m4/3 cameras (i.e., Panny GF1) in the Dallas area?

[stevelink]

Greetings!
I am considering the Panasonic GF1 as a "travel" camera, to supplement a DSLR. Does anyone know where the GF1 might be in stock in the Dallas area so that I may actually handle one prior to making a purchasing decision? Thanks!
Regards,
Steve
TOTALQUALITYPHOTO.COM
steve@totalqualityphoto.com

[thaddeussmith]

dunno about locally available, but we can meet up in a few weeks if you want. I purchased a gently used body off fredmiranda forums, which should arrive tomorrow. purchasing my voigtlander 15/4.5 & 40/1.4 + requisite adapters and hoods next week and wouldn't mind letting you get a feel for it.

I'm in McKinney and could meet up somewhere in the middle for the cost of a cup of coffee.

[stevelink]

Hello sir.
Thanks for the offer to meet and check out the GF1. I'm south of McKinney near Plano. Sure wouldn't mind seeing one in person! I'm now thinking about comparing the GF1 to the new Panny G2, for image quality and handling. However, I'd like to see some test results of the G2 first, which supposedly is scheduled for a June release. If the GF1 proves superior, that would clinch it for me, as I'm impressed by the feature set and fast AF of the GF1, among other things.
Regards,
Steve
steve@totalqualityphoto.com

[thaddeussmith]

Give me a week or two after getting everything in so I can more easily point out features and nags and we'll set a date.

Cheers - Michael

[stevelink]

Awesome, Michael...thanks!
BTW, I see you use a Nikon D70S...I assume you'll compare IQ between it and the GF1 at some point. That would be very interesting!
Steve

[thaddeussmith]

actually i sold that and moved to a d300, never changing my gear profile. :S

i did, however, sell my d70s because it just wasn't suiting my needs as a backup. It always felt painful to use when I had my d300 already on my shoulder. i plan on shooting a completely different style with the gf1, and am hoping that it will be a useful backup/secondary for that reason.

my main motivation for getting this is because i never just take pictures these days. it sits in its bag between gigs and i can't be bothered to take it along when i go out. not good.

[stevelink]

A D300? Excellent, Michael! An awesome camera to be sure. I wonder if you'll see any difference in overall image quality between it and the GF1, at low ISO? I expect perhaps the D300 may hold the higher ISO image together a bit better than the GF1, but I could be wrong! Thanks again,
Steve

[thaddeussmith]

oh yes, quite fond of the d300. there are quite a lot of opinions out there about micro 4/3rds, none of which really apply to me ..it's not my sole camera, nor am i looking for it to be a replacement for my nikon rig. my lenses are manual focus, both of which can easily be pre-focused (especially the 15mm ..will quite literally be a point and shoot setup, with little worry about being out of focus). should be better than the g10 i briefly owned. and it gets me into some nice voigtlander glass ...i love voigtlander. :)

it's going to be my carry everywhere, semi-street focused setup. Going to cozumel in May and leaving the dslr at home, so i should be able to put it through the gauntlet. :)

[Sixela]

Hey Steve, I saw a GF1 at the Frys on Plano Parkway about a week ago, it wasnt charged up though, I wanted to play with it too. I asked if they had a new one in stock, but they only had the demo, but he said they could sell it. Might be worth a shot to check them out. It was in the little DSLR section, next to the Panasonic G1

[thaddeussmith]

oh yes, quite fond of the d300. there are quite a lot of opinions out there about micro 4/3rds, none of which really apply to me ..it's not my sole camera, nor am i looking for it to be a replacement for my nikon rig. my lenses are manual focus, both of which can easily be pre-focused (especially the 15mm ..will quite literally be a point and shoot setup, with little worry about being out of focus). should be better than the g10 i briefly owned. and it gets me into some nice voigtlander glass ...i love voigtlander. :)

it's going to be my carry everywhere, semi-street focused setup. Going to cozumel in May and leaving the dslr at home, so i should be able to put it through the gauntlet. :)

[Sixela]

And, have you heard what the price tag is going to be on the G2?

[thaddeussmith]

i have not ..but that form factor doesn't really interest me either. :P

[rfortson]

Have you checked out Dennis' experiences with the E-P1 and the GF1? He also shoots professionally with a D700 (IIRC). He has several excellent threads with the good and bad. Here's one that I followed:

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...s-day-day.html