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GF1 yes, heavy Nikon gear not unless I have to.

K

Kevin_b1

Guest
I have been using my GF1 for about 2-3 weeks and enjoying it.

This week I did a job at my wifes school, so out come the Nikons and f2.8 lens, this is the first time I have used the Nikons since the GF1 arrived (I do not do photography for a living).

What a suprise I did not like using the Nikons :bugeyes: big heavy, cumbersome and not enjoyable, yes the results where good as you would expect from pro gear.

The next day i went out with the GF1 and enjoyed the day walked for hours did not get tired from carrying a heavy bag and took hundreds of shots.

I know the GF1 can not replace the Nikons for a paid or where expectable results are required, but I am fast coming to the conclusion that this will be the only time I pick up the heavy Nikons and lens.

How many other people are finding this change of atitude?

regards

Kevin
 
M

mark1958

Member
HI Kevin. I do a lot of traveling for work and sometimes i have very little time to do some exploring. In the past I have taken my 5DII and 2 or 3 lenses and even a tripod. I pack in my carry on and try to fit all my clothes and tripod in this bag. If i got someplace for a longer period such as the mountains of Colorado or Iceland, I have packed a backpack or even a carryon (Thinktank roller) full of gear. I am traveling again to Asia but only a few days. I am not going to bring my GH1, the 14-45 and 7-14mm (on order). I will likely bring my table top tripod as well. I agree that the images are not quite to what i can get with my 5DII but i can carry this camera with me everywhere. I shall see after this trip how it goes but i am excited not to have to bring my DSLR gear, which I was originally planning to do. I wish I would have had this camera in Iceland. I was on family vacation and while my LX-3 did well on Glacier hikes and when with family when i did not have my medium format gear on hand, this camera would have been perfect.
 
S

s.agar

Member
Kevin,

I'm enjoying the GF1 quite a lot for a few weeks now. I feel like you have most of the time.

But my situation is even more difficult than yours, because for any serious work I have to take my MF system with me. (I'm not taking photos for a living, but I try to make documentary work for ancient sites in Turkey and abroad).

But it is justified, because traveling far from home, facing a lot of difficulties in trying to find the places, you have the opportunity of photographing many of the places for once in a lifetime. Then it becomes very important to do the best that you can do with your gear, and in my case it is the MF system. Canon 5DII is only a backup.

What I do with the GF1 is to put it in the car all the time, for unexpected things to happen or not to miss a good photo opportunity any other time.

BTW, I think the GF1 is the most enjoyable camera that I use. Now I'm in the process of buying the 2 other lenses. In a very small bag, it will be ready for anything to come along.

Seyhun
 
C

ChrisJ

Guest
This is exactly the reason I bought my G1, the complete kit weighs less than my Sigma 70 - 200mm f2.8 alone, let alone all the other lenses and, oh yes, the camera.

Chris
 
M

mark1958

Member
Seyhun
What about your M8? HOw does that compare and why not use that are your small "car" camera? I agree, if i go somewhere that I want to do a lot of shooting, I will bring my MF gear and my GF-1, like I used to bring my LX-3. However, for me a few days here and there when most of the time I will be attending conferences etc, probably not worth bringing too much. Plus I never want to get past the carryon limit unless of course with the family on vacation and/or if I am going to a skiing location in the winter where all my winter gear will not make it into a carryon suitcase. I spent a week in Spain at a conference resort and had a tripod, ballhead, 5DII, three lenses and lots of accessories take up half my carry on suitcase (or even more than half) and still managed to fit all of my clothing. I was told it was going to be warmer than it was so a bit cold walking around in shorts all day :) . Anyway, i will see when i go to Japan and Hk for 4 or 5 days if i regret not having my canon gear with me.

I should also point out my back has given me some problems and I am not supposed to wear heavy backpacks or shoulder bags so the GF1 may be important to my health :)

The only problem i see is starting to get too many accessories-- e.g. lenses, flashes filters etc.
s.agar said:
Kevin,

I'm enjoying the GF1 quite a lot for a few weeks now. I feel like you have most of the time.

But my situation is even more difficult than yours, because for any serious work I have to take my MF system with me. (I'm not taking photos for a living, but I try to make documentary work for ancient sites in Turkey and abroad).

But it is justified, because traveling far from home, facing a lot of difficulties in trying to find the places, you have the opportunity of photographing many of the places for once in a lifetime. Then it becomes very important to do the best that you can do with your gear, and in my case it is the MF system. Canon 5DII is only a backup.

What I do with the GF1 is to put it in the car all the time, for unexpected things to happen or not to miss a good photo opportunity any other time.

BTW, I think the GF1 is the most enjoyable camera that I use. Now I'm in the process of buying the 2 other lenses. In a very small bag, it will be ready for anything to come along.

