I recently bought a GX1 from a charity shop for £50 ( I could hear it calling to me - 'Take me - I'm yours !' ). It came with a 14-42mm Power Zoom and the LVF2 viewfinder, both boxed and with some spare batteries, and all as new. I was amazed with the output from this - considering how old it is, provided you do not try to push things like you can with the GX9.
Have gm1 gm5 so small . I love them . Gx 8 is my favourite street camera . Vulcans used to fly over our house in York when I was a kid . Scared the bejesus out of me . M4/3 and planes you are a man after my own heart .
I often think the move from 16MP to 20MP was a backwards step driven by the uninformed calling for more pixels.There was already enough pixels. The pixels got smaller. Although I do now have a G9, it is mainly for 'wildlife' and my favourite carry camera is probably my E-PL7 - because it is so small and light. The haptics of the E-M5ii are better than the G7 but they both shoot photos with very much the same bells and whistles. The G7 is better at panoramic shots and the E-M5ii cannot shoot video for toffee for more than a few minutes. The G9 is my first 20MP MFT but I cannot say its photos are any better than any of the 16MP ones, you cannot see the extra pixels, and the GH4 is probably better in low light (nighttime photography), it will actually focus then; the G9 seems to have too many focus points and struggles to find contrast in dusk - a case of newer is not always better.
@@jeffslade1892 you may very well be correct. I still use my EM1/1 16Mp camera a lot as there is absolutely nothing wrong with the image quality in my opinion.
I bought a 2nd hand one of these several years ago and teamed it up with a de-kitted 12-32. Never failed to be impressed with the images it took! The lack of WiFi and poor quality LCD eventually led me to look at upgrading my "handbag" camera. So I onsold it and bought a 2nd hand GX850 to replace it. Perfect for my needs and I have my larger cameras for more serious stuff.
Very interesting. I still have a GF3 that I use occasionally. It's only 12 megapixels, but works just fine in decent light. My current favourite bodies are GX80s, which are a fantastic size/quality combination.
Thanks for this video. Some years back, on Ebay, I spotted a GX1 with a collapsing zoom lens, an evf and a high quality fitted leather case that looked like i was made for a tiny Leica. After a brief giggle, the case went in a drawer and I put the GX1 to work. A couple of years later I got the full-frame bug and bought a Nikon 750 expecting to use my old stable of Nikkor lenses, pus a couple of current lenses. I loved the high resolution but found the weight of that kit was too much to handle comfortably.. So I evolved back down to the GX1. I really appreciated the size and weight of that camera and was happy with the quality of the results. The off-putting part of using that kit was that my meaty fingers regularly hit buttons and changing critical settings. I dearly wished they had designed a settings lock for that rig. Until I realized that it had one. Pressing that little IA button, a feature of most Lumix cameras, essentially locks everything in place. It becomes a point and shoot automatic, but the results are very good. You can cancel the feature instantly if you need to, but meanwhile, I can get the well-exposed images without unexpected mishaps. It solved the problem for me, anyway.
Buying on eBay can be cheaper. I got my Leica 100-400 for a lot less than currently listed on MPB. But you do have to be careful and double check the item and the seller. I had to free off the rough zoom ring that seems a characteristic of this lens, I can do stuff like that but it is a skilled job. There was a length of very thin torn rubber seal peeled up and had to be removed with a thin celluloid 'hook'. I've been caught out with duff items on eBay a couple of times, fortunately not expensive. The rubber door grip on my G9 was missing, it would cost £65 quid to fix (new door) but it's not uncomfortable and doesn't bother me.
I still occasionally use my GF1. I just bought a used GX1 for $50. I have no doubts it will be perfectly capable of delivering sharp, vibrant, high resolution images in 2021 - using something like the 20mm 1.7 for example.
I've always thought the GX1 was great, one of the first 16mpx m43 cameras. At that time I went for the E-PL5 instead, because of the IBIS and the tilt screen. There was something you missed in your video, the GX1 is a good looking camera!
@@diegomoreno7152 Years ago I went for the E-PL5 because it has IBIS and a flip up and down screen. But you can't go wrong with either camera, especially today when the prices are low.
