Anyway, last weekend i was on a trip down to Phuket.  I took my handy Panasonic GH2 along for the weekend to get some shots at the Boat Show and out at the Similan Islands on our dive trip.  I could have brought the Canon 5D mark 2, the 1Ds Mark 3 or the 7D.  But for a simple weekend, the GH2 is about all i need in resolution.  Stupid me, i forgot the battery and charger.  Left them behind plugged in for a last minute charge before leaving.  I attempted to buy a new battery and charger but could not find a match for the GH2  in Phuket.  Then i came along the Fuji which i had looked at before and decided to take the plunge and give it a go for myself.

A lot of people love the old style retro design of this camera.  I am not all that enthusiastic about it.  Designs i feel have moved on for a reason.  They are better.  A DSLR with a nice grip is a lot more comfortable to carry around although heavier.  Indeed my micro 43rds Panasonic GH2 has a far better grip and a big reason why i reach for it over other micro 43rds cameras.  Ergonomics are important and the Panasonic just feels better in the hand than the Fuji.  Not too big or too small for my hand, with a decent deep grip for a camera this size.  The Fuji looks quite square and boxy, almost like a chunk of lead or block of steel, compared to a sleek, rounded off design of more modern design cameras.  But some just love the retro look of it.  Personal preference i guess.

The grip on this camera is not terrible, just not as good as it could be.  Fuji actually makes an additional grip for it which you can buy and put on the camera.  Not sure if this was an afterthought or intended from the start for a little extra income.  But, the fact that you can buy a better grip suggests that the one on the camera was not as good as it could be in the first place.  Was this a design flaw that was later corrected?  I don’t know.  I don’t have the grip but have seen another review which states it is great and good to have.  But it does add size and weight to the camera.  Hey Fuji, why didn’t you build it into the camera in the first place.  If you’re going to build a camera, do it right and build a nice grip into the camera.

There are 3 lenses that come with this camera all sold separately.  All Primes.  The 18mm, 35mm, and the 60mm.  A good range but no zooms.  Those may come later.  Smaller and lighter than my Canon glass for sure and easy to carry around.  I initially purchased the 35mm and 60mm.  I used the 35 the most this past weekend and just picked up the 18 yesterday.  Its the smallest lens but its still in the box so i have not had a chance to use it yet.

The entire system is a lot smaller and lighter to carry around. But is it?  Yes a Canon 5D mark 2 is larger and heavier in body size.  Yes the Canon lens is larger and heavier. But i can get good glass like a 24- 70mm zoom for the canon which covers a decent range.  The Fuji  18mm which is equal to a 27mm film, and the 35mm which is equal to 52mm film cover a fraction of this without any capabilities in between as there is no zoom.  Move up to the 60mm which is equal to a 90mm film lens, and you get a little more but again nothing in between.  The Fuji glass is going to be generally faster than the Canon lenses.

But the focusing system on this Fuji X-Pro1 lags way behind in speed and accuracy over the Canon.  The 5D mark 2 which is similar in price, is just overall a better camera in speed and accuracy for focusing.  Your going to miss a lot more shots with the Fuji with its slow and more inaccurate focusing system.  The Fuji uses a contrast focusing system, much like my Panasonic GH2.  But even the GH2 does a better job with its focusing system.  Its faster and more accurate. The files on the Fuji are going to be better than the GH2.   But how good is a photo, when you miss the shot or its out of focus due to its poorer focusing system.  With a systems as pricey as this, you would expect much better and faster focusing system.

I have downloaded a few files from the weekend.  Just the jpegs as Lightroom does not support the Raw files of Fuji yet.  I expect that to come out in the weeks ahead.  But everything i have read regarding the files is true.  The pictures look clean and sharp.  I have not done any side by side comparisons of the Fuji files over the 5D or the GH2.  But i would guess, almost guarantee,  they will be nicer than the GH2 and maybe almost or as good as the 5D mark 2 as many have already stated.  Lets see.

