After a few days with the GM1 I now have mixed feelings about the successful miniaturization. It is great because it is so small and light, because I really smoothly in the jacket so in some cases can accommodate pants, but also problematic precisely because it is so small. The best camera is the one you have here. In this respect, I have to consider whether I can live with the compromise because it in some special cases can be a disadvantage to the GM1, in which case the photos to classes are of course better than you get with any cell phone or camera.
My previous cameras (G1, GH1, GF1, GX1 ...) all left-handed use. Turning, change aperture, exposure compensation, ISO, etc ... everything went great, the GH1 I could carry around directly on the handle even with the heavy 14-140 comfortably swinging in his hand. When GM1 nothing is it possible. Already switching is not as easy. The rotary switch is extremely small and unfavorably located. If you want to change the aperture, the camera would have to be virtually trapped between 2 fingers and gently fondle with your thumb on the scroll wheel, with the hope that the camera does not fall out of your hands. On the one hand the lack of grip is to blame, but by the camera looks just as chic as it is, on the other hand, the rotation-directional pad, or whatever you want to call it, to blame, because it is small and poorly placed. Mostly, the camera jumps to the white balance, although I just want to change only the visor because I probably push too hard to turn around the wheel, I'm afraid the camera would otherwise fall to the ground to me.
The previously used by Panasonic and extremely practical control dial (formerly the front below the trigger back later for the thumb) is unfortunately fallen victim to. But one has now its own questionable autofocus mode switch (how many times do I have to switch between AF and MF?), In its place a dial would have been perfect, since it would be accessible by thumb even with one-handed operation perfectly. Autofocus switch can not be moreover also just so turn with your thumb, it is staggered in and has only a small hump at the top through which it can be rotated.
Further important Fn keys have ceased to exist. It is only a physical Fn 1 button present, all the others are indeed fully configurable, but only accessible via the touch screen. A AE Lock button is missing, therefore, can be set but only the Fn key 1. A second button between display and video button would have been perfectly here. Or as one the Video button can also disable, why can they not the same use as Fn 2 button?
As no ISO button longer there (at which point is now the exposure compensation), I would like to use the Fn key 1 for it. Thus I have no ability to configure me an AE-Lock button.
Annoying also that the Fn-touch buttons have to be brought on the display separately until a small icon in the margin. After turning off they're gone again, this is another operating step that you have to make every time you want fast times change a function, for which there was a dedicated button used to be.
A feature that I have used for sharpness control often was back between zoomed images and herzuspringen. So you could at similar images or continuous shooting immediately check the sharpness and delete the worst equal. The GM1 this feature is completely eliminated, since precisely the depressible scroll wheel no longer exists.
The compact 12-32 is impressive sharp for such a compact kit lens over the entire focal length range, when you caught a passable copy. To my right is slightly less sharp than the left in many images. But the little part holds partly with the 25er and 20er Leica Pancake concerns with what sharpness, which of course is missing is the luminous intensity, but it has even at full aperture, the maximum sharpness. The lens focuses very fast, unfortunately the whole zoom range is rather scarce, and at 25mm, the maximum aperture is already at f / 5.1.
That the lens has no focus ring, I think not bad, because I had to manually focus never in AF lenses.
Focus Peaking is finally (had my previous cameras to not) present. The Peaking works quite well with video with manual lenses, with photos I have, however, noticed that really only very contrasting points are highlighted and weaker structures by Peaking without prejudice to focus on faces is rather difficult because most eyelashes or eyebrows flicker start but remaining contours remain unaffected. For fast manual focusing can I motion or frame the picture so eh not need because it would take too long until you have struggled through the notwenidgen operating steps. This only works for still-life and the like when the subject is also really quiet.
The technical equipment of the GM1 is quite lush, although I'm not going to use a lot of features sure how fast motion, or animated animation as well as video, because for that I and my wife had the video camera, I'm more responsible for the photos. But the video mode of GM1 is impressive itself, also offers a fully manual mode and real 24p, for the real "film buffs" among us! The video quality was in my tests even at ISO3200 yet without great loss of quality, where the GH1 showed even at ISO800 partially Excessive banding in the video.
It was important for me personally the Wifi function, since I first, the remote control of a tablet or mobile phone very welcome, on the other hand, the direct transfer of images in high regard, without annoying import via SD card reader etc.
So zackzack not work the wifi connection but then, as I myself first has to dial from the mobile phone to the camera power, then restart app and wait until have found both, and are ready for use ... If you're hoping that the smartphone a comfortable would be a substitute for a folding screen to set the camera for a mushroom photo on the floor and then comfortably standing anything to do from the mobile phone display, so that's quite possible, but only with the necessary preparation time, you have downed all operating steps, it takes still about half a minute, until the remote control is finally active.
Slightly unstable compound is also time and again I have found, so both camera and cell phone lose from time to time, or the app does for a function, a time to respond again. But the complete remote control of the camera is almost always possible, with all the standard features like Aperture etc as well as more specific functions from the Quick Menu.
I also wanted the electronic shutter, or the new electronic curtain, because this is almost inaudible, but also not as prone to camera shake (pronounced Shuttershock), also so crazy times of up to 1/16000 be made possible to obtain with an f / 1.4 lens and maximum aperture can take pictures in bright sunshine without having to each time any ND filter screw, then certainly distort the colors.
That the purely electronic shutter for fast movements due to the line by line reading something can be problematic, must be known in order to avoid any nasty surprises afterwards.
Due to the new closure, is the shortest flash sync speed 1/50. You have to choose for yourself if that represents a problem or not. I have the flash is almost never used in my previous cameras'm more a fan of the "available light" photography.
Whether the current GM1 sensor is so much better than the GX1, I doubt it. Higher than ISO3200 I would not go to the GM1 even with careful RAW processing, as even ISO3200 already are rather marginal and barely better than the GX1.
Angrily I find also that the buffer was hardly increased since the GX1. So I get up to 6-7 Raw shots in series before the camera increased. It does not matter whether you use the fast burst mode, which really within 1 second 5 pictures are shot, or manually every second 2 images are taken, the camera will be hesitant to 6 shots. Just when you want to photograph a child who is constantly moving and you want to get the best expression, it is always a pain when you have to wait for the camera, because it is not triggered.
The somewhat scarce sized battery is another weak point of GM1. A second battery is a must, it is hoped that soon a second manufacturer to offer their cheaper replicas.
Overall I am very impressed by the GM1, but then also a little disappointed because it complicates many things before that was quick and easy. One would could optimize the user interface a little better. A button more and more would have a rotating wheel that schnukelige Design also not affected.
Have to think you whether you want to use the GM1 with the kit lens, or with other heavier optics, or if you decide not the same for a Sony RX100, which is total but even more compact and brighter and another focal length range offers. The GM1 just has the advantage of everything possible to ranschrauben of lenses.
But a Leica 25mm makes GM1 already somewhat unbalanced, not to mention a 100-300, acting on a GM1 (or vice versa) almost something ridiculous.
Due to the features of high quality and great design, and the "want" factor 5 star, and I, have to deduct 1 star because of the somewhat failed usability, and other little things that bother me personally. But really serious weaknesses or deal breaker are not noticed.