I am looking for a GX-1 and perhaps the Lumix 20mm f1,8. already have the Gx-8 with some lenses. II love the MFT for RU-vid and stills. Coming from my previous studio and a career as a pro. wedding and portrait photographer, all I need now days is a couple of MFT cameras and a few lenses. Thank you for your videos..!
I thoroughly recommend this camera. It started my love affair with MFT which led to 5 bodies and 8 lenses (I buy-to-try as shooting experience is one of the most important criteria for me.) It scores highly on this basis among the many cameras that I have owned and the focusing is fast enough and resolution good enough. I use an Olympus EVF which is sluggish but just ok. The kit lens is just fine. My GX-85 is an improvement on it but not of course from a VFM standpoint. I came to prefer Olympus color which led to an EM-5, EM-5 mkII and an EM-1. Larger MFT bodies don;t make sense to me because they're no more fun to shoot with and they defeat the benefit of the wonderfully compact range of MFT lenses. If you're new to MFT, you'll come to love the little primes. I still do.
I did the same and got mine second hand mainly for the power zoom kit lens. This camera was a bonus. I've have/had several MFT cameras but I find the handling on this camera is the most solid and confident in hand. Have a a GM1 but find that too small at times. Used the GX1 last week. Great street shooter. Video is only ok.
Sounds about right, that is how I ended up with both a GX1 and a GF2, buying the lenses, a 14-42PZ and a 14mm f:2.5 respectively, and getting the bodies in the deal... Both of them are great cameras, but if pushed on the old compact Lumix models, I think I would go for the grandfather of them all, the GF1. I am somewhat regretting buying a Pentax K7, instead of the GF1 back when both were fresh releases.
@@JensMHA I think you're right, the GF1 was a bit special. The GX1 definitely makes better files, but I remember being a bit disappointed that they'd removed some of the physical controls. I held off getting another body until the GX7 came out, which I think is a bigger step up over the GX1 than it was over the GF1 (and it's still my go-to compact body).
I bought the Olympus E-PL1 when it was launched and discovered that its color science wasn't my cup of tea. So, I bought a GF1 and later on the GX1. Both served well as EDC until the Leica Q.
I still use an Olympus E-M5.1, usually with an adapted manual focus lens. The latest being a 50 year old Mamiya 50mm f2 lens which I've found to be remarkably good.
Hi Brian, firstly I love your enthusiasm for M43 equipment and I watched all of your series on learn to take great photos with Bev. However, this video has highlighted the problems I have encountered, you mention buying this great camera on MPB but skip over the most suitable lens so quickly and given that "newbies" do not fully appreciate/understand the differences between the lenses it can be hard to follow your advice. Can I suggest you put a couple of links to any equipment in the "show more" section so people can follow your excellent advice? I for one have had my interest in M43 peaked based upon your advice but don't know where it is best to spend my money to get what I need with value for money. Keep up the good work 👍👍👍
That’s a good point David. It’s a difficult question to answer in just a few words as I don’t believe that there is a single most suitable lens. Much depends upon what a person is wanting to achieve from their photography, and their budget of course. My simple answer, at least on M43 is either the Lumix or the Olympus kit lens, the 14-42 or even better the 12-60 mm. that focal range will give a superbly useful field of view from wide angle to medium zoom and will take 90% of photos that most people want. The aperture range is also very usable for 99% of shots and even better they won’t break the bank. It’s actually a really good subject to do a video on in its own right. So look out for it as I shall do one. Best wishes.
I still use my Lumix G5 which dates from the same period as the GX1 and which I've had from new. I was however disappointed with the 12Mp E-PL1 and the plastic feeling G6. The only downside with the G5 is that the LCD and EVF lack enough pixels to see if the photo is properly in focus; they are but you won't see that until you get it on the computer. The successor G7 can knock spots off the E-M5ii for video vlogging; very cheap used.. The GX1 takes an accessory EVF, so does the E-PL7 (and is the last of the PL that do) and it is a very worthwhile accessory. There was some inter-compatibility back then, I don't know if the hi-res Olympus VF4 fits a GX1 (do check)
I still have my Olympus EP1 and the pictures looks great, but the GX1 has a better autofocus. I would sometimes use mine, if the stabilisation didn't break last year.
My Canon 5diii still makes awesome photo’s. That is to say, if I know how to operate it. That gx1 looks great. Still, I want a camera with a viewfinder. That is a dealbreaker for me.
