E-PL6 (or E-PL5) as a pocket camera?

Tom Caldwell wrote:

While where we are in Australia is really well south of the real steamy hot parts we are still sub-tropical enough never to get frost. But it does get cool enough for llght jackets for a couple of months.

But even the GM1 is not really pocketable in my book - it might get into a large pocket when fitted with certain lenses but in essence it is just a very small regular camera.

Tom, to be honest I have to agree with you there. Even with the kit lens the GM1 is not really a true pocket camera. The reasons I ended up choosing the GM1 were, in this order: 1. sensor size, 2. it's a system camera and I already had lenses for that system, and 3. some inexplicable 'it' factor the tiny, and in my case bright colored, GM1 seems to have. The cost of the GM1 kit was so low (299 eur) that even if I pick up the RX100 later this wasn't a lot of money wasted.

Regards,

Timo

TimoK wrote:

After your suggestions I read a few more reviews, especially of the GM1 vs. RX100 and tested both at a local store. I decided in favor of the GM1 and bought it at the store for 299 eur with the kit lens, which I think was a great bargain.

That was a really fantastic value for money indeed! Welcome to the GM1 club.

I also picked up the Panny 20 mm f/1.7 II for another 299 eur. Of course on the GM1 the non-stabilized 1.7 doesn't offer much more low light capability than the kit zoom but it still seemed like a good addition and will of course be a much more versatile tool on the E-M1.

The 20/1.7 is really compact yet sharp and offers that shallow DOF that works great with people. And even though the IS on the kit lens will offset the slower aperture for low light work when shooting static landscapes, keeping the shutter speed up is more important when photographing people indoors, so the 20/1.7 is really useful too.

Having now set up the GM1 for my use (i.e. switched the mode dial to 'A' and figured out how to adjust exposure compensation, ISO and focus behavior) I find no other fault with the ergonomy besides the obvious: the lack of a view finder and a tilting screen.

So, I am sure you noticed the double-duty of the trashcan button, to also bring up the quick menu. Makes it very easy to quickly adjust settings with the touch screen. I normally shooting RAW + reduced JPEG (for online sharing, since there's no in-camera RAW development), but have C1 set for HDR JPEG shooting.

The lack of a tilt screen when doing shooting on the ground etc can be compensated for by using WiFi and a smartphone in such situations, so unless you are shooting such things for every shot, it's not really a problem, IMHO. Note that long-pressing the Wifi button (even if assigning it to a soft screen touch button) will kickstart the last connection type without any further prompts or choices required, making it very quick and easy to use.

Both the lenses seem quite sharp at least in the center. More tests of image quality will have to wait until I get some decent light again.

I find no problem shooting wide open with both the 12-32 and the 20/1.7. The 14-140 II I try to stop down a little, by comparison. They are very fine lenses.

TimoK wrote:

Tom Caldwell wrote:

While where we are in Australia is really well south of the real steamy hot parts we are still sub-tropical enough never to get frost. But it does get cool enough for llght jackets for a couple of months.

But even the GM1 is not really pocketable in my book - it might get into a large pocket when fitted with certain lenses but in essence it is just a very small regular camera.

Tom, to be honest I have to agree with you there. Even with the kit lens the GM1 is not really a true pocket camera. The reasons I ended up choosing the GM1 were, in this order: 1. sensor size, 2. it's a system camera and I already had lenses for that system, and 3. some inexplicable 'it' factor the tiny, and in my case bright colored, GM1 seems to have. The cost of the GM1 kit was so low (299 eur) that even if I pick up the RX100 later this wasn't a lot of money wasted.

Regards,

Timo

Yes it looks a good price.  I hope that Panasonic does not abandon his little gem as it certainly will always have a place in photography even though it doesn't suit some for their own good reasons. I my book I am happy to put up with the lack of some user conveniences to get the benefit of its extremely compact size.

I had a try of the RX100 and respect it as a capable camera but this was at a time when I was on holiday with only my GM1 and a handful of lenses includng the incomparible Nocticron 42.5 f1.2.  A quite large lens that did not seem to affect the handling of the GM1 at all.

If the GM1 has its own ergonomic shortcomings then I also didn't instantly wam to the RX100 either.

