What's the purpose of Lensmate?

Is it just to provide a better grip, or is it to hold lens extensions as well?

Thanks.

From a long time user, the answer is both. You can hold the G1/2 as you would a 35mm SLR cupped in the left hand, leaving the right free to push buttons and the shutter.
The lensmate is also threaded for 49mm filters, and with the use of step-up and -down rings you can use tele and wide lenses from Canon or Tiffen.

Wouldn't leave home without it!

cheers,

To what extent does this mess with the Autofocus and light metering functions of the camera? Esp with the Telephoto or Wide Angle lenses attached.

Thanks,

ng2

In my experience with the G1, none. Wide angle and telephoto extenders will interfere with your view through the optical viewfinder however, but I don't know of anyone who uses that anyway.

Mark

These functions are "through the lens" and will continue to work. As another reply indicated, big lens attachments will block your optical viewfinder. Lens converters make the optical viewfinder less than useful anyway, since it will no longer reflect what is actually seen through the lens.

Lens attachments will also block your AF assist light, so AF in low light will be more difficult. Lensmate by itself will block the lower-right corner of the internal flash at wide angle. Lens attachments make that worse.