Micro 4/3 camera advice

[Jeff Kilgroe]

As far as I know, Panasonic's wide zoom is the 7-14mm f4…
http://slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/1252/cat/69

Oops, I meant to type 7-14.

I've used the lens a couple times, but didn't find it worthy of the nearly $900 price tag. Severe distortion on both extremes of the zoom rage, lots of CA and a bit of vignette on the wide end.

 

[Paul Lee]

Anyone have experience with the Nikon J1?

 

[Eric R.]

I have the 7-14mm. Contrary to previous opinions in this thread, I and many others find it to be outstanding for landscape photography. It's an ultra wide zoom whose field of view is equivalent to a 12-24mm zoom on a full frame body. It's most definitely not a fisheye or even close. Distortion is automatically corrected on the Panasonic bodies in JPEG and in movies, and most RAW software will automatically correct the distortion as well. Here are some:

http://forum.getdpi.com/forum/4-3rds-cameras/13557-panasonic-7-14-a.html

 

[Clint Lealos]

Biggest advantage for M4/3 IMO is the flange distance. You can adapt almost any lens ever made by any country to a M4/3 mount for a reasonable price. My personal favorite combo these days is Canon FD lenses. The Canon FD 14mm 2.8 on a hacked GH2 with a Glide Cam 4000 is a powerful tool for television production. Even better with the GH3 coming around corner

 

[Paul Lee]

Well folks, I actually just turned to the Dark Side and ordered an upgrade from my Panny LX5 to the LX7 and added the electronic view finder. For $299 , including HDR, built in time lapse and built in panorama, what the heck? This is the ultimate f*ck off camera. I'm heading to a vaca to the tropics with my wife and want great shots with absolutely no kit. Promised her no working ;-) plus, the white model looks like a toy. A far cry from our beloved EPICs, but a phone is not a camera to me. I want a camera. I like buttons.

In my crazy alternative universe, what if RED put a Dragon in a small box with a Canon mount. Maybe a Canon flash hot shoe. Stills only. Little LCD and essential controls via buttons and dials. Bam. Go snap.

Same for watching a movie, even in spirit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKiIroiCvZ0

PS Jeff
Lets take the 4/3 on a test with my toy!