Goodbye 5D2 + M8 - Hello M9 + GF1

[RickLeica]

Sold the 5D2 and 24-70/2.8/L today. Put the balance toward the M9. This moves me up to #4 on the waiting list and after Monday I’ll be first on the list because my dealer is getting three M9’s on Monday.

As it turns out, I just wasn’t using the camera (5D2) that much and my wife who loved it in the beginning stopped using it almost completely. So, I brought home a GF1 for her and so far she loves it. What a great little camera.

This all hit me when I saw Chris_Tribbles photo a couple days ago of the string concert shot with his M9. What a perfect picture. It made me realize that I could probably do everything I wanted to do with the M9 and the GF1. I know he has a 5D2 for those situations where the M9 doesn’t fit, except he is a professional and I am not. Why couldn’t I just use the M9 for most everything and the GF1 when I needed something with a long lens?

For a non-pro (me) I think the M9 + GF1 is going to be a better combo than the M8 + 5D2. Anybody else using the M9 and the GF1 combo?

[carcam]

hey Rick- that would be me too. I sold my 5d2 for a 7d (sports, surfing, wildlife). kept my gf1 for quick shots, light travel and upgraded the m8.2 to the m9- absolutely the best when you need the best and it's not too fast, etc. so now my kit is the m9/gf1 most of the time; canon dslr/big lenses when i have too-

[JonasYip]

The M9 with an EP1 is the combination that's usually in my bag these days. Still need the Nikon kit for times when I need that though...


j

[ccmsosse]

Originally Posted by RickLeica

... just use the M9 for most everything and the GF1 when I needed something with a long lens...For a non-pro (me) I think the M9 + GF1 is going to be a better combo than the M8 + 5D2. Anybody else using the M9 and the GF1 combo?

Hi there - I am in the same boat.
I sold my EP-1, Contax G2, E520 and multiple lenses, Panasonic DVX100 and another Panasonic HD camcorder in order to finance the M9. I kept the GF1 and love the combination of the GF1 and M9. I love to have full control over the camera without dealing with multiple layers of menues. It is so much fun to use the M9 and be "forced" to work with one or two lenses rather than zooming in and out all the time.
Cheers

[250swb]

The combination of an M9 and an m4/3 camera can't be beaten in my opinion.

They are all small and light enough to fit into the M system ethos, the Panasonic kit lenses in particular are excellent, and they fill in the gaps in an M system, like being able to do macro and use telephoto lenses. Olympus offer very good in body image stabilisation as well, even for 35mm lenses (an added bonus of m4/3 is the M adapter). I have a Pana G1 and an Olympus EP-1.

Steve

[chris_tribble]

Originally Posted by RickLeica

This all hit me when I saw Chris_Tribbles photo a couple days ago of the string concert shot with his M9.

RickLeica - I'm sure you'll love the M9 - and if you only used the 24-70 on the Canon, then there was little justification in holding onto search a large beast when a RF can cover those focal lengths so well. For concert work, the only thing I'd recommend is that you have at least a 28 a 50 and 90 in the bag. For the Wigmore Hall shoot, this would be perfect (I did this series with the M8 only: John Surman/Chris Laurence/Trans4mation). So long as you're able to work close you'll be fine.

My one concern about your choice is that for performance work, of the 89 strongest shots from the series I shot during the ECM concerts at King's Place last week (Jazz Scene Europe at King's Place, London), a lot were taken with longer lenses on the Canon. The screen shot below tells the story. I could have used the 90 cron instead of the Canon 85 1.2L (I really love this lens), but I still needed the 70/200 to get the reach for a lot of the images. One thing you might consider if you want to do more performance work is to cover 28-90 with the Leica and then get a crop framed DSLR (Canon/Nikon/Sony are all excellent these days) + a professional lens in the 70-200 range. You'd then be able to really fly!

Have fun with the M9.

Best...

[jyrkialanen]

Originally Posted by RickLeica

Sold the 5D2 and 24-70/2.8/L today. Put the balance toward the M9. This moves me up to #4 on the waiting list and after Monday I’ll be first on the list because my dealer is getting three M9’s on Monday.

