Panasonic GF5 $299.99 shipped EGG

[Greg04]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830180503

$300 for the GF5. This is a ridiculously good camera for $300.

 

[shortnugly]

GREAT camera. Comes with the 14-42 non-folding lens. Kinda large for a pocketable camera.

But this is the lens you really want for small portability and stunning pictures.

(Lens model H-PS14042)

Purpose of the new micro 4/3 systems is small bodies with small lenses taking great images on a non-mirrored sensor. Small and portable is the whole point.

Still a great camera though.

 

[Zivic]

thanks OP... serious impulse buy (can't believe I pulled the trigger on it so quickly).... now do I go for the compact lens that shortnugly posted?

 

[Alamat]

That looks sexy!

 

[hellfire88]

Seems like a pretty great deal, basically 50% off retail right? If I was into photography at all I'd jump on this.

 

[rsolomon]

Great deal, and thanks OP! I tried to convince myself to buy but couldn't Not enough zoom to replace either my pocket camera or my DSLR, but I love the idea of it. Price keeps making my mouse finger twitch, but I don't think I'll use it, so I'm trying to stay strong.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I've been thinking about getting into photography to shoot pics of my son's football games. For a novice, between this and an entry level slr, which would you guys suggest?

 

[cubeless]

I've been thinking about getting into photography to shoot pics of my son's football games. For a novice, between this and an entry level slr, which would you guys suggest?

nikon d5100 kit... if you are shooting movement at a distance this just ain't the tool...

 

[thestrangebrew1]

nikon d5100 kit... if you are shooting movement at a distance this just ain't the tool...

Ah ok. Thanks.

 

[gorcorps]

Seems like a pretty great deal, basically 50% off retail right? If I was into photography at all I'd jump on this.

Not to knock the deal, just stating what I've heard. It's a great camera to start out (and in general IMO), it's just not the camera for somebody who's actually "into" photography. I guess the lack of hot shoe for external flash (and other accessories?) and the lack of physical viewfinder is a bummer for the folks more into photography. I'm not sure why such things are a sticking point for them, but this seems like more of a camera for the casual user trying to get better quality and not one for those already into photography.

 

[EliteRetard]

GREAT camera. Comes with the 14-42 non-folding lens. Kinda large for a pocketable camera.

But this is the lens you really want for small portability and stunning pictures.

(Lens model H-PS14042)

Purpose of the new micro 4/3 systems is small bodies with small lenses taking great images on a non-mirrored sensor. Small and portable is the whole point.

Still a great camera though.

I might be the only one slightly confused by your post. Are you saying it comes with this lens or saying that you should get this lens? According to newegg it does NOT come with this lens. It comes with a H-FS014042 vs H-PS14042 I know nothing of photography, just pointing out the discrepancy.

Also, are there any good "zoom" lenses for this? Something equal to the "20-30x" of compact super-zooms?

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I might be the only one slightly confused by your post. Are you saying it comes with this lens or saying that you should get this lens? According to newegg it does NOT come with this lens. It comes with a H-FS014042 vs H-PS14042 I know nothing of photography, just pointing out the discrepancy.

Also, are there any good "zoom" lenses for this? Something equal to the "20-30x" of compact super-zooms?

Good point. The NE pics show a 14-42 but it doesn't state HD nor has the grey slider/switch as in the pic above. The lense he's referring to assumingly is a seperate lense you'd have to purchase.

 

[ElFenix]

Also, are there any good "zoom" lenses for this? Something equal to the "20-30x" of compact super-zooms?

there's a few in the 10X range

http://www.adorama.com/IPC14140.html

http://www.adorama.com/IOM14150MB.html

http://www.adorama.com/IPC14150.html


you're not going to find much more Xes than 10X due to the laws of physics. much easier to cover a sensor that's about a 1/3 of an inch across (superzooms) than it is to cover a sensor 8 times that size.

 

[EliteRetard]

there's a few in the 10X range

http://www.adorama.com/IPC14140.html

http://www.adorama.com/IOM14150MB.html

http://www.adorama.com/IPC14150.html


you're not going to find much more Xes than 10X due to the laws of physics. much easier to cover a sensor that's about a 1/3 of an inch across (superzooms) than it is to cover a sensor 8 times that size.

