Micro Four Thirds or Another DSLR/More kit

ic0n

ic0n

ic0n

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Hay Guys

So i am having a problem.

I was looking at selling my photography kit (Pentax k10d and lenes) and making the move over to canon, also upgrade to get something like the 7d and that 28-70 2.8f glass. The upgrade would cost me around £800ish.

But when i look at my kit i dont really need the upgrade as my kit works fine for studio stuff (which is most of my work) and the odd walking around shots.

So i am think about putting the money from the upgrade in to a Micro Four Thirds camera such as the GF1 as there small and high quality would make it the perfect walking around camera, something i could keep in my laptop bag that i could shoot slr quality on.

Whatever i get will be my main travel camera but if i go for the GF1 i will keep my pentax for Jobs.

My questions:

Dose the GF1 really work as well as a DSLR?
Is it worth the money?
Would one work as a main travel camera?
Is there anything better then the GF1?

Any help or views would be very welcome.
 
ic0n said:
Dose the GF1 really work as well as a DSLR?
Is it worth the money?
Would one work as a main travel camera?
Is there anything better then the GF1?

Any help or views would be very welcome.
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"Dose the GF1 really work as well as a DSLR? "
Yes and no, depends what you want out of a DSLR. If you fast want fast AF and the best IQ available or good ergonomics or a large optical viewfinder or very shallow DoF then no.
This is subjective and depends what you want.

Is it worth the money?
Definitely overpriced for what you get. You can get a much better DSLR for less money. Now there is some competition form Sony the prices should crash.

Would one work as a main travel camera?
This is subjective. When I travel and take photography I want to get very high quality image with a camera that does everything I need in a robust body that is not too large. The Nikon D700 is probably the best possible travel camera there is. However, APS-C sensors have an advantage of smaller lenses. I find my D90 + 16-85 + 70-300 VR covers almost everything at the highest image quality in a very small lightweight package. I throw in a 10-20 and some primes but these aren't absolutely required

Is there anything better then the GF1?
Sony NEX camera, Nikon will release within months probably their mirror less camera. Canon probably next year. Or just a small DSLR, Nikon 5000 for example.
 
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D.P. said:
"Dose the GF1 really work as well as a DSLR? "
Yes and no, depends what you want out of a DSLR. If you fast AF and the best IQ available or good ergonomics or a large optical viewfinder or very shallow DoF then no.
This is subjective and depends what you want.

Is it worth the money?
Definitely overpriced for what you get. You can get a much better DSLR for less money. Now there is some competition form Sony the prices should crash.

Is there anything better then the GF1?
Sony NEX camera, Nikon will release within months probably their mirror less camera. Canon probably next year.
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Thank you

Yes i started looking at the NEX which is what set me thinking about these camera's. I think i will be going for something like this as i said my DSLR kit works well for what i need from it so no need to upgrade for the sake of it.

If i can find one of these cameras for the right price i think it will make a nice travel camera which will save me taking my full SLR kit on holiday with me or even out everyday. The size is what is attracting me to them.
 
My wife does

ic0n said:
We speaking NEX-3 or NEX-5

do you have one?

if so would you recommend it?
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She has the Nex-5 with 16mm and 18-55mm lenses.

It does a good job in most situations with good colours and contrast in images. It is pretty quick and nifty alsthough (as I have giant paws) it's a bit fiddly for me to physically manipulate.

The sweep panorama feature is pretty neat too - a bit of a gimmick but a fun one!

I wouldn't describe it as a terribly serious camera, but it is very good for something so small and nifty - so much easier to chck it in a bag than lug around SLR gear in situations where that's not necessary.

Image quality has been excellent thus far. I would recommend it as a bit of kit (subject to hand size of course) :D
 
AtticusFinch said:
She has the Nex-5 with 16mm and 18-55mm lenses.

It does a good job in most situations with good colours and contrast in images. It is pretty quick and nifty alsthough (as I have giant paws) it's a bit fiddly for me to physically manipulate.

The sweep panorama feature is pretty neat too - a bit of a gimmick but a fun one!

