Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/02/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Mark, The reason I picked up a GF-1 was to have as a backup for my M9 when traveling. Ideally, I'd just have another M9, but geez, those things are over $7k now, and they don't have near the shelf life of a film-based M camera. You'll be juking out probably $9k for the M10 in 3-4 years. I do also have an M8, but having to remove/replace the IR filters when switching lenses back and forth from the M9 is more hassle than I want to deal with. Some friends of mine simply shoot without the IR filters and relegate the M8 to B&W only. The GF-1 will also take the M lenses via the Voigtlander adapter. I had an Olympus Pen back in the 70s and loved it. I had a CL and love it. These were the cameras I would take on walks when I just wanted to be free from my big SLR kit for a little while. The Lumix GF-1 and Olympus EP-1 feel like the love child of these two great cameras, brought into the 21st century. MFT brings all the promise of DSLR flexibility in a rangefinder-sized package. If EVFs can be made with sufficient resolution (peer through a Lumix GH1's finder for a glimpse of the future), why would anyone bother with the cost, complexity, and need for precision construction of a mirror reflex mechanism? EVF is potentially an even better way, since you can overlay information any information you like, such as histograms, etc. And, manual focusing in low light becomes easier because the EVF can boost the gain so you can see better. Same goes for the rangefinder, although to an even greater extent, since they are even more fragile than the mirror reflex. How many times has your RF gone out of alignment in the field? It's happened to me twice, once on assignment in Africa. I've learned to treat RF cameras with care. You are right that the MFT cameras are not yet the equal of the M9 in terms of absolute quality. Even the M8 still has an edge. But don't underestimate what is possible with this new format. I believe that we are seeing the beginning of the end of the mirror reflex camera. Michael Reichmann makes the case that we are seeing the waning days of the optical rangefinder too, and he may be right. Anyway, for my purposes, I found the M9 + GF1 pairing to be wonderful for travel. --Jim On Feb 3, 2010, at 6:00 AM, Mark Rabiner wrote: > >> >> A GF1 is a great camrea to have if you are operating on a budget and >> don't >> have an M9. >> I can't imagine having an M9 in my actual possession and then going out >> and shooting with a Panasonic GF1 ! Becaue its my latest toy? Why buy on >> in >> the first place? >> For images as shown 600 x 900 pixels as seen here it certainly makes no >> difference. But then so would images made with a credit card camera look >> about the same at this size. >> For a serious use like an 11x 14 or 11x17 inch print it does. >> Having scored an M9 I find going out and getting a camrea like a >> Panasonic >> GF1 calling it a " smashing piece of kit" and shooting with it instead >> just >> plain odd.! When does photography became crafting a fine image and not >> conditional consumption and playing around? >> >> >> >> [Rabs] >> Mark William Rabiner >> >> >> > > My advice to people who have managed to obtain a Leica M9. > Learn to use it! Then do so! > It doesn't do anybody any good sitting on you hotel bed while your out > shooting with the latest micromoter plastic here today gone tomorrow trendy > amateur gadget. > Getting an M9 would make for a good time to offload a few cameras. Not buy > more. > > [Rabs] > Mark William Rabiner > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information