Panasonic GM1 - A Sweet Kit! Pics and Size Comparisons

I've been using 43 and m43 cameras for years now, starting with a E-400 and having an E-M10 on order currently.

I've been using a Panasonic GM1 this winter already, and am amazed by how incredibly responsive this little gem is, how attractive it looks with some small primes / zooms and how much FUN it is to shoot with!

I always poo-poo'd cameras with no viewfinder options but couldn't resist this one and I'm really glad I didn't! This is the first camera I've used where a viewfinder wouldn't add much, it would make things slower for me. I have the camera set up now so all I do is touch the screen where I want to area focus, and take the shot. The AF is so fast that I pretty much never have to wait and I also never have to use the focus-and-recompose method which sucks on fast glass and wide open apertures.

I thought it would be fun to compare the GM1 to my first 43 camera, to see how much things have changed.

Photo from http://camerasize.com - look how huge the E-420 looks now! E-M10 in the middle.

The GM1 and E-M10 with the Oly 9-18mm and the E-420 with the 43 Oly 9-18mm. Quite a difference!

Just for fun, I've added the Nikon D90 on the right. Now that GM1 is looking REALLY small!

But before you think the GM1 is TOO small, think again. I have medium sized hands and found that with the optional Panny grip (which should be included in the kit IMHO), the camera is perfectly sized and balances very well with many of the small Panny and Oly lenses.

I'm still waiting for some of my lenses to come in, but here's some shots with various Oly lenses that I think are sized adequately for the GM1.

From L to R, Oly special edition 12|2, Oly 45|1.8 on the camera, Oly 40-150|4-5.6, Panny 12-32|3.5-5.6, Oly 60|2.8 Macro.

The Oly 40-150 may look fairly large, but it's very light, very cheap ($120 refurb!) and actually holds very well with the grip attachment. It's also a 80-300mm, carry anywhere zoom.

The Oly 45 is perfectly balanced on the GM1.

The Oly 12 is another perfect balance, not to mention it's GORGEOUS!

With the lens hood, the 12 is a bit off-balance, but still not very.

Note how the grip makes the camera just a bit better balanced with the primes.

The 60 macro looks unbalanced, but thanks to its very light material, it certainly doesn't feel it. Macro is pretty easy when you can just touch the screen for focus and then take the shot!

Thanks for looking - I'll be sure to post more photos with this camera over the next few months as it's replaced my Sony RX100II as a hiking / skiing / mountaineering unit.

Very nice kit.  Much smaller than my EM1 and FT lenses.  I am going to have to purchase several mFT lenses to get smaller.

Apart from the GM1 and everything, I really like the product shots, especially the family picture at the top. Good job.

Hey Eric, I do not own the 12-35mm for the exact reason that it's not small enough. But it is fairly light, I was surprised when I tried it in the store the other day.

Thanks! Taken with the Fuji X-Pro1 and 35mm f/1.4. I'm technology agnostic.

Hello - great post. Almost like a review with very good product images.

Thank you!

I am new to MFT and I am using a GM 1 w 12 - 32 kit so far which covers 90% of my needs and is a pleasure to use and carry.

Now - can you tell anything more about combining the GM 1 with the Oly 45 - 150 lens?

As far as I know now the Oly lenses have no OIS and the GM 1 doesn't have in camer IS.

Is it possible to achieve sharp pictures when combining a GM 1 with a OLY telelens or zoom?

Can you post a sample?

B'regards,

Tom

Hey Tom,

Of course it's possible to get sharp pics with the GM1+40-150mm even without OIS.

The basic rule of thumb for sharp images at any focal length is 1/fl or a minimum shutter speed of around 1/100 at 40mm and 1/500 at 300mm. Of course you may have really steady hands, or using a tripod or monopod usually means you can go with slightly slow shutter speeds.

I don't have any samples at the moment but will be using the combo this weekend on a ski trip.

Enjoyed your post. It was fun to see the different sizes of bodies, and the various lenses on the GM1.

F.

We don't all wear skinny jeans! A genuine take anywhere camera. The best camera you have with you is a darn good one in this case.

F.

Having owned both cameras, I can very confidently say that you're very wrong on this point! I can carry the GM1+12-32mm in a small padded Lowe Pro case on my backpack's shoulder strap - the same one my Sony RX100II fit into. The E-M5 wouldn't even fit thelens in that small case!

Here's a comparison for you:

You have made the switch from RX100 to GM1 and you are waiting for a EM10 (plus kit lens?) - so, that makes you one of the tiny minority of people who will be actually in a position to make meaningful comparison both between the two little pocketable gems and between the two competing pancake zooms!

We are anxiously waiting for your comments.

burnymeister wrote:

Hey Tom,

Of course it's possible to get sharp pics with the GM1+40-150mm even without OIS.

The basic rule of thumb for sharp images at any focal length is 1/fl or a minimum shutter speed of around 1/100 at 40mm and 1/500 at 300mm. Of course you may have really steady hands, or using a tripod or monopod usually means you can go with slightly slow shutter speeds.

OK . With the fantastic high ISO performance of the GM 1 this should work perfectly.

I will ad some BOS if necessary ; )

Cheers,

Tom

I am getting the body-only version of the E-M10 simply because I already have the 12-32 and didn't need (or want) another kit lens. The main reason for purchasing the E-M10 was that I saved $300 on lenses and wanted to try it anyway. I also want to use it with larger lenses like the Oly 75-300mm.

I will of course, be comparing it to the GM1 too.

Sir,

I must admit, you are the most hated person on the forum right now!!!

Do you have all these ? Man, my wife simply would throw me off from the balcony

apart from jokes, seriously nice set of gears. Its sad to that no IS on GM1, but as sad there is no possibility mounting it on a tripod while the grip is attached. That would be a benefit, truly.

apart from you, I'd go for gray/black body and silver Olympus lenses... And maybe, instead of owning 20m Panasonic and 12mm Olympus I'd go for 15mm latest leica lens. But well, if you have enough resources, why would you compromise !

lovely set. Enjoy your photography.

Ben

ps': please use this lovely cam by a custom made leather hand strap.

That was quick! Thanks (and pity that we will still have to wait for some informed opinion on the relative strengths and weaknesses of the two pancakes). Did you find that the low speed flash sync was too much of a limitation for low light/indoors or fill in flash/portait photography? Did you miss the longer reach of the RX100 zoom, or were you happy to carry the 45 with you and switch lenses?
(I have almost decided to get a GM1 myself, as a carry-everywhere camera, but I just found an excellent deal on an RX100II. And I am still debating with myself on the 9-18 and the Panasonic 14-140 II; I have never tried ultra-wides and I am still unsure about their usefulness/versatility and the 14-140 seems to negate the advantages of the GM1 diminutive dimensions).