Practicalities of a G1/20mm pancake . . .

C

CJS

Messages
997
Edit My Images
Yes
I have put this forward before on the 4/3 'G' series thread, I think it might get a better airing on open Forum?

There has always been the 'small is beautiful' way of looking at things, sometimes, 'small is practical' makes sense, which is the way the GF1/20mm pancake lens combo looks. However, I went the G1/14-45mm rout, but advocated the possibility of the G1/20mm as a small even more practical option. If you square off the G1 body, you have a GF1, loosing the swivel screen, the hand grip and the EVF/flash.

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/panasonic_20_1p7_o20/page2.asp

G1pancakelensonbody2.jpg


. . . dpreview have had the same idea. See the pic courtesy of dpr, square the G1 body; loosing the hand grip makes no difference, the swivel screen saves a couple or three mm. The obvious fly in the ointment is the EVF, however, overall, taking in practicality, the EVF is a boon, and compared with the 'plug-in' unit on offer, both in quality and size when in place! and the couple of mm extra for the swivel screen . . . I recon the G1/20mm might just fit in a large pocket, corner of a ruck sack or not to big a hand bag? As a street camera it will not drew attention either.

I'm certainly considering the purchase of a Panasonic 20mm pancake lens, all the practicality of the G1, most of the small size of the GF1 and the superb image quality of the 20mm lens . . . :thumbs:

CJS
 
Last edited:
I do think in general the larger Panasonic micro 4/3 bodies are a better choice as the GF1/E-Px cameras simply aren't small enough to me and for the slight saving in bulk you lose a lot of useful features. However on the other hand, the GF1 is already on the large side for a pocket so if trying to keep size down the additional size of the G1/GH1 etc. is noticeable. I can just squeeze the GF1 with the 14 or 20mm lens into a jacket pocket (in a modified Rezo 50 camera case) but the GH1 is simply too big and has to be in a shoulder bag or bigger.

The other advantages of the GF1's small size is that with a pancake lens it can tuck in tightly as a second camera alongside one of the larger Panasonic bodies providing either spare parts or the ability to quickly change to a pancake lens, again the larger bodies wouldn't fit in the smaller space. I do use the GH1 with the 20mm packed into a small pocket with the D700 though if I'm needing video and tight on space.

Either way I think the 20mm is well worth having for any micro 4/3 camera as it's small and light, image quality is good and it offers reasonable low light capability which crucially the zoom lenses and the Olympus 17mm do not.

John
 
Mmm . . . When I say pocket, I'm thinking Barber, gussets, poacher pocket or a purpose designed waistcoat . . . :naughty:

Not the sort of thing one would go partying in . . . for that its S95 or LX5? :lol:

Personally, and I've not tried it yet . . . I see the practicality of retaining the swivel screen, flash and a proper EVF, would inspire me to work out the best way to pocket a G1/20mm/protective pouch? Even a small cloth 'student type' man-bag in the summer seems a good idea.

I currently use a G1/14-45/KATA pouch, in a medium size man-bag along with the detritus of life:thumbs:

CJS
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top