I wouldn't describe it as a terribly serious camera, but it is very good for something so small and nifty - so much easier to chck it in a bag than lug around SLR gear in situations where that's not necessary.

Image quality has been excellent thus far. I would recommend it as a bit of kit (subject to hand size of course) :D
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Thanks would you put it as better then the GF1 then?

And with those 2 lenses would you trust it to be the only camera you had with you on a
trip?
 
Sorry dude, no idea on the GF1 front.

As to the only camera to take on a trip - would defintely depend on the destination and purpiose of a trip. If I am going somewhere where I might take some photos then absolutely happy to just take the NEX and my little leica.

If I'm going somewhere and I know that I will defintely want to be taking specific shots and that the photography is part of the reason for the trip then probably not.

I reckon you go in and have a good old go with these in-store (and out if they'll let you) before you can make any decisions - that's the age old problem with cameras I guess - you have to fit it and it needs to fit you too.
 
AtticusFinch said:
Sorry dude, no idea on the GF1 front.

As to the only camera to take on a trip - would defintely depend on the destination and purpiose of a trip. If I am going somewhere where I might take some photos then absolutely happy to just take the NEX and my little leica.

If I'm going somewhere and I know that I will defintely want to be taking specific shots and that the photography is part of the reason for the trip then probably not.

I reckon you go in and have a good old go with these in-store (and out if they'll let you) before you can make any decisions - that's the age old problem with cameras I guess - you have to fit it and it needs to fit you too.
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Thanks yer i have had a play with the GF1 and really did like it.

Well i love to take photos when on trips its not really the reason for going but i love to leave a place with some photos i can print up big and have on my walls.

I will see if currys have any NEX in for me to test out in the week.

Thanks again for everyones help
 
I managed to pickup a GF1 at the weekend for just over 350 ex-display (locked cabinet) with the 14-45 lens. Added the 40-200 as well and its a superb camera. The AF is very very quick, rivaling that of my A300 and generally its a very quick camera.

The form factor for me was the biggest thing, I'm so fed up with trying to lug the A300 round where this is like a big compact. The body isn't that much bigger than that of my TZ3 and when I get the 20mm lens its not going to be very big at all.

Overall very impressed, just need to try the hacked firmware to see how it fairs in video.

I tried the Nex and found it a bit of an odd beast, seems that sony went all out for shrinking the body and forgot that they needed to attach the lens on the front as its seems very unbalanced with the stock lens attached.The clip on flash also seems like a bit of an afterthought. Menu system is, as i pointed out in many review, a little cumbersome.
 
J1nxy said:
I managed to pickup a GF1 at the weekend for just over 350 ex-display (locked cabinet) with the 14-45 lens. Added the 40-200 as well and its a superb camera. The AF is very very quick, rivaling that of my A300 and generally its a very quick camera.

The form factor for me was the biggest thing, I'm so fed up with trying to lug the A300 round where this is like a big compact. The body isn't that much bigger than that of my TZ3 and when I get the 20mm lens its not going to be very big at all.

Overall very impressed, just need to try the hacked firmware to see how it fairs in video.

I tried the Nex and found it a bit of an odd beast, seems that sony went all out for shrinking the body and forgot that they needed to attach the lens on the front as its seems very unbalanced with the stock lens attached.The clip on flash also seems like a bit of an afterthought. Menu system is, as i pointed out in many review, a little cumbersome.
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Thank yer i have played witht he GF1 and like the feel of it but need so real world tests
 
ic0n said:
Hay Guys
My questions:

Dose the GF1 really work as well as a DSLR?
Is it worth the money?
Would one work as a main travel camera?
Is there anything better then the GF1?

Any help or views would be very welcome.
Click to expand...

I wouldnt bother.

GF1 doesnt produce results as good as a DSLR and your locked in to limited and expensive lens choices.
You may as well go for the cheapest Nikon, say, and a 50mm f.1.8 lens and go enjoy yourself.....if you want to zoom in and out of the frame just move forwards or backwards, perfect! :)
 
darrenbe said:
I wouldnt bother.

