Review: Panasonic Lumix GF1

The Panasonic Lumix GF-1.

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This 12-megapixel Micro Four Thirds camera is, in effect, a DSLR in a compact body.

The Live MOS sensor (shared with Olympus) is similar to that used in Olympus SLRs and Panasonic's G1 and GH1. Body construction is solid and the lens is mechanically excellent, with smooth zoom and focus mechanisms.

There is an ingeniously articulated pop-up flash and a low-light focus-assist lamp. An optional electronic viewfinder slides into the flash hot shoe. The 7.5cm LCD is of good (middling) resolution.

Movie mode is 1280 x 720, which is not full high definition but very good. Capture format is AVCHD lite. Sound is mono and only with the inbuilt microphone. Weight, with zoom, is 537 grams, so it is not pocketable.

Like: Panasonic has solved the problem of auto-focus speed in a compact camera using the contrast detect method. There is little difference between the focus speed of the GF1 and any SLR at the same price. Images are sharp with excellent contrast. Image quality, in either raw or JPEG, is gorgeous.

Dislike: The camera's ergonomics and implementation of controls are not the best. The Olympus E-P1 has been criticised for its user-unfriendliness but we would rate it better than the Panasonic. But once the GF1's idiosyncrasies are understood, it is easy enough to use.

Verdict: This is a marvellous camera. There is a saying that the best camera is the one you have with you, so on that criterion alone, the GF1 ranks as one of the best.

It is also not surprising that demand for the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GF1 has overwhelmed supply. This is a new and long-overdue camera type - top image quality from a compact form.

The Panasonic GF1 with 14-45mm f3.5-5.6 lens sells for $1875.

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