As it turns out, I just wasn’t using the camera (5D2) that much and my wife who loved it in the beginning stopped using it almost completely. So, I brought home a GF1 for her and so far she loves it. What a great little camera.

This all hit me when I saw Chris_Tribbles photo a couple days ago of the string concert shot with his M9. What a perfect picture. It made me realize that I could probably do everything I wanted to do with the M9 and the GF1. I know he has a 5D2 for those situations where the M9 doesn’t fit, except he is a professional and I am not. Why couldn’t I just use the M9 for most everything and the GF1 when I needed something with a long lens?

For a non-pro (me) I think the M9 + GF1 is going to be a better combo than the M8 + 5D2. Anybody else using the M9 and the GF1 combo?

Congratulations Rick! I also sold 5Dmkll and bought M9 and GF1 and couldn't be happier! I don't use gf1 that often, but sometimes if I need long lens (and that's not often), it's more then enough for me. The video is also nice, because we have a 16 month old boy.

Best regards, Jyrki

[shootinglulu]

I am looking to get a 5d2. Where do you all sell yours?

[MacSpikes]

Just out of curiosity: why complement an M9 with the GF1 and not with a D-Lux 4 or something of similar size? That would give you a wide range, AF and the point and shoot modus. The GF1 seems to be quite big to me, or am I wrong?

I would like to add something small with a wider range as well to my M9. I currently carry the Ricoh GRD2, but that has a fixed focal length.

[nightfire]

Those who are looking for a worthy HD video companion for their M9 in true lightweight, mobile rangefinder style might want to consider the GoPro HD Hero. The GoPro and the M9 together weigh less than a 5D2, and the footage from both is simply mind-blowing Now if only the M9 were as rugged and waterproof...

[GFONG]

Originally Posted by MacSpikes

Just out of curiosity: why complement an M9 with the GF1 and not with a D-Lux 4 or something of similar size? That would give you a wide range, AF and the point and shoot modus. The GF1 seems to be quite big to me, or am I wrong?

I would like to add something small with a wider range as well to my M9. I currently carry the Ricoh GRD2, but that has a fixed focal length.

You can use the telephoto in GF1 but not DLux4. Panny has a 45-200mm lens, which is eqv to 90mm to 400mm in 35mm format.

[250swb]

The GF1 is pretty small, although you wouldn't seriously call it 'coat pocket'. At either end of the lens range you have the 45-200mm as has been pointed out, and then a 7-14mm (14mm to 28mm equiv), with numerous options in between, which makes the GF1 very versatile as a second camera.

Steve

[chris_tribble]

Originally Posted by GFONG

You can use the telephoto in GF1 but not DLux4. Panny has a 45-200mm lens, which is eqv to 90mm to 400mm in 35mm format.

But don't forget - the Panasonic zoom is f4-f5.6. To get the results you are likely to be chasing you either need a fast prime or fast tele (f2.8)..

The Olympus 90-250 f2.8 comes in at over £4600 - which begins to make Leica look reasonably priced and Canon / Nikon to look really affordable

[RickLeica]

Originally Posted by chris_tribble

My one concern about your choice is that for performance work, of the 89 strongest shots from the series I shot during the ECM concerts at King's Place last week (Jazz Scene Europe at King's Place, London), a lot were taken with longer lenses on the Canon. The screen shot below tells the story. I could have used the 90 cron instead of the Canon 85 1.2L (I really love this lens), but I still needed the 70/200 to get the reach for a lot of the images. One thing you might consider if you want to do more performance work is to cover 28-90 with the Leica and then get a crop framed DSLR (Canon/Nikon/Sony are all excellent these days) + a professional lens in the 70-200 range. You'd then be able to really fly!

Have fun with the M9.

Best...

Chris, I agree with what you are saying. I wanted to eventually get the longer 70-200 zoom like you have for my 5D2 and I know it would have been a killer DSLR system. I really liked the 5D2 but, I couldn't justify spending several more thousand to get the whole system rounded out for a camera that would cover a small percentage of my photography (remember I'm not a pro). I really didn't understand how little I would use it. I bet there a lot of people that are lured into the big Nikon and Canon systems and don't end up using them.