Since it comes with a 14-40, what if you started at 40 could it go to 400? I have no idea what kind of zoom that really is...how do these X's and MM's relate in reality? If I wanted a picture of a small bug from 100ft away what kind of zoom would I need to double the size of what I see with my eyes? 10 times the size? 100 times?

 

[shortnugly]

I might be the only one slightly confused by your post. Are you saying it comes with this lens or saying that you should get this lens? According to newegg it does NOT come with this lens. It comes with a H-FS014042 vs H-PS14042 I know nothing of photography, just pointing out the discrepancy.

Also, are there any good "zoom" lenses for this? Something equal to the "20-30x" of compact super-zooms?

Just wanted to point out that the smaller, folding lens is preferrable to the larger fixed length. May be worth buying this awesome deal, selling the kit lens and buying the smaller folding lens.

People that are shuttergeeks usually have several cameras for different uses and environments.

I have a D5100 with small medium and mondo lenses. Sometimes I don't want to pack my "big" SLR so I throw a point n shoot in my pocket. Although many P&S cameras yield great shots, none approach DSLR's.

The new 4/3 micro structures are VERY good cameras and will net you much better shots than a typical P&S.

As always:
- everyone places a different priority of what is a good picture
- user knowledge of equipment will greatly determine the ability to get good shots
- everyone has different value price points on their toys

General feedback is this camera has been very well received by the photo community and will serve a novice well in full auto mode and still allow them more control as their skill level goes up.

I'm trying not to pull the trigger on this as I write.......

 

[rsolomon]

Since it comes with a 14-40, what if you started at 40 could it go to 400? I have no idea what kind of zoom that really is...how do these X's and MM's relate in reality? If I wanted a picture of a small bug from 100ft away what kind of zoom would I need to double the size of what I see with my eyes? 10 times the size? 100 times?

Most folks talk about "35mm equivalent" so this camera's 14-42mm lens is a 28-84mm equivalent. 50mm equivalent used to be considered the "standard" view lens in cameras, so 28mm is a nice "wide angle" without getting to the "fisheye" effect, but 84mm is a very low "telephoto". 200mm used to be considered a good "telephoto" but nowadays 300mm or 400mm are not uncommon (35mm equivalents) on the superzoom pocket cameras.

So if you typically take pictures from close distances, this could be a good choice - if you typically zoom way in to get a close-up, this *LENS* isn't. There are nice micro-4/3 lenses, but now you're talking about putting $500+ worth of glass on the camera and maybe not even using the one that comes with it.

I fall into the "likes big zoom" category so I'm stepping back - though if I could sell the kit lens and get a 28-300mm equivalent in the same size....

Richard

 

[EliteRetard]

The lenses shouldn't be hard to swap though right? If you just carry both in a small pack you can use the 14-42 or whatnot for all the basic stuff, but if you run into a situation where you want/need more zoom you could just slap the other lens on.

For example, my parents like to go mountain biking...something like this with the basic lens would work fine for home use and a longer lens for outdoor/nature use.

Why carry a bigger SLR with multiple lenses AND a shitty P&S when you could just carry this smaller almost SLR quality camera that does almost everything with 2 lenses?

But like I asked, how do these number correlate to real life? What kind of zoom is a "300mm equivalent"? Would that make an object 50% larger? or 500% larger? Like say you're looking at a 1 square foot target from 100 feet...how much bigger (or closer) do these zoom levels make that target look?

 

[ElFenix]

But like I asked, how do these number correlate to real life? What kind of zoom is a "300mm equivalent"? Would that make an object 50% larger? or 500% larger? Like say you're looking at a 1 square foot target from 100 feet...how much bigger (or closer) do these zoom levels make that target look?

for that you'd need a calculator that can calculate how many degrees of a circle a 1 foot target is from 100 feet away. i don't remember geometry that well.

and then you can use a chart generated by a program like this to find the 35 mm equivalent focal length necessary to capture that number of degrees of field of view
http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/photos/angles.html

actually calculating degrees looks pretty simple:
http://www.math-prof.com/Geom/Geom_Ch_32.asp

so 1 foot from 100 feet away appears to be a 800 mm equivalent lens. that's to fill the image vertically (you'll still have space on the sides).

