Just a couple of preliminary remarks on the GM1

[Hen3ry]

I will try to do a more detailed review later.

My first impressions are:

• This camera is a tiny delight. It makes me smile just to see it sitting on the table waiting to be taken for a walk!
• In use, the camera is just as small and compact as I imagined it would be and as it looked in the store.
• The controls are small but I have no difficulty using them with my big and somewhat arthriticky fingers. They are adequate and very sensible; the movement of the dials, etc. is solid. Accidental settings are unlikely.
• The pop-up flash is more robust than I expected it to be, but I will still treat it with kid gloves.
• Both flash and non-flash auto exposure is very good.
• Start-up is very quick.
• The little zoom is nice and sharp. Not quite long enough? You have a high quality 16MPX image to crop a piece out of. At some time in the distant future there is the potential for the movement from retracted to minimum zoom to become sloppy (you twist against a resistance rather than have a button as Oly has in its retracting lenses) but who knows -- I might have dropped off the twig and handed in my lunch pail by then.
• The lens has significant barrel distortion at the 12mm end and there might be a little pincushion distortion at the 32mm end, but in normal use, they are not a problem. (Nobody has sent in sample shots to ePaperpress for PTLens correction as yet, it seems -- I might just do so myself if I can get time and the lighting right in the next few days.)
• I have discarded the strap that came with it and fitted it with a broad, black elastic sling so it hangs down in front of me ready for instant use.
• The JPEGs the camera produces are very nice; excellent colors both indoors and out, not overcooked at all, and with a nice tonal range. All the pictures below are "natural" mode (I think) except for the last two, which are "vivid".
• The LCD screen is very good but in use, there will be times when my framing will be a bit guess and by god when the reflections on my glasses are added to the reflections on the screen in bright light.
• The camera's response is very fast, the train shot, with the train still traveling at about 30kph, is virtually exactly as I framed it on the LCD.
• I am going to miss an articulated screen and an EVF. Too bad -- I have these on the G6. With the GM1, adding them would add weight and size, defeating the whole purpose of this camera.
• Small as the camera is, it handles well with the Panny 40-150 attached. It is not a toy.

A couple of pix -- well three, and all of them OOC except for downsizing:


The Childe Jessica. And to think SHE tells off her nephews for making silly faces when SHE wants to take a picture!


Oh no! Not a brick wall. Well, it was there! You can see the barrel distortion.


But the barrel distortion is generally immaterial in general picture taking. I won’t give it a thought.

The ratings below are a bit of a trick. I've tagged stuff I haven't done so far.

Kids: Yes, definitely, both because it looks less like a "real" camera than my G6 which will make them less defensive, and also because of the GM1's quick response.

Action/sports: What does that mean? A local football match? The GM1 will be not much chop. Bowls? Yep, it will be fine. Road cycling? Yep again. And so on and so forth.

Landscapes: No worries. Maybe excellent, although surprisingly, which it has HDR built-in, it appears that it does not do panoramas as the G6 does.

Portraits: Yes, it is good. And if we are talking spontaneous stuff, it could be rated very good.

Low light: The sensor has the capability; faster lenses can be fitted. Focusing in low light is excellent.

Flash: Social stuff -- yes, fine.

Studio: I put it down as "acceptable" at first. In fact, one thing I will do with this camera is quick and dirty food shots. Then I thought I would just demonstrate that, so I set up a Q&D still life with a bit of cheese and an apricot. The results -- OOC except for resizing:

[ATTACH alt="Set on "natural" using diffused window light. The pic is a little over-exposed. I could have reduced it 1 stop/1 EV (but I haven't worked out how, yet, in P mode. I will do that at once."]media_2806698[/ATTACH]
Set on "natural" using diffused window light. The pic is a little over-exposed. I could have reduced it 1 stop/1 EV (but I haven't worked out how, yet, in P mode. I will do that at once.

[ATTACH alt="Having returned the cheese to the fridge, I bethought me that it might be nice to try "vivid" mode. So I did on the apricot. Stronger coloring; note the color change in the board. Same exposure as the "natural"."]media_2806700[/ATTACH]
Having returned the cheese to the fridge, I bethought me that it might be nice to try "vivid" mode. So I did on the apricot. Stronger coloring; note the color change in the board. Same exposure as the "natural".


