Fun small factor... Micro Four Thirds

[rich9cinti]

Just waiting to get delivery of my used Panasonic Lumix GF3 C kit. I chose a prime pancake lens, the Lumix 14mm F/2.5 (28mm equiv. on full frame). The kit only cost me $230.00 from an eBay auction so thought it was a great value. I'll be testing it out hopefully this weekend.

If any of you ever followed my posts going back a couple years plus ago about DSLRs, I never thought I'd be longing for a M4/3's compact system. Take a look at my sig to view my gear, around $20,000 in photography equipment and been making great money with my Sports contracts and event gigs. WHY THE HECK WOULD I WANT TO GO SMALL FACTOR YOU ASK???

Haha, well photography is fun for me... And it's great to make some income so the equipment pays for itself but I get enough "whoa" reactions during my gigs that I have learned works against you when you're attempting street photography. So when I'm out and about, I just don't want to attract attention, THUS the Lumix GF3C kit fit the bill. I decided not to go with any P&S cameras smaller than 2.0 crop factor, just my preference.

Mind you, if the M4/3's turns out to be a huge fun factor, I'm also inclined to get several bodies like the Olypmus E-P3, Lumix GX1, Olympus OM-D and the Fuji X100. All of these were under consideration but the price on the GF3C kit was just too good to pass up.

Thoughts? Any DSLR users out there who also have a M4/3's system? Any comments from any owners of the above M4/3's bodies mentioned? When I get the camera kit, I'll post images and my first impressions.

[AruisDante]

I definitely agree with you. When you bust out the DSLR on the street, people notice and it becomes very difficult to get candid shots. A nice M4/3 (or equivalent EVIL form-factor camera) has been on the want list for a long time, but it's just not high enough on the priority list for the moment

Let us know how you like it and put up some shots when it comes in

[buttons]

I looked really hard at getting a sony NEX-5 or pentax K01, but two factors. my wife didnt want a smaller camera and i was unable to sell my A580 for a fair price. I feel kinda embarrassed getting our sony a580 out in public because it draws so much attention.

[rich9cinti]

Thanks for the comments!

Shipment got delayed two days, argh. Won't receive it until Monday. Looking for other "fun" lenses. The Rokinon (Samyang) 7.5mm fish eye sure looks like a great value performer. Silver version has that old school look and is full manual. Great DOF so setting focus to infinity should be sharp throughout.

[bravotsx]

I'm a m43 shooter myself who started with full-frame film minoltas. Some of the most fun I've had with m43 is that I can adapt old manual lenses to work with the system. an old 50mm normal lens becomes quite an interesting portrait lens due to the crop. another fun thing about adapting older FF lenses is that the m43 sensor only really uses the middle portions of the lens (which is usually the best part anyway) meaning you can get great results with average lenses.

The GF2 is a fun camera, though after switching to the OM-D after using the G2 for nearly 2 years, I have the say the OM-D is leaps and bounds better than any prior m43 camera. In terms of IQ, I usually stuck with ISO 640 or below with my G2.

Be sure to add the 20 f/1.7 to your list ~ and perhaps the 45 f/1.8. The kit 14-42 is forgettable, though the original kit 14-45 is actually quite nice. The Leica 45mm is a really fun lens since it has 1:1 macro though it's a bit pricey and not quite as fast as I'd like for portraits. (an old manual 50mm f/1.2 or f/1.4 will more than make up for this though!)

[Bob_760]

I have an E-PL1 that I've been enjoying for a couple years, I second the 20mm f/1.7 as a must have. It spends the second most time on my camera by a huge margin over everything else. My Voigtlander 25mm f/0.95 lives on it but I take most of my pictures in the dark. The Voigtlander is massive though, so if i want to pocket my SLR I go with the 20mm. I have the 14mm f2.5 and the 17mm f2.8 pancakes also and they are nice at times especially during the day when their aperture isn't a problem. I also have the collapsible 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 whenever there is enough light it's fun and pocket-able. I appreciate that at 9mm it takes a reasonably normal looking picture.

[rich9cinti]

Great suggestions on the lenses everyone!

Sounds like the next lens I would get would be the 20mm F1.7. The whole zoom thing and larger lenses put me off since if I wanted that kinda of stuff, I might as well bring my Canon 5DM3 and 70-200 or the 150-500. I want this M4/3's system to do street photography... I'll live without zoom.

Package arrived in the area but won't go out until tomorrow or Monday Oh well. I took a trip to the local Walmart and they had a brand new Lumix GF3 with the 14-42 kit lens for $339.99. The fella was nice enough to let me open one up to take a gander at the sensor and lens more closely. I did get a chance to play with the demo one and boy is the AF fast. The touch screen is very responsive, too. The only thing I would have to agree with others is the 14-42 kit lens seems to be yeah... ummm forgettable. Plastic base... I guess it's ok but glad mine is coming with the 14mm F2.5 pancake lens.

Additional Comment:

Bravotsx and Bob760... can you post several images here taken with your M4/3's cameras with info on what lens you used, settings and processing software, etc. I'm a Lightroom 4.1 guy... love it! after this review, I may make a new sticky post just for M4/3 images... maybe LOL.

[bravotsx]

haha sure ~ i'll need to do some digging and get some up later today.

[buttons]

How affordable are these micro 4/3 lenses? I kinda miss my pentax because there was a ton of old but excellent glass i could get cheap. Ive seen some threads on dpreview.com where a fella took a pentax prime + adapter on his micro 4/3 and made some stunning images.

[rich9cinti]

Just got the package 3 hrs ago. The GF3 kit with the 14mm f2.5 although used is in great shape. $230, heck the lens alone new cost more than I paid for the kit lol.

