
I think with the tiny EVF attached to the GF1, the camera really does look like quality Leica gear (from a distance) whereas without the EVF attached the GF1 looks rather like an oversized LX3 ?!
Click to expand...

Just like people buying grips for DSLRs ;)
 
Just got my Canon FD adaptor - took a few nice shots with a Canon FD 50mm 1.8

4345929639_3d240d6f4d.jpg


Few more in the photo sharing thread.
 
I'm a bit disappointed that I bought my GF1 a couple of days before Christmas and so have missed out on the £50 cashback and extended 3 year warranty - just my luck!
Never mind, I'm more than happy with the camera. I managed to track down a suitable sized camera bag 'Case Logic DC50' for £8.50 (incl. p&p). I don't care for camera bags advertising what I might have inside so the fact it's cheap and cheerful suits my needs.
 
JeanieW said:
I don't care for camera bags advertising what I might have inside so the fact it's cheap and cheerful suits my needs.
Click to expand...

Yup - you're right! :D
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top