Finally Bought a Digital Camera...

[gt69]

After years of putting it off and much deliberation, I finally bought a digital camera. I have been observing the trends and technology in the last couple of years, and now have a Lumix DMC-GX1 on the way. I bought it new (body only), and, after much thought, decided on the G 20/1.7 lens (used/like-new).

The main thing keeping me from making such a purchase had perhaps been the fact that I take many of my film shots (35mm SLR) using the DOF scale and aperture ring on the lens. I have been doing this for years, and I am usually able to obtain plenty of predictable DOF in my shots, not just some DOF in front of and behind a focused-on object (or subject). I enjoy taking shots in this manner, and I like the results. Thus, I ask: is there any way to do this in digital, especially with the camera I purchased? I did not see a DOF scale or aperture ring on any of the lenses that interest me. I know that Voigtlander makes MF lenses that adapt to the M43 format, but the reviews on the native lenses are so good that I opted for the 20/1.7 lens. Plus, the Voigt lenses are expensive, and the adapter alone goes for $179. For a lens that got a lesser review than the 20/1.7, I could not justify spending almost double for the Voigt.

I thought about a DSLR, but a good one--body/battery grip/lens--is easily a four-figure proposition. I just cannot spend that much on a camera kit. My Lumix kit ended up being sub-$900, and I am excited about the future of the M43 format.

I welcome any comments you may have on the camera or on taking the "DOF-oriented" shots that are common for me.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

There are a LOT of lens-mount adapters out there that will work with that camera, and will let you use a wide range of SLR lenses that have the DOF markings on them that you're used to.

 

[gt69]

Thanks...

I just noticed that the GX1 has a screen with a resolution of only 460K. My wife's Nikon S8100--which costs under $200--has a screen with double the resolution: 920K. The 460K seems pretty low-rez for a camera body with an MSRP of $699. The more I read, the more I discover that these digital cameras tend to be a mixed bag.

I welcome your comments.

 

[Hatchetman]

I don't think the screen matters much. It'll give you an idea on composition and exposure. Look into lens adapters and maybe you can use the lenses you already own.

 

[chuck94022]

I might be reviving a long forgotten thread, but one thing to consider is that the depth of field you can achieve varies based on sensor size. The M43 sensors, being smaller than APS or full frame sensors, will have more depth of field in a given situation than a camera with a larger sensor. This is actually because you are using shorter focal length lenses for the smaller sensor, and the shorter the focal length, the deeper the depth of field for given apertures. That's one of the reasons some of these M43 cameras are so quick to focus (and also why point and shoot digicams are usually in pretty good focus). They have a lot of leeway in terms of depth of field.

So if what you are saying is that you like to create images with shallow depth of field, the M43 sensor size may not be the best choice.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

andallthe good old nikon lenses havethe dofscalesyoulikeso much me too btw