First Impressions: Panasonic Lumix GF1
It’s finally here! I got a call today to say that my Lumix GF1 had arrived in store so of course I rushed off to pick it up. While I haven’t had a chance to really play with it yet (the battery is charging), I can give some early comments on the build and handling. If you’ve been following this latest entry in the Micro Four Thirds system you’ve no doubt seen the praise that’s been heaped upon it in reviews, and I can gladly say that my impressions aren’t any different.
In the box you’ll find the camera body (of course) and whichever lens you’ve opted for (I chose the 14-45mm lens over the 20mm) as well as lens caps, a lens bag, a shoulder strap, a battery + charger and a lens hood (only with the 14-45mm lens), plus all the standard manuals and documentation. The first thing I noticed about the camera is that it feels great to hold. The mostly metal body looks nice and feels very sturdy. The size of the body is pretty much what you’ve been led to expect: it’s much slimmer than a full-size DSLR, but larger than a compact. It’s not actually that much bigger than my Canon PowerShot SX100IS, though that camera is larger than most compacts (which has always been part of its appeal to me). Even with the zoom lens attached, the weight of the GF1 is comfortable and it doesn’t feel too front-heavy. I can’t see it being a burden while on holiday, especially with the included shoulder strap.
I’ll leave any further comments for when I’ve actually powered up the camera and played around with it, but as far as the feel of the GF1 goes I am very pleased and impressed.
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[...] by Steve on May 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment When I bought myself a Panasonic Lumix GF1 last year, I opted for the 14-45mm zoom lens kit instead of the 20mm prime. I’ve been very [...]
G’day and congrats on the camera. Can I ask how much you paid for it? Certainly is a beasty looking thing. Only issue I have is battery life. Canons are easy enough, just switch the AA rechargeables. But Lumix run their own Li-ions…would hate to run out of juice away from the hotel room and not have a spare. What do you reckon?
I paid AU$1349, which is a fair amount off the RRP. Most stores seem to be offering similar prices ($1350-1400) but I don’t think many are actually stocking the camera – i.e. they’ll order one in for you but might not have any on the shelves for you to play with.
I’ve heard that the estimated 350-380 picture battery life is pretty accurate, and that’s quite reasonable to take out for a day. I would definitely prefer it if it took AAs – my Canon with rechargeable NiMH batteries has incredible battery life, and it’s cheap and easy to have replacements for if they do run out – but if battery life proves to be an issue I’ll lay down the cash for another Panasonic battery.
I’ll be sure to post my thoughts on battery life once I’ve given the GF1 a good run, so check back if you’re interested. ^^
So jealous >.>
Was contemplating getting the GF1 in the future, but then I thought I may as well get an SLR.
Really looking forward to seeing how it compares to the LX3!
It’s more appropriate to compare the GF1 (and the Micro Four Thirds system in general) to DSLRs than to the LX3. In terms of picