Some field tests
To read the whole series on the Panasonic G1, click here
The ProStrap for the GI finally arrived.
ProStrap fitted to the Panasonic G1
No more excuses for deferring a proper outing for the camera so after attaching the strap I set out for the big city, spare (and very small) Panny battery in my Levis. The strap really does nothing for the handling of the camera which is a good thing. The right hand finger and thumb grip on the body are properly engineered for a secure grip and the left hand cradles the lens from below in traditional fashion. What this little strap confers is enhanced peace of mind that you are not about to drop the camera, and it’s far more functional for my intended use than a shoulder strap emblazoned with the manufacturer’s name.
Before setting out I did a little more checking of the confusing instruction book and made a couple more changes to the settings.
First I switched on AF+MF. This means that when you have locked focus with a first pressure on the shutter button, you can still make manual focus changes with the collar in the lens. When turned this renders the enlarged view in the EVF for fine changes in focus. A quick press and re-press of the shutter button then restores the full image with the focus locked on the new setting. Very clever.
i.Exposure was also turned on – this provides for automatic adjustment of contrast if the contrast range is too high for the sensor to handle. A tacit acknowledgment by Panasonic that things are not yet perfect with digital sensors.
Then I turned on i.ISO. If the subject is moving the ISO is adjusted upward automatically for a faster shutter speed. The electronics can do this as the live sensor video feed continuously measures movement blur. I had already limited the maximum ISO to 800 to mitigate grain/noise as described yesterday so it will be interesting to see how this works out in practice.
Bottom line? I should have things set just so for a very responsive …. point-and-shoot.
The major criticism to be leveled at Panasonic so far is that they have done such a poor job of the instruction manual. Multiple cross references, a near-useless index and a rote recitation of each menu choice and control function. What is needed is an approach which focuses on the user, not the camera. A section for street snappers, a section for the sports crowd, a section for landscape photographers and so on. How can a company making a multi-million dollar investment in wonderfully executed new technologies pay so little attention to the ergonomics of a user manual?
- The camera is a sweetheart to carry around. Small, quiet, unobtrusive and very fast.
- I have to learn to avoid depressing the front control wheel to avoid putting it into exposure compensation mode.
- 2/3rds of a stop underexposure is just perfect for avoiding blown out highlights, with Lightroom’s Fill Light slider doing the rest
- Based on my knowledge of what my Canon 5D’s sensor will do, any one of these will easily print razor sharp at 18″ x 24″
- Grain is noticeable at higher ISOs but not obtrusive
- The lens is simply wonderful. Minimal barrel distortion at the wide end, none elsewhere. Maybe this is Adobe Camera Raw doing software tricks in Lightroom 2.4 to fix things. Who cares? It works. Try saying that about barrel distortion with the Canon 24-105mm ‘L’. Further, there’s no chromatic aberration to speak of. A remarkable piece of optical + software design.
This camera may be the answer for many, like this fan of the magnificent M2 and M3 bodies, looking for that elusive replacement for the Leica M rangefinder.
Simply stated, Panasonic’s G1 is a keeper. I believe it marks a seismic change in quality camera design which will have the competition scrambling to keep up.
Do you still have face-finder deactivated? Just curious what it might have done with all the drawings of faces in your pics – especially the Lion of Ghana (colors are upside down from normal Rasta livery)
Andy – It’s deactivated, but would it make any difference with a two dimensional subject?
I wasn’t thinking of it in a focusing assistance way, but just a “Gee Whiz” way. I am still amazed that this kind of thing works at all, and I am just interested in the boundary line between “face” and “not face” (without spending my own money:)
Panasonic makes a number of great cameras (I have a G1 myself, and an LX3), and the lousy manual is a universal feature of the company. Your description of their manuals nails it.
What a relief to come across your field test of the Panasonic G1, which I have owned since June 2009! I bought it as a temporary replacement for my Nikon D80 while I was recovering from hand surgery. It felt great ergonomically and the weight was perfect. However, I kept on depressing that front wheel by accident and ending up with negative exposure comp in places I didn’t want it. Even now that my hand is fully recovered, it still happens. I have to check the exposure comp before every single photo. I, too, have found that the highlights tend to blow out, so it’s good to set EC on the low side. As for the manual, it’s the worst I’ve ever owned. I’m a great big fan of camera manuals and even read them in bed. I’ve owned Canon, Konica Minolta, and Nikon cameras and found their manuals always useful. If only there was a good book (such as the ones David Busch writes) on the G1.
I’ve just ordered the FL220 Flash. Do you know of a diffuser (like the ones Gary Fong produces) which would fit it? I will be using it on my LX3 as well as the G1. If necessary, I’ll make one!