The competition among the camera makers participating in the serious compact market has become keener. I just learnt that some local retailers selling are willing to sell the GF-1 plus pancake set (distributor's merchandise) at the regular price while buying back the pancake at its original price, making the GF-1 body cost as low as a point-and-shoot DC. The amount is roughly HK$3,200 (about UK£ 300 or US$ 420).
Such a low price can effectively make the user forgive the camera for some of its weaknesses like the problematic focusing issue. Here I was using the NX10 with the long zoom lens on, repeatedly trying to lock the focus of the bike moving some 10 metres ahead of me.
I was without success. The lens just didn't oblige no matter whichever part of the subject I pointed the lens to. The sky was absolutely bright enough for the lens to lock the focus. The process took like 15 seconds before I finally succeeded by which time the bike moved 10 metres further away from me.
I have been saying all along that the price is not a major factor in choosing a camera. But now that the pricing is seemingly starting to go down to a lower level than expected, I think we can turn a blind eye to some flaw of the system, especially when every competitor in this class is more or less plagued by the same issue.
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