The best supplement to the GM1, but mainly for the extra user conveniences in a larger format, is the GX7.

The best powerhouse camera that is ultra compact is the Ricoh GR.  All aps-c and take no prisoners images with an impeccable prime lens.  No zoom. One serious camera for serious photographers.

I think if they could actually keep it around at a very low price they probably would/should, many of us just sorta gamed it buying it ultra cheap as an import or selling of the kit lens for which there's still a decent demand... Coming out with that lens definitely paid off for them.

It looks like they intend to keep the GF7 as the budget option tho, then again they're similarly priced right now even at full retail so who knows. My GF6 had some minor firmware limitations that I wonder if the GF7 has.

For instance, I can't bring up magnified view for MF very easily (or in a PiP box) like you can on most other Panasonic bodies, it requires a pinch of the touchscreen. As much as I like the touchscreen for some things, it's definitely easier just hitting left on the GM's d-pad.

Then again, the GF6 does let me cycle thru images in playback while keeping the same magnified view, which is just awesome for quick comparisons of two images... The GM1 and possibly the GF7 can't manage that cause they have less physical control points.

I actually thought the G6 couldn't do it either, because even tho it has a dial and a toggle switch (like my GF6), it requires a click press of the rear dial first (and every time)... Otherwise both it and the toggle just serve the same function in playback (image cycle) which seems like a bit of a bizarre choice.

Sometimes I wish there was a sort of map to all these minor firmware differences, quirks, and features between all the bodies that are otherwise very functionality similar!

I think I've pressed the wheel twice while intending to turn it over the last two months... It was a total non issue for me, very much a case of YMMV. If anything, having a touchscreen on such a small body or having the on/off rocker switch get bumped in my bag have both been more of a concern.

The former is just a matter of getting accustomed to it, the latter happened twice, not quite sure what the switch got caught on... Possibly the flap of a neoprene lens pouch. I quite like having the switch around the shutter tho, makes it very quick to find in general, so I'm not complaining.

I do stuff my cameras & lenses into smaller bags than the vast majority.

Congrats on the GM1 Timo!

TimoK wrote:

After your suggestions I read a few more reviews, especially of the GM1 vs. RX100 and tested both at a local store. I decided in favor of the GM1 and bought it at the store for 299 eur with the kit lens, which I think was a great bargain.

That was a really fantastic value for money indeed! Welcome to the GM1 club.

I also picked up the Panny 20 mm f/1.7 II for another 299 eur. Of course on the GM1 the non-stabilized 1.7 doesn't offer much more low light capability than the kit zoom but it still seemed like a good addition and will of course be a much more versatile tool on the E-M1.

The 20/1.7 is really compact yet sharp and offers that shallow DOF that works great with people. And even though the IS on the kit lens will offset the slower aperture for low light work when shooting static landscapes, keeping the shutter speed up is more important when photographing people indoors, so the 20/1.7 is really useful too.

Having now set up the GM1 for my use (i.e. switched the mode dial to 'A' and figured out how to adjust exposure compensation, ISO and focus behavior) I find no other fault with the ergonomy besides the obvious: the lack of a view finder and a tilting screen.

So, I am sure you noticed the double-duty of the trashcan button, to also bring up the quick menu. Makes it very easy to quickly adjust settings with the touch screen. I normally shooting RAW + reduced JPEG (for online sharing, since there's no in-camera RAW development), but have C1 set for HDR JPEG shooting.

The lack of a tilt screen when doing shooting on the ground etc can be compensated for by using WiFi and a smartphone in such situations, so unless you are shooting such things for every shot, it's not really a problem, IMHO. Note that long-pressing the Wifi button (even if assigning it to a soft screen touch button) will kickstart the last connection type without any further prompts or choices required, making it very quick and easy to use.

Both the lenses seem quite sharp at least in the center. More tests of image quality will have to wait until I get some decent light again.

I find no problem shooting wide open with both the 12-32 and the 20/1.7. The 14-140 II I try to stop down a little, by comparison. They are very fine lenses.

Really? Is that in the manual? The tip about the Wi-Fi button I mean... I haven't gone thru the entire GM1 manual yet, gonna have to try that as soon as I get home tho...