GF1 v M8

[lct]

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Thank you much Carl. The Pana 20 and a Cron 40 could make a good little combo with a MFT body i guess. No fast wide though. I hesitate between this and the last APS Samsung with small glass like Zuiko 21/2 & 28/2 plus a Zuiko or Cron-R 50. Not that small with adapters though.

[jplaurel]

Now that is an interesting question, Eli. Though Panasonic and Leica aren't saying, I am convinced that Leica is behind at least some of the LUMIX lens designs. The 7-14 in particular, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they had a hand in the 20mm f1,7 as well. The designation is suspiciously familiar: "G 1:1.7/20 ASPH". With the close association of Leica and Panasonic lately, I think it's safe to say that there is some Leica DNA in at least those two lenses, an idea that is further supported by their unusually good performance.

 

Just a theory, though...

 

Nick, the only question is: does the taking camera have Leica content? The content of the pic is immaterial. If the cam has a Leica designed lens, as some Japanese cameras do, then problem solved.

[erl]

Good enough for me! Saves a lot of 'moderating'!

[MPJMP]

I've been reading this thread with interest. While I love my Leica MP and the look of 35mm film, it is getting less and less convenient for me to deal with the hassles of processing and scanning. As a result, I am using my recently acquired D-LUX 4 much more. While I really love the versatility and convenience it offers, I miss the "Leica look" that I get from the M system. I think Leica will eventually offer something like a GF1 in M mount and with APS-C sensor as a way to get into their lens system without having to come up with $7,000 for an M9. In the meantime, the GF1 with M adaptor could be the answer for me and replace both cameras while allow me to justify hanging onto my M lenses. Just a thought right now, but a thought that gets more attractive as time marches on.

[pklein]

The micro 4/3 cameras do not have the very fine detail rendering of the M8. They also have a stop less dynamic range of the M8, and they are about a stop behind in noise. That said, for 8x10/A4 prints they are quite good enough most of the time, especially if you shoot RAW. When it comes to spontaneous people pictures, reasonable low light, and landscapes with really fine detail, the M8 is still king.

 

I picked up a used G1 recently. I really like the viewfinder, which is informative and very eyeglasses-friendly. I can see the whole frame without any trouble. The 20/1.7 is a stellar lens. The combination makes a nice walkabout camera, and a good rig for times when you don't want to carry an M kit. It's versatile enough that it might be the only camera you need for casual shots when traveling.

 

The G1 (and GH1 or G2) live view finder with 10x magnification makes it very easy to focus Leica or other third party lenses with an adapter. I've heard similar things about the Olympus external finder. The Panasonic finder for the GF1 has less detail. Working this way does require you to slow down a bit, but it gives you all the advantages of reflex viewing plus some advantages gained from video (for example a live on-screen histogram).

 

I recently went to a concert with the G1 and an old Olympus OM 50/1.4 lens mounted via an adapter. It proved very good for concert photography. Shooting at f/2 and ISO 400, I got some very good pictures. (I wanted to try Leica lenses, too, but the M adapter I got was defective and had to be sent back). I tried a couple of leica-mount lenses (35/1.4 ASPH and VC 50/1.5 Nokton), and they both did a bit better than the OM lens in a couple of test shots at home. I can't post these, as the subject is my wife, and she said no. But I can tell you that even though the quality of the Leica lenses may be better than the sensor, they still show a bit crisper rendition on the G1 than the the OM 50.

 

Here are links to one of the better concert shots, in both color and B&W conversion in Capture One:

P1050385-w.jpg

P1050385_1-w.jpg

(click on the double rectangle above the picture to view big)

 

The first four shots in this album are taken with the 20/1.7 during a lunchtime walk:

Meanderings

 

Hope this is useful, and that I haven't violated any rules by posting links rather than pictures.

 

--Peter

[jrgoldman9]

I own an M8 and a GF1 w. 20 F1.7 and Voigtlander 40mm VF. If I carry the G1 on my shoulder all day, I don't even notice it's there. With the M8 my shoulder gets sore after a couple of hours (everyone has different upper body strength).

 

The image quality of the M8 at ISO 320 and lower is superb but I am quite happy with the 10x15" prints from the GF1 at ISO 200. I miss the ability to preset depth of field on the GF1. The G1 w. 20mm set at 1.7 and ISO 200 has better IQ than the 28mm on the M8 at F2.8 and ISO 640.

 

For street photography each camera has its pros and cons but at most times I am more likely to have the GF1 with me than the M8.

[Big T]

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Hey thanks Peter for your info above.

 

Currently Looooking at the X1 & GF1....

 

Veerryyyyy interesting (As Sargent Schultz would say...)

 

Loved your "Meanderings" gallery as well........

[rami G]

The G1 w. 20mm set at 1.7 and ISO 200 has better IQ than the 28mm on the M8 at F2.8 and ISO 640.

.

 

am I missing something? what exactly are you comparing? my 28 opens up to f/2, as my 75 and 35 do, as some 21 and 24, what made you single out these particular numbers? besides, one thing that is even less informative than comparing online jpegs, is making online statements about purely subjective impressions without even backing them by bad jpegs...

[stunsworth]

...what made you single out these particular numbers?

 

I'm guessing that the original poster has the 20mm f1.7 Panasonic lens and a 28mm Leica Elmarit - as do I as a matter of fact.

 

The Panasonic is an excellent lens, even wide open. Although I prefer my M8, the GF1 is much more pocketable - and yes, I realise it depends on how big your pockets are - and I take mine when with me when I want something I can fit in a pocket. It's a far, far, better camera than the panasonic LX2 it has essentially replaced.

[mike_j]

Nick, I have the G1 which I bought largely because it allowed me to use nearly all my lenses on a single body. I have had it over a year now and just don't like it. I have no real problem with IQ except on some rangefinder lenses though I consider the results inferior to my M8. The main problem is the complicated menu system, mutitude of easily wrongly pressed buttons and above all, that wretched dual function adjustment wheel which regularly causes me problems.

 

At least with the G1 the viewfinder is good and the articulated lcd is invaluable for macro work. Overall size is not much different from the GF1.

 

For general photography it is still the M8 for me though.