Then I thought to stick in a 100% crop. Note that this is at the camera's self-selected 3200 ISO. Pretty darned good, eh? it prompted me to upgrade the low light performance.

This outcome, of course, is in continuous light; you wouldn't be using this camera with a studio flash set up. So I have put it down as "good", but maybe "okay" is a better rating, just as I am sure the rating for kids and pets is going to go to excellent when I get down to photographing the grandchildren (but not pets -- I don't have any and can't be bothered!)

Cheers, geoff

--
Geoffrey Heard
Down and out in Rabaul in the South Pacific

Return to Karai Komana

By Geoffrey Heard “My brother’s Dava -- that’s our name for marriage settlement -- is happening in the village on October 29. Like to come?”...

pngtimetraveller.blogspot.com

 

[Kung Pao Panda]

interesting review.

did you not just get the G6?

what reason you get GM-1?

will the GM-1 replace your G6 as "go to" camera?

how is GM-1 IQ compared to your G6?

which camera you like more?

what color GM-1 dis you get?

Enjoy new camera.

 

[Hen3ry]

interesting review.

Thank you.

did you not just get the G6?

Yes - it is to be my main camera.

what reason you get GM-1?

To be my walk-around camera, the one I have wherever I go.

will the GM-1 replace your G6 as "go to" camera?

The G6 will be the "go to" camera -- the GM1 will be the camera I have on hand when I run into an unexpected picture.

how is GM-1 IQ compared to your G6?

The GM1 IQ might be superior -- I don’t know. I don't care either. I won’t be testing the limits of either, I expect.

which camera you like more?

I like them both -- either is to be preferred to the other in their designated roles.

what color GM-1 dis you get?

The G6 is white, the GM1 is (light) orange. I would have preferred a while GM1, but that color was not available this week! Whatever -- I did not want black, or the GM1 in silver which is nearly all black -- because I live and work in the tropics where it is hot, hot, hot and a black camera absorbs heat like nobody's business.

Enjoy new camera.

Many thanks!

Cheers, geoff

 

[Moti]

Thank you for a good and well detailed review about the GM1.
It is on my list to get as a walkabout camera to replace my Sony RX100 and also as a backup body for other jobs. But for that, pity it doesn't have a hotshoe and even more regretful is the extremely low flash sync.

Moti

 

[Aleo Veuliah]

Glad that you have now two great cameras.

Make good use of them as always.

 

[ericN2]

Thank you for a good and well detailed review about the GM1.
It is on my list to get as a walkabout camera to replace my Sony RX100 and also as a backup body for other jobs. But for that, pity it doesn't have a hotshoe and even more regretful is the extremely low flash sync.

Moti

I have the Sony RX-100 too (original version) - it is an excellent camera (truly so...) and I found it so small and (a bit) "slippery" hold that I had to put a Japan Hobby Tool "Skin" on it AND also the GARIZ leather half-case....THEN it's a nice hold..and I have small hands.....
I'm sure the GM-1 is no smaller or compact than the RX100 is it...why do you feel the GM-1 is better then than the Sony .. matter of interest.~
I think I'd be very happy with the GM-1 but as a BODY only...since I already have the 20mm and 14mm Pancake lenses which I find superb..the 14mm particularly..which is much quieter and quicker focus...lovely for the close-type or general "street" type shots I do most of... better altogether than the 12-32 as far as I'm concerned. Can't get it as a Body-only though ..here in UK anyway..

--
/eric
Staffordshire, UK

 

[ChicagoMike]

I'm curious, too, as to why one would prefer the GM1 over the Sony RX100 as a walkabout camera (or vice versa).

I would like to get one or the other for travel purposes. The Sony is appealing for its pocketability, high image quality and tiltable screen, which makes it more usable in sunlight. The GM1 is appealing because it has slightly better image quality (from what I have seen) and because I own other micro four thirds lenses.

 

[ericN2]

I'm curious, too, as to why one would prefer the GM1 over the Sony RX100 as a walkabout camera (or vice versa).