 

[Greg04]

Not to knock the deal, just stating what I've heard. It's a great camera to start out (and in general IMO), it's just not the camera for somebody who's actually "into" photography. I guess the lack of hot shoe for external flash (and other accessories?) and the lack of physical viewfinder is a bummer for the folks more into photography. I'm not sure why such things are a sticking point for them, but this seems like more of a camera for the casual user trying to get better quality and not one for those already into photography.

Absolutely. I have a DSLR and need the hot shoe. This is for the person who wants a better pic than a P&S at a decent price. For $300, this is disposable. My flash cost that much.

 

[ivan2]

Absolutely. I have a DSLR and need the hot shoe. This is for the person who wants a better pic than a P&S at a decent price. For $300, this is disposable. My flash cost that much.

it's all about the kind of photo you are going to take and the light condition when you take it. I too have a dslr with flash unit but after I got a GF2 with prime lense it is all I use except for indoor shots where a powerful flash is absolutely necessary.

Also rather if it is right for someone is almost never determined by how much "into" photography they are, but rather by their subject and surroundings. Cartier-Bresson took most of his photo without a flash at all, I don't think he's not "into" photography or that he will miss many of his shots if he lacked a blinding flash.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

How does this compare to the Sony nex 5n? A friend of mine showed my wife this camera over the weekend and she really liked it. I may get her one of these for Valentine's day and hold off on the DSLR for a bit. She likes the compact size and will be taking a trip to DC with some students so something portable that takes great shots is a must.

 

[soulcougher73]

Im showing $399 now Am i missing something? Promo code or is it expired?

 

[EliteRetard]

for that you'd need a calculator that can calculate how many degrees of a circle a 1 foot target is from 100 feet away. i don't remember geometry that well.

and then you can use a chart generated by a program like this to find the 35 mm equivalent focal length necessary to capture that number of degrees of field of view
http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/photos/angles.html

actually calculating degrees looks pretty simple:
http://www.math-prof.com/Geom/Geom_Ch_32.asp

so 1 foot from 100 feet away appears to be a 800 mm equivalent lens. that's to fill the image vertically (you'll still have space on the sides).

I have no idea what you are talking about here or how it relates to the math...but it sounds like if you had an 800mm lens you could take pictures of stuff from 100ft away and look like they were right next to you? So a 400mm lens would be good for objects up to 50ft away then? The included lens would be best for anything up to 5ft or so?

But a xx-400mm lens costs about $500 huh?

 

[shortnugly]

How does this compare to the Sony nex 5n? A friend of mine showed my wife this camera over the weekend and she really liked it. I may get her one of these for Valentine's day and hold off on the DSLR for a bit. She likes the compact size and will be taking a trip to DC with some students so something portable that takes great shots is a must.

I handled the Sony Nex 5n. Another great camera.
I, and others, have noted it's somewhat difficult to handle. Just my personal preference. Saw the shots my friend took with it, and was blown away. All these new breeds micro 4/3 are way beyond point and shoots.

I would highly advise to visit a camera store and fondle the merchandise. (not in a dark room by yourself)
You may be surprised at some feature or the way it feels, that you can't tell without trying it out first.

That's how I compared the Nikon D5100 vs the Canon t3I.

My next camera will be one of the new mirrorless, with a small lens. Just having a great time sampling and comparing all the new models.

 

[ElFenix]

I have no idea what you are talking about here or how it relates to the math...but it sounds like if you had an 800mm lens you could take pictures of stuff from 100ft away and look like they were right next to you? So a 400mm lens would be good for objects up to 50ft away then? The included lens would be best for anything up to 5ft or so?

But a xx-400mm lens costs about $500 huh?

800 mm lens in 35 mm equivalent. with a 4/3 camera like the in OP, you have a crop factor of 2x to deal with, so a 400 mm lens would fill the picture with a 1 foot object at 100 feet away. you'd only need 200 for an object 1 foot tall 50 feet away.



math: for any lens and sensor/film combination, the film captures a certain number of degrees of angle of view. that angle is wider the larger the sensor/film, and narrower the longer the lens. all i've done is convert a certain 1 foot along a circle with diameter of 200 feet to degrees, and then used that table to lookup the lens necessary on 35 mm film to approximate that number of degrees.