Traveling With The Panasonic G1
by Bill Wilby and friends
Last updated a long time ago
I love to travel. I love to take travel photos. When the G1 was
introduced I began planning my first trip with the G1. In the past I have
traveled with SLR cameras and extra lenses. I knew I would capture good
photos with less camera but for me using the camera and the feel of
the camera is part of the enjoyment. These notes are about some of
what I discovered when using the G1. It will not include detailed
information on all the features in the camera because I haven't used many of
them. I also have not spent to much time reading the book.
introduced I began planning my first trip with the G1. In the past I have
traveled with SLR cameras and extra lenses. I knew I would capture good
photos with less camera but for me using the camera and the feel of
the camera is part of the enjoyment. These notes are about some of
what I discovered when using the G1. It will not include detailed
information on all the features in the camera because I haven't used many of
them. I also have not spent to much time reading the book.
The first decision I needed to make was what kind of bag I was going to
use. In the past I have used sling bags for bigger and heaver
cameras. The G1 will fit into a small to medium size shoulder bag with
room for a extra lens, hoods and battery. I used the Low-pro reporter
200. There was also room for my Sigma DP1. I think using a bag over my
shoulder made the camera more accessible. With the camera being very
light it was also around my neck more than a heavy SLR. I also used
a different camera strap than the one that comes with the G1. This
strap is made by OP/Teck and called the Classic Strap. The strap is
wide, soft and has a quick release so that it can be shortened easily. Also
important the strap comes in blue to match my blue G1. Now with
fashion cameras we have to think about these things too. I like a
camera strap with a quick release so that I can shorten it when using
the camera with a mono pod.
use. In the past I have used sling bags for bigger and heaver
cameras. The G1 will fit into a small to medium size shoulder bag with
room for a extra lens, hoods and battery. I used the Low-pro reporter
200. There was also room for my Sigma DP1. I think using a bag over my
shoulder made the camera more accessible. With the camera being very
light it was also around my neck more than a heavy SLR. I also used
a different camera strap than the one that comes with the G1. This
strap is made by OP/Teck and called the Classic Strap. The strap is
wide, soft and has a quick release so that it can be shortened easily. Also
important the strap comes in blue to match my blue G1. Now with
fashion cameras we have to think about these things too. I like a
camera strap with a quick release so that I can shorten it when using
the camera with a mono pod.
I packed a mono pod for the trip. Last year I enjoyed using one with
my Sigma SD14. We were taking a trekking holiday and the camera was attached
to the mono pod most of the time. Our recent trip was different, we
had a rental car and did less walking. The mono pod stayed in the
trunk most of the time. This was for a few different reasons. First I
packed a small head to use on the mono pod and it would only move from
horizontal to vertical. When I needed to shoot up or down I became a
danger to my fellow travelers. My mono pod became more of a club
than a camera support. Last year I used a ball head. As well last year
I manually focused each photo, thought long about the composition and
took my time. This year I had the G1.
my Sigma SD14. We were taking a trekking holiday and the camera was attached
to the mono pod most of the time. Our recent trip was different, we
had a rental car and did less walking. The mono pod stayed in the
trunk most of the time. This was for a few different reasons. First I
packed a small head to use on the mono pod and it would only move from
horizontal to vertical. When I needed to shoot up or down I became a
danger to my fellow travelers. My mono pod became more of a club
than a camera support. Last year I used a ball head. As well last year
I manually focused each photo, thought long about the composition and
took my time. This year I had the G1.
The G1 can be a very fast point and shoot camera, it is also a
camera with easy to use controls that begs to be used quickly. It
focuses fast and accurately, it shoots fast and looks for more. It
feels good at eye level but it really wants more. It does cry out for you
to make use of the great swivel screen. It likes to go high,go low or
go places where big SLRs are scared to tread. Like I said the mono pod
stayed in the trunk and lens stabilization took over. The G1 even scared my
DP1 who only peaked out of the bag when the landscapes were wide and
still.
camera with easy to use controls that begs to be used quickly. It
focuses fast and accurately, it shoots fast and looks for more. It
feels good at eye level but it really wants more. It does cry out for you
to make use of the great swivel screen. It likes to go high,go low or
go places where big SLRs are scared to tread. Like I said the mono pod
stayed in the trunk and lens stabilization took over. The G1 even scared my
DP1 who only peaked out of the bag when the landscapes were wide and
still.
As you may be able to tell I enjoyed using the G1. The battery power
is good, I took a spare battery and had no problems with running out of power.
I used a 16 gb card and set the camera for raw and medium jpeg. That
allowed me about 950 photos and I took 750 in the 10 days. I am not
actually that wild with a camera. I packed the 45-200 and used it
once. For my travel photos the soon to arrive 7-14 will be more
useful. I would consider traveling with two G1s. I like the idea of
back up and I might have used another lens more if I didn't need to
change it. I also would really like a red one.
is good, I took a spare battery and had no problems with running out of power.
I used a 16 gb card and set the camera for raw and medium jpeg. That
allowed me about 950 photos and I took 750 in the 10 days. I am not
actually that wild with a camera. I packed the 45-200 and used it
once. For my travel photos the soon to arrive 7-14 will be more
useful. I would consider traveling with two G1s. I like the idea of
back up and I might have used another lens more if I didn't need to
change it. I also would really like a red one.
I have many years of experience using a camera, most have been a SLR,
35-mm or medium format. I can still remember one of my first
experiences of using a digital camera with a LCD. The photos were all
crooked. I couldn't believe it, I don't think I had ever taken a
crooked photo before. I was reminded of this while editing my G1
files. There are a lot of photos leaning to the right. I think this
may happen with both the LCD and EVF. I think I would benefit from a
camera with a built in level. I was explaining this to a customer and she suggested I use the grid display. I learn a lot from my customers, they often read the book.
35-mm or medium format. I can still remember one of my first
experiences of using a digital camera with a LCD. The photos were all
crooked. I couldn't believe it, I don't think I had ever taken a
crooked photo before. I was reminded of this while editing my G1
files. There are a lot of photos leaning to the right. I think this
may happen with both the LCD and EVF. I think I would benefit from a
camera with a built in level. I was explaining this to a customer and she suggested I use the grid display. I learn a lot from my customers, they often read the book.
As a camera sales person and a photo lab owner a large part of my day
is spent talking about or reading about or handling a camera. I see
many photos and and watch people enjoying their photos. What doesn't
happen often are discussions about how much fun it is to
take photographs. I once joked with using a film camera I would be
happy taking photos without film. The process of using a camera is
for me a large part of the pleasure of photography. The blue Panasonic
G1 is a very fun camera to use. The G1 in a different colour may also
be fun too.
is spent talking about or reading about or handling a camera. I see
many photos and and watch people enjoying their photos. What doesn't
happen often are discussions about how much fun it is to
take photographs. I once joked with using a film camera I would be
happy taking photos without film. The process of using a camera is
for me a large part of the pleasure of photography. The blue Panasonic
G1 is a very fun camera to use. The G1 in a different colour may also
be fun too.
