Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 - Test Shots - Detail and Lens Performance

A range of general test shots are shown over the next two pages. In some cases, the full size image has been reduced for bandwidth purposes, and a crop taken from the original full resolution image has been placed below it to show the overall image quality. Some other pictures may be clicked to view the original full-size image.

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The 20mm kit lens is too wide for my standard test shot and doesn't zoom, so I got a bit closer.

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The level of fine detail and contrast is as good as anything you'd expect from an APS-C DSLR.

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Despite its wide angle there's no trace of distortion.

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Centre sharpness is excellent.

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Despite shooting at maximum aperture there's no trace of chromatic aberration or corner blurring.

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29 comments

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mark

7:48 PM on 31 October, 2009

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This looks like the camera I have been waiting for & hoping someone would make. The one thing I would have liked to see in this review is some size comparisons with other cameras, such as a Nikon D60, Olympus E450, & maybe a compact camera or 2 such as the Panasonic TZ4. These are cameras many of us can relate to, & it would help with actually knowing how pocketable this camera really is.

Score:

Luis

7:56 PM on 31 October, 2009

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It looks indeed like a wonderful camera!

Current price is one problem, as pointed out. The other one might be that this camera is only this portable with this prime lens, which (as good as it is) limits a bit its usefulness. Once you use a zoom lens it's no longer a pocket camera, so the smaller body size becomes less important.

Videos shot in low light with this lens look really good (example: http://www.vimeo.com/7165598).

Indigo

12:30 AM on 1 November, 2009

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Always a pleasure reading a review that has real energy and enthusiasm, and gives a sense of what a new product will enable its owner to achieve technically and creatively.

Clovis

2:21 AM on 1 November, 2009

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Hmmph. About time, I say.Wonder what all of the "there is no way DSLR's will EVER be replaced..." crowd must be thinking...I remember the "no way a mirror can be avoided because contrast-detect just CAN'T compete with phase-detect" comments...While this one isn't like the top-notch DSLR's in terms of focusing speeds, just wait a year or two.Better algorithms and processing muscle can do wonders.Sorry, guys, but DSLR's are a mechanical-electronical kludge created by companies with a vested interest in a profitable format who don't want to lose their lens markets. Sure, they take great pictures, but at the expense of a bulky, noisy carryover mechanism from the film era.These vested interests are the only real reason a "ground-up" pro-image quality electronic imaging device hasn't come up until the G-series from Panasonic. After all, what has Panny got to lose? This is really gonna loose the fox among the hens... The Big Two just gotta be grinding their teeth, cause this is probably just the beginning of Evil Panny's plot to take over the world...Har,Har,Har. The next coupla years are bound to be interesting (in the Chinese sense of the word).

overthere

9:28 AM on 1 November, 2009

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I think the pancake description makes a lot more sense with a lens like the pentax 40mm. Victoria sponge for the panasonic 20mm maybe?

Oh and there's a typo on pg3 'the felling Panasonic was aiming for'

John51

11:23 AM on 1 November, 2009

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Regarding micro 4/3 compatibility - the Olympus micro 4/3 lenses will work without issue on the Panasonic cameras as it should be although the lack of IS may be an issue. Compatibility on the 4/3 SLR lenses isn't so simple though, the Panasonic micro 4/3 bodies can only autofocus with the newer 4/3 lenses that were optimised for the contrast detect AF such as the Panasonic 14-50mm (second one that came with the L10, the L1 lens doesn't AF with the Panasonic micro 4/3 bodies), 25mm, F1.4, 14-150mm, Olympus 9-18mm, 14-42mm (4/3 one, non-collapsible), 40-150mm (mk II), 25mm F2.8 and 70-300mm. If any of the other 4/3 lenses are mounted on a Panasonic micro 4/3 body the display will warn to change to MF mode. The EP1 can autofocus on all 4/3 lenses although it will be much slower on those not optimised for contrast detect AF will be slow.

Panasonic's in lens OIS will work on the Olympus EP1, it's controlled via the on/off switch on the lens barrel. It will only work in 'constant on' mode which is generally considered to be slightly less effective than when only applied at exposure plus there's no panning mode. One IS system must be disabled otherwise the two systems will just blur the scene, the in lens IS doesn't have the advantage of a stabilised viewfinder but may be more useful on the longer lenses such as the upcoming 100-300mm. Admittedly it makes little sense to put such a lens on the little EP1 though.

pancake

12:47 PM on 1 November, 2009

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You say comparisons with the Olympus E-P1 are inevitable, but I find it hard to reconcile this review with your E-P1 review few months ago. I understand you don't like being picked-up on the review scores in particular, but even so... for the same list price, with a very similar kit lens, this similar E-P1 scored 7/10 features, 8/10 image quality, and 4/10 value! Other review sites with direct comparisons to the E-P1 suggest, if anything, JPEG image quality might be slightly better on the E-P1, with both cameras very similar in RAW. On the E-P1 you concluded "the enormous cost compared to a good DSLR, and the lack of either a viewfinder or built-in flash will put many people off." So the GF1 fixes the flash, but does this justify the huge difference in your opinion between the two? Sure, the E-P1 has other points, but also does better in some areas. Comparison of your reviews will do nothing to lessen suspicions of a Panasonic bias!

For what it's worth, I think your GF1 review is on the mark, but you were pretty harsh on the E-P1, especially regarding its value for money. Have you changed your opinion as to the value of paying for near SLR quality in a much smaller package?

Frank

1:27 PM on 1 November, 2009

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Yes I think we were served a great and positive review, but I don't think it heralds the death of the DSLR as one commentator seems to believe, that will take decades yet, even in the happy or happier snap segments of the market.

More likely (as Cliff touched on) is the demise or rethinking of Leica and its' pricing if it wants to avoid becoming just an exquisite and ever rarer niche product.

Luis pointed up an important issue, that when you start to incorporate a zoom lens or bulkier glass the portability is almost as diminished as with a DSLR, for me though even this truly great Panny/Lumix camera needs an intergrated viewfinder to pull my thoughts away from my less compact, but paid for, DSLR, with lenses I can easily see through from eye level.

Future pricing will also add extra "interest" in the Clovis sense of the word.

stranded

2:11 PM on 1 November, 2009

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"Is this the first real compact alternative to a digital SLR?"

Yes and could be only a Panasonic.

Paul15

5:47 PM on 1 November, 2009

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I think the lack of a viewfinder is a big mistake. I have an fz18 compact at the moment and must use the viewfinder 9 times out of 10, could never get used to holding the camera at a distance to see the screen.

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