Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 review
Verdict
The Panasonic GF1 makes best sense of the Micro Four Thirds format by kicking all the unnecessary DSLR-styling to the kerb.
What remains is a compact-sized camera with a deceptive amount of oomph tucked away on the inside, plus the 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens is highly effective.
It'll appeal to a wide ranging audience that want a small bit of kit to produce excellent pictures, though more traditional photographers will still find a DSLR provides better use.
There's certainly some room for improvement (especially the price), but it's generally good news all round. Picture quality is excellent, it's easy to pick up and use from the getgo and performance is a fair marriage of compact-meets-DSLR.
Ultimately, if you're in the market for this sort of a camera – where comparably small and light competitors come very few and far between – then the GF1 is certainly the best one on the market.
Have your say!
Latest comments
January 29 14:46
adrian
I currently own a Lumix DMC-LX3. Although I’m happy with its performance, I was wondering just how much difference there is between the two lens’s
June 24 13:02
Callum
Can anyone explain why the GF1 gets better scores for images than the G2 which has the same lenses and sensor? Thanks
December 01 07:05
Jim Ormiston
Hi I love my GF1 so much that I have given all my Nikon SLR equipment away - except for my 70mm to 200mm 2.8 Nikon lense which I use with an adpator on my GF! Yes perhaps my new set up is not really up to the standard of my SLR and lenses but for me I am taking it everwhere I go and am getting some really nice shots which are not too far off the meark re quality and in truth I wouldn't have got them anyway because likley I would not have taken the SLR with me - I am sticking to the 4/3 format and am looking forward to what Panasonic will give me in the way of the next upgrade to the GF1 - a built in viewfiender would be nice but not a show stopper for me Thanks
December 16 05:06
Jim Ormiston
Hi have just taken a look at the new GF2 - very nice but for me very disapointing as it does not give any improvments over my GF1 - will need to wait a bit longer for Panasonic to come up with a true replacment for the GF1 - however no problem for me as I am still having a great time with my GF1 - Thanks