You're making comments about individual cameras and incorrectly applying them to the whole system. The focus on the first generation Panasonic cameras is quick, the second generation are faster with the GH2 in particularly being praised for its quick AF. Only the original E-P1 doesn't offer a viewfinder, the E-P2, E-PL1, E-PL2, GF1 and GF2 all have optional viewfinder (one for Olympus, one for Panasonic which aren't compatible) while the G1, GH1, G2, G10 and GH2 all offer builtin viewfinders.
I use micro 4/3 as my day to day setup, true the cameras can't match the D700's high ISO or C-AF system but the D700 won't fit in my pocket. In a shoulder bag where I can squeeze the D700 and 50mm F1.4 in, I can get the GH2, GF1, 7-14mm, 14mm, 14-140mm or 100-300mm and the 20mm F1.7 making for a very flexible and compact walk around set up. The GF1 with the 14mm or 20mm is my pocket camera with the other pancake prime in another pocket.
If I need the D700's performance and can take the bulk then it's an obvious choice but micro 4/3 is a very capable system which can handle my day to day needs.
John
Much the same here. Have tried various DSLRs from various manufacturers but they're just too big and Canon and Nikon budget DSLRs are woefully lacking in features and performance on a size for size and value for money front.
Ideally I would have a GH2, but couldn't afford one so got the next best thing, a GH1.
I had originally looked at a G1 but it was no better performance wise than the Oly DSLR I was using, so the only advantage was size. The GH1 is a stop better in ISO and dynamic range and has a few refined features.
The GH2 is the current flagship.
If you want a non DSLR styled example then it would have to be EP2 or EPL2 for me, but bothare still pretty expensive.
ISO noise is comparable on the GHs to the best APS cameras, only a fraction down on them.
Full frame performance is obviosuly not possible.
The issues I have found with my GH1 are:
- Poor auto white balance (although the custom wb is very easy to set)
- Blue channel has poor tonal range, posterisation and blotchy skies are difficult to avoid
- Lack of dedicated fast lens choice (although there are rumblings that such things will exist very soon)
- MF Assist doesn't allow you to zoom out far enough IMO, and isn't level boosted as per normal VF image
- Slow flash sync speed (1/160)
- In Camera JOEGs are terrible, worse than a Nikon D40 and that's saying something!
- AF is much like a compact.
It will however do things that even the best DSLRs won't: Viewfinder works in the dark and through even the darkest filters (Infra red and ND110s), and it can meter through them too for example.
Obviously there's no such thing as a perfect camera and mFT is still in it's infancy, and Panasonic as a camera manufacturer have clearly made huge leaps in very short timeframe, they still have some way to go I feel.
I wouldn't trade for a DSLR again, no way, but I am itching to see what the next mFT is.
So to sum up: If you want the rangefinder compact style, get a PEN, f you want the best possible ISO and DR performance and a more comfortable camera, get a GH2.
) and as close as it gets I think - Fuji X100. And very nice it is too 
Just coming on sale now at a bit under £1k, but expect a queue 