I’ll be doing some more comparisons in the weeks ahead and a more detailed review.  But for now, i will just say that this is a nice little (or not so little, depending on your view of little) system for some of the time and for some types of photography.  Its not a camera for sport photography.  Don’t bring it on to the football or hockey game, race track or out on safari.  You could, but a faster DSLR or a faster Micro 43rds might be better for that.  I might bring it along Safari for landscapes or shots of people as a second camera.   Its great for architect photography and maybe some street photography.  But your going to miss a few street shots.  It might also be a decent weekend or holiday system, if you need or desire top resolution pictures.  If not a GH2 or Olympus EP3 will do just fine for most weekend or party situations and even most holidays. I find for a weekend away of snaps of the wife and me, the GH2 is just fine so long as you remember to bring the battery and charger.  If i am looking to capture the beauty of a new place, then i want something better.  The Fuji will fit the bill some of the time, but not all of the time.  It all depends what type of photography you do.

One other feature that is a bit slow, is the start up from sleep mode.  Maybe i am missing something in the settings here.  I admit that i have not messed around enough to know, but it does seem to lag a bit.  I have the Fuji X100 which is painfully slow.  The X-Pro1 is faster, but it still lags a bit.  I guess i just expect more for this price of a system.  I like the camera but have not fallen in love with it yet.  I did with my GH2 and all its lenses, for what it does, but only wish for better resolution.  If they could get a micro 43rds to the quality of a 5D mark 2, i doubt i would reach for anything else.

Check back in the coming weeks for more info on the Fuji X Pro 1 and a more in depth review.  I will also try and do some comparison to the 5D mark 2, the GH2 and maybe even my Pentax 645D just for fun.

Its a micro 43rds camera with interchangeable lenses.

I became interested in the GF2 after reading about its predecessor the GF1 which received rave reviews as a new micro 43rd’s camera.

Hobbyist and pros alike, liked the GF1 for its portability, great resolution and its manual functions and controls.  That too appealed to me.  But the GF2 disappointed many as it dropped a lot of those manual controls and placed them within the menu system of the camera.  This meant diving into the menu to change settings instead of being able to twist a few knobs on the top of the camera.  This was my first attempt at a micro 43rds camera, but not my last.

As i write this review, it is important to note that Panasonic’s GF model has already moved onto the new updated GF3.

Its smaller and lighter than the GF2 but I have not determined if it is any better.
I have not used the GF3 nor do i think i will.  So lets take a closer look at the GF2.

Camera Specifications

12.1 million pixels (Live Mos Censor) which is effectively the same as its predecessor the GF1.
What this means is that your not going to get any better resolution on your photos out of the GF2 than that of the GF1.
The GF2 is smaller and lighter which means less to lug around.  But only slightly.

The camera is capable of shooting in several aspect ratios including the standard 4:3, the 3:2, 16:9 and 1:1.
This is certainly attractive for those who wish to shoot panoramas or portrait.
Although it is important to remember, that it is simply cropping the sensor when doing so.
It has the capability to shoot in Raw or Jpeg and can take full HD video with stereo sound, an improvement over the GF1′s mono sound.
Also upgraded in this camera is it sensitivity.  ISO goes from 100-6400 an improvement over the GF1′s 100- to 3200 ISO.

Built in flash.

The LCD screen on the back of the camera is identical in size and resolution to that of the GF1, however it offers a touch screen menu and focusing system.
I am starting to like the touch screen focusing system as it is quick and easy to point to use.

But there are not a lot of upgrades here aside from those mentioned.

Many have commented that it is an inferior camera to that of the GF1.

That i am not sure of that.  It really depends on the user and whether you prefer the manual controls over those of the menu system or if you prefer the smaller lighter camera with touch screen capabilities, over that of the manual control.

Micro Four Thirds Camera Sensors.

This camera sports the newer micro 43rds sensors.  After questioning the old styled DSLR,  along came the new micro 4/3rds format. The idea was to build a new system that was designed to be an entirely digital system.  The camera and lenses where both designed with this in mind.  In doing so, they could also make a system that was smaller and lighter and yet still produced incredible photo quality.  Maybe not as good as the full sized sensor DSLR’s or even of most APSC sized sensor DSLR’s, but not that far off either.

The 12.1 megapixel micro four thirds Live MOS image sensor is still quite large compared to many consumer compact cameras and the M43rds cameras themselves are not much bigger or of the same size as many of those other consumer compacts with tiny sensors.  Yet the image quality is far superior to that of all of these compact cameras.  Several companies have adopted this new format as a new standard.  Both Panasonic and Olympus leading the way.  And you can use any of the others companies lenses on either of their cameras.  The lens mount size has been standardized in Micro 4/3rd’s making it far more flexible for use with other companies lenses. Leica lenses can also fit onto these systems.  And since Leica lenses are smaller than other 35mm systems, they compliment this new format well and are a great reason for Leica users to look at this system. And adapters for other lenses such as Canon can make this one of the most flexible systems right now.  Although i don’t see much logic in buying a micro 4/3rd’s camera, only to lug around a large heavy 35mm lens.

