Nick De Marco Posted October 17, 2009 Share #1 Posted October 17, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) The last few days I have been trying out the new Panasonic GF1. The main reason I bought it is I wanted an affordable camera, which could make good enough prints at A4, and that I could put my Leica M type and LTM lenses on for fun. I have found the Panny 20mm f1.7 lens is, as the reviews suggest, a great lens in itself - and for normal street photography, with quick auto focus and 40mm equivalent, it makes a great combo. But using the M and LTM lenses as well has been a lot of fun. So before I post some photos taken with the camera, here is some Panny porn - pimping my Panny More here: Pimp my GF1 Photo Gallery by Nick De Marco at pbase.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 17, 2009 Posted October 17, 2009 Hi Nick De Marco, Take a look here Pimping my Panny. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Alice MacRae Posted October 18, 2009 Share #2 Posted October 18, 2009 Does your RJ Camera L(M)-m4/3 adapter allow the use of movable MF assist function, which enlarges a selected area when focusing manually? Just like to know, if this one is a viable alternative to the more expensive Panasonic DMW-MA2M M-mount adapter? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandokan Posted October 18, 2009 Share #3 Posted October 18, 2009 Does your RJ Camera L(M)-m4/3 adapter allow the use of movable MF assist function, which enlarges a selected area when focusing manually? Just like to know, if this one is a viable alternative to the more expensive Panasonic DMW-MA2M M-mount adapter? I believe they all do. That is a function of the camera (two presses on the back dial when "no lens" is chosen) and my adaptor does. If you have a m4/3 lens and set it to manual, the enlarged view comes up when you touch the focus ring which is very convenient. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick De Marco Posted October 18, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted October 18, 2009 Ravi is correct. You turn camera on to 'shooting without lens'. It then automatically becomes manual focus. You then press the left button of the 4 buttons on the back, which selects an area on the back screen, and the middle button which enlarges it to what I think is x8 or x16, when you can then more accurately focus. It takes a bit of getting used to - although I have been using this method to focus my manual focus (Leica, Contax and Olympus) on my 5D Mk II for a while now and you get used to it. I have found that ytou can use a fast Leica 35mm or 50mm lens (at 70 or 100 on the GF1) wide open with a steady hand and get some nice results. But if you want quick, quick street photography the very very nice Panny 20mm f1.7 wuth AF is the way to go. Here a a few images taken with the GF! to show some different lenses With Panny 20mm f1.7 lens: With Voigtlander super-wide 15mm f4.5 M mount With my favourite 35mm lens: the 35mm Leitz Summicron f2 pre-asph version III ('king of bokeh') Took a while to get to grips with the 35 (it becoming a 70mm). But when I did I got some very pleasing results. It is harder still to use a 50mm lens well, but I had some good experiences with a Jupiter 8 shooting at f2 and a Sumuilux shooting at f1.4 today and I shall post some later this week. So far, I think the 20mm f1.7 will be the 'standard' on my GF1, I shall use the Voigtlander quite a lot (easy to use, minimum distortion, good depth of field and 30mm equiv is nice size), and I think the 35 'Cron and 50 Lux (or some other 50) now and then. More example photos from my first few days with the GF1 are here: First days with the Panny GF1 Photo Gallery by Nick De Marco at pbase.com Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckw Posted October 18, 2009 Share #5 Posted October 18, 2009 Interesting, thanks for posting. The balance between camera body and larger lens actually looks pretty good. When manually focusing do you need to focus wide open then stop down (assuming you need to stop down) prior to taking the shot? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick De Marco Posted October 18, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted October 18, 2009 Chuck the balance is pretty good with M lenses. In fact, it was funny today when I was going around with the 50/lux which does look a bit big on it). Two people stopped me and said, 'is that a film camera' and then said it looked like a film camera not digital - in fact one went on to ask me how she could look at my work for some project. So rather than looking like a compact, with a nice Leica lens it looks like a proper camera I guess. Yes for manual lenses you should open the lens to focus. This is not too much of a problem because it's OK to use the lens wide open anyway. And if you are in a very bright area with f5.6-f8 it is going to be less of an issue if you are out a tiny bit. On the other hand if this is too much for some people the 20/1.7, as I have said, makes a superb all round lens Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick De Marco Posted October 21, 2009 Author Share #7 Posted October 21, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just posted a few examples of photos taken with the Summilux 50mm f1.4 M on the GF1, nearly all are wide open (f1.4). I like the results, and don't think I will be getting the Leica/Panny 45mm f2.8 for the same price I bought this old