The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF1 is the latest addition to the award-winning LUMIX G Series, which debuts as the world's smallest and lightest system digital camera with a built-in flash. The LUMIX DMC-GF1 distinguishes itself from previous models with its elegant, compact design reminiscent of classic film cameras, yet builds on Panasonic's success with the revolutionary LUMIX G Series of digital interchangeable lens system cameras based on the Micro Four Thirds system standard. With its compact size, user-friendly design and ability to record High Definition (HD) video and take professional-quality photos, the LUMIX GF1 continues to redefine digital photography standards.
With its lightweight body, the LUMIX GF1 provides experienced photographers with the ideal digital camera to carry with them at all times. Like its predecessors in the LUMIX G Series, the LUMIX GF1 eliminates the pentaprism found in traditional interchangeable lens cameras. Thus, this mirror-free structure allows Panasonic to dramatically reduce both size and weight.
Though small in size, the LUMIX GF1 does not compromise in advanced features. The LUMIX GF1 thoroughly optimizes the advantages of a system camera to ensure high performance, whether capturing photos or HD video. The LUMIX DMC-GF1 can record 1280 x 720 High Definition video in AVCHD Lite, a format that enables longer recording times. With a dedicated video record button, capturing video is convenient and easy. The LUMIX GF1 can also record HD Motion JPEG in 1280 x 720 and other video recording formats include: QVGA, VGA and WVGA. The LUMIX GF1 has a unique Movie Program Mode that allows consumers to adjust the depth-of-field while shooting in HD video, so background and foreground can be blurred to give creative effects--something typically only possible with expensive professional camcorders.
FEATURES: |
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 Limitation for My Color mode |
| Review Date: August 30, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Longbranch, Chicago, IL |
| It's mostly a great camera. I was surprised when I learned that the flash doesn't work in the My Color (Retro, Dynamic Art, etc.) mode. If you're expecting to be able to make a Retro photo of a darker indoor scene, you're out of luck. |
Great for an Old Guy !
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| Review Date: August 23, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Bass Lake, Bass Lake, CA |
I am an 'old fart' and come from the now very old world of film cameras.
I grew up in 4x5 sheet film and still think 35mm format is a 'toy' .. But since I can no longer effectively use my old 120 roll film cameras like the Zeiss Super Ikonta and Hasses' what to do?
I am an amateur with my only requirement being to document my RV trips and the back-country 4WD adventures and the 'less than 5 mile' day hikes, so I may as well use one of these new fangled digital cameras.
I always thought my old Nikon F bodies were too heavy for the result they gave and now the new breed of 10 pound DSLRs are even worse yet. It's the same bad trade off today as it was in 1965, nothing has really changed. A ten pound mirror slapping monster with a one ounce result.
The GF1 is very much like my old M2 Leica rangefinder. It has all the benefits of the rangefinders, none of the SLR drawbacks. Faster than lightening to bring into play, very responsive, excellent fit and feel in the hand, and very well thought out in design and manufacture. A one pound camera with a ten pound result ! Rangefinder 35mm of this style and design are the ultimate 'candid' and street cameras, and they can not be beat on the trail unless you are hiking with a pack burro to help you along.
If you are looking for a modern camera that will do the job the old Leicas' did then this is the one for you. The lens and the sensor and the resultant image quality is excellent. You will have no problem up to 11x14 prints and perhaps beyond. I noticed in the excellent dpreview review of this camera that they have some minor moans and complaints about the JPEG engine in the camera. I do not agree with them on this point. If you set the 'my film' settings in the GF1 correctly you can get an almost indistinguishable color result against the RAW. Admittedly you loose some image information in the JPEG, and have to experiment a little with it, but once you develop a 'my film' profile for various standard shooting situations then you are good to go and save yourself the later workload of the RAW development.
The Japanese software that is supplied as a freebie with the camera is excellent, and very sophisticated. You will not have to buy $300 worth of junk from Adobe unless you want to. Once you get over the 'translation chuckles' of the various menu items in the software you will have a powerful tool in your hands. Admittedly there is a learning curve with any software of this complexity, but it is doable and is a significant value added bonus to the price of the camera.
When even the GF1 is too heavy for me to take on the trail, I pocket my Cannon S90. There is no comparison between the image quality of the Micro 4/3s and the little chip in the Cannon. It is the difference between night and day, apples and oranges. If you are one of those that are tired of the 'almost' image quality of your little pocket digital camera but do not want all the same old - same old SLR negatives, then I don't think you could do better than the GF1. Of course this Micro 4/3 world is just in it infancy and and you will probably watch the world pass you by a little as new cameras of this class are released over the next few years, but you will be taking great shots with it now, and having great fun as well.
If you are one that used to use, appreciated, and understood rangefinders like the old Leicas, and now watch, with disbelief, the endless profusion of so-called "pro grade DSLRs " pour out of Japan then you need to have a close look at the GF1. Only thing it is missing is the wind-lever under your thumb, but hey, you can't have everything. |
Good stuff.
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| Review Date: August 17, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Evan, |
| Fast delivering. Brand new product. I like this style and the quality. It would be even better if it had panorama function like Sony Nex 5 does. Can't complain more. |
Takes a beating and keeps on ticking
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| Review Date: July 12, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Richard Lin, San Diego, CA United States |
Most what can be said about this camera feature-wise has been said. But I think few have subjected their camera to as much abuse as I have recently, so I'll offer my experience here.
I bought the Panasonic GF-1 with the 14-45 mm lens and used it on a two week family trip to Europe recently. Well, it came days before the trip and in the midst of chaos I left the camera strap at home and just stuffed the camera in a small, sagging camera bag. On day two, while on the road, the camera flew out of the opened bag, and landed on hard pavement after tumbling a few feet. A small section of the edge of the LCD screen was dented. I was surprised there were no additional physical damage. And this was just the beginning of the trip. In all, the camera got dropped, in the bag, a few more times (due to the lack of a strap) during the trip.
After all that, the camera performed as well as new. Pictures came out very well. No rattles or loose parts. Lens mount seems to be very solid still.
This could not be said about my Sony point and shoot (W290), which probably saw less abuse. Before the Sony, it was a Canon SD800 IS. My son's soccer ball sent it to digital camera heaven (lens came loose).
Bottom line, a very solid camera that is easy to use and produces very good image quality. |
Camera bag
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| Review Date: July 10, 2010 |
| Reviewer: DantesDame, East Coast |
| I'll let those who "know" review the camera (I am very happy with it, suffice to say) but I do recall there being a question as to what camera bag would work well for this unit. I have the "Digital Video/Photo Bag" from Tamrac. The tag is listed as Model #5697. The bag itself is well-constructed and I can easily carry the camera body w/pancake lens and a 200mm lens in it. |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 12.1MP Micro Four-Thirds Digital SLR Camera with 14-45mm Lens i like this price. $899.95