Help with G1 vs. ??

[Rob N]

Hi Everyone. I recently discovered this forum, and there seems to be a substantial community here, so I want to ask your help. I've read many reviews and messages on this and other forums.

The time has come to buy a digicam in the class of the G1, but am on the fence about which one. The G1 looks great, and I see some truly excellent photos made with it. I also read of some problems which cause me to hesitate.

I've been a photographer for over 30 years, starting out as a small-town daily newspaper photographer while in college. Been in the same camera club for 25 years. In recent years, most of my photography has been family type, with less emphasis on competition quality.

I've used many different kinds of cameras, everything from 4 x 5 on down, and have observed that a good photographer can make good photographs with nearly any camera. Now for my issues.

My questions relate to common, everyday shooting with the camera. I've read that some people have problems with the G1 pre-flash causing people in pictures to blink. This is a problem for me, because I will take quite a few pictures of people (kids activities, groups, etc.) and it would be a big problem to have a lot of eyes closed. Has anyone seen this problem, and is there a workaround?

Second, I have seen reports that pictures with the built-in flash tend to be poorly exposed. I will use an external flash in many cases, but will also take many pictures with the built in flash, so this is a problem for the same reasons above. What experience have any of you had with people pictures using the internal flash?

From what I've seen so far, I lean toward the G1 rather than the Nikon 995 or Olympus 3040. I really like the swivel LCD, focus assist lamp, CF II storage, and other goodies. Not sure yet what to think of the new 4 megapixel cameras. I don't really need 4 megapixels, so the higher resolution is not a deciding factor for me.

I appreciate any help you can give. Thanks.

Rob

[gandini]

Rob N wrote:
Hi Everyone. I recently discovered this forum, and there seems to be a substantial community here, so I want to ask your help. I've read many reviews and messages on this and other forums.

** welcome, this is a great community!

The time has come to buy a digicam in the class of the G1, but am on the fence about which one. The G1 looks great, and I see some truly excellent photos made with it. I also read of some problems which cause me to hesitate.

... stuff deleted...

My questions relate to common, everyday shooting with the camera. I've read that some people have problems with the G1 pre-flash causing people in pictures to blink. This is a problem for me, because I will take quite a few pictures of people (kids activities, groups, etc.) and it would be a big problem to have a lot of eyes closed. Has anyone seen this problem, and is there a workaround?

** I have not experienced any problem with preflash, as I don't use the internal flash, and the only light that appears before making the exposure seems to be the focus assist light--a small light that shines on the subject to aid focus in low light conditions. It is not at all distracting to the subject it seems.

Second, I have seen reports that pictures with the built-in flash tend to be poorly exposed. I will use an external flash in many cases, but will also take many pictures with the built in flash, so this is a problem for the same reasons above. What experience have any of you had with people pictures using the internal flash?

*** the built in flash is anemic, and I would not recommend it at all. I use a Speedlite 420EX, and it's wonderful. If you must use the built in flash, then you can only expect your photos to look like snap shots. While the red eye is not as bad as other cameras, the face-on lighting just flattens images and makes everyone look light deers in the headlights. I never use head-on flash, I always use bounce, hence the need for an on-camera external flash like the 420.

From what I've seen so far, I lean toward the G1 rather than the Nikon 995 or Olympus 3040. I really like the swivel LCD, focus assist lamp, CF II storage, and other goodies. Not sure yet what to think of the new 4 megapixel cameras. I don't really need 4 megapixels, so the higher resolution is not a deciding factor for me.

** I'd say the G1 is very competitive with these cameras, and has some advantages that you note. Although I would also add the incredible though proprietary battery that lasts way too long (!), and the capability to use MicroDrive (way too much storage capacity--not!) 4-shmore-if you cant give me 6 megapixels give me nothing.


Rob

Good luck Rob!

[oops]

It seems your main concern is flash photos as you gave this the most weight in your post. For me, the built in flash has just been crappy. When I first bought the G1 it was all I had and really made my flash experience with group and portrait shots a disaster. I quit taking flash until I purchased the 420ex and my confidence is growing again.

The built in flash has been a good tool for low light fill when nothing else was at hand. Otherwise, the washed out, overexposed images were never a work of art and I will never show them to anyone. The 420ex was made for this camera and, while there is a learning curve, the difference is dramatic.

As far as the G1, you love photography or you would not have been with it for so many years. Photography equals challenge, and the G1 will challenge all you know to date and give you a whole new chapter and verse. I would buy the G1 all over again today even though I have not mastered the camera enough to post a pic. There is simply nothing out there, 4 megapixel included, that can hold a candle to some of the shots I have seen on this and many other sites.