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Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Digital Camera

(4 out of 5)

A compact interchangeable lens camera with very good photo quality, robust performance, tons of point-and-shoot features, and an HD movie mode.

Review by Jeff Keller | Oct 4, 2009 | + Share

Enter the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1: it's roughly the same size as the Olympus E-P1 and has better AF performance, a built-in flash, a higher resolution LCD, and a nicer movie mode. Add in full manual controls, a second-to-none live view experience, great photo quality, and lots of bells and whistles and well, I was smitten. Not only do I highly recommend the DMC-GF1 -- I can tell you that I bought one to take on my upcoming vacation.

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Pros	Cons
Very good photo quality: low noise until highest ISOs, minimal highlight clipping or purple fringing Interchangeable lenses in a (relatively) compact body 3-inch, high resolution LCD with great outdoor visibility First-rate live view experience: super-fast AF, face detection/recognition, live histogram, custom grid lines, and more Full manual controls RAW format supported, with capable (but clunky) editor included Camera can bracket for exposure, white balance, and Film Mode Intelligent Auto mode selects a scene mode for you, detects faces, reduces blur, brightens shadows -- all automatically HD movie mode with choice of codecs, use of continuous AF and image stabilization when available Customizable buttons, spot on mode dial -- Film Modes allow you to have sets of color/sharpness/noise reduction options Dust reduction system Built-in flash + hot shoe for another Optional electronic viewfinder (though it's pricey and pretty average in terms of specs) HDMI output	Some redeye Movies created with AVCHD Lite codec are difficult to share and edit -- frame rate isn't true 60 fps -- Motion JPEG movies have huge file sizes, limited recording time Unremarkable continuous shooting mode Flash isn't terribly powerful No fluorescent white balance option Flimsy door over memory card/battery compartment -- can't access memory card while camera is on a tripod Manual leaves much to be desired

Pros

Cons

Very good photo quality: low noise until highest ISOs, minimal highlight clipping or purple fringing
Interchangeable lenses in a (relatively) compact body
3-inch, high resolution LCD with great outdoor visibility
First-rate live view experience: super-fast AF, face detection/recognition, live histogram, custom grid lines, and more
Full manual controls
RAW format supported, with capable (but clunky) editor included
Camera can bracket for exposure, white balance, and Film Mode
Intelligent Auto mode selects a scene mode for you, detects faces, reduces blur, brightens shadows -- all automatically
HD movie mode with choice of codecs, use of continuous AF and image stabilization when available
Customizable buttons, spot on mode dial -- Film Modes allow you to have sets of color/sharpness/noise reduction options
Dust reduction system
Built-in flash + hot shoe for another
Optional electronic viewfinder (though it's pricey and pretty average in terms of specs)
HDMI output

Some redeye
Movies created with AVCHD Lite codec are difficult to share and edit -- frame rate isn't true 60 fps -- Motion JPEG movies have huge file sizes, limited recording time
Unremarkable continuous shooting mode
Flash isn't terribly powerful
No fluorescent white balance option
Flimsy door over memory card/battery compartment -- can't access memory card while camera is on a tripod
Manual leaves much to be desired