Seyhun
Click to expand...
 
V

Vivek

Guest
When operated with the kitzooms, not even a G1 is versatile enough to replace any Nikon cams, for me.

G1 and small/fast primes- that is another story.
 
kevinparis

kevinparis

Member
as an owner of a e-p1 and a olympus 510, and someone considering either a d700 or a 5d here are my thoughts

the micro four thirds cameras such as the e-p1 and the gf 1 do offer a big step up imagewise from a point and shoot... but they are flawed in the sense that they are designed to be used at arms length or in a stealth street shooter mode... this they do very well.... but

I miss the eye to viewfinder experience of the SLR. My Oly 510 is a wonderful camera... the lenses are superb and the bodies are small and light.

However i do crave full frame... but all the full frame digital slrs are big and heavy.

I live in hope that technology will soon deliver a full frame digital slr with the dimensions of the Nikon EM/FG20 i shot with in the past or the old OM-1 that sits on my camera shelf...

cheers

K
 
jonoslack

jonoslack

Active member
kevinparis said:
However i do crave full frame... but all the full frame digital slrs are big and heavy.

I live in hope that technology will soon deliver a full frame digital slr with the dimensions of the Nikon EM/FG20 i shot with in the past or the old OM-1 that sits on my camera shelf...

cheers

K
Click to expand...
The future is here !!! It's called

the M9 :ROTFL:
 
H

Howard

New member
Kevin,
From everything that I read in these and other forums, the larger the sensor the better the IQ. I was reading the pro forum (yes they let amateurs read that forum) on dpreview and they were discussing the difference in quality between a Hasselblad H2 and full frame DSLR's. The pro indicated that for studio use at lower ISO, the IQ and resolution was superior to the 35mm full frame.

There is a pecking order, for those photographers who want the best IQ, highest resolution, and largest DR, they have to pay for the largest sensor can afford, and best lenses available. They also pay in bulk and weight-- that appears to be compromise. I chose the Panasonic G1 because it is small and light and provides me with good IQ consistent for the photos I print.

I work in Los Angeles and when I walk to lunch, I periodically see and speak to paparatazzi (excuse the spelling). They have great cameras with big lenses and I have had the opportunity to hold some of their outfits. They are heavy. My suggestion to you is to when you purchase your full frame camera and assortment of lenses, that you factor in the cost of a gym to build yourself up so you can carry your camera and lenses.

In any case good luck with your full frame DSLR when you get it and may you take many outstanding photos.
 
pellicle

pellicle

New member
there are those who talk the talk and then there are those who are seasoned in it.

train in the gym indeed ... spoken like someone who hasn't had to bundle that kitload around conferences as the conference photographer for a few days at a time (or a 5 hour day at a wedding shoot).

My suggestion is to go out to the park and take one picture with the same care and attention you'd put into a banf glacier shot. Then get it printed to 50cm wide and see if you think its ok

otherwise go grab a 10x8 camera and see what IQ is really all about.
 
GrahamWelland

GrahamWelland

Subscriber & Workshop Member
I'm finding that I enjoy using the GF-1 immensely as a travel camera system. However, as good as the GF-1 results are (and I'm impressed so far!), I won't be selling the Nikon or Leica gear any time soon. I find that when the light is good and the DR isn't too extreme, the GF-1 does well. Extend the range too far and the GF-1 quickly blows out highlights or blocks up shadows with noise.
 
P

pellicule

New member
Kevin

I have a D700, but I use primes - not sooo heavy to carry around and faster. I know there are an infinite number of possibilities with a zoom, but to be honest I tended to use the zooms at either end - eg a 70 - 210 I'd be using at 70 or 210 not often in the middle.

So I have a GF1 for my pocket and a D700 for 'proper' assignments ... like the cat's portrait.
 
GrahamWelland

GrahamWelland

Subscriber & Workshop Member
pellicle said:
Hi

I know of at least one professional who is trialing G1 and M9 combo to replace his D3X Nikon.
Click to expand...
This seems like a stretch to me. For grip 'n grins etc I could see it but you don't need a D3x for that. I can see the M9 delivering similar tonality and image quality as the Nikon but the G1/D3x comparison falls apart very quickly (I shoot a D3x & D700 myself in addition to my GF-1).

You'd certainly need to weigh up your image quality requirements vs weight/convenience for such a trade off IMHO.
 
Lisa

Lisa

New member
I currently use a Nikon DX camera that's a little too heavy for me to carry around comfortably for very long, so I've been dithering about whether to try a GF1 or GH1 instead. It's been interesting and useful to see the comments in this thread; thanks, all. I plan to drop by my local big camera store and see if I can take a couple of test shots with one of those and with my Nikon to compare, and then decide if the reduction in size & weight are worth the reduction in image quality for me...

Lisa
 
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