Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Feature Review
Panasonic has just announced yet another camera to it’s Lumix series. This one, the Lumix DMC-GF1
The GF1 features a live MOS sensor that is equipped with 4/3 type 12.1 megapixels. With this it has the combined quality of a CCD sensor plus it’s dumbed down power consumption. In addition, the camera produces clearer images due to it’s ignorance to it’s brand new circuit system. This all results in higher S/N levels, allowing for increases not only in the picture, but video quality as well.
The DMC-GF1 also captures gorgeous high definition video with 1280 x 720 resolution in MPEG-4/H.264. Although there have been a large increase in digital cameras providing HD video, the GF1 brings it to a whole new level. AVCHD Lite also brings in more well managed data storage, letting you take full advantage of your SD card. Essentially, this means more efficiency when it comes to video being recorded onto your SDHD card.
The Lumix DMC-GF1 also features a well hidden flash. By the simple press of the button, you have full control as to when you want the flash to pop out. Additionally, you also have complete control over the brightness of the flash within the range of ±2 EV at 1/3 EV steps for more precise lighting in unusual situations.
The new iA mode for the GF1 is also quite an advancement. This allows for automatic activation of a wide array of features in this camera. Take a quick read through some of them below….
- Face Recognition: This function recognizes the faces of subjects that have been registered in the camera and displays the names of up to three people. The GF1 then optimizes the focus and brightness of the registered faces. Turn Face Recognition item ON and register the person with a full-face portrait on the shooting menu in advance.
- AF Tracking: Once you’ve focused on a subject, AF Tracking keeps the subject in focus–even if it moves–until you press the shutter release.
- Intelligent Exposure: The camera can correct the brightness in parts of the image that are too dark due to insufficient lighting, backlighting or use of the flash.
- Intelligent Scene Selector: The camera automatically selects whichever of five Scene modes–Portrait, Night Portrait, Scenery, Night Scenery, and Macro–best suits the situation.
- Face Detection AF/AE: The camera detects when there are faces in the frame and adjusts the focus and exposure to capture them properly. This allows you to shoot beautiful portraits without any hassle.
- Intelligent ISO Control: If the subject moves as you snap the shot, the camera automatically adjusts the ISO sensitivity and shutter speed to help prevent subject blur.
- MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer): Gyrosensors built into the lens detect hand-shake and an O.I.S. shifts to compensate. Assisting you in getting those clear, beautiful, blur-free photos.
*Some functions in iA mode will not be available depending on the lens that is mounted.
Photocredit: dpreview.com
One of the more interesting features of this Lumix camera is it’s Full Time Live View. This lets you adjust a wide diversity of different components of the image you’re about to shoot like aperture, exposure, shutter speed and much more. With this feature you’ll have the ability to take more accurate photos immediately, and not have to waste time shooting multiple photos to get the right shot.
After reviewing the features it’s clear to me that this Panasonic camera is going to be one of the more dominant ones in it’s category. With state of the art technology being implemented into a regular point and shoot camera, the GF1 will no doubt be a hot product for photographers, but also for the regular consumer, especially during the upcoming holiday season.
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Auto focus works in video as well. You can go fully manual just like with a dslr and change lenses to suit. In lens stabilization works well. Controls are easy to figure out and intuitive to use.