So, I agree that the 5D2 didn't get to be the system it was supposed to be. These Canon and Nikon lines really make for a fantastic total system and I will mis the fact I didn't get a chance to get the 70-200 or even longer.

But, again, it was your professional photo of the two string players that made me realize that I got the 5D2 to get better image quality than my M8 (before there was an M9) and I could now have an M9 that would give me FF and better files, like the big pro DSLR's. I just kind of hit me... what am I doing with a huge pro camera that I don't use. For me the M9 made sense if I got rid of the 5D2.

[RickLeica]

Originally Posted by MacSpikes

Just out of curiosity: why complement an M9 with the GF1 and not with a D-Lux 4 or something of similar size? That would give you a wide range, AF and the point and shoot modus. The GF1 seems to be quite big to me, or am I wrong?

I would like to add something small with a wider range as well to my M9. I currently carry the Ricoh GRD2, but that has a fixed focal length.

I agree that it would be nice to have a smaller PAS than the GF1 to just carry around in a pocket. I would have been tempted to buy the D-Lux4.

But, in the end, the GF1 with the small 20mm is small enough and the image quality is much better. It can get pretty good thin DOF too. Also important was good video for the 4 year old. And, this camera will flat out amaze you at how fast it can focus and capture.

Did I mention my wife loves it and is happy. I'm actually serious, this was a big consideration.

p.s. I had the GRDII and it is not too far behind the D-Lux4 in image quality, I loved that little camera. One of my friends has the D-Lux4 and in my opinion the GF1 seems to be the next full step up from the D-Lux4.

[RickLeica]

Originally Posted by chris_tribble

But don't forget - the Panasonic zoom is f4-f5.6. To get the results you are likely to be chasing you either need a fast prime or fast tele (f2.8)..

The Olympus 90-250 f2.8 comes in at over £4600 - which begins to make Leica look reasonably priced and Canon / Nikon to look really affordable

This exactly the quandary Linda found herself in yesterday with the GF1 and the 14-45/3.5-5.6 Panasonic tele taking pictures of 4 year olds in gymnastics in a dark gym. Even with the IS of the Panasonic lens, she couldn't stop the action and didn't get one good shot. If, she still had the 5D2 and the 2.8 /24-70 with its far superior high iso, it would have been a snap. But, she wouldn't have taken the 5D2...

In a perfect world we would both have 5D2's and M9's and PAS's.

[chris_tribble]

Rick - I sympathise on those trade-off issues... Sometimes life's just not fair! But hey - you're getting an M9 - and it's a lovely camera IMHO. Also, thanks for the kind comments on my work.. Appreciated.

[RickLeica]

Chris, first off your M9 stuff is at another level.

Just a side note: The 5D2 is not being replaced by the GF1. At first I did think that the GF1 would provide the ability to use longer lenses, but the glitch is that long lenses are often needed in poor light and the GF1 just can't do that at all. The GF1 is what it is, a really nice PAS. I fully realize how much you must like your Canon system.

Hey, life has been pretty fair to me. No complaints or crying here, at all. I got to try the 5D2 and I'm getting the M9. And, the trade off issue has been with me since I was a kid. I couldn't find the perfect camera or lens then, and there isn't a perfect one now. Only difference between then and now is that I appreciate the lesson now.

Cheers.

[tom in mpls]

Rick, I have gone the same road. I sold my Canon gear, making a brief detour with the Sony A900 (which I like very much with Zeiss glass), but then sold all my DSLR gear for the M8 with a few lenses, plus the GF1. The GF1 is basically for me a "fixed lens" camera with the 20/1.7, but I did buy the 45-200 for the very reason you mention--it's my only long tele option now. And the M8 quickly morphed into an M9.

I once tried the 1D mk II. Yeah, great camera. But I could not stand to lug it around. And with the advent of the M8 and mFT, I realized at last that I could get back to smaller gear and be very happy.

[brill64]

no disrespect intended but i still don't get it how anyone would want to use gf2 micro 4/3 alongside their m9 and sell their 5d2 to get it? please could someone enlighten me?