I would like to get one or the other for travel purposes. The Sony is appealing for its pocketability, high image quality and tiltable screen, which makes it more usable in sunlight. The GM1 is appealing because it has slightly better image quality (from what I have seen) and because I own other micro four thirds lenses.

... in which case.. another one I would seriously suggest you consider..is the original GX1. It is now still available and at a significantly less price..yet I firmly believe that the general quality and design makes it (to me anyway) much nicer , compact and lovely in the hand, to the GX7. OK..the GX7 has a few frills etc that seem to appeal to as lot..the EVF does NOTHING for me, as I've used LCD screens for composition, on a multitude of cameras without any problem..(and I'm very fussy on compo)...the general design and feel in the hand of the GX1 is super..I just love it..and NOTHING would entice me to pay literally more than twice what I paid for my GX1...to get the so-called update.. which frankly I just don't think it is. Anyway..it's my firm belief that with this type of camera..M4/3 just like dSLR...the LENS you put on it is likely going to give you most of any improved quality you get..NOT a redesign of the BODY... Give it a thought.. certainly as an excellent AND very compact second carry-about camera.. the GX1 now is a super buy... use mine with the same 20mm and 14mm Pancakes I've used for years...starting with the GF-1... and they make a super small but excellent camera to take anywhere. The GM1 of course is LIKE the GX's in many ways..but it is not really fully comparable with the GX's I'm quite sure.. check them out...

 

[Hen3ry]

I'm curious, too, as to why one would prefer the GM1 over the Sony RX100 as a walkabout camera (or vice versa).

I would like to get one or the other for travel purposes. The Sony is appealing for its pocketability, high image quality and tiltable screen, which makes it more usable in sunlight. The GM1 is appealing because it has slightly better image quality (from what I have seen) and because I own other micro four thirds lenses.

I didn’t even consider the Sony -- and would not. The advent of the GM1 was fortuitous for me -- if it had not appeared, I would have continued to use my E-PL3 as my walk around camera despite the fact that it is a little too big for that job and it is simply not handy.

The GM1 is small, compact, offers excellent image quality, and since it is m43, can be used in some situations as either a back-up or a temporary replacement for the G6 -- less versatile than the G6 but offering the same or better IQ.

The GX1 is too big -- it is roughly the same size as the E-PL3 which I thought would do the walk round job and almost does, but …

I have the f2.5 14mm. My walk around kit with the E-PL3 was the 14 on the camera and the Oly 40-150 in my pocket. While the 14 is an excellent lens, too often it is just too short or not quite short enough.

Bear in mind that the 14 @ f2.5 is only one stop better than the 12-32 @ 12 @ f3.5 -- and the GM1 has a significantly superior sensor to the E-PL3; I can go three or four better with the GM1 than I could with the E-PL3.

And if you think the 12-32 doesn't focus fast, you probably also think that lightning is simply pedestrian.

Cheers, geoff

 

[Jed Perkins]

I'm curious, too, as to why one would prefer the GM1 over the Sony RX100 as a walkabout camera (or vice versa).

I would like to get one or the other for travel purposes. The Sony is appealing for its pocketability, high image quality and tiltable screen, which makes it more usable in sunlight. The GM1 is appealing because it has slightly better image quality (from what I have seen) and because I own other micro four thirds lenses.

12mm on the wide end is really a surprising amount wider than the 14mm equivalent of the RX-100

the ability to mount the very small Panny 45-175mm bSically gives you 24mm to 350mm in a very small package.

i haven't used my RX100 since I got my GM1, and am going to sell the RX100

 

[DP13Photo]

Thanks for the practical review.

 

[Hen3ry]

I'm curious, too, as to why one would prefer the GM1 over the Sony RX100 as a walkabout camera (or vice versa).

I would like to get one or the other for travel purposes. The Sony is appealing for its pocketability, high image quality and tiltable screen, which makes it more usable in sunlight. The GM1 is appealing because it has slightly better image quality (from what I have seen) and because I own other micro four thirds lenses.

12mm on the wide end is really a surprising amount wider than the 14mm equivalent of the RX-100

That's true. I used to love the f2 28mm as my "standard" on the old OM1 but more recently, I had a Kodak P880 with its (equiv) 24-140 zoom. I got used to that bit of extra width, and I am very happy to have it again.

the ability to mount the very small Panny 45-175mm bSically gives you 24mm to 350mm in a very small package.

