Panasonic Lumix GF1 – Featured User Review

 
Thanks to member, copperchef, for contributing our first user review for the Panasonic Lumix GF1, Panasonic’s third Micro Four Thirds digital camera. I selected it as a Featured User Review to highlight the Panasonic GF1 and the new Micro Four Thirds format. It’s a detailed overview of the GF1 that should be useful to readers considering buying the GF1 or another Micro Four Thirds camera.

Reviews by community members are the foundation of PhotographyREVIEW.com. Please write a review if you own a Panasonic Lumix GF1 or another Micro Four Thirds camera. No matter what camera you’re using or what kind of photographer you are, we need your reviews. You don’t have to be an expert – everyone’s opinion counts.

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Featured Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

by copperchef (Professional)

Summary:
The GF1 is an amazing camera with great image quality and small size. Fits very nicely in the hand just like an old school rangefinder. This is excellent for street photography due to its size and non-intimidating appearance. The image quality is high with very nice low light performance. The display is also a beautiful screen which is very usable.

A bonus I did not expect to use are the artistic modes. They create some interesting looks and the ability to shoot raw+jpg means you can choose to have that look applied or a “clean” raw image to do your own adjustments. Pure and Silhouette are my personal favorites.

This camera is also extremely flexible as a system. Panasonic already has a nice set of lenses from 7mm to 200mm with a pancake 20mm and a 45mm macro lens also. In addition micro 4/3s lenses from Olympus and other panasonic 4/3 lenses are usable via an adapter. What’s even more impressive is the fact that Nikon, Canon and Leica lenses are also usable with an adapter. Being a nikon user for a dozen years this leaves me with many lenses to use with this camera.

720p HD video is also a nice feature giving you *some* controls over how the video looks including color styles and DOF preference.

This is a camera you’re able to carry just about everyday in most situations. In the 6 weeks I’ve owned mine I’ve put over 600 shots into it and I use 3 others on a normal basis. This is one camera I just enjoy carrying with me and using.

When you want to move up from a Point & Shoot for quality and control or if a dSLR is too big or attracts too much attention, this is the perfect camera to use. This camera has enough auto features for a beginner and enough features for a pro so it would be a great camera to learn photography. Unfortunately, the relatively high price will keep it more in the hands of the advanced/pro photographer who wants a great everyday camera.

Strengths:
+ Size and form factor.
+ Manual controls with smart semi auto features such as White Balance and ISO
+ Speed (Fast startup)
+ Good image quality especially in low light
+ Raw files
+ Flexible system with lenses and LCD viewfinder
+ Usable artistic modes
+ Paired with the 20mm pancake lens it is very pockable/portable
+ Hotshoe for ext. flash or pocket wizard
+ HD (720P) video
+ Built in flash
+ Good autofocus compared to Point & Shoots and other micro 4/3s cameras

Weaknesses:
- Relatively expensive when compared to the lowest priced dSLRs and high end point&Shoots.
- No inbody vibration reduction. (Lens dependent)
- LCD Viewfinder accessory is only so-so compared to others available
- no 1280P video
- video mode does not allow full manual control over exposure
- Autofocus slower than dSLRs

Similar Products Used:
Panasonic Lumix LX3
Nikon D700
Nikon D200
Canon 1Ds Mk3
Canon 5D Mk2

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