GF1 or LX3
- Thread starter chery08
- Start date
vengels
Senior Member
TS means threadstarter..
i used to have the 14-45mm lens on the GF1 also..
it can be done also..
but with the 20mm lens its very easy to achieve the bokeh..
personally..
i prefer the GF1 with 20mm lens to the LX3..
IQ is slightly better..
AF is fast too..
and i prefer the built quality..
and if u like pink sets are for sale too..
might be getting one for my wife..
she has been bugging me for one..
hahaha..
i used to have the 14-45mm lens on the GF1 also..
it can be done also..
but with the 20mm lens its very easy to achieve the bokeh..
personally..
i prefer the GF1 with 20mm lens to the LX3..
IQ is slightly better..
AF is fast too..
and i prefer the built quality..
and if u like pink sets are for sale too..
might be getting one for my wife..
she has been bugging me for one..
hahaha..
he hee thanks... I was thinking if they're referring to me coz i'm not TS also 
GF1 over Lx3 but price is double of it
Hmm... i'm tinking of getting the 14mm .mmmm but 20mm is pancake lens huh? or ? but no zoom how wor? very xin ku without zoom also though...
I'm still thinking which one to get..very headache....
GF1 over Lx3 but price is double of it
Hmm... i'm tinking of getting the 14mm .mmmm but 20mm is pancake lens huh? or ? but no zoom how wor? very xin ku without zoom also though...
I'm still thinking which one to get..very headache....
vengels
Senior Member
no zoom no problem for me..
ever since my 20mm pancake lens..
most of the time i am using prime lens to shoot..
now using Sigma 50mm F1.4..
even narrower than 20mm pancake but i have learnt to overcome the no zoom "problem"..
try out the camera @ the shops then u decide..
bring a SD card along to save ur shots then go back view on pc then decide which to get..
no point reading other people's views..
try it out yourself..
ever since my 20mm pancake lens..
most of the time i am using prime lens to shoot..
now using Sigma 50mm F1.4..
even narrower than 20mm pancake but i have learnt to overcome the no zoom "problem"..
try out the camera @ the shops then u decide..
bring a SD card along to save ur shots then go back view on pc then decide which to get..
no point reading other people's views..
try it out yourself..
Aiyoh ! :bsmilie: ...with pancake/prime lens, use your legs to zoom lah !
...No headache ! maybe leg-ache only !
ziploc
New Member
I have a LX2 and a GF1. From the posts I presume you want a camera that
1. Price of LX3 i.e. abt $700
2. Compact in size
3. Produces a nice bokeh
4. Has a zoom
5. Good photo quality
Based on these, the LX3 is the most suitable. For the bokeh effect, set to aperture priority, set lens at f2.0, zoom out (aperture will automatically change), focus as close as it makes the picture interesting, then shoot. And shoot again at different distances, zoom settings. From the series you can see the relationship between distance, aperture settings and bokeh effects. Then more shooting.
For me I would also print some A4 sizes besides looking onscreen to understand the effects better.
The GF1/EPL1/EP1/EP2 besides having interchangeable lenses produce better picture quality but only appreciated if enlarged to A3 or larger. They look more cool but they cost more and not as compact.
1. Price of LX3 i.e. abt $700
2. Compact in size
3. Produces a nice bokeh
4. Has a zoom
5. Good photo quality
Based on these, the LX3 is the most suitable. For the bokeh effect, set to aperture priority, set lens at f2.0, zoom out (aperture will automatically change), focus as close as it makes the picture interesting, then shoot. And shoot again at different distances, zoom settings. From the series you can see the relationship between distance, aperture settings and bokeh effects. Then more shooting.
For me I would also print some A4 sizes besides looking onscreen to understand the effects better.
The GF1/EPL1/EP1/EP2 besides having interchangeable lenses produce better picture quality but only appreciated if enlarged to A3 or larger. They look more cool but they cost more and not as compact.
In that case, you don't NEED a pancake lens, sweetie. :bsmilie: save your money for better camera body.
Better not ! ...wait hit your head, you'll have a worst headache !!! :nono:
hmmm but for EPL1 i can get it like by paying 150 or 200 more... just that my GF1 is still too far and out of reach~~
my budget's abt 1k but of course the cheaper the better...
