The 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.
Design
In Panasonic’s eyes – and with the notable lack of any full-on DSLR cameras of late – the G-series is the future of photography. Its general design ethos isn’t entirely unique, though the only other camera on the market that’s a close match is the Olympus E-P1 – a reimagining of the Olympus PEN from 50 years previous, albeit digital.
The Panasonic GF1 is still smaller and lighter, though the difference is slight and only by a marginal number of grams and millimeters. Not to draw away from how small this is though – with the pancake lens attached it could easily fit into a gent’s coat pocket or ladies’ handbag. That’s certainly the key in this design, its notable compactness.
In use the Panasonic GF1 is very much like a Panasonic compact in terms of menu systems and operational buttons, albeit with some additions for the more complex controls available here.
There’s a mode dial on the top, and standard d-pad on the back. The addition of a q-menu button for quick menu adjustment, an AF/MF to control focus mode and a rear thumbwheel to cycle through options, f/stops and the like escalates ease of use to the next level.
The pop-up flash is user controlled by the press of a button, allowing for discreet non-flash shots even in darker conditions.
On the movie front there’s a one-touch record button for seamless shooting between stills, or the mode is also available on the mode dial. It’s extremely easy to pick up and use, whatever your level.
Overall the Panasonic GF1 is much like a stripped down version of its bigger brother the G1, albeit without the chunky grip, DSLR-styling or articulating screen.
The camera body itself is very robust, feels well made and looks the part. It’s even available in three colours – red, black or silver (those outside of the UK have a white option too) to suit a wider audience.
Score
Score in detail
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Features 85
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Image Quality 85
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Design 95
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Performance 90
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Value 90