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Thinking of buying a G1.

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Bill Shinnick

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I have almost completed the transition from an E-3 and 5 high grade Oly lenses to an E-P2 and 4 Panasonic lenses. Will stay with the E-P2 for size and video uses but the larger G1 is 'speaking' to me. I think i'd like built in EVF and flash and an articulationg screen again.

What are your thoughts - or should I go for an E-PL1?
--
Bill Shinnick
 
Based on your criteria, you've answered your own question. In terms of flash, they both have it. In terms of built in evf and an articulating screen, the G-1 has both, the E-PL1 doesn't have either. If you had a bunch of Oly lenses, that would be a reason to go with the E-PL1 since it has the in-body stabilization, but since you have Pany lenses, this isn't an issue.

Get the G-1.

-Ray
 
I was having the same dilemma. A couple of months ago I bought an E-P1 and fell in love the size, image quality and retro look of the camera. Coupled with the 20mm f/1.7 and the VF-1 it is small enough that I carry it with me everyday. This is something I never do with my Nikon DSLRs and I've never owned a P&S that I truly enjoyed shooting with (except maybe my old Coolpix 880.)

I then started buying Konica Hexanon MF lenses and realized just how difficult it was to manually focus with the E-P1 outdoors in sunlight. I find it almost impossible at times. I'm also so used to using a view finder that despite the IBIS, I'm having problems trying to keep the E-P1 stable enough with longer focal lengths while using the live view at arms length.

This past weekend I went to a local camera store to check out the G1 and instantly fell in love with the EVF. Manually focusing with the EVF is very easy and I'm able to use my normal grip on the camera to stabilize it. The articulating screen is really nice. I think this will help out a lot with macro shots. I also think the built-in flash might come in handy every now and then, even if it is only to trigger an SB-800 in SU-4 mode. While the G1 is larger than the E-P1 it is still significantly smaller than my D90.

Needless to say I'm now the proud owner of two micro four thirds cameras. I think the G1 will compliment the E-P1 nicely.
 
Bill Shinnick said:
What are your thoughts - or should I go for an E-PL1?
Click to expand...
Keep your E-P2 and get a good, used G1 body locally or on the web. It won't cost you much, and you'll get all the advantages of the larger body. You'll be able to use most, if not all of your existing lenses, so that's a bonus. It'll also be cheaper than getting the E-PL1.
 
Pens and GF1 for the heart, G1 for the head.

One of the cheapest M4/3 bodies at the moment as it's phased out, yet comes with a [fairly poor but very useable] built-in flash. Combined with that, an EVF that knocks spots off the GF1's add-on, and pounds [£] off the Olympus VF-2. It sports a decent grip, too.

It's not the pretty one in the family, but because of the great EVF, I get to look through it, not at it!
 
Hi,

I had a G! last year with twin lens kit and the photos I took in Iceland and Norway were superb and a friend had one and his photos from Africa were magnificent, colour, depth and brilliant clarity. I now have an E-PL1, twin lens kit which I have tested at home and the picture quality is magnificent, but I do miss the viewfinder terribly. The size and weight and styling of the Olympus are second to none, but overall I would choose the Panasonic. I do not fancy the new G2 or G10 as I am not bothered about video, so I may get my G1 back off my mate, as overall it was a brilliant camera.

Marc
 
I had this same back and forth internal debate. I got the G1 and love it (almost to the point of getting rid of my GF1). The EVF is exceptional. And I'm also getting addicted to the articulating screen.
 
I bought the G1 first. It had the best preice/performance ratio. I knew I was going to use legacy lenses and the G1's EVF makes all the difference. Not only because it's bright and hi-res but also that holding the G1 in classic SLR style makes for a much more stable position to shoot non-IS lenses. I'll probably add a Pen-style camera in the next generation.

alan.
--
http://www.MotoEuro.org
 
Anyone contemplating the G10 does need to try it in a shop.

The definition of the viewfinder is much cruder than on the G1. You may not find it a problem - but don't get caught by surprise.

Tony
 
Bill Shinnick said:
I have almost completed the transition from an E-3 and 5 high grade Oly lenses to an E-P2 and 4 Panasonic lenses. Will stay with the E-P2 for size and video uses but the larger G1 is 'speaking' to me. I think i'd like built in EVF and flash and an articulationg screen again.

What are your thoughts - or should I go for an E-PL1?
--
Bill Shinnick
Click to expand...
The G1 is cheap and I enjoy mine. My suggestion is to wait for the G2 & G10 to come out, so the current crop of G1's will show up on eBay ;-)
 
i first got a gf1 and love its 20 mm lens. but i dislike having to stick the grainy viewfinder on each time i use it and then have to take it off again when i put the leather cover over it. i bought the g1 and love its viewfinder.

i now use the gf1 with the 45-200 and carry the gf1 only to use the 20 mm. my 14-45 lens gets carried but rarely used. i think the g1 is more balanced and easily used,at least for my purposes.
 
I got an E-PL1 and tried it for a few days and returned it because I could not live with just the LCD. I needed the intimate connection with the frame through the VF.. SO, I did further research and landed on G1 and ordered it. A week later , this little red G1 (dont ask me why I went with Red - long story) came in my hands and might I say , I have never been happier with my photo experience in the past. I have taken it with me everywhere I have gone the past few days and it has been fantastic. There was a bit of a learning curve with respect to their menu system.. but no big deal..

So, my verdict - YESSSSSS..

FYI - I dont know your location. But there are some used G1 (mint condition) on ebay for a really low price.

Good luck.
--
You manifest what you contemplate and work towards - both positive and negative
 
The G1 is a much better photographic tool than the PEN-series. That's my opinion.

The moveable LCD is very useful when keeping the camera on a tripod. And as has been mentioned, don't buy the G10 without checking the EVF: It has significantly less resolution than G1/GH1/G2.

http://m43photo.blogspot.com/
 
I love my G1. The thing that swayed me to buy that model was the "mini-slr" styling. It's just much easier to handhold plus I much prefer bringing a camera up to my eye rather than holding it in front of me. The aux viewfinders on the other models were not up to the standard of the G1.

Superb image quality too.
--

Thanks,

Mark
 
I had the Pen and quickly got rid of it. I found the LCD unusable outdoors. Got the GH1 and think it's excellent. In my view, there is no choice between the Pen and G1---the G1 is way better if you're interested in taking pictures; the Pen is nice if you're romantic about the distant past.
 
Wait for the G2 and make a comparison before buying - it is faster, and possible with a better image quality.
 
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