Micro Four Thirds

[pretzelb]

Anyone have experience with a micro four thirds camera? I have a Canon Rebel XTi which is great but frustrates me when it comes to packing. I can't help but wonder how much easier it would be with a micro four thirds and a Tom Bihn bag. But prices are pretty high and the options for lenses is very limited.

[AVService]

I have been looking pretty hard at these too.
The Lumix is the one I am thinking about and though there are not a lot of glass choices it seems the ones offered are highly regarded.
Every review I have read says the same thing,rediscover how perfect a single great lens can be and work there for a while.
Tempting for sure.

Ed

[pretzelb]

I have been looking pretty hard at these too.
The Lumix is the one I am thinking about and though there are not a lot of glass choices it seems the ones offered are highly regarded.
Every review I have read says the same thing,rediscover how perfect a single great lens can be and work there for a while.
Tempting for sure.

Ed

I (foolishly) went into a local B&M store and had the kid behind the counter educate me. From what I gathered the Panasonic was a better deal for some basic reasons. First, you could get the pancake lens with it as a kit option and that lens is one of the best available for the format. Second, it comes with a flash (which may not be great but may be better than nothing). Third, the price was still lower and you could use the difference to buy the range finder attachment. But I have to admit that the Olympus was very pleasing to look at and hold. I can see why some reviewers refer to the looks of it alone as a plus.

I changed my philosophy a while ago to limit myself to only prime lenses. I also try to get the fast ones. I think it's improved my photos since I'm not calculating on the fly and the speed is more forgiving. The 20mm pancake sounds like a great lens but I've yet to see much else come out.

One comment I read really tempts me. The person basically said "the best camera for the job is the one you actually take with you". From what the reviewers say, these cameras are ones they find themselves putting in their pockets as the leave. The kid at the store said something similar in that when the store lets them take the sample units home he happily loads one up for the weekend.

But then I remember that I do go toy crazy this time of year. Plus I do have a very nice camera already. Ah well, I do drive myself crazy at times.

[AVService]

I feel your pain.
I find myself having my G10 with me almost all the time and the slr staying at home.
I wear pants with big pockets just so I can slide the camera in there and clearly the more I shoot,the more I seem to shoot.

I have been looking at that pancake lens too and I really wonder if I would stick it in my pocket with that lens protruding even as little as it does?

I actually have 2 G10's and one has the Canon Telephoto for the G10 and it looks brand new.
The other one which I take everywhere looks like it travels but it is the most fun by far.

It kind of reminds me of my old Olympus XA which I used to shoot on the Subways with only bigger.

I was in a Micro Center store here fondling the Olympus too but I am just a Panasonic guy.
I sell a lot of it and it just works for ever.

So many toys....

[pretzelb]

After my last trip with my Canon Rebel Xti I really want to save on space and weight and go with either the GF1 or EP2. The Rebel fit well in the new Synapse but I was also carrying other stuff for the "team" and it quickly became crowded. A few times I found myself not wanting to take the camera. But some of the shots I took with my prime lenses were good and I wonder if these cameras can really do that with someone like me who lacks really good skills (a highly skilled photographer can make almost any camera look really good imo).

I really can't decide between the two. The Panny 20mm lens is highly regarded but the Oly 17mm lens isn't that bad. The EP2 does have in camera IS so it can help with any lens you put on it - and from what I've read they have adapters for just about anything. People are getting some manual focus primes for cheap and putting them on these things. Another sticking point is the electric viewfinders (EVF) that can be had. The Oly EVF is much nicer and has more resolution. I fear that resolution would be necessary for manual focus shots but it's hard to know. At the very least it was much clearer. I also never realized there were many kit options. Some of the major sellers only have certain options like the EVF included. It makes price comparison difficult but the Oly is definitely more, probably because of the in body IS (IBIS).

A new model GF1 is probably going to be announced soon but not before my next trip I bet. Plus I also need to decide on a new Co-Pilot or not.

[sleestak3]

I generally like to travel light but for a four-thirds I have been intrigued by the superseded G1. Going for $499 with a nice kit lens. Actually the kit lens sells for 450. So the body is $50, I guess.

[BPritchard]

Maybe Santa will

I took my Canon XS on our Seattle trip. I like the large view finder as opposed to the superzooms. Downside is the camera size.

These micro four thirds cameras have intriqued me. I especially love the size reduction and still garner the DSLR experience.

I'll be looking closely at the different brands and possible add one to my Santa list. So far the reviews look good.

I agree with pretzelb, "the best camera for the job is the one you actually take with you".

[pretzelb]

I generally like to travel light but for a four-thirds I have been intrigued by the superseded G1. Going for $499 with a nice kit lens. Actually the kit lens sells for 450. So the body is $50, I guess.

The new G2 is tempting me also. It has the viewfinder so for the price you end up with a good deal compared to the GF1 that requires an extra purchase for the viewfinder. The articulating screen could be useful also.

But it's a mini DSLR so I wonder if I'm really saving space compared to my Canon Rebel xti. I would be saving weight and space but I'm not sure if it's "enough" to warrant the purchase. The other downside is you can't get the 20mm pancake with the kit and I'm not a fan of that the zoom they package with it. Adding the 20mm pancake would drive a G2 to be more than a GF1.

The clock is ticking on my next trip too. I haven't even ordered a Co-Pilot yet either.

[BPritchard]

For reference

four-thirds.org

[keith]

me...have the gf1 from panny

awesome!

see these photos, all natural light, manual focus..

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/album.php?aid=2079894&id=1021122281

[geogecko]

Looks like the GF2 should be out soon. I was disappointed to see that it is being dumbed down, just like the Canon 60D was to the 50D (although I would take the articulating display...) Seems like they are favoring the touch screen controls, over manual dials...on the GF2.

[residue]

Just picked up the Lumix GH2. Very nice for stills and video. Now I need a way to carry it in my Synapse.

[bchaplin]

GF1

Right before the end of the year, the Panasonic GF1 with 20mm pancake dropped to $600. I grabbed one. Shortly after the price went back up (it's discontinued now). Love this camera.
Some of the shots it has produced with that lens are here

[adealarcon]

Just got the olympus epl1 for christmas and several lens. Great form factor. highly recommend the 20mm panasonic lens. interesting to see what new mft cameras appear in the next few months. Oly just released a new epl2 and there are rumors of a new pro body coming.