beauty used. Here are 3: More here Leitz Summilux 50mm f1.4 (first version) Photo Gallery by Nick De Marco at pbase.com Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick De Marco Posted October 25, 2009 Author Share #8 Posted October 25, 2009 Tried some more lenses this week. My old (1961) Canon 50mm f1.4 LTM lens is beautiful on the GF1. Small, sharp at f1.4 with a pleasent bokeh, and of course 100mm equiv on a GF1. Here are a couple: More here: Canon 50mm f1.4 (LTM) Photo Gallery by Nick De Marco at pbase.com It's sacrilege, but I am almost thinking the Canon f1.4 works better with the GF1 than my far more expensive, and generally beautiful 1st version Summilux (maybe the Canon is a bit sharper at f1.4, and the bokeh a little less extreme - not to mention the fact it is more compact). Still working out which to take to Burma... I did not get on so well with the Minolta Rokkor 40mm f2. Maybe it was the extra stops. But here is one I like More here: Minolta Rokkor 40mm f/2 Photo Gallery by Nick De Marco at pbase.com To make up for the Rokkor being f2, I had to get the Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 (saw it on a good deal, SC version). Think this may be a good allround lens for the GF1, but only have one photo so far Thanks for looking Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
koray Posted October 26, 2009 Share #9 Posted October 26, 2009 Nick, this looks like an affordable alternative to M8 or M9, though I will probably wait for a future version (when they add stereo microphone and improve video). By the way, I came across your Cubans book at your pbase site and visited the Blurb copy: impressive work. Cheers, K. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davephoto Posted October 26, 2009 Share #10 Posted October 26, 2009 Thanks for the photos, Nick. They're very useful for evaluating. I also received my GF1 with the 20mm. As you said, it's a great all around lens. I was wondering what adapters you're using for your lenses and whether you have a recommendation for the R-series -- I have a number of R-lenses I'd like to throw on the GF1. I know that Panny has one coing out, but wonder if you're using another make. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick De Marco Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted October 27, 2009 Thanks for the comments, replies. Koray, it is a bit like a poor man's M8 I guess. In that it is small an portable, makes good enough prints up to A4 and up to, say 640 ISO and you can use your old Leica lenses on it. The analogy may end there, and I am sure there will be people here shocked at the thought of the comparison. But having had n M8 before I have to admit the GF1 also has certain advantages over the M8, as well as perhaps being a smaller brother to it. First it is significantly smaller and lighter. Second, I have not had either the battery problems (short life) or the camera freezing if you take a few shots quickly that I had with my M8. And third if you decide that for one walkabout session you want AF, you can and with a very god lens (the 20mm f1.7). I would still love to have an M8, maybe M8.2. even better M9, but I am still not sure I would use it as my first camera all the time. When I am asked to do a professional job, or if I do studio work, or perhaps want perfect landscapes I am going to use my 5D MkII and/or perhaps a Mamiya MF film camera. When I am doing photography for fun, street stuff or travelling with cameras I still find the film M6 hard to beat. Now I can take a film M or two, put them in a little bag, and have space for my GF1 too. It is ideal for travelling (which I do lots off). I am off to Myanmar again this week and will take: M6 and Bessa RM3, with the following lenses: 15mm CV f4.5, 28mm CV f3.5, 35mm Summicron f2, 40mm CV f1.4 and 50mm Summilux f1.4. I will also take the GF1 and 20mm Panny lens. I will have th luxury of using the 14, 40 and 50 lenses on the GF1 (They all work well for me on it) when I want. Adapters: I bought one with RJ camera written on it off ebay from someone who sells loads of adapters in Italy. It was about £70 and has worked perfectly. The same guy sells Canon EOS adapters and as I have not only a number of nice Canon lenses, but also some Leica R, Contax and Zuiko lenses with adapters to Canon, I shall just buy the one Canon adapter and then use my various other lenses on that - so I am afraid I don't know about R - GF1 adapters davephoto (except that they are out there). Here are a couple more with the GF1 this Sunday GF1 with old Leitz 50mm Elmar f2.8 (LTM) + one with new Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 All here First days with the Panny GF1 Photo Gallery by Nick De Marco at pbase.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davephoto Posted October 27, 2009 Share #12 Posted October 27, 2009 Adapters: I bought one with RJ camera written on it off ebay from someone who sells loads of adapters in Italy. It was about £70 and has worked perfectly. The same guy sells Canon EOS adapters and as I have not only a number of nice Canon lenses, but also some Leica R, Contax and Zuiko lenses with adapters to Canon, I shall just buy the one Canon adapter and then use my various other lenses on that - so I am afraid I don't know about R - GF1 adapters davephoto (except that they are out there). Thank you Nick! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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