GF1 doesnt produce results as good as a DSLR and your locked in to limited and expensive lens choices.
You may as well go for the cheapest Nikon, say, and a 50mm f.1.8 lens and go enjoy yourself.....if you want to zoom in and out of the frame just move forwards or backwards, perfect! :)
Click to expand...

I have a very nice pextax dsr i was thinking about an upgrade to canon but the question was would a camera like th GF1 add to my kit and give me more options for example as a carry around on travel camera where i want a high quality shot but do not need to full DSLR.
 
A dslr is a pain to lug round when travelling The gf1 is a fantastic form factor the camera is at least a third smaller than my a300 if not nearer 50%. It weighs a heck of a lot less as well and produces some great pictures from my limited usage.
 
D.P. said:
Why don't you want your pentax as a travel camera?
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It is really nice to carry around but i dont want it out on show so have to put it in a bag and thats worse if i want to take an extra glass or two.

So the bag i take is a crumpler side bag or backpack both very nice bags i trust my kit in them, but there about 15-20 inches from my body which is massive and a pain when walking around a city and the u.s police hate people with big bags even more if your taking photos at the same time.(found this out the hard way)

These smaller cameras with the pancake lens would go in my pocket or even in a normal bag with the extra lens's.

They will also fit in my daily bag which is another crumpler but a laptop bag this would let me carry high quality photography kit with me at all times.

and my last point i do a lot of location video work and i alway wish i had my DSLR with me to get some quick snaps when off the camera to use on DVD covers and other Promo items but the size of it means far to much to carry.
 
J1nxy said:
I tried the Nex and found it a bit of an odd beast, seems that sony went all out for shrinking the body and forgot that they needed to attach the lens on the front as its seems very unbalanced with the stock lens attached.The clip on flash also seems like a bit of an afterthought. Menu system is, as i pointed out in many review, a little cumbersome.
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And unlike mFT (Oly Pens) they also made it too small to have stabilization in body so every lens needs own stabilization.
Don't even want to think what balance is with this:
http://dpreview.com/news/1008/10081205sony18200mmemount.asp

Menu system defiunitely looks/feels like some "Windows for Dummies"
Sure consumer dummies are drooling like rabid for such useless user interfaces but for doing any real adjustments that kind menus would be like scraping forehead with cheese grater.

darrenbe said:
You may as well go for the cheapest Nikon, say, and a 50mm f.1.8 lens and go enjoy yourself.....if you want to zoom in and out of the frame just move forwards or backwards, perfect! :)
Click to expand...
Sure there's use for such fast prime but just out of curiosity:
Do you just keep walking backwards/forward until you fall of that cliff, get overrun by car etc. if you want to take photo of landscape?
Or what about sky phenomenons? Carrying shovel along for digging into ground or climbing to cell-phone tower for getting closer?
 
ic0n said:
Dose the GF1 really work as well as a DSLR?
Is it worth the money?
Would one work as a main travel camera?
Is there anything better then the GF1?

Any help or views would be very welcome.
Click to expand...

I replaced a D80 + assorted kit for a GF1 with 20mm. Been very happy with it.
Nice and compact so it goes every where with me.


darrenbe said:
I wouldnt bother.

GF1 doesnt produce results as good as a DSLR and your locked in to limited and expensive lens choices.
You may as well go for the cheapest Nikon, say, and a 50mm f.1.8 lens and go enjoy yourself.....if you want to zoom in and out of the frame just move forwards or backwards, perfect! :)
Click to expand...

Hmmmm, seen some stunning pics from the GF1 including exceptional time lapses and video.
As for lenses, if you want to play, you can pick up adapters of flea-bay and use lots of manual lenses from most makers.

4563333985_dbef15d336.jpg




At some point i'll add the 14-45 and 45-200, but happy with 20mm for now.
 
after looking over some things i am still tempted it would be used as a main travel camera and as a back up or quick shot camera at photography jobs where i need to grab a fast wide shot or something with a small dof without changing lenses on my main camera.

Not sure just yet but i think it will add to my kit a lot more then take away.

also not sure if its the GF1 i am going for but that seams to be the most popular. I will be deciding when i get payed at the end of the month.
 
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