GF1 for Landscapes?

seriousrikk

seriousrikk

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Richard
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I'm in a dilemma.

I currently use a 50D + Tokina 12-24mm for my landscape shots. I like the setup, it works fairly well.

BUT, I also like a camera that I can just chuck in my bag and not really know it is there. I tried an LX3 for a while, and while it is a very capable camera the raw support was minimal in lightroom and I always found myself picking up the 50D for everything. I sold it as it seemed silly to not use it.

But I still want some of the capability - now thinking the GF1. However to afford this camera and the 14-45mm lens kit I would need to sell my 12-24mm and a few other bits. Essentially I would no longer have the 50D for landscape work - just the GF1.

How does the dynamic range of the GF1 compare to the 50D? I found the LX3 limiting in this factor, much harder to recover detail from the highlights. What I really need to know is would I be disappointed with the GF1 based on what I use now?

Thoughts?
 
I think that the Tokina is an APS-C lens and it probably wont therefore cover all FF.

I'm a big fan of the GF1 and one thing that has surprised me is how much processing the shots can take without falling apart.
 
I find the GF1 quite promising in this respect. The following image was shot with the 20mm.

http://www.newvibes.com/blog/red-or-dead/

And straight of the camera. I find the dynamic range reasonable for a camera of this size and on that particular night held it's own and my 5d2 was set up to record video and so filled the gap well.
 
Another thought...

Rather than recover highlights maybe it's best to expose for the highlights and boost the shadows? I've done this with the GF1 and noise just wasn't an issue.
 
woof woof said:
I think that the Tokina is an APS-C lens and it probably wont therefore cover all FF.

I'm a big fan of the GF1 and one thing that has surprised me is how much processing the shots can take without falling apart.
Click to expand...

You think and I use it on FF.

4743640729_94f94fbabb_z.jpg


20mm, full size. I would be less confident with 17-40L.
 
Yes but at what width does it become visible?
 
woof woof said:
Yes but at what width does it become visible?
Click to expand...

17-19mm depending on filters or crop ratio. 19mm is wider than 12mm on crop. It is also 19mm without obvious distortion, unlike most other FF UWAs. 24mm is geometrically perfect.
 
So when I said "I think that the Tokina is an APS-C lens and it probably wont therefore cover all FF" I was right? :)

Great shot BTW.
 
woof woof said:
So when I said "I think that the Tokina is an APS-C lens and it probably wont therefore cover all FF" I was right? :)

Great shot BTW.
Click to expand...

You are partially right. It covers the whole FF sensor at 18/19-24mm. The is the important part. 12mm FF would be crazy. This is enough to justify keeping it, and using mainly on 1Ds not 40D :)
 
Partially right? Oh well.... I only mentioned that the Tokina is APS-C as I think that it's important not to mislead people who may read this and base buying decisions on what they read. As you have added, it is useable on FF but not over it's full zoom range. The only lens with the numbers 12-24mm in it that covers FF is the Siggy 12-24mm and luckily when I bought this lens it was a lot cheaper than it is now.

I'd agree that the Tokina is worth keeping if already owned but if finances allow it would obviously be better to have the full zoom range available to use.
 
I can't comment compared to the 50D - but there are plenty of landscapes on my flickr taken with the GF1 if you want a look :)

Oh and the GF1 fits just fine in my pocket

Daguirdas - have you used one?
 
grum said:
I can't comment compared to the 50D - but there are plenty of landscapes on my flickr taken with the GF1 if you want a look :)

Oh and the GF1 fits just fine in my pocket

Daguirdas - have you used one?
Click to expand...

Had a play with one - not my cup of tea. Unless it is 20mm kit it needs a huge pocket. Panasonic 7-14mm is not that cheap either :nono:.
 
The idea of using a micro system camera for landscapes actually seems like a nifty idea. Weight has always been a bugbear for landscape photographers and if the companies make wide angle lenses for the micro system then just imagine the little amount of equipment you'll need to take.

I think the only downside to this would be the filters as while circular ND filter and polarisers won't be a problem some photographers like to use the square filters which I don't think the adapters have smaller filter sizes.
 
Thanks for your input guys, certainly food for thought!

daugirdas said:
Tokina is one of the best lenses out there and for a good price. I'd really keep it. It is also very nice on FF.

GF1 is smaller, less capable, but not small enough to fit in the pocket, and not cheap enough either.

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/en...rand)/Canon/(brand2)/Panasonic/(brand3)/Canon
Click to expand...
You're absolutely right about the Tokina - it is a superb lens and having tried both a 17-40mm and a Canon 10-22mm it trumps both of them. My problem right now is it simply isn't being used - that said I may see if I can keep it because I don't think they are worth that much used anyway.

Thanks for that link, interestingly looking at the dynamic range the 50D theoretically has more - but the graphs show the GF1 above the 50D as soon as we get past ISO 100.

KayJay said:
I find the GF1 quite promising in this respect. The following image was shot with the 20mm.

http://www.newvibes.com/blog/red-or-dead/

And straight of the camera. I find the dynamic range reasonable for a camera of this size and on that particular night held it's own and my 5d2 was set up to record video and so filled the gap well.
Click to expand...

A lovely shot too - thanks for posting. How do you find the noise in shadows?

woof woof said:
Another thought...

Rather than recover highlights maybe it's best to expose for the highlights and boost the shadows? I've done this with the GF1 and noise just wasn't an issue.
Click to expand...
Good point - I've started to experiment with light HDR in place of filters for some shots - I guess this could be used well on the GF1 too. Do you have any shots you can show me?

grum said:
I can't comment compared to the 50D - but there are plenty of landscapes on my flickr taken with the GF1 if you want a look :)

Oh and the GF1 fits just fine in my pocket

Daguirdas - have you used one?
Click to expand...

Some of those lake district shots in your photostream are really good - and there is still detail in some highlights that I know would not be visible on the 50D. Did you post process much? Either way you've done a grand job!

mastertrinity said:
The idea of using a micro system camera for landscapes actually seems like a nifty idea. Weight has always been a bugbear for landscape photographers and if the companies make wide angle lenses for the micro system then just imagine the little amount of equipment you'll need to take.

I think the only downside to this would be the filters as while circular ND filter and polarisers won't be a problem some photographers like to use the square filters which I don't think the adapters have smaller filter sizes.
Click to expand...

Well I've just checked and I can get an adaptor for my Lee system that goes down to the 52mm on the Panny 14-45mm - that said if I do buy the GF1 I may invest in a set of cokin grads to keep with the compact form factor.

Thanks for your input guys, definitely leaning more towards getting one - although I'm now having second thoughts about moving the Tokina on!
 
daugirdas said:
Had a play with one - not my cup of tea. Unless it is 20mm kit it needs a huge pocket. Panasonic 7-14mm is not that cheap either :nono:.
Click to expand...

The 14-45 is quite small too - fits in most of my jacket pockets with it on. By the way I just noticed that our entries for the Sunrise/Sunset theme of the POTY comp got about the same number of votes. Not bad for a 'less capable' camera eh? :lol: :p


RichardtheSane said:
Some of those lake district shots in your photostream are really good - and there is still detail in some highlights that I know would not be visible on the 50D. Did you post process much? Either way you've done a grand job!
Click to expand...

Cheers - probably a fair bit of pp done on most in LR - grad filters etc
 
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Thanks Graham - nice to know the raw files work properly in lightroom too :)

After having a read through the last 15 pages of the GF1 thread I'm definitly leaning towards using one for all but my motorsports and wildlife photography. They seem to work well with all manner of old MF lenses too
 
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