GM1: first impressions, and a quick question!

Got my GM1 "direct from Korea". First impression: thought I had been scammed... looked like a fake piece of plastic, too small and light to be a real camera? E-PM2 now seems like an overweight brick, even though the difference in spec is barely over 2 ounces (64 grams). Anyway, battery charged, it powers up, so I guess it's a real camera

The question... in A-mode, I somehow became stuck in Exposure Compensation mode, so that the dial controls EC rather than aperture. How do I get out of it? Tried every button and dial, nothing works.

Alex Notpro wrote:

Got my GM1 "direct from Korea". First impression: thought I had been scammed... looked like a fake piece of plastic, too small and light to be a real camera? E-PM2 now seems like an overweight brick, even though the difference in spec is barely over 2 ounces (64 grams). Anyway, battery charged, it powers up, so I guess it's a real camera

The question... in A-mode, I somehow became stuck in Exposure Compensation mode, so that the dial controls EC rather than aperture. How do I get out of it? Tried every button and dial, nothing works.

Press the +/- on the rear wheel to toggle between exp comp and A or S depending on the mode you're in. When in Manual mode this will also toggle between S and A for you to change your settings.

Mike Ronesia wrote:

Alex Notpro wrote:

Got my GM1 "direct from Korea". First impression: thought I had been scammed... looked like a fake piece of plastic, too small and light to be a real camera? E-PM2 now seems like an overweight brick, even though the difference in spec is barely over 2 ounces (64 grams). Anyway, battery charged, it powers up, so I guess it's a real camera

The question... in A-mode, I somehow became stuck in Exposure Compensation mode, so that the dial controls EC rather than aperture. How do I get out of it? Tried every button and dial, nothing works.

Press the +/- on the rear wheel to toggle between exp comp and A or S depending on the mode you're in. When in Manual mode this will also toggle between S and A for you to change your settings.

Just expand a little on Mark's comment, press the +/- position of the rear wheel would switching between 1) EC and; 2) f/stop (in A mode), or Shutter speed  (in S mode) or Program shift (in P mode).

A general rule for all Panny's small bodies without an individual clickable rear wheel.

When a lens that has an aperture ring is mounted, the aperture cannot be changed in the camera unless the lens aperture ring is set to "A".

Alex Notpro wrote:

Got my GM1 "direct from Korea". First impression: thought I had been scammed... looked like a fake piece of plastic,

It`s funny, I thought the GM1 was made of plastic when first got one, someone had to point me to the review top prove otherwise ....... I`ve seen many cams which try to make plastic look and feel like metal (the Fuji XM1 for one) but the GM1 was the first full Mag alloy body which looked and felt like 100% genuine bonafide plastic

AdamT wrote:

Alex Notpro wrote:

Got my GM1 "direct from Korea". First impression: thought I had been scammed... looked like a fake piece of plastic,

It`s funny, I thought the GM1 was made of plastic when first got one, someone had to point me to the review top prove otherwise ....... I`ve seen many cams which try to make plastic look and feel like metal (the Fuji XM1 for one) but the GM1 was the first full Mag alloy body which looked and felt like 100% genuine bonafide plastic

The GM1 has a rubberized body, which is tacky and makes for a decent grip for a camera with no attempt at a grip of any kind. I added the Franiec grip and the camera is now perfect.

The only Panasonic that ever struck me as pure plastic was the G6, and to a lesser extent the GH2. These two shocked me a bit at first, but I got used to it. Interestingly, the G5 had a gorgeous body and although the shell was plastic, it never felt like "plastiky."

I've read that Panasonic put a magnesium shell inside the G5, but not inside the G6. Not sure what the truth is, but the G6 is in my opinion still the best body to hold in their current consumer m4/3 line, despite the lack of luxurious materials.

I love the term 'plasticy' because it reminds me that one of the objectives of M4/3 is to keep the weight down.  With the 'space age' plastics that are used today I do not worry when the body feels plasticy but do have some concern when the body is too metally.

The GM1 has a rubberized body

Mine definitely is not rubberized , to does have a leatherette cover on the front like old film cameras and leicas - the back of the LF1 is rubberized, most of the G1 and G2 also but the GM1 has that hard (anodized ?) textured finish similar to some Pro DSLRs, the texture is similar to some plastic bodied cameras .. a lot of these kind of cams have plastic backs (the NEX series and canon G series for a start) and I thought the GM1 had also when it arrived

Alex Notpro wrote:

When a lens that has an aperture ring is mounted, the aperture cannot be changed in the camera unless the lens aperture ring is set to "A".

Good catch. I don't have a manual aperture lens.