safaridon
Senior Member
Kudos to Dpreveiw for their very timely and informative preview of the revolutionary G1 EVIL camera. Surprisingly members in the other 4/3rd forum initially showed greater interest in the m4/3 developments and new products than those in this forum. Some have commented that the G1 is little smaller than existing DSLRs etc without looking at the facts the pictures and dimensions given in Dpreveiw which clearly show the G1 to be 50% less volume than the L10 and 25% less than the E420! If they had looked at the cutaways showing the new large EVF it would be very evident why Pany used the traditional SLR shape to fit it and coming up with very good EVF to compete with OVF and fast auto focus are critical to its early acceptance. In fact the G1 is actually slightly smaller than the popular Canon S5 Superzoom which has only a 2.5 inch rotating LCD as compared to 3 inch in G1 and sensor 6 times bigger.
I note that the G1 body is 1 lb in weight same as E420 so appears denser than other DSLRs. Is it possible that the G1 has a stronger metal subframe and not all plastic?
As noted in the preview Pany is especially situated to take advantage of the new m4/3 format having no legacy of lenses to protect. At first I thought the m4/3 format would be benefit primarily for the wide angle to normal range or wide to moderate telephoto and not to the long telephoto range for sports or wildlife photography. But after hearing that the G1 Pany developed EVF system taken from their pro video camcorders actually can autofocus very quickly and almost in the dark and with lenses slower than F 5.6, I started to realize that with this system the slow and less expensive lenses will no longer be the major deterent they once were. This will permit Pany to develop a small 2x doubler for use with their 20 F1.7 and other primes to be developed or use 1.4 doubler with the telephotos. It seems reasonable that the G1 will be much faster and better yet more accurate than other autofocus systems in use in low light. No wonder Pany is planning high production for 45-200 lenses which cover the equivalent rant of 400 in 35mm.
Some wanted in body Image Stabization without realizing that the E210 already was reportedly too small to incorporate the same and also the fact that in lens IS is essential for video unless you like to watch the jiggles at high zoom ranges. I don't know of any camcorder that doesn't use in lens optical IS system as a result.
Others have brought into question the cost of the G1 or G2 and lens comparing it to the E420 and E520 without taking into consideration the G1 has an expensive swiveling back LCD and a new generation chip much more powerful and higher resolution and dynamic range much closer to the new future mini E3 in capability.
When Olympus showed their concept model of a m4/3 body many said this is the shape Pany should have used without realizing that this likely is just a copy cat of a model Pany already has in the works ready to release soon after the G1. Note the Olympus model sported the new Pany 20 1.7 lens and the fact their camera is yet to be developed and that may take at least a year. Pictures of this likely mini L1 from Pany have probably already been displayed with a removable EVF. Delay in releasing probably has more to do to not divert attention from the G1 for now and to wait for production of the new lenses the 20 1.7 and possible mini 24-80 zoom. Some forum participants have admitted seeing and handling a new shape model but can't release the information. I would expect that Pany would make the removable OVF such as used on LX3 which would enable them to keep the price down and be a bridge between the point and shoots and the DSLRs for those that want a very compact neat and transportable sytem like the rangefinder cameras. The top mount permits use of a future EVF similar to G1 system Before long I would anticipate that Pany would fit the FZ28 or similar lens with a smaller sensor into the G2 body to compete with other superzoom models especially to make use of the HD video capabilities of that body. For now Pany has a lock on the new EVF and only their new mini lenses will work fast enough with it.
Thats all for now and I will not have to convince my wife why I should buy into still another SLR system when I already have DSLRs and SLR from three other manufactures. The truth is I hate lugging all that weight and size around for telephoto use on wildlife safaries. Again many thanks to DPreview for you very good preview and we look forward to testing a production model.
I note that the G1 body is 1 lb in weight same as E420 so appears denser than other DSLRs. Is it possible that the G1 has a stronger metal subframe and not all plastic?
As noted in the preview Pany is especially situated to take advantage of the new m4/3 format having no legacy of lenses to protect. At first I thought the m4/3 format would be benefit primarily for the wide angle to normal range or wide to moderate telephoto and not to the long telephoto range for sports or wildlife photography. But after hearing that the G1 Pany developed EVF system taken from their pro video camcorders actually can autofocus very quickly and almost in the dark and with lenses slower than F 5.6, I started to realize that with this system the slow and less expensive lenses will no longer be the major deterent they once were. This will permit Pany to develop a small 2x doubler for use with their 20 F1.7 and other primes to be developed or use 1.4 doubler with the telephotos. It seems reasonable that the G1 will be much faster and better yet more accurate than other autofocus systems in use in low light. No wonder Pany is planning high production for 45-200 lenses which cover the equivalent rant of 400 in 35mm.
Some wanted in body Image Stabization without realizing that the E210 already was reportedly too small to incorporate the same and also the fact that in lens IS is essential for video unless you like to watch the jiggles at high zoom ranges. I don't know of any camcorder that doesn't use in lens optical IS system as a result.
Others have brought into question the cost of the G1 or G2 and lens comparing it to the E420 and E520 without taking into consideration the G1 has an expensive swiveling back LCD and a new generation chip much more powerful and higher resolution and dynamic range much closer to the new future mini E3 in capability.
When Olympus showed their concept model of a m4/3 body many said this is the shape Pany should have used without realizing that this likely is just a copy cat of a model Pany already has in the works ready to release soon after the G1. Note the Olympus model sported the new Pany 20 1.7 lens and the fact their camera is yet to be developed and that may take at least a year. Pictures of this likely mini L1 from Pany have probably already been displayed with a removable EVF. Delay in releasing probably has more to do to not divert attention from the G1 for now and to wait for production of the new lenses the 20 1.7 and possible mini 24-80 zoom. Some forum participants have admitted seeing and handling a new shape model but can't release the information. I would expect that Pany would make the removable OVF such as used on LX3 which would enable them to keep the price down and be a bridge between the point and shoots and the DSLRs for those that want a very compact neat and transportable sytem like the rangefinder cameras. The top mount permits use of a future EVF similar to G1 system Before long I would anticipate that Pany would fit the FZ28 or similar lens with a smaller sensor into the G2 body to compete with other superzoom models especially to make use of the HD video capabilities of that body. For now Pany has a lock on the new EVF and only their new mini lenses will work fast enough with it.
Thats all for now and I will not have to convince my wife why I should buy into still another SLR system when I already have DSLRs and SLR from three other manufactures. The truth is I hate lugging all that weight and size around for telephoto use on wildlife safaries. Again many thanks to DPreview for you very good preview and we look forward to testing a production model.
( That would only work on flamingos at the Equator at noon (even it the CDAF works decently). Pany wants to sell faster long FL lenses for the birders.