THE PANASONIC GF1 REAL WORLD REVIEW

PAGE 1 - Intro and why I think M4/3 is here to stay.

PAGE 2 - The GF1 specs and features?

PAGE 3 - Compared to the Leica D-Lux 4 and Leica M9?

PAGE 4 - High ISO Sample and Crops.

PAGE 5 - My favorite shots with the GF1 & KIT Zoom.

PAGE 6 - The one lens you MUST buy with this camera. The 20 1.7.

PAGE 7 - My bottom line conclusion.

PAGE 8 - Just for fun! The GF1 and M9 side by side.

PAGE 2 - The Panasonic GF1 Features and Specs     next---->

The Panasonic GF1, like most digital cameras today, is full of features. Panasonic left nothing out and here are some of the more notable features direct from the B&H Photo website:

Stylish, Compact Design

The DMC-GF1 does away with the pentaprism found on other standard interchangeable lens cameras. This mirror-less structure helped Panasonic achieve an artistically flat, neo-classic body design that dramatically reduces both size and weight.

• High Quality Imaging

A 12.1 megapixel Live MOS sensor coupled with advanced Venus Engine HD processing offers superior photo and video quality. These advanced technologies make it possible to read 4 channels of data simultaneously and allow the DMC-GF1 to deliver 60 frames-per-second Live View images. Photos and video are faithfully reproduced with fine detail and rich color gradation.

• Intelligent Exposure (iA) Mode

Panasonic's newly developed Intelligent Exposure (iA) Mode simplifies face detection autofocus, AF tracking for moving subjects, scene mode selection, and ISO to make great pictures as simple as point-and-shoot. Concentrate on the subject in front of you - let the camera do the rest.

• Creative Control Options

Along with manual and automatic exposure control, the DMC-GF1 features Color Mode. In addition to 7 preset effects (Expressive, Retro, Pure, Elegant, Monochrome, Dynamic Art, and Silhouette), users can customize color, brightness, and saturation settings in real time. Nine unique Film Modes further extend control of visual aesthetics.

• HD Video Recording

The DMC-GF1 can record 1280 x 720 HD video with AVCHD Lite compression to conserve memory card space. Users can enjoy taking maximum advantage of advanced lens options and the camera's large sensor size for high-quality motion-picture recording. Capture starts at the touch of a dedicated button. HD, QVGA, VGA, and WVGA recording options offer drag-and-drop file compatibility with PCs and many nonlinear editing systems.

• Expandability Options

Micro Four Thirds System products are joining today's Four Thirds System products to provide higher levels of interchangeable lens system performance. Four Thirds standard lens can be adapted to the DMC-GF1 via an optional mount adaptor. This gives users access to a large range of quality optics.

The hot shoe atop the camera allows for an optional flash or tilting DMW-LVF1 Live View Finder to be added.

Features that I really liked on the GF1:

iA mode: One thing I like on the GF1 is the iA mode. I would not really use it myself, but some who buy this camera, for example, someone like my mother, can pick this up and set it to iA mode and shoot away. The camera will do all of the work and you will be sure to get perfect exposures. iA works well.

Film Modes: There are also creative options and much like the Olympus EP1, these end up being sort of gimmicky and I did not really like them enough to use them. I did prefer the modes of the EP1 better than I did on the GF1.

HD Video: The HD video on the GF1 is superb IMO. No, its not 1080P like the $3500 Canon 5DMKII, but it is better than what I get from my Leica D-Lux 4 and the Olympus EP1. It has 720P video using AVCHD, which is what HD camcorders are using these days, or you can set it for MJPEG capture for maximum compatibility with your editor. With the included kit zoom, I was able to get some great video on the GF1. Unfortunately, I use Imovie 08 and it s not compatible with the AVCHD format! My video plays back at 2X the speed, so I will add some sample full res HD video to this review within a few days after I upgrade my software to Imovie 09.

Electronic Viewfinder Option: With the GF1, you have the option to buy the DMW - LVF1 viewfinder. This nifty little VF attaches to the hot shoe of the GF1 and gives you a great electronic view (EVF) - I did not get one of these sent to me with the review, but some friends who have it say it is superb and if you are one who does not like to always use the rear LCD to compose, this VF can give you a more traditional way of shooting.

<The DMW-LVF1 Viewfinder.

Of course with the GF1 you get all of the nifty tricks like face recognition, image stabilization in the kit zoom, super nice 3” high res LCD, built-in pop up flash, and choice of AVCHD or MJPEG 720P 60 FPS video.

As for build, the build is very good for a camera in this price range. Is it a Nikon D700? No, but I am thankful for that because if I wanted big and heavy I would buy the D700 or D3. The GF1 is nicely built, and it is light at the same time. Still, I did prefer the EP1 build as it fit my hand better and felt like a smooth metal brick. The menu system on the GF1 is identical to the D-Lux 4 so I had no problem navigating it. Seemed simple enough to me. The buttons on the back were all pretty useful and simple and the battery only had to be recharged ONCE in the 2 1/2 weeks I shot with the camera. I had no issues with the battery, menus, or build.

So, as I was shooting this camera, I was curious. How would it compare to my favorite compact camera of all time? The Leica D-Lux 4 has been an amazing camera for me and my wife. I shoot it, she shoots it, my son shoots it, and the results are always great. I recently made that my camera of choice for our cruise vacation (see that report here) and the camera did amazingly well for a small, compact, small sensor camera. The GF1 is larger   in build and it also has a larger sensor. It also has more features like better video with AF, capability to change lenses, and better high ISO performance.

I decided to do compare the two side-by-side and see how the IQ stacks up. Also, just for the hell of it and due  to a few e-mail requests, I threw in the Leica M9 as well. 

CLICK HERE TO GO TO PAGE THREE - “COMPARISONS”