Three years ago today*, Panasonic introduced the GF1.
*Yes, pedants, most press releases were on Sept 2nd, but the first announcement was Sept 1st.
It wasn’t the first micro four thirds camera, but it was probably the first to capture the imagination of keen amateurs. Prior to that there had been the Panasonic G1 and GH1, fine cameras but not really micro enough. Then there was the Olympus EP-1, a cute fashion statement and a good enough machine; but the focus was a little slow and the supplied lens was nothing special.
Then along came the GF1. Small, fast, configurable; and with a couple of cracking lenses. There was a 20mm F1.7 lens, and a 14-45mm F3.5-F5.6 lens. The 20mm lens is still sought after as a must-have for the system, and although there have been six subsequent kit zoom lenses by Panasonic and Olympus (all 14-42mm), the 14-45mm remains the preferred lens in terms of quality of construction and optics. A fantastic combination of camera and lenses and sales went through the roof, such that it was very hard to find them until later in the year.
I found mine in Singapore on the 15th December 2009. I believe I had sold the trip to she who must be obeyed on the basis of “seeing the lights”; but once there I dumped her in a shoe shop and scoured the island for a GF1 kit with both lenses. Found it in the afternoon and spent a couple of frustrating hours dodging the pouring rain trying to get shots, before repairing to the Long Bar at Raffles for free peanuts, expensive drinks and a chance to take a photo.
Nothing special, but could I have whipped out my Canon 1D in such a place and pointed it at the patrons? Not without being firmly ejected in a shower of peanut shells.
At the time I had the 1D and a collection of weighty lenses, about twelve kilos in all. We were taking regular trips within and outside Thailand, and we were both getting a little tired of my hauling around a backpack full of gear everywhere we went. The purpose of the GF1 was to be a secondary camera, to take along when photography was not the prime objective. But it didn’t take long before the GF1 and the two tiny lenses were all I was taking everywhere. The GF1 was easier, more fun, gave me shots I would never had captured with the 1D, and that 20mm lens blew a hole in my rather average 24-105mm Canon L lens.
Within a year I had sold all my Canon gear. At least I was going to until I was persuaded it would be made worth my while to retain the body and the 300mm lens. But everything else was sold, which provided cash for the extension of my M43 lens collection.
Since disposing of my DSLR gear there has never once been a moment that I have wished to have it back, and days beyond counting when I give thanks that I am no longer saddled with the unnecessary weight and bulk of such equipment.
Eventually, the GF1 gave way to a GX1, and the original lenses were less used as new prime lenses came along. But I didn’t sell the GF1, partly because my wife wouldn’t let me (“it’s a classic” - annoyingly, she’s right), and partly because it looks like it has been dragged through a hedge backwards, and it’s a hedge made of steel wool, and it’s happened more than once. And I didn’t sell the lenses because; well because they are really good lenses. The 20mm still gets used by she who must be obeyed, usually with the GF1. The 14-45mm is used sometimes, for example for shooting the wife’s little sister:
Fabulous IQ, it’s just the F stop that makes it a bit restrictive.
So my purchase of nearly three years ago remains available, should it ever be called upon to give service. It’s a little battered, not helped much by a stick-on black covering which hides the worst of the abuse but adds its own particular brand of crap.
I decided to call upon its services last night, and give it an outing to mark the anniversary of the unveiling of this remarkable little camera. I took the GF1 without the added viewfinder, because that is all I had when I bought it, with the 20mm on the front. I went to Walking Street at night, shooting Dynamic Black and White JPEG files at ISOs up to 1600. I also shot RAW, so I could use colour if I felt the need. In slightly over half an hour, I came back with these:
The first three are of a young girl, performing with a hula hoop to extract cash from tourists while her minders looked on. She seemed to be enjoying herself, but this was not the environment for a young girl at a time when she should have been tucked up at home in bed.
Happy to see you
Welcome to the ice cream show; imagine where those cones are going…
Still has pride in her eyes
Topless model
Holiday snaps in Pattaya
Any colour you like, as long as it’s…any colour you like.
Spanky has some explaining to do.
Negotiations in progress
Old friends
The IQ and noise may not be up to the GX1, but it’s not at all bad for a four year old sensor design. And I missed the touch screen of the GX1 for choosing focus points and changing options. Apart from that, stepping back in time was a painless and fun experience.
Spike, you are going on a trip and you can either take any modern DSLR of your choice and two lenses of your choice; or that battered old GF1 kit you bought nearly three years ago; what’s it going to be?
GF1 of course, it really is (still) that good.
Comments 🔗
2012-09-01| Robin Parmar saysI am glad you love your GF1. And of course you can take good photos with any camera, because you have the eye and skills of a photographer.
But let me dispute your dismissal of the Olympus EP-1 as “a cute fashion statement and a good enough machine”. This camera is more than good enough and takes pictures every bit as wonderful as the Panasonic counterparts. Furthermore, it has a form factor and joi de vivre that the mini SLR Panasonic bodies can never have (my opinion of course). This is not just whimsy; if you are interested in shooting without calling attention to yourself, as you mention, the Olympus kit works even better than a camera that can easily be mistaken for an SLR. Not to mention IBIS, which I will mention, every time, since I would not buy a camera without.
