Panasonic DMC-G1 at 11,000 Clicks

Three months and two weeks into the ownership of the Panasonic DMC-G1, I have tripped the shutter approximately 11,000 times. Averaging 785 shots per week. I've got to admit. That's a lot of shots even though 98% of them are not usable. 99.9% of the shots were made with manual focus lenses. So what do I think after 11,000 shots?

It's a fabulous camera. I like it more now than when I got it. Below is my experience, in addition to what I wrote about it in LiveJournal back in April, 2009.

The Good:

• Eelectronic View Finder (EVF) is absolutely fantastic for manual focus lenses. In focus rate is much higher than conventional cameras with Optical View Finder (OVF).
• Number of adaptable lens mounts that can be used on this camera continues to amaze me.
• Image Quality at low ISO is better now that I have all noise reduction turned off, even in the Film Modes.
• Film Mode is great. I like the Vivid (Velvia) effect. I shoot RAW+JPEG and sometimes the colour of the JPEG comes out better than I can process.
• Dust Removal feature is excellent and effective. I haven't noticed any dust in any of my pictures, after 11,000 of them. On the other hand, I had to clean my 1D II sensor every month, sometimes more often.
• Excellent battery life. I haven't had the need for a second battery yet.
• C-Mount lenses rocks on this camera. I really like the looks of the pictures from some of my cine-lenses.

The Bad:

• The words on the Menu botton has rubbed off, almost completely, after only 3.5 months.
• Rubber coating on the plastic body is starting to come off at the corners.
• AF/AE bottom very hard to locate due to the raised LCD screen and the closeness of the botton to the LCD. My thumb always hit the top right corner of the LCD screen. This is probably due to the small size of the camera and I doubt there is much can be done about it. Good thing the exposure compensation is so easy to use and most of the time I don't need the AE lock.
• Still no fast auto focus primes, or fast auto focus lenses for that matter.

Great camera for everyday shooting, as long as fast focus/tracking is not needed.

Click on the picture to see a larger version:

R.I.P Michael Jack -- G1 with Dallmeyer Speed Anastigmat 1 inch f1.5

Fun at the park -- G1 with Kern-Paillard Switar 75mm f1.9

Go ahead and make my day, Punk! -- G1 with SOM Berthiot Lytar 25mm f1.9

Woodbine Park at Dusk -- G1 with JML 25mm f0.95 TV lens at f0.95, ISO 800