anyone have a Lumix or 4/3 camera ?

[mrbigstuff]

I'm curious to know if you have purchased one of the lens adapters to use older lenses with the camera and details of using it.

Also, what are your impressions vs. a typical DSLR?

[DRR]

I used a friend's, as he had a Panasonic GH2 and I have a bunch of Canon lenses he wanted to try out and play with.

He bought one of those adapters on ebay.

It worked, but only mechanically. Which means no Autofocus and no aperture control.

In order to change aperture, the lens needed to be hooked up to my DSLR, have the aperture set, then removed, and then mounted on the adapter and mounted on the GH2.

Manual focus is manual focus. Fine for some types of shooting, virtually unusable for others.

It's a nice toy and a fun option, especially if you will be shooting video. However I wouldn't integrate an adapter like that for full time shooting.

[Grateful11]

Nephew has a Lumix G2 and he won't live home without it. He said there's a big announcement coming
this Thurs. on a new 4/3rds camera or something.

[freeradical]

So, these 4/3rds cameras don't have much in the way of lenses?

[rjmacs]

One of the best things about the Lumix is the attached glass.

It's a nice camera, but you're not going to get DSLR versatility from a Lumix + lenses.

[mrbigstuff]

rjmacs wrote:
One of the best things about the Lumix is the attached glass.

It's a nice camera, but you're not going to get DSLR versatility from a Lumix + lenses.

How do you mean "versatility?"

[thermarest]

mrbigstuff wrote:
what are your impressions vs. a typical DSLR?

I love it. I have a G1 and have a G3 on pre-order. I've shot pretty extensively with Canon 10d, 20d, 40d, and 7d with both the very good EF-S lenses and L lenses. The size & bulk of the m4/3 gear is well worth the trade off. I've made nice 20x30" prints from the 12mp of the G1.

The difference in putting these in your coat pocket vs. even a Rebel with the kit lens is very noticeable, as is the feeling on your neck after walking around for a few hours. The 14-45 lens is simply tiny, as is the 20mm f/1.7. The f/5.6 400mm equivalent zoom is probably 1/8th or 1/10th the weight of my Canon 400 f/5.6.

I haven't used older lenses, but for me the main benefit is small and light so using an old Canon FD f/1.0 lens or something would miss the point. But, if you have some sweet old glass and just want to use it from time to time its nice to have the option.

There are plenty of lenses available, IMHO, and growing almost monthly. Olympus will debut a 12mm f/2 prime very soon. The Panny 7-14 f/4 is amost unique in its niche. I just ordered the Olympus 9-18, an ultra-wide zoom that weighs in at a whopping 5 ounces.

Since I'm using the very first m4/3 body, now going on 3 years old IIRC, I do feel the slower AF sometimes. The G3 should be much faster, and the above-mentioned Olympus announcement will include new bodies with a quantum leap forward in contrast-detection AF speed.

[jdc]

G1 & G3 are still look pretty big to me.

Id be more interested in the something like the size of the GF3 or Sony NEX

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/panasonicdmcgf3/

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/sonynexc3/

[RAMd®d]

I miss even the most basic optical viewfinder.

I really have not gotten used to the "holding the camera out in front while staring at an LCD" posture.

Maybe I'll put some gun sights across the top of such a camera and shoot (npi) a wider lens than otherwise...

[mrbigstuff]

some 4/3 cams do have a viewfinder but it's of the EVF variety (they have no mirrors). I 'm not sure I can get used to that either, but it's better than just the big screen and allows you to keep shooting straight through without annoyingly looking at every single photo saved (now that annoys me!)