Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Review Index – (updated 17 November’09)

Video Review @ DigitalRev

Photocrati
“Many will agree this camera is not easier to use than a lot of basic DSLRas, some feel its ease of use is based in its digicam like operation. People who have check it out thought it was small, in a good way, felt solid, movable LCD, and the very nice electronic viewfinder. Some may think it’s a little on the expensive side however the 14-140mm lens is way more usable than shorter DSLR kit lenses.”

TechRadar
“We had fun with this camera mainly because of its outstanding sensor, common sense design, and cool exposure controls. If any camera will re-ignite your love of photography this is it and if that’s not a mark of a truly outstanding camera we don’t know what is.”
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LetsGoDigital
“It would be really nice to have a better quality electronic viewfinder to replace the one Panasonic currently delivers. With development happening as we write we are confident the next release of this camera will be sporting a higher quality viewfinder. However, this is a great xamera and Panasonic deserves a pat on the back.”
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Steve’s Digicams
“This camera does a good job in a lot of different photo situations and the best part is you never have to worry about taking it out of auto. As far as performance and clean ISO range it’s a pretty capable piece of hardware.”

DigitalCameraInfo
“This camera shines when it comes to capturing clear sharp images, in fact, when it comes to resolution it was better than the full size SLRs that cost the same. Its onboard noise reduction really impressed us when we cranked it up because most of the time small image sensors yield noisy photos, not this one. White balance was accurate in both auto and custom. Another thing, this cameras auto focus system is fast, real fast. Lets be honest, it won’t keep up with a full on pro camera but hey, take this to your kids next soccer game and you will love how it performs.”

Pocket-lint
“This camera is brilliant and definitely receives out vote for its ability to merge DSLR functions with size and portability. But… it appears Olympus is not taking this laying down and future releases of the PEN could spell some tough competition for the GF1.”
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PCMag
“Its low light results were a little disappointing, this is one powerful camera that comes in a little profile. Size, speed, features, and DSLR photo quality make this micro-four-thirds camera one of the most desirable cameras yet.”
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TrustedReviews
“This camera will someday be regarded as a classic. Its photo quality is as good as a digital SLR but it is small enough to pack around in your pocket. If you consider quality, performance and picture quality this camera is of the highest order.”
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CNET
“This is the first camera to actually deliver on the benefit of a mirrorless system: interchangeable lenses in a small form factor without killing features, speed, or picture quality at a price that won’t break the bank. Its one problem is the goofy LCD/EVF-based viewfinder system for shooting action. If you want something with a little more horsepower than a point-and-shoot, I recommend the GF1.”
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ByThom
“Aside from image quality, the GF1 nearly wins. I feel this for a couple of reasons. Number one, autofocus is a clear win for the GF1. If you need or want autofocus or even manual focus, I’d recommend you pick up the GF1. However the GF1’s kit zoom lens doesn’t collapse, the camera itself doesn’t have sensor-based stabilization, and the slightly better controls and built-in flash aren’t big enough pluses to overcome those other two things.”
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ePhotozine
“Overall the camera works well with the auto setting of white balance, although in our tests we found that sometimes the preset would work better and sometimes the auto.”

CNET.uk
“If you want a camera that does as much as possible as cheaply as possible, don’t get this one. With the GF1, you get simplicity, quality and precision, not gadgets. It will appeal most to dSLR owners looking for a back up camera, as well as old school photographers who prefer simplicity to technology. “
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GoodGearGuide (Editor’s Choice)
“We like the build quality and the look of the GF1 very much, and its picture quality is great as well. It has a fast burst mode (up to three frames per second), a useful HD video mode (albeit without stereo audio recording), and it’s very easy to use. What we don’t like is its noisy performance at high ISO speeds, its sometimes unreliable autofocusing in dimly lit scenes, and the fact that the screen often misrepresents the shot about to be taken.”
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DPExpert
“This is a marvelous camera. There is a saying that the best camera is the one you have with you, and 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.”

