Hi,Terry,
Good to hear from you. I've always cherished the ability to shoot from waist level, and the V-Lux 1 was the ideal all in one travel camera for me until the G1 arrived. So far, I am delighted with the G1 -- it is lightweight, offers a larger flip out viewing screen and a much better EVF than the V Lux 1, and of course renders a cleaner image at higher ISOs. I can use ISOs from 100 to 1000 without any noticeable noise problem. (Such was not the case with the V Lux 1.)
The G1 also responds more quickly than the V Lux 1, with less lag time, and faster bursts. As far as lenses go, the G1's 14-45mm kit lens does not work well for me -- I keep the 45-200mm telephoto zoom on my G1 all the time. I am pleased with the look it gives to my images, and love its shallow focusing area, and abstracting power. Of course, I am constantly using it along with the Leica D Lux 4, which is always with me. The D-Lux 4 weighs next to nothing, and gives me a fast f/2.0 lens for low light shooting along with a 24-60mm (equivalent) zoom range. This leaves me with a 61-89mm gap, a focal length area I rarely use in my travels. If I find that the G1's telephoto zoom brings me too close to the subject, I can use the D-Lux-4 at 60mm, and if needed, walk forward a bit to fill its frame. Or perhaps I will just back up a bit with the telephoto zoom, if there is room to do so. So far, this combination of cameras is working well for me. The D-Lux 4, which is a clone of the Panasonic LX3, has a very similar menu system to the G1, which is another advantage for me when I am working with the two cameras almost simultaneously.
As for other possible lenses, I prefer to stay with lenses made specifically for my system. The new 7-14mm wideangle zoom seems to be a natural fit for me. Although I don't really like to have to change lenses in the field, I would gladly accept that tradeoff to be able to add super wideangle coverage embracing such focal lengths as 14mm, 16mm, and 20mm (equivalents). The rumored hefty price tag does not bother me -- a lens such as this should hold its value well and easily earn its keep over a period of time.
If you check my pbase postings from March and April, you will can see the results of my early field testing of the G1 using the 45-200mm lens. I am more than pleased with both the camera and that lens -- together they provide a remarkable all-around tool for travel photography, and suit my shooting style and needs perfectly.
Best,
Phil