www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I am thinking of buying the above and wondered if anyone has used this combination for butterfly photography or a G1with a different lens? Thanks in advance for any information.

Regards

Roy

I was going to make the same query then came across your unanswered posting.

I looked at and handled a G1 only this week. I was very impressed. The flip and twist screen is superb (I’ve grown up with Canons and would never now get a camera without a movable screen). Other features such as the automatic macro seem good. The weight is less than 400 grams. The sensor is big being 18x13.5 mms. I liked the camera but the reviews I have read are not overly enthusiastic and the image quality seems little better than my existing Canon A650 (but that must be nearly worn out after two years of very hard usage).

I would certainly like a Panasonic G1 but will probably wait until my A650 finally dies – which it shows little sign of doing just yet.

Jack

Thanks for your comments Jack. I too shall probably wait until my present camera (Canon Powershot S3 IS) fails.

Roy

I too have an S3 still working well. Indeed when resized to say 1600 x 1200, the A650 shows few real advantages over the S3. But there are occasions when the 12 mp of the A650 is a bonus.

Look up CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit) and with a certain amount of initial effort, you can then add to the features available with the S3.

eg: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_for_Dummies

Jack

Thanks for the CHDK address. Have added it to my favourites. I will certainly explore it to see what additional features I can get from it for my S3.

Regards

Roy

I must admit on paper the Canon Powershot SX1 IS looks a damned good camera, HD movies too, I must get a go with one.

Regards Gruditch

I like the sense of humour Gary! Surely a dedicated advocate of DSLRs wouldn’t be seen dead with a Point-and-Shoot Box Brownie?

Seriously, I reckon the Canon Powershot SX1 is quite a sensible camera that is far more portable than a big Canon DSLR. The SX20 might be an even better bet being significantly cheaper, has 12 mp and CHDK can be installed which brings it virtually up to SX1 capabilities. Both have vari-angle LCD screen. If you’ve never used a flexi angle screen Gary then you don’t know what you’ve missed.

But if you really are looking for something portable with a large sensor and flexi screen, don’t dismiss the Panasonic G1. It is delightfully light and that 18x13.5 sensor is more-or-less DSLR size (typically 22 x 15). I really would love a G1 but have to wait a while. Mother-in-law (aged 90) curled up her toes last week and we have to wait to find out just what she was worth (Sorry – sick comment. I am sure that is what she would have been delighted to think I might get a new camera in her memory!)

Sensor sizes can be a nightmare to understand (things like 1/1.7”). Why they can’t simple specify dimensions is beyond me. Anyway, it’s quite simple to work out.

Take that G1 as an example. The actual focal length of the lens is 14-45 mms (you can see that on any of the illustrations). This is quoted as being 28-90 mms as a 35 mm equivalent. It can be seen in this simple example that the actual focal length is precisely half the equivalent. Hence the sensor is exactly half full frame 35mm, ie half of 36 mms so 18 mms. The same calculation can be made for any lens but not quite as simple as that example. My A650 has a maximum real focal length of 44 mm this being stated as 210mm in 35mm equivalence. So the length of the sensor is (44/210)*36 = 7.5 mms.

Jack

I do like playing with other camera's, DSLR or not. Christ I've just seen the weight on that SX1.

Ironically being used to a viewfinder, the one thing I struggle with is a screen, but I can certainly appreciate that an adjustable screen would have massive advantages.

Don't get me started on my Mother-in-law.

Regards Gruditch