Help with finding a direction?

[CJS]

. . . ? I used to enjoy my phatography . . . mainly based on oportunist pictures, it was rare to go out on a 'picture hunt'. So, take a snap shot and then pp it as required, not the purist way, but I enjoyed it. Equipment started with a Nikon D90 + 18-70 lens, went for a few other lenses, all became to cumbersom, reverted back to the D90 + 18-70 f3.5.

I eventualy perceived this outfit as cumbersom also . . . got hold of a Panasonic G1 +14-45. I like the functionality of the G1, especialy the EVF and swivel screen. However, my life has changed, I am now tied to home although not house bound, when I do go out, even the G1 with the 14-45 is cumbersom.

So, I was thinking, one of the small primes or the new '14-42 power zoom' on the G1 body? . . . I realy dont want to give up the functionality of the G1.

I have become very out of touch with the camera world over the past 12-18 months. I'm not looking for 'pocketable' but I do want convenient, convenient to me is, grab the camera and pop it in my 'man bag' or a ruck sack. Mega pixel cont on the G1 suits me and few people get to see my pictures, almost non on a critical plane . . . . although you never know, I may post some on hear again, its been a long time?

So how would you aproach the above situation. Dump the lot and go for an 'ABC?? compact', or as I favour, stay with the basic G1 that I know and put a small prime or the power zoom on the front? Problem, I have no idea how the verious options compare with the PQ of my 14-45 lens which is pin sharp, dont want to give that sharpnes up either?

CJS

PS seem to have put this in general rather than 'Panasonic G' . . . ho-hum, I realy am falling apart!!!!!!!

 

[woof woof]

...as I favour, stay with the basic G1 that I know and put a small prime or the power zoom on the front?

Yes

How about taking a look at the Panasonic 20mm f1.7? It's compact and light and gives good image quality.

 

[magicaxeman]

I'm sorry to hear that things are a bit more restricted for you now.

I myself have been through the whole cycle surrounding the issue of the right camera for my physical abilities, I have been disabled for over a decade but things got worse firstly restricting me to being stuck indoors all the time and for the last 3.5 years I have been bed bound 24 hours a day.

When I started out I was using a Samsung GX10 DLSR which was just to heavy for me manage when you factored in the weight of a half decent lens on it.
My immediate reaction was that I decided to sell it and went for a compact camera (Canon G11), whilst the G11 was great for shooting indoors its relatively short focal length meant any birds or other shots out of the window where a no go.
I then went the panasonic G1 route but the problem I encountered there was even with the lieca 45mm F2.8 the low light performance was not as good as the canon compact (my room is pretty dark even in daytime).
I eventually worked out what sort of weight I could manage by taping weighed items onto my camera and lens, then hunted for a system within the weight I knew I could manage.
My personal solution was the 500D I currently have and my max weight limit for camera, lens, batteries etc is 2.2kg, this is the absolute maximum I can readily manage whilst laying down ( all my shooting has to be done from a laying position).

I would suggest, looking at what you said, that maybe a GF series camera with a 20mm pancake lens would be a good solution, its a little more compact than the G series and its profile with the pancake lens on would enable you to easily slip it in your bag or even a jacket pocket.
Personally I'm a little put off by power zooms, contrary to what panasonic say there have been other power zoom, I'm pretty sure pentax produced one once and the problem with it and all powerzooms is the steps on the stepper motor, we tend to at some point always need a focal length that we just cant seem to stop at using the power zoom, but other than that again it would be a good idea in addition to the 20mm pancake lens.

Above all dont let your health stop you continuing with your photography, I still shoot regularly, I just had to change tack so to speak and realistically look at what I could do, so portraiture, still life, flowers and garden birds are the subjects I have to focus on now and I also spend a lot of time working out ways to modify pieces of standard equipment to help me continue, essentially if I hit a brick wall I try to find a way around it rather than just give up and let it win.
Hence currently on the lifting pole above my bed is an opticron hide clamp, fitted upside down that now allows me to dispense with a bedside tripod and mount my camera onto it for when I have bad days and cant hold the camera well, this will be much improved once I have saved for a gimbal head to go on it as I will then be able to balance the camera and lens so it only needs a touch to move it into position.
I have also mastered the dark art of shooting through double glazed windows etc etc..

So please don't let things ruin your photography, just take a step back and look at things from a different angle, sometimes it allows us to find a solution to what seems to be an impasse.

 

[woof woof]

I've had a GF1 and currently have a G1.

The GF1 is more compact but with the G1 and the latest G3 and the other Panasonic SLR like micro four thirds cameras you get an EVF and an adjustable swivel screen. For someone with limited movement the extra options that the swivel screens give might be a help and worth thinking about.

 

[CJS]

Thanks for your input Iancandler, you are my kind of man! Your problems make me look like a whimp!

Weight is a problem, I too have concerns over the 'power zoom' . . . however, they are very reliable in compacts, so why not on a 4/3rds camera, the notch issue is one I can live with.

The hadlabuility of the G1 body I apreciate although I have not used it more than a couple of times in the past year. Mental issues, personal phisical problems and now my partners disabilities are making life very dificult. But we will overcome . . . I think the G1/power zoom is the answer in my case, I particularly like the animated screen on the G1. So I need some 'in use, hands on' coments on the 14-42 PZ lens.

As I say, pocketability is not an issue, I am a 'man bag' type, if only I could find one of those old cloth hippy bags, properly thought out, modern design, old fashon practicalirty? However there are some great 'man bags' on fleBay.

Any more thought gratfuly received.

CJS

 

[CJS]

Mmm, well having thought a bit more, dug a bit deeper on t'net and had a nose in my local Jessops this morning . . .

I'm beginning to wonder if I can be bothered any more, Jessops say they have no idea when the Panasonic 14-42 PZ lens will appear? I look at the reviews of the Lumix TZ30 and consider my very low photo drive at the moment . . . as it has been for a long time now.

I cant see much changing in the foreseeable future, afraid my retirement dreams have fallen apart before my eyes!

All I want is a decent snap shot capable compact . . . 'dont I' . . . ?

Provided everything looks OK to me on my computer screen . . . ??????

Watch this space, you may get a few goodies going through classified . . . ?

CJS

 

[superpippo]

Hi CJS

Don't let it get you down. It is a hobby, you have other important things to do.

I feel your pain along the path through the various cameras and systems.

I too have a DSLR with a few lenses which I bought because I was dissatisfied with the limitations of my Ixus compact - but I can still take good shots with that.

I bought a G3 because I got fed up of carting the DSLR kit on planes cos of the weight and size limitations imposed by the airlines. I have the 14-42 and 45-200. I bought the latter on a bit of a whim but haven't used it much.

But I do think that the G3 with the 14-42 is pretty easy to carry in a small bag. Sometimes I carry it all day and never get it out. But I try to not let that bother me. It's like I carry my specs and sunglasses and mobile phone.

A lot of my stuff is still opportunist and i don't consider myself to be any great shakes but a little bit of brain stimulation helps.

I signed up for the 52 challenge at the beginning of the year and whilst I find some of the themes more stimulating than others, it has helped me think about what i do. I am not suggesting that it may be the way for you, but maybe some form of adataption, say, have your own bag of words and ask Hazel to pull one out and when you have had a go, pull another one. Thus, stimulation, thinking, but no time pressure.

And if all else fails, go the compact route without a heavy heart. Just take snaps.

Best of luck