There we go: brand war over with. :-) Now we can go back to shooting what makes us happy.
2012-09-01| Spike saysI stand corrected. She who must be obeyed loved hers, although the low light focusing, or lack of, frustrated at times. IBIS of course, is a big advantage.
2012-09-01| Spanky saysI am going to chime in now.
- Spike, please be on notice that I have already submitted the required legal papers to the Thai courts (insert laugh) concerning the improper use of my trademarked name. I’m still waiting to hear back on my court date. My lawyer has suggested I keep paying him his retainer fee until the case is resolved. It’s been 3 years since I filed my complaint and my lawyer is about 200,000 baht richer but nothing is resolved. Yet, I remain hopeful that I will be awarded millions of baht in damages.
In all seriousness, I went to the one in Nana in Bangkok and I got a bin for 150 baht for 1 San Miguel (NOT WEASEL PISS GRANT!), drank and walked out and never went back. I hate gogos to begin with and went out of curiosity since it is my namesake but after that I found cheaper sources for my drinking pleasure.
Robin, I started with the E-P1 as my first m4/3 system. I sold it and picked up a E-P2. Used it for a couple years on and off and then acquired a G3 which I now own two of. During this time I also picked up a E-PL2 and used both until I realized that for low light the Olympus cameras could not hold up against the Panasonic. I just sold both my Olympus cameras and purchased a GX1. The newer sensor that Panasonic put into the G3 and the GX1 make it a superior camera in high ISO situations. While Spike used his GF1 to do this shoot and the sensors in the E-Px line are the same, I can tell you that the Olympus would struggle to focus at ISO 800 and at ISO 1200 noise became a real issue. I used my Olympus for a night shoot in similar lighting as Walking St it was the nail in the coffin for the Olympus cameras that prompted me to buy the GX1 for a point-and-shoot type body. I seriously looked at the E-P3 but Olympus never invested in a newer sensor which was available at the time when they released the E-P3, instead they just jammed a flash into the body and tweaked the software to try and mask the fact they were using the same processor as the E-P2.
Spike, I know why you kept your Canon and the 300mm but I must say, that while I have drank the M4/3 Kool-Aide I look at some of the images that my 5DMK2 is spitting out and it’s scary how rich those images are. I have been reaching for it more and more when I really want some detail or if someone wants something printed. I love my m4/3 for portability and shooting ease but I do drool over the Canon images.
2012-09-01| genuinej saysMy, my. Is that Spanky verbose or what? Is he a Yank(er) by any chance?
2012-09-01| Grant saysYes he is, and when he’s not shouting he’s a very nice chap. Can’t help being born on the wrong side of the pond, somebody had to be. He’s offered to stand me a San Miguel so I can make up my own mind, but weaning me off Young’s Double Chocolate Stout would be a hard row to hoe…
2012-09-01| Spanky saysThank you Grant. Sorry to shout but must defend the nectar of the gods.
2012-09-02| Grant saysYou’re very welcome old chap, you can stand me a couple!
2012-09-02| Grant saysRobin’s first paragraph is entirely right, I’m unqualified to comment on the rest and am awaiting your sage opinions on O v. P with great interest and an open credit card. Once again, a brilliant set of shots, each one a treasure. There is certainly a book in you, I can just tell! Congratulations, very well done indeed.
2012-09-02| Spanky saysDeal. Maybe Uncle Spike will join us. :)
2012-09-02| Spike saysI would be honoured; especially if you are paying.
2012-09-02| Spike saysThanks. If I was buying an M43 camera today, it would be the Olympus OMD EM-5. But, ask me again in a couple of weeks after the Panasonic GH3 has been announced; and then there will be the pro version of the OMD early next year, and then…
2012-09-02| Grant saysOh bugger!
2012-09-02| Grant saysGood, he will be, he’s a Yank(er), they’re all rich as Croesus! Early December I’d say, studying everyone’s flight plans…
2012-09-02| Robin Parmar saysHi Spanky! We all have different priorities and low-light AF is not one of mine… since I prefer to focus by hand. More fun! I currently use the E-PL2 since I generally don’t spend more than a couple hundred on a camera. If I did, I’d buy the E-M5 in a heartbeat.
IBIS, did I mention IBIS?
2012-09-02| Spanky saysRobin - I thought long and hard about the IBIS but I realized that my Canon doesn’t have it and only one of my lenses has it and I manage to hold it steady. We can both agree, that the E-M5 is a lovely camera. If the price came down to around $700 US the Panasonic G3’s would be gone faster than you blink.
2012-09-02| TheSon saysThose Hula shots are fantastic
2012-09-03| Spike saysThanks. Just need to Photoshop out the piece of paper in the colour shot and it could certainly be marked as one to treasure.
2012-09-03| Grant saysAnd I’m sure he means it, because he’s right, pink bunny costume photos not withstanding! Those who know Thailand well will experience a range of emotions from seeing those shots, oh very cute, but so,so dark… Why Photoshop? What is the LoS without crap on the streets? Oh, Singapore, yes, of course…