I thought about that too, but got the 45-150 with the G6 so I will use that on the GM1 too. It also is small and light -- not so much as the 45-175 but it will do the job.

i haven't used my RX100 since I got my GM1, and am going to sell the RX100

:}

Cheers, geoff

 

[Robert Deutsch]

You've done a good job of capturing the GM1 experience.

Bob

 

[Ben]

I noticed your post about the RX 100. I'm currently using a NEX 5N and love the photo quality, but hate the bulk. I have to think about taking it along, so it doesn't get used as much as I would like. I'm looking for a smaller "walk around" camera with similar photo quality. The RX100 was one that I was considering along with the GM1. Can I ask why you are returning it? My concern is that the fixed lens makes it limited and not very durable ( I know all digital cams are fragile and I baby my NEX whenever I take it with me) What didn't you like about the RX?

 

[Zensu11]

Thank you for the mini review, you've addressed most of the questions I had about this little gem. Looking forward to seeing more of your photos with this compact camera.

 

[Hen3ry]

A few more observations about the GM1.

Loading…

www.dpreview.com

Cheers, geoff

 

[Impulses]

Nice read, from a very practical point of view... I'm not in the market for the GM1 but I'm really interested in that little 12-32mm. Does that small resistance to extend it feel like it'll hold it back reliably? I know it's impossible to predict how it'll hold up over time but does it collapse securely if it's say, in your pocket (as mine would likely be if I'm using the 20mm etc).

Is the zoom ring travel pretty smooth? I know that's something that can also vary a little from copy to copy... Everyone seems to praise the recent 14-42 II over that, we've got two in this house and one's silky smooth yet mine catches or stutters a little towards 70mm, hardly the end of the world, just a little disappointing. I always intended to replace it with something like the 12-32 or 14-42 PZ anyway.

Distortion at 12mm seems like something I could easily live with... Just having a zoom ring and 12mm makes it much more desirable than the power zoom, to me at least.

 

[Hen3ry]

Nice read, from a very practical point of view...

Thanks you. Best POV, I think, for a camera review.

I'm not in the market for the GM1 but I'm really interested in that little 12-32mm. Does that small resistance to extend it feel like it'll hold it back reliably? I know it's impossible to predict how it'll hold up over time but does it collapse securely if it's say, in your pocket (as mine would likely be if I'm using the 20mm etc).

Ir feels very good and very firm.

Is the zoom ring travel pretty smooth? I know that's something that can also vary a little from copy to copy... Everyone seems to praise the recent 14-42 II over that, we've got two in this house and one's silky smooth yet mine catches or stutters a little towards 70mm, hardly the end of the world, just a little disappointing. I always intended to replace it with something like the 12-32 or 14-42 PZ anyway.

I had an excellent 14-42. I found it an excellent lens -- I just didn't have much use for higher than 14 or so, and I could get the 40-45 I liked sbove that with the 40-150 I had in my pocket (and not that 40 is f4).

Distortion at 12mm seems like something I could easily live with... Just having a zoom ring and 12mm makes it much more desirable than the power zoom, to me at least.

The distortion is there and it is quite strong. PTLens will fix it as soon as someone sends in some sample shots (they have already done the 12-35) (why am I saying "they" -- there is one bloke who does it!). The problem with "someone sends in some sample shots" is that I imagine that too many GM1 users are having too much fun to be bothered! I certainly am! LOL!

BUT we have a week of unremitting sunlight and 40 C days coming here in Melbourne (now that I am ready to leave to return to my tropical paradise, it is warming up after I have suffered unseasonal cold!) so I might just turn one of them into an opportunity if I can find a suitable building.

When PTLens does the correction, it will be very good. Most of the time, though, it doesn't matter a damn, as I said in my review and as you can see in the pictures and those taken by others with the lens (and camera).

Cheers, geoff

 

[Dr. Noodle]

Geoffrey Congratulations for your new cameras... I think you went down town for some shopping therapy...LOL

I will follow you to see...