TheOnlinePhotographer (Field Report)
“This camera can be carried with you, it’s unobtrusive, quick to respond, quick to focus, has a fast lens, produces excellent image quality and has good low-light performance.”

DPReview
“I really loved the GF1, and will find it very hard to return it when this review is finished, meaning that I may have to wipe the dust and cobwebs off my wallet and actually hand over my own hard earned cash for one. The Olympus E-P1 now has some very, very strong competition in the form of possibly the most engaging and enjoyable camera on the market today. A compromise, for sure, but a surprisingly happy one.”
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Imaging Resource
“Overall, the Panasonic GF1 is an extremely good camera for such a small package, recording impressive detail thanks to its quality sensor, image processor, and fine optics. While we’d never say it’s for everyone, the Panasonic GF1 will be irresistible for many of our readers; and it’s a sure Dave’s Pick.”

MacWorld
“SLR shoppers will be put off by the limited lens selection and lack of a true viewfinder. But if you want better quality than what you can get from a point-and-shoot and aren’t interested in the bulk of an SLR, the Lumix DMC-G1 will afford you plenty of photographic power and a lot of room to learn and grow.”
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DigitalCameraReview
“The camera focuses quickly, has good shutter response and a decent continuous shooting rate. Image and video quality are very good, ISO performance leaves true compact digitals far behind, and there’s a bunch of lenses that will mount on the camera with proper adaptors, and, depending on their age, provide partial to full compatibility.”

PhotographyBlog
“The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 takes most of the good points of its bigger brothers, the G1 and GH1, and literally squeezes them inside a smaller, more compact-camera-like body. The fantastically well-implemented Live View, lightning fast auto-focus, excellent image quality and added bonus of 720p video make the GF1 a great camera for beginners and more serious photographers alike.”
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DCResource
“It’s safe to say that you can’t get a better endorsement than having a reviewer buying the camera they are writing about. For travel and everyday shooting, the GF1 more than fits the bill. It offers great photo quality, snappy performance, and all the bells and whistles that users of compact cameras are used to, with all the benefits of an interchangeable lens camera. The GF1 is the camera many people have been waiting for, and Panasonic certainly delivered the goods.”

Luminous Landscape
“In the final analysis what we come down to is that the GF1 is likely the best of breed at the moment, but not a panacea for someone looking for a semi-pocketable large sensor camera. When combined with the LVF1 electronic viewfinder the camera starts to have an overall profile close to that of the GH1, but gives up that camera’s state-of-the-art EVF and articulated LCD, as well as 1920X1080 HD video capability.”

Which43
“That shutter is pretty loud, especially considering there is no mirror flapping around in there.”

CNET Asia
“The GF1 and the E-P1 had us torn, and if we were forced to choose only one, we wouldn’t be able to make a decision. The Lumix has its merits, such as onboard flash and an electronic viewfinder options, which makes it stand out from its rival. But at the same time, the lack of an sensor-shift image stabilization puts it at a slight disadvantage, considering the Micro Four Thirds system is supposed to be compatible with a wide range of other optics via adapters.”
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PhotoReview
“Potential buyers should note that even though Panasonic has packed in lots of automated functions for point-and-shoot users, the full capabilities of this camera can only be realized with raw file capture – and only by users who are prepared to edit images in Adobe’s Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. The high price tag of the camera plus lens can be justified by the performance achievable through these means – but not if you plan to stick with the bundled software.”
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HardwareZone
“This is a joy of a camera to shoot with. It gave us better shots than we could hope for with any compact, at an acceptable trade-off between size and convenience. It’s dead-easy to use, with Panasonic’s intelligent iA (Intelligent Auto) mode for point and shoot situations, and full manual settings for finer control. The body is finely balanced and controls are conveniently placed. The auto-focusing technology is fast and spot-on and makes shooting a breeze.”
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Video at Four Thirds User

Video Preview at WhatDigitalCamera