What i Don’t Like

After using the GF2 for about a week in Shanghai, China, i have hardly reached for the camera again.
I am quickly determining what i like and don’t like about certain cameras.
For me, a camera has to be comfortable to hold, carry and use.
The GF2 is not.  It is not a terrible camera.
Its just not great and there are too many cameras out there that can fit the needs of what i am looking for.
Indeed Panasonic’s current flagship camera, the GH2, fits this criteria and my desires much more appropriately.
See my review on this camera for further details.

First of all, i have determined that i like to have a view finder of some sort.
The GF2 does not have a built in viewfinder, but an electronic viewfinder can be purchased separately and added for an extra cost and it fits nicely into the cameras hot shoe.
But why bother when you can buy a camera with one already built in.
For some, this will be appealing, but not for me.

The other thing, is that i like to have a decent grip.
As cameras get smaller, they tend to get more difficult to hold and handle.
Without a proper grip, i find it easy to slip more in my hand and possibly even drop.
The cameras exterior body is smooth and has a very small grip which does not seem to be anywhere appropriate.

However, that is me.  Others will disagree and have little need for the a viewfinder.  And the grip may be totally adequate for others.

The bottom line is that what is wrong for me, might be fine for others.

Its a nicely build camera and worth a look.  If you find that it feels good in your hands and the lack of viewfinder is not a problem, then do consider this camera.

Sharpness, Resolution and Conclusion

I have not done many side by side comparisons with this cameras resolution to that of any other.  My conclusions are based on what i see and know.

I own several high end systems including Canon’s flagship 1Ds mark 3, Canon 5D mark 2, Pentax 645D, Contacts 645 with Phase One digital back, so i do know a little about resolution.  The fact is, there is not much reason or point to compare this camera to that of any of these.  The resolution is not going to be as high.  But neither is the price or weight of this system.  The sensors on these cameras are larger and offer more mega pixels, so they are going to offer better and cleaner photos.  But for many shoots, i am not going to need anything quite so sophisticated, large or heavy to lug around.  A weekend away, day at the beach or as i write this, a night out on New Years eve, will only require a simpler smaller less sophisticated system.  The GF2 will fit this bill nicely, however, i do think i will be bringing my GH2 instead tonight.

The GF2 has decent resolution, but nothing outrageous.  And the colour is reasonable but lacking to some degree.

Regardless, the GF2 does offer some nice clean shots. Not as good as an APSC sized sensor cameras, but  not that bad either.  It is still going to be far far superior to that of any small point and shoot sporting a tiny sensor, as most do.  I consider the GF2, a nice alternative to any point and shoot, with far better resolution and options such as interchangeable lenses.

Over the last year, i have become more and more interested and convinced about the micro 43rds systems.  I don’t think i will be reaching for it when off on a photographic trip.  For those, I’ll bring one of the big boys and maybe a GF2 but more likely my GH2 to compliment.  But for many who do not demand the highest in resolution, the GF2 is going to be more than adequate and offer a very nice package for a decent price.  So at the right price, the GF2 is worth a look at.

But in all fairness to everyone out there, the GF2 is over a year old now and there have been many new introductions to the digital photographic world, which offer similar or better resolution in smaller packages.  Before buying anything, have a look around.  There are new cameras coming out every month and i would probably consider these over the GF2.

But before i continue, i would like to point out that this is not intended to be a full detailed in depth report on the camera and its image quality.  dpreview and other web sites do a much better job at this.  But if your looking for a quick unbiased general review of this camera, then here it is along with my 2 cents.

Micro Four Thirds Camera Sensors.

After questioning the old styled DSLR,  along came the 4/3rds format and now the new micro 4/3rds format. The idea was to build a new system that was designed to be an entirely digital system.  The camera and lenses where both designed with this in mind.  In doing so, they could also make a system that was smaller and lighter and yet still produced incredible photo quality.  Maybe not as good as the full sized sensor DSLR’s or even of most APSC sized sensor DSLR’s, but not that far off either.

The 16.1 megapixel micro four thirds Live MOS image sensor is still quite large compared to many consumer compact cameras and the M43rds cameras themselves are not much bigger or of the same size as many of those other consumer compacts with tiny sensors.  Yet the image quality is far superior to that of all of these compact cameras.  Several companies have adopted this new format as a new standard.  Both Panasonic and Olympus leading the way.  And you can use any of the others companies lenses on either of their cameras.  The lens mount size has been standardized in Micro 4/3rd’s making it far more flexible for use with other companies lenses. Leica lenses can also fit onto these systems.  And since Leica lenses are smaller than other 35mm systems, they compliment this new format well and are a great reason for Leica users to look at this system. And adapters for other lenses such as Canon can make this one of the most flexible systems right now.  Although i don’t see much logic in buying a micro 4/3rd’s camera, only to lug around a large heavy 35mm lens.

Lenses

Which brings me to the lens selection. Both Olympus and Panasonic offer numerous lenses, from primes, to wide angles, to telephoto zooms. Some of these lenses are very fast as well, with F1.7 on Panasonic’s 20mm prime pancake lens. There is a crop factor of 2 to 1 to take into consideration. For example, the 20mm Panasonic lens would be equal to double (40mm) of a similar full sized sensor DSLR.  Leica actually partners up to make some of the lenses for Panasonics Micro 4/3rds systems.  This includes the Leica Summilex DG 25mm F1.4 lens.  Its a prime lens (fixed at 25mm)  and incredibly fast and sharp.  All of these lenses are considerably smaller and lighter than that of their 35mm DSLR counterparts.  So, there is a great selection of great quality lenses for these new systems which make them even more attractive.  We expect the lens selection to continue to grow, based on the success of this new system, making it a solid new platform standard.

For most people who do not demand the ultimate in image quality, the micro 4/3rds system is going to be plenty enough.  I used to always be in search of the top camera with the best image quality.  Indeed i still want that for a lot of what i do.  But for family snaps, casual shots and casual travel etc, the Micro 4/3rd’s system and GH2 in particular is all i will ever need.  Its small, light and compact.   I can fit a camera and several lenses into one small bag without the weight of a large DSLR and traditional 35mm lenses.

Ergonomics

I initially started with micro 4/3rd’s with the purchase last year of the Panasonic GF2.  The GF1 received great reviews and the GF2 just came out, so i thought it would be an improvement to the previous model.  Many would now disagree, but that is another story.  What I immediately did not like about this camera, was the feel of it.  The grip was nearly non existent and there was no viewfinder.  I thought i might get used to it, but lost interest fast.  Without a viewfinder, it only had the LCD screen on the back like many other compacts.  Terrible for shooting outside in the sun.

I then decided that this was not the camera for me.  In order for me to enjoy shooting with a camera, it has to feel comfortable in my hands.  The GF2 did not.  Many would have given up at that point, but i decided to try the different cameras on the market. Then i picked up the Panasonic GH2.  Unlike the GF2 the GH2 was larger, had a proper grip and an electronic viewfinder.  I had never used a camera with an electronic viewfinder but quickly got used to it.  I almost forget about it when using this camera. I am more focused on the subject.

My first impression of this camera is that it is small yet comfortable to hold.  Its larger than many micro 4/3rd’s cameras but still small.  This allows the camera to incorporate a proper hand grip so that it can be picked up and held very comfortably.  The controls are all well placed and the menu system is easy to navigate.  But it also seem easier to get to manual features on this camera, making more interesting to professionals and serious hobbyists.  I am still learning and getting used to some of the controls.  Something that takes time as you use it.  But overall, pretty simple to use.

It uses a contrast focusing system which is pretty fast and accurate. Nothing like the 1Ds Mark 3, but that is in a whole other category and price range. You get a whole lot of good in this little camera for its price.

Video

The GH2 supports full HD video and is supposed to be one of the better cameras on the market for Video beating out top DSLR’s like Canon 5D.  But i am not really a video person and have not tested this feature to any extent.  However, it is something to keep in mind for others in the market.  For a small package, it does a lot and does it well.  When traveling, who needs to lug the camera and the video camera?  The GH2 does it all in a package that’s half the size and weight of traditional DSLR and their lenses.

Sharpness, Resolution and Conclusion

I have not done a side by side image sampling of this camera versus my Canon 1Ds Mark3, Canons top camera, nor my Pentax 645D.  There is not much point.  I don’t expect it to be as good.  But nor is the GH2 as large or heavy to carry around.  All of these cameras have a job and a reason to use.  For much of what i like to shoot, the 1Ds Mark 3 or Pentax 645D will come with me.  But for an everyday walk around street camera or the weekend away at the beach etc., the GH2 is all i will reach for.  I hope to provide more details later on as i use the camera more.  But after a couple of months with this unit, i can say that the images are very good, and the system is an absolute pleasure to use.  What i would like to see in the future is a similar system with faster and more accurate focusing similar to that of a Canon 1Ds Mark 3 or 4.  Surely as technology advances, we will see this.  But for anyone looking for a new interchangeable lens system camera, who does not need or demand the highest in image quality, yet desires something better than the small point and shoots with tiny sensors, should definitely take a closer look at the new M 4/3rd’s formats and the Panasonic GH2.

Although i have not done any extensive shooting with it yet, or any photo comparisons, i wanted to provide a few comments on it.

Firstly Pentax designed this camera and its lenses from the ground up to be a digital camera.  This is a welcome sight as most medium format cameras are actually film cameras first and then an added a digital back such as Phase One or Leaf.  I previously owed the Contax 645 film camera and then purchased a Phase One P25 digital back for it.  I loved my Contax and the Ziess lenses that go with it so much that i found it hard to part with.  In deed i still own the camera but will most likely put it up for sale shortly along with the Phase One P25 digital back.  But when i heard about the Pentax 645, i just had to have it.  As i mentioned, it was designed from the ground up to be a digital camera.

A great feature of the is camera is that it is all weather sealed.  For a person like myself that uses it in the field, this is fantastic.  It means that i have less to worry about on my upcoming trip to Bhutan next week.  This trip will become my first true field test of the Pentax 645, which i will write a more in depth report about.

The first thing that i noticed about this camera when i picked it up, was the grip and feel of it.  It has a very deep grip which makes the camera very easy to hold and it is balanced in the hands very well.  The next thing you notice, is the ergonomics of all the buttons and controls.  Everything on this camera in the way of buttons and controls is very well placed.  Since it is a new camera on the market, there is not even an English manual for it yet.  But i found most things pretty straight forward and simple to find on it.  One button that stands out on this camera right in plain site is the RAW button.  Anyone using this camera is probably going to want to shoot RAW, so its nice to see that you don’t have to dig into the camera menu to turn on and off the RAW feature.  The camera has 2 SD card slots and right behind the RAW button is the SD1 and SD2 buttons, making it easy to switch between the cards you are using.  The RAW converts right to DNG files which makes a whole lot of sense.  No need to use the cameras software or other software to convert.  There is mirror lock up button on the right side of the camera. More on the buttons in my next review.

The Pentax 645D uses a 40 mega pixel Kodak sensor measuring 44 x 33mm which is actually smaller than real life 645 film but still larger than full sized 35mm sensors by two thirds.  What is nice about this camera though, is that the new digital lenses are made specifically for this camera and it sensor size, so there is no compromises with the lens and the camera like that we see in 35 film lenses being used on smaller APS-C sensor cameras.  Currently there is only the Pentax-D FA 645 55 F2.8 lens and the newly released wide angle Pentax-D FA 645 25mm F4 AL (IF) SDM AW lens available but we understand other new lenses will be released.  Both these lenses are weather resistant just like its camera body.  However, older Pentax 645 film lenses can be used but with the same compromise as mentioned above with that of older 35 mm lenses used on newer digital 35mm type SLR cameras.

One thing that i have always like about the 645 format is the image dimensions.  645 format is more square than the traditional 35mm systems and i do prefer that for the type of shooting i do.  That with the added size of the sensor is most likely going to give me a tremendous edge in image quality, over the full sized 35mm digital sensors.

So far the feel and ergonomics of this camera are fantastic.  You just know when you hold this camera, that it was made exceptionally well, with great thought in mind.  We are off to Bhutan on Tuesday next week to shoot as much as we can.

I’ll be taking the Pentax 645D along with my Canon 1Ds Mark III.

Update review after that.