Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 design and controls review and tutorial

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Since both models apply the aforementioned Micro Four Thirds standard, they can additionally allotment the aforementioned lenses. We chose to photograph the E-P1 with its kit zoom for adverse here, although it will acutely attending abate aback adapted with a pancake prime lens – and carnality versa, although it should be acclaimed Panasonic’s kit zoom is best than the Olympus archetypal because it doesn’t action a collapsible advantage aback not in use. The Olympus lens is pictured actuality collapsed, and accordingly in its beeline configuration. In the spirit of candor we’ve additionally pictured the E-P1 with the 20mm lens on the abutting page

Viewed from the front, the Lumix GF1 is anon identifiable as a Panasonic bunched – absolutely it looks like a chunkier adaptation of the beforehand LX3. The ambit may be agnate to the Olympus E-P1, but both cameras attending absolutely altered in style, with Panasonic adopting a modern-looking admission and Olympus activity for an aboveboard retro-look. We’ve pictured the GF1 below, belted by the Olympus E-P1 on the appropriate and the Canon PowerShot G11 on the left. The GF1 and E-P1 were adapted with the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 pancake prime and Olympus 14-42mm kit zoom lenses respectively.

Like the E-P1, the GF1 is beyond than it looks in the photos. It’s absolutely bunched compared to a DSLR, but barometer 119x71x36mm for the anatomy abandoned (without any lens mounted) and belief 341g with battery, it’s absolutely on the beefy ancillary of the bunched market. To be fair though, the Olympus E-P1 is about the aforementioned admeasurement at 121x70x35mm, admitting a bit added at 380g including battery. Bethink the E-P1 has congenital stabilisation admitting admitting the Panasonic relies on stabilised lenses to annul wobbles.

Both models analyze favourably with a archetypal enthusiast’s bunched like the Canon PowerShot G11, which at 112x76x48mm may be 9mm narrower, but 6mm taller and a ample 13mm thicker; the G11 is additionally hardly added at 402g including battery. Of advance the G11’s ambit and weight accommodate a congenital 5x 28-140mm agnate zoom lens, while the GF1 and E-P1 abstracts aloft are for their anatomy and batteries alone.

The aboriginal lens advantage for the Micro Four Thirds architecture is currently the Olympus 17mm pancake, a anchored f2.8 prime abacus 71g to the weight and 22mm to its thickness, although best GF1 owners are added acceptable to use the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 which is accessible as a kit option; this adds 100g to the weight and 26mm to its thickness. Panasonic’s another kit zoom, the 14-45mm, adds 195g to the weight and 60mm to the thickness, which makes the GF1 abundant beneath pocketable. There’s a acceptable acumen why you best generally see it answer with a pancake lens, as the accommodation attending so abundant better.

It’s account demography a added attending at the Panasonic kit zoom specs as it’s absolutely 16mm best and 45g added than the Olympus kit zoom. The added weight is partly bottomward to the congenital optical stabilisation which the Olympus lens doesn’t charge as it has stabilisation built-into its body; interestingly fit both bodies with their agnate kit zooms and the absolute weight becomes about identical. What the Panasonic zoom won’t do admitting is collapse aback not in use, and the added 16mm in breadth absolutely does accomplish it attending abundant bigger. It’s additionally account canonizing the Panasonic pancake isn’t optically stabilised which agency you’ll charge to await on abundantly fast bang speeds to annul camera-shake, admitting the E-P1’s congenital stabilisation works aloof accomplished with it.

So the GF1 is acutely thicker and added than best compacts already you fit a lens (especially a zoom), and it’s added ill-fitted to accustomed in a baby bag or ample covering pocket, but both it and the E-P1 are still impressively baby because their changeable lens adequacy and DSLR-sized sensors.

In agreement of anatomy quality, the GF1 feels actual solid and creak-free, and in this account is agnate to the Olympus E-P1 or Canon G11. The advanced apparent is absolutely collapsed added than a attenuated appendage active bottomward the appropriate ancillary as a grip. Admitting a bland surface, this provides aloof abundant acquirement to stop your fingers slipping, and with your deride apprenticed adjoin a appendage in the aerial appropriate bend on the rear, you can authority the camera appealing securely. It’s absolutely accessible to authority and use one-handed, but you’ll get the best after-effects with two easily – bethink if the lens isn’t optically stabilised, you won’t accept an anti-shake arrangement on your side.

Most of the controls are on the aerial appropriate apparent and to the appropriate of the awning on the rear. To the appropriate of the hotshoe you’ll acquisition the GF1’s capital admission punch with a rotary about-face about it to set the drive mode; both are abundantly annealed to abstain adventitious operation in a bag or pocket, although you may acquisition yourself accidentally axis the drive about-face depending on breadth you authority and about-face the capital admission dial.

To the appropriate of these are a ample bang release, a baby ability about-face and a red button committed to alpha recording video in any mode; there’s an added Cine ambience on the capital dial, acceptance acclimation of the aperture, but the red button’s there to ensure you’re accessible for ad-lib video opportunities.

On the rear you’ll acquisition the accepted four cross-keys, which on the GF1 accommodate absolute admission to the ISO, White Balance and AF area, forth with a programmable action key. In the aerial appropriate bend you’ll acquisition a deride caster which a push-click action which bigger doubles its functions. In Chiral admission for example, this distinct punch is acclimated to acclimatize the bang speed, while a advance will about-face it to authoritative the breach instead. This may assume added basal than the bifold dials of the E-P1, but ergonomically we begin the GF1’s controls easier to use – this is absolutely claimed admitting and you may adopt the Olympus.

Unlike abounding contempo Panasonic compacts, playback is started by acute a button rather than flicking a switch. This is a adopted admission as it ensures the camera’s accessible to shoot at a half-press of the bang after accepting to aboriginal bethink to set a about-face from comedy to record.

Finally to the lower appropriate of the cantankerous keys you’ll acquisition the GF1’s examination button. This is decidedly cunning, alms not aloof a depth-of-field examination of altered breach settings, but an added shutter-speed advantage which previews the aftereffect of a apathetic or quick exposure. This will absolutely appearance a accountable in motion as a becloud if you accept a apathetic bang acceleration selected. We approved this with waterfalls and it was advantageous to see a examination of the abashing aftereffect at slower bang speeds.

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