The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 is a compact camera with an interchangeable lens, that uses the Micro Four Thirds Standard. When the first Micro Four Thirds Standard camera was introduced by Panasonic, the DMC-G1, everyone including myself was pretty disappointed because it was bulky. The hopes of a more compact model was not deilvered from the MFT format. Olympus had upped the ante with with the model E-P1. It was compact and what a lot of people desired and expected in a camera. But that camera was plagued with some many flaws from slow auto focusing, no built in flash, and the lack of a viewfinder.
Panasonic made the DMC-GF1, which has every feature the DMC-G1 and the GH1 had and that made it so appealing and places it all in a more compact body. Although it is not as stylish as the Olympus E-P1, it delivers a fast auto focus, pop up flash, and the camera supports an optional electronic viewfinder that the other camera had lacked. The Panasonic DMC-GF1 includes features that has fully functional manual controls, a 3 inch high resolution LCD screen, HD movie mode, and an Intelligent Auto mode.
The DMC-GF1 comes in two kits. The first kit comes with a 20mm pancake lens, the second kit comes with 14-45MM Micro Four Thirds Lens that originally came with the DMC-G1 camera. You have the option of buying a variety of other lens for the camera if you purchase the required adapter for that particular lens. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 comes out on top regardless of what size lens you decide to use on the camera.
Sandra Fink, February 28, 2011
Thanks for this great review, Sara. I just got a Panasonic DMC-TS2---a "rugged" gadget that's waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof, etc. and it's awesome. But what I REALLY want next is the dream of an interchangeable-lens Micro Four Thirds ditty like this Lumix DMC-GF1. I'm saving up for one! :)