First impressions... Relieved that it's in great operating condition and near new appearance. AF is very fast. Review of jpeg shots on my 2560x1600 display look pretty darn nice IMO. Sharp detail, no blown out colors. I never liked any jpeg images before on my Canon 450D, 7D nor my 5D Mark III but maybe cuz I primarily only shoot in RAW and post process in Lightroom. But I digressed. Pop up flash, like the fact you can tilt up to bounce on the ceiling. Not bad results but head on flash is well, your typical p&s look... You know, the scared rabbit look hahaha! It's small but well built. I like how the lens mounting feels when placing or removing the lens... A quality feel like my pro dslr's.

I'll play with this in the coming days to give ya a better review, but tell ya now... I LIKES THE GF3!

Additional Comment:

Originally Posted by buttons

How affordable are these micro 4/3 lenses? I kinda miss my pentax because there was a ton of old but excellent glass i could get cheap. Ive seen some threads on dpreview.com where a fella took a pentax prime + adapter on his micro 4/3 and made some stunning images.

Hey buttons... Affordable, the pancake 14mm F2.5 and 20mm F1.7 can be had for between $200 and $400 depending on new or used. As for zooms, they are $400-$800. I think too expensive compared to DSLR glass. I must say I never used adapters before but looks like there's that option for M4/3's system which I think is a plus.

Again, not sure I how feel about that today. Primary reason why I went with this system was to be an everyday carry with a pancake prime. My 5DMIII looks ridiculous with the new 40mm pancake lens

Additional Comment:

Test shots taken with the Lumix GF3 & 14mm F/2.5 pancake prime lens (straight out of the camera jpeg's):

F2.5 | ISO 800 | 1/15 exp - Focused using touch screen tap onto the letter "M"


F2.5 | ISO 640 | 1/60 exp - Focused using touch screen tap onto the center bottom "3T"


F2.5 | ISO 160 | 1/125 exp - Center focus shutter release


F2.5 | ISO 160 | 1/125 exp Focused using touch screen tap onto the rose


F22 | ISO 160 | 25 sec. exp Center group shutter release placed onto an open car door window ledge since I did not have a tripod


I must reiterate... these are straight out of the camera jpegs without any post processing in exception of the layer for watermarking in the lower right hand corner.

All in exception of the last image was at F2.5 to show the sharpness wide open. The last image is at F22 with a 25 second exposure and propped on top of a window ledge. Sure, not high ISO here but for anyone that has done long exposure shots know that there is still noise that needs to be addressed in software. Not with this example, all in camera NR and still very clean not heavy sharpness. Oh, BTW, I'm not a flower and veggie shooter but I thought it was valid to have test shots to include them since there is very little contrast when it comes to roses and vegetables... man this GF3 hit it spot on IMO. Another thing I wanted to point out is the color reproduction is awesome... nothing too saturated or heavy feeling. Auto white balance was pretty good as well.

This GF3 in my short term testing is a breath of fresh air... Lightroom did not do so well with the RAW files in its presets but that's ok when I'm getting jpegs like this. Maybe I'm just used to processing RAW files from my 7D and 5D Mark III... dunno.

Bottom line, this combo Lumix GF3 with the 14mm F2.5 pancake prime is a winner in my books for a daily carry digital camera.

Additional Comment:

I could not help myself... I had to snap this shot of the 11 year old Canon and the 1 year old GF3 side by side

David vs Goliath


Oddest couple in the house by rich9cinti, on Flickr

Depending on how i feel, I carry one or the other for casual street shooting:
Canon EOS 1D Mark I / EF 50mm F1.4
Panasonic Lumix GF3 / Lumix M4/3's 14mm F2.5

[buttons]

I just got my K01 yesterday, man its a heavy brick of a mirrorless camera. I do like it though. I was really torn on going micro 4/3, samsung nx1000, nex5n.

I am really impressed with low light performance from this camera.

3200iso raw straight out of the camera w/kit lens of an unhappy subject.

[Odanez]

I also have the GF3C kit and I use it a lot, even more than my GH2 with zoom lens, because it is so small and handy and still makes stellar photos. I think it is a good choice.

[rich9cinti]

Yeah, the GF3 was such a good little camera, my wife "owns" it now. I went and got a sweet freakin' deal from eBay for a like new Olympus E-P3 MFT body (silver), the digital viewer and a 17mm pancake. Also got a Samyang 7.5MM fisheye new from eBay.

I'm really digging this setup and really is a fantastic camera for casual stuff. Yes, it cannot compare to the dynamic range of my Canon 5D Mark III but for my casual purpose shooting, it fits the bill.

[Odanez]

yea, my gf also "owns" my GF3. I also got it for a sweet deal from the UK, same with my GH2 - the UK has so much better prices than Germany when it comes to cameras.

[buttons]

I wish it wasnt dark out on my way to work and way home from work. I snapped this photo on my lunch break with my "new to me" $25 Pentax M SMC F2.8 lens. You guys with micro 4/3 should get some adapters and try these old manual focus lenses. added a bit to much contrast in lightroom.

[Namtaro]

Was that shot at 2.8? Nice and sharp, but the bokeh looks bleh.

[buttons]

no, it might of been F5.6 or f8 . i should of done it wide open.

[bravotsx]

manual focus lenses are fun! here's a shot i took using a DMC-G2 and Nikon 50mm f/1.2

[buttons]

Here is a shot i took with the K01 40mm kit lens. cropped and added contrast via silky pics. my 2004 M6 GTO. 100 iso F8



Additional Comment:

Originally Posted by bravotsx

manual focus lenses are fun! here's a shot i took using a DMC-G2 and Nikon 50mm f/1.2

I just looked up pentax F1.2 manual focus lens and they are like $500-800!! i use to have a F1.4 i got for like $55. i wish i had kept it.