Panasonic DMC GF1 is a great fast small form factor camera
I have been on the search for a small portable camera that I can have when I am not carrying a full size Canon EOS 1D or 5D body. I like point and shoot camera and believe the most important thing is to have a camera with you. Any camera. The problem I have had with point and shoot cameras, were the slow focus acquisition along with slow shutter speeds. Bottom line is I found a great, compact, fast camera that takes great photos.
I picked up a Lumix GF1 with the 20mm 1.7 pancake lens. This camera has been great and has been the perfect blend between my 1D and a small portable system. The camera has a very solid build and looks like it will take a beating. I added a GGS glass screen protector and a 46mm UV filter to make sure it could handle bouncing around my backpack, truck, etc.
Focus Speed: Living and traveling to remote areas often has me taking quick shots from a car. So far no point and shoot could focus and fire the shutter in time for my style of quick from the hip shooting. The GF1 is the exception. The focus and shutter lag has been great. It is not as great as the 1D system, but I did not expect it to be. The GF1 is a great addition to make sure you have a camera with you at all times.
Workflow: The GF1 integrated perfectly into my OSX Lightroom workflow. The only odd thing so far is the orientation sensor does not appear to register in Adobe Lightroom 2. I import the HD Video in iMovie 09 without problem. Will be working on test using 1D, 5D and GF1 video in the same shoot with Premier CS4.
Video: The video is nice addition to the small rangefinder form factor. It has a relatively fast autofocus, but as expected it is no comparison to the Mark IV or the 5D MII video quality. The microphone is satisfactory but not for use in any pro audio requirements. No external microphone can be added.
So far I have been very pleased with the GF1 quality and form factor. I also like the fact I can add Leica M lenses with a 35 dollar adaptor if I want to expand the system without having to purchase a overpriced Leica M9.
Canon 5D Mark II or Leica M8 or just wait for the 1D Mark IV
I try not to jump into the next camera each year and have been shooting my set of heavily worn 1D Mark II bodies for a 
few years and just sent one off to Canon repair to get a tune up. (Canon repair in New Jersey is super fast and Canon Professional Services (CPS) has been great!). I make a habit to send in my lenses and bodies in every year to get the old camera doc to give them a physical. I have started to carry only one camera body on most trips to be more minimalistic with the equipment I bring. I would like something of high quality but small in the point and shoot arena. I dream this magic “small” camera would always be in my pack, even when I don’t plan to go on a shoot. I have found I use my iPhone as a family quick shoot and mail camera for plain fun shots (I started working on developing an iPhone tether for the 1D Mark IV when it comes out with integrated 802.11 to allow quick sending of select images via email).
I do a large amount of “drive by shootings” from a vehicle and available light shots; so this requires a fast shutter that no point and shoot has. I was toying with the idea of a Leica M8 digital range finder. I was hoping the 
Leica M9 would come out this summer to make all the Leica junkies get the new shiny thing and sell their barely used M8s on eBay for a steal. After much review of the quality of the sensor and the camera, I finally think I have myself convinced that even though it is a beautiful camera it just does not have the functionality and would soon become a toy and not a workhorse. When I talked to my photojournalist friend Guy Calaf about my toying with getting a Leica, we both agreed we would love one, but for circa 6000 USD w/ a lens, it just is not worth the bang for the buck unless you are a trust fund baby. I am leaning towards picking up a 5D Mark II with a 1.4 24mm lens (if canon will ever ship the damn 24mm 1.4L II to the market). I think a 5D and 24mm L would not only be less expensive than a M8 but also be far more functional. It would also be a kick ass documentary camera with the glass quality and video option. And before you Leica fanatics get all up and arms about my questioning the M8’s functionality and its magic “glass”, please be aware my photo requirements may be different than yours….. (READ MORE)
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