Is it good time to buy GF-1 or better wait?

phinix

phinix

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Guys, is it good time to buy GF-1 right now, or should I wait a bit and see what Sony will show up with their new cameras, or wait till Panasonic pop up with new GF-2?

Basically GF-1 and 14-45 right now with that £50 cashback can be bought for abround £500.
Right now I have Sony A300, which I use ocasionally, so it is not that I need a camera urgently. I could use movie option any time now actually, that is why I was going to prepare myself for buying GF-1. 14-45 kit now, 20mm lens later...
 
It's a good time. If there was a GF-2 near ready for launch they'd have aimed for PMA.

The GF-1 been out long enough for the launch price to be a distant memory and there are the £50 cash back and 3 year warranty offers on the table.

Buy one now and get the use out of it. The only improvements I'd be interested in seeing won;t come with a GF-2 anyway (in body IS and maintaining metering and AF functionality on third party lenses.)
 
NorthernNikon said:
It's a good time. If there was a GF-2 near ready for launch they'd have aimed for PMA.

The GF-1 been out long enough for the launch price to be a distant memory and there are the £50 cash back and 3 year warranty offers on the table.

Buy one now and get the use out of it. The only improvements I'd be interested in seeing won;t come with a GF-2 anyway (in body IS and maintaining metering and AF functionality on third party lenses.)
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In-body IS is one of the things I wanted to wait for GF-2. DO you think they won't implement inbody IS in next model?

..and I believe there is no way they make 20mm pancake with built IS? :)
 
phinix said:
In-body IS is one of the things I wanted to wait for GF-2. DO you think they won't implement inbody IS in next model?
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No. Panasonic have hung their coat on the in lens IS coat peg. There would have to be a huge step change for them to develop in camera stabilisation.
 
A friend of mine bought a GF-1 a few days ago and I've been really impressed with it when I've messed about with it.

Tonal and exposure range are impressive for such a dinky little camera and that 20mm is a dream.

I've been seriously thinking about adding one to my gear as a walkabout camera. :)

Si
 
Some interesting sales figures for the GF1 from research company GfK posted on DPReview here http://www.dpreview.com/news/1003/10030401gfkq4salesreport.asp

In Japan during December, the GF1 was the fourth biggest selling interchangeable lens camera, against the best that Canon and Nikon (and Olympus) can do. That's pretty incredible for what is basically a new concept.

This new type of camera is taking over, and we've not even had a sniff at what Sony have hinted at, even less Canon and Nikon who will surely not be far behind. But there's always something newer and better just around the corner and even if a new model was announced today, it would be months before you get hold of one.

Having said that, I'd like to see better AF and the electronic viewfinder still has a way to go.
 
phinix said:
wow.. those skiing photos are amazing! All made with 20mm? See, my biggest concern is it doesnt have OIS. Is it a problem with 20mm? Outdoor or indoor photos?
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it is 1.7 so very fast and using the usual 1/mm says you should be able to use it at 1/40 without 2 many issues...

tempted myself....
 
phinix said:
wow.. those skiing photos are amazing! All made with 20mm? See, my biggest concern is it doesnt have OIS. Is it a problem with 20mm? Outdoor or indoor photos?
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Yep, its the only lens I have for the GF1. As said 1/40th is fine and the auto ISO feature permits 1/30th as the lowest shutter speed AFAICT. With the speed of the 20mm lens and the short focal length, IS really isn't needed.
 
phinix said:
wow.. those skiing photos are amazing! All made with 20mm? See, my biggest concern is it doesnt have OIS. Is it a problem with 20mm? Outdoor or indoor photos?
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If you really want IS then look at the E-P1/2, essentially the same camera but with a few differences. I have the E-P1 with 20mm, in low light the IS does come in handy.
 
Willo said:
If you really want IS then look at the E-P1/2, essentially the same camera but with a few differences. I have the E-P1 with 20mm, in low light the IS does come in handy.
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I need to do the comparison, cause not sure what are the differences between them.
I would wait a bit if I only knew there will be GF-2 soon. Rumors show that it will have built-in VF. That is enough for me to wait...
 
phinix said:
I need to do the comparison, cause not sure what are the differences between them.
I would wait a bit if I only knew there will be GF-2 soon. Rumors show that it will have built-in VF. That is enough for me to wait...
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There are loads of comparisons, It depends on what you want. The AF is no where near as bad as people make out, especially with the new firmware. GF-2 won't be out for a while as the GF-1 is selling so well, why would they?

When I looked at the E-P1 and GF1 it came down to how it felt in the hand and the controls, the E-P1 felt more comfortable in my hands, that little grip makes all the difference for me. Go to a shop and try them out.
 
Dave, do you find you use all three of the lenses on the GF-1? I'm pretty much set on the 20mm and 14-45mm but unsure about the 45-200mm....
 
I tend to use the 20mm and the 14-45mm the most - but I'm surprised at how good the 45-200mm is, especially if stopped down at least 2/3rds of a stop, and will probably keep it for the foreseeable future. It's quite handy to have a fairly compact lens with a 90-400mm range (in FF terms), and you can get the GF1 plus all three lenses in a very small gadget bag :thumbs:
 
sometimes you just have to buy what's available, if you wait for the Mk II of anything you'll be wasting time, if you have a sony you don't use it'd be better to buy the GF1 now and use it than wait 12 months for the upgraded version full of features you won't use.

How many people waited for the D300s and bought it to take video, not many i'll bet
 
Thanks Dave, GF-1 with 20mm is sat next to me, 14-45 and 45-200 are on their way as well as a spare battery and better carry case :)

Doing some dramatic downsizing, I went full frame and just haven't made the most of it so I've traded in the D700 for the entire GF-1 setup. I can see me selling most of my SLR gear to be honest, I'm doing a lot of hiking, kayaking and cycling and the portability of the GF-1 is going to win out over lugging my remaining D300 and 24-70/70-200 around.

Also frees up a lot of cash, perhaps a new kayak if the other half doesn't notice :D
 
wack61 said:
sometimes you just have to buy what's available, if you wait for the Mk II of anything you'll be wasting time, if you have a sony you don't use it'd be better to buy the GF1 now and use it than wait 12 months for the upgraded version full of features you won't use.
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I agree - no point wasting time thinking about what might happen in the future.

Congrats ricky1981, you're gonna love it.

*Gratuitous GF1 shots* :)

20100315-Harris-1-1-1.jpg


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20100315-Harris-1.jpg
 
Interesting thread.

I have read other threads about upgrading DSLRs and there is always the enticement of upgrading to the next (or next but one) body above the one that one owns - but then there is the concern that is the extra money worth it for a hobbyist like me. But then to get a 'pocket' camera that will do much of what a DSLR will do is possibly a better option as a second camera that would be easier to carry about in situations where I have not gone out to deliberately take photos. Of particular use would be holidays when the cheapo airlines really only want you to carry a toothbrush.:)

I have a Canon Ixus 950IS as a pocket camera but it does not have anything like the manual control that is useful, particularly in low light. Consequently, the GF1/micro 4/3 looks like a good alternative. Accepting that no camera is perfect, I am still not sure which road to choose. Many reviews setting the GF1 againnst the Olympus E-P1 point out that the GF1 has better AF, better LCD, better RAW but that the E-P1 performs better in JPEG - which is all I use as I have no experience of RAW - and I am not sure if I want to spend the time with RAW files.

Cameralabs, DPReview and even Thom Hogan make these points.

One point, I rarely print above 10x8 with the P&S

One other option would be a Canon G11 but this only seems to take me back to a small sensor.

I would be pleased to know what you users of the GF1 think of these issues.
 
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