GF1 - 20mm or 14-45mm for travel?

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welshwardy

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I'm looking at getting a GF1 for an upcoming trip to New Zealand. I'm torn between the 20mm pancake lens for the sheer size of it and quality of the lens vs the zoom of the 14-45mm.

I'm guessing most of the photos will be landscape stuff along with general holiday snaps. We'll be doing quite a bit of mountain biking too so a lens that can cope with some action shots and a bit of videoing would be great.
 
20mm - smaller and easier to carry. The lovely DOF control from the wide aperture will let you be more creative too.

If you're on a mountain bike you can just ride closer to something instead of needing a zoom :D.
 
14-45 is better for video as it has IS. I like to take the 20mm with me everywhere but the 14-45 is also a great lens. I think it focuses slightly faster than the 20mm too so might be better for action shots.
 
If I was going to somewhere like New Zealand and was limited to one lens, I'd want something with maximum versatility. Great as the 20mm may be, versatile it is not. 14-45mm every time for me.
 
Mmm . . . as soon as you go to the practicality of the 14-45, its pointless putting it on a GF1 cos its not going to fit in a pocket! Go 14-45mm and enjoy the no compromise practicality of the G1/G2.

If size is all important, then its 20mm/GF1 and suffer the compromise and frustrations it brings.

Personally, if size really is paramount, the LX5 looks like it is the business? Small, great IQ and a zoom range similar to the 14-45, if my memory serves? The Canon S95 is another option in the; 'small, versatile, pocketable, quality IQ', travel camera?

Just had a speed read of the reviews for both LX5 and S95:naughty: I'd definitely be looking in that direction if its small and practical thats wanted . . . :thumbs:

CJS
 
I've used lots of compacts inc the Canon s90 and G11 and none of them come anywhere near the quality of the GF1 and 14-45.
I was quite shocked when I saw the quality of the combo and that's coming from someone who has used the 5D2 and 1DS3.
The 20mm is a very good lens but for NZ it has to be the 14-45.I would also get a filter holder and a ND grad to go with it.

Gary
 
Thanks all, I'm swaying towards the zoom but if I can pick up a good deal on both I will. We'll have a campervan for the holiday so not too worried carrying it around, I can swap lenses before going out for the day. I was more the money upfront for two lenses!
 
vulcan2912 said:
I've used lots of compacts inc the Canon s90 and G11 and none of them come anywhere near the quality of the GF1 and 14-45.
I was quite shocked when I saw the quality of the combo and that's coming from someone who has used the 5D2 and 1DS3.
The 20mm is a very good lens but for NZ it has to be the 14-45.I would also get a filter holder and a ND grad to go with it.

Gary
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Not going to disagree 'Vulcan', I have not used either of the two compacts or a 20mm pancake, but I do have a G1-14-45mm . . . :thumbs:

One would expect the m4/3 sensor to the business over a compact sensor. However the furor over the GF1 etc., is all about size!!!:thinking: We (the consumer) seem to have a thing about size. I can live with that, but the minute the 14-45mm is fitted to the GF1 body, it loose any advantage in size and the balance when zoomed out is likely to be off??? :bonk::bonk::bonk: Dont make any sense to me:thinking:

The squared dimensions of a G1 fitted with a 14-45mm lens is not so wildly different to the GF1+14-45mm . . . neither will fit in a pocket!!! :shake: :lol:

I'm getting really hacked off with this GF1 = small thing . . . its only 'small' if its got the 'limited in practicality', balanced, 20mm pancake lens fitted.

Personal view of course, got my Victor Meldrew hat on tonight . . . :lol:

CJS
 
As vulcan2912 says, get the 14-45mm, it's way more versatile than the 20mm. If you can afford to, get both. I'm off to Japan at the end of the year and I've decided that I'm taking the either the GF1 or E-P1, 9-18mm, 14-45mm and the 20mm. The dslr is staying at home.
 
ShawWellPete said:
They're not very big, can you stretch to both? if not I would go for the 20mm 1.7, a class lens...
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:plusone:

The image quality of the 20mm on the GF1 is sublime, and IMO comparable to results from lenses costing 2 or 3 times as much.

Personally I like the GF1/20mm package as it is small, discrete, superb IQ and just makes me want to take more pictures!
 
I'm looking at a New Zealand trip as well, and as we are touring by car, contemplating taking my 7D, 10-22, 17-55, 70-200 and for outings a GF1 + 20/1.7 and a Leica D-Lux4 for the wife.

I just wish there was an affordable waterproof enclosure for the GF1+20mm combo, like what Canon does for the G-series. Oh wait I have a G9 as well.. should I take that too.. ;)
 
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