I had GF1, LX3, NEX5 and now having WX1 (one which I actually keep) and sold the rest.
In terms of usability, meaning if you often needs to shoot things that move, GF1 is the best choice as the AF speed is almost as fast as a DSLR.
Pair it with 14-45mm lens to start with if you are tight on budget. Or get a 2nd hand here for around $850 or so. It's a good lens to start with and can produce good bokeh as well. Although it does not have big aperture, but the good high ISO of GF1 compensates for it. Shooting up till ISO800 is not a problem in GF1. This lens is very sharp and very good for videoshoot also. Once you get the hang of it, then consider 20mm lens as the next upgrade once your skills pick up.
For LX3, yes it is more compact in size, but to be honest, it is not very much smaller than GF1+20mm lens. It is still quite big in compact PNS standard. Although it has F2.0 lens, but it's only at quite wide angle, probably 24-30mm range which unless you want to take landscape or scenery pictures if not its quite useless for having F2.0 at this range anyway. By the time it reaches the more commonly used range of 30-60mm, it's already reaches F4 and above which is LPPL as you need high ISO to compensate for the low shutter speed. LX3 although has a larger (1/1.6" sensor) than normal PNS, but it's high ISO performance is not very good. Things starts to get real noisy from ISO400 and up. Unless you always shoot at F2.0 (24mm) then you can keep ISO low, if not no use. AF speed is normal PNS standard, meaning more suitable for things that doesnt move.
I personally have not owned the EP1 or EPL1, but tried them at the shops before. Yes I would say it can produce good quality pictures and high ISO is better than GF1, but it's AF speed is a letdown. It's slow, either same with PNS or slower than most in general. It's almost like paying so much for buying a PNS to be honest. And thats the reason I didnt get hook to it. But if you take things that are still, then it's ok.
For NEX5, another you can consider is its the most compact body of all, almost similar in size with LX3. It has DSLR size sensor and can produce same quality as entry or mid level DSLR. It has a nice style and takes very good video too. However, AF speed is the letdown, though faster than EP1, LX3 and most PNS, it's not as fast or decisive as GF1. So I sold it in the end as I primarily take pictures of my kids.
For WX1, it's the only PNS that I have kept for more than 6months. It can take good quality low light pictures, has also F2.4 aperture and 10fps and nice HD videos. It has very nice features like pananormic which you can take very wide pictures with ease. Its very small in size, in fact the smallest among here. AF speed is also very good for a PNS, faster than most, only slower than GF1. Though I seems to find the AF speed is very similar to NEX5. It's now retail at $499 which I think market price should be in range of $440-450.
In summary:
GF1 - DSLR speed and moderate ISO quality. Expensive though.
LX3 - Compact PNS speed with fast lens and big aperture. Expensive for a PNS standard. BTW, new model going to be announced within this 1-2months, rumoured to be LX4.
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thanks for the suggestions ... i'm still torn between EPL1 and my pinky GF1 but prob will get a white EPL1 for now ..since i saw the wonders of how it took bokeh effect easily and seems like panasonic salesman is not that patient to show me loads of functions and it's abit more expensive.. it's being pushed out of my heart and mind slowly...
Just the AF speed is slower on GF1 huh? guess i've to bear with it or sell it when i really hate it
i'm still torn between EPL1 and my pinky GF1 but prob will get a white EPL1 for now ..since i saw the wonders of how it took bokeh effect easily and seems like panasonic salesman is not that patient to show me loads of functions and it's abit more expensive.. it's being pushed out of my heart and mind slowly...
Just the AF speed is slower on GF1 huh? guess i've to bear with it or sell it when i really hate it
My advice, if you really like GF1, just bite the bullet and get it. No point buying something which doesn't convince you now and then trying to sell later at at loss, esp when you buy new. Unless you going for 2nd hand to lessen the loss.
Trust me, I have done that many times, the loss can be quite substantial unless money not a issue to you.
Both cameras can do beautiful bokeh, as they have the same sensor. It's the lens that makes the difference.
I am not trying to decide for you. It's best you try them both side by side at some reputable shops or at Courts/Best Denki till you are shiok and happy with the one you like.
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