In reality thats the case for me too.As i said in the video, i bought it just to get its lens and it sat unused as a body for a few years. But ive rediscovered it recently as i take with a 17mm lens fited and pop it in my pocket whle walking the dog. Isuddenly realised that the output was far better quality than i realised. but, yes, i do like an eyepiece. 5Diii, excellent camera by the way.
I'm looking to buy this but would you recommend this for a student on a budget? I normally use my iphone 12 for photos but since travelling a lot and taken an interest into photography would this work well for landscapes too? I notice my phone is rubbish when zoomed in and I love taking photos of birds. Not sure if with it being 2022 this camera still holds up as per your video. Should i push my budget or would different lenses help? Thanks!
Honest answer is no, I wouldn’t, or at least not as a main camera. It’s useful as a second camera to keep in your pocket but not the easiest to get your head around the controls also it does not have an eye electronic view finder. My advice would be to spend just a little more money (and it is just a little more) and but one of the following which are all excellent: lumix; GX7, GX8, G7, G80, G85…Olympus; EM-10 mk2, mk3 EM-5 mk1, mk2, EM-1 mk1. Any of those are excellent. My preference is the EM-1 mk1 as it’s a superb camera and super cheap on the used market, I have a full review video on used EM1 on my channel, the EM-10mk2 again super camera for price (check out my earlier camera tuition videos with my sister who bought one and I talk her through it) or the excellent G7 which I do not own but do love. Best wishes
These cameras are definitely still relevant today. As you describe, they have all the features you need to provide a sound basis for photography. Video output may be relatively poor, but you can't expect everything at a particular price point. I once tried using the GX1 with EVF and Pana-Leica 100-400 at Brands Hatch. It was really hard work compared to using the E-M1! But, it did produce some decent images. I now use the GX1 as an everyday carry-around, often with the Pana-Leica 15mm and what I particularly like is the use of the lens aperture ring (which you don't get with the lens mounted on an Olympus....).
The problem of taking shots with this (or any other ) camera on a RU-vid video is RU-vid itself. I could take a photo on anything and just say it was taken on this and you’d never know. All RU-vid videos are compressed but even if not, I upload in 1920x1080 format so that is an immediate quality reduction. So all you would really be seeing is if I can take a reasonable photo or not. There were a few photos taken with the camera at the 9 minute point so maybe you’d stopped watching by that point. Aesthetically though it may be more pleasing for the video interest I grant you that. Thanks for the comment though, I do listen (read) all of them and act on suggestions, I am still a newbie to the world of video content creation.
@@ThatMicro43Guy Well, what I do when watching, if I expect to see photos, which I did here, is kind of skip through looking for a point in the video where the photos occur. So, if the photo section of the video is too brief I may never see it at all. If I see them, then I I may return to watch the whole video. I guess it is like watching a news clip of an accident or something, where you look for the footage of the accident and watch that part and then you may watch the whole thing to learn more. Odd isn't it? But on refection I don't think I am alone. So, I think you should include more images, or a longer time of the images, as I think it will improve your ratings probably and people may watch more, longer, or more thoroughly. I say this because I think people skip through to a point of interest. Some now include timelines and even labels and visible breaks or demarcations shown at the bottom of the video on the timeline. Also, you can leave a link for the actual images to download or whatever. I have seen some leave examples on Instgram? I think. Wherever it is there are different resolutions to look at. I just click the link when I am interested in looking. I have had occasion to read the last page of a book well before finishing, it probably is like that for videos too; I know DP review as annoyed people skipped right to the conclusions of a review and skipped over all the work they did to get there. In my experience in report writing in industry we always had an Executive Summary as page 1; it took a long analysis down to a few paragraphs. It was annoying to me given all the effort in the dozens of pages and graphs and all the statistical work that went into it; but human nature is what it is. I think it is worth some experimentation to see how to keep people watching and not overly cherry picking parts of the video and then disappearing. Assuming you want them to watch longer. Best wishes, thanks for the video!
To be honest, no. It will do them and it can be used as a broll camera for 1020p 30fps or 60fps interlaced. which is ok. but as there is no flip out screen seflies are difficult and the autofocus is an a much older league. Having said that its still better than dedicated video consumer video cameras of the era. And ofcourse you still have the full range of MFT lenses.