Finally, someone has produced a new digital camera system with interchangeable lenses but without a reflex mirror. It’s about time! I couldn’t be happier. I believe that this type of camera is the future of digital photography.
I won’t miss phase detection autofocus. As I’ve written before, phase detection autofocus is highly overrated. When you read the messages on DSLR forums, the most common complaint that people have about their DSLRs has to do with focusing problems. Phase detection autofocus requires everything to be calibrated perfectly otherwise the camera misfocuses. The manufacturers seem to have finally wised up—for example, the new Canon 5D Mk II camera features AF micro adjustment for up to 20 lenses. But it would still be a pain adjusting each lens, and there’s no guarantee that would fix all focus problems.
There’s one big reason why I will not be buying a Panasonic G1 right away. The lens is really slow. A major reason for schlepping around a bigger camera is to obtain better low light capability. Let’s suppose that the Panasonic G1 will do ISO 1600 as well as a small sensor camera like the Panasonic FX3 will do ISO 400. This means the G1 is a much better low light camera, right? Well, with a slow f/3.5 to f/5.6 lens, it’s not really a better low light camera. The FX3 has an f/2.0 to f/2.8 lens, so it’s about one and a half stops faster. You’re only getting about a 1/2 EV advantage with the G1.
The G1 will be a much more interesting camera when that f/1.7 20mm “pancake” lens is available. If that lens is affordable, and provides good quality, that might tempt me to buy a G1 just for that lens. Finally an affordable, small, camera with superior low light abilities! (But without zoom.)
The upcoming 7mm-14mm lens also looks interesting because normally extreme wide angle lenses are very expensive. Can Panasonic provide high quality wide angle at a low price and in a smaller size than a DSLR?
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