Page 1 of Advice required from photographers - Lumix G1...

Would this be a good choice for a beginner to photography as an entry-level camera?

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Si Wooldridge
Reviewer



synth.myreviewer.com

There are a few threads about it here. A review here.
It`s an expensive camera but I have to say I would like one, but probably to go alongside my Nikon as opposed to replacing it. I don`t think they have a viewfinder, as such. & I can`t live without a viewfinder. But I think they have an electric one, I havn`t read the review but I seem to remember from memory. Is it the size that interests you?

Size and lightness are definately factors, seems to be a very versatile camera as well...

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Si Wooldridge
Reviewer



synth.myreviewer.com

Have you considered the compact panasonics, like the TZ65 or TZ7. These are great little cameras with 12x optical zoom leica lenses.

Personally, if you`re going to go for a DSLR, consider Canon or Nikon. I say this because (and please correct me if I`m wrong) theres a greater variety of lenses available from those makes. and Sigma also cater very well for Canon, Nikon etc.

Depending on your budget, have a look at the Nikon D60 or even the Nikon D80/D90.

Hope this helps

Size and lightness are definately factors, seems to be a very versatile camera as well...

If that`s your criteria, then I would seriously think about one

Navs, reading some of the threads in the AV forums, one of the people who has one has adapters for other lenses. That being the case it make`s a great camera. I have had Canon & loved it, at the moment I have a Nikon & love that, but I have read only good things about the more recent Panasonic cameras & my 3 year old 10x zoom TZ1 has been a great camera.

Be aware Panasonic have upgraded the firmware in some of their cameras to stop them working with non-Panasonic batteries.

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Could someone please
Remove these cutleries
From my knees...

In this month`s `Stuff` magazine, they rate the Canon EOS450 above the G1.
They say the G1 isn`t that mch smaller, is fiddlier to use and offers less choice of lenses.
So they recommend the 450, with the G1 a close second.

This item was edited on Friday, 26th June 2009, 10:53

Personally I don`t really see the need for a `stepping stone` camera before eventually getting a fully fledged DSLR - unless the G1 has specific features that you prefer. DSLRs are very easy to use on auto settings and offer the usual upgradeability and future proofing that a hybrid camera probably won`t.

I`ve got a Canon 400D and that`s a pretty small camera and has the advantage of a massive lens and add-ons range.

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I find http://www.dpreview.com is pretty much the current definitive place to read camera reviews.

I guess whether this is ideal for you depends on what you intend to do with it in future, in particular with regard to lenses, and whether it doesn`t bother you that it isn`t an SLR.

Personally, I`d want a very wide choice of existing lenses, since they are incredibly expensive items (we are talking £300+ for anything usable, per lens) and the chance to grab them second hand is for me a big plus.

Alas there is never such a thing as a one stop lens, if you fancy doing very close up macro shots you really do need a specific one for that job, likewise if you want extreme wide angles, or zoom, again you need to spend a lot of money. You might be happy never doing any of that, or you might be happy buying a body that offers you a wide choice later on.

But the alternative, an SLR, is always going to be bigger and heavier. But there is a good reason why SLRs still reign supreme, they are just a much better design.

Auto focussing with an SLR is faster and more accurate than the contrast based methods of non-SLRs, not to mention that in low light (talking much lower light here, way beyond what non-SLRs can manage) you can still focus manually and actually see what you are focusing on.

Also, for speed, battery life, etc, an SLR will always win out. Plus having a bit of extra weight is actually helpful for avoiding camera shake.

And with regard to image quality, the more glass the better, so smaller is always worse on this front.

I would say if you just want a good taster of what SLR life might be like, this could be a good stepping stone. If you got into it though, in the long term you`d end up buying an SLR anyway.


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I would agree with everything RJS said. I did link the Panasonic to the DP review site, it is also my first choice site to look at. However if you want a smaller camera the Panasonic
& indeed other four thirds camera makes are a good start. The Nikon D40x is a small camera, smaller than the Canon D400/450 range. The Nikon D60 here is `supposed to be a small camera as well.

This item was edited on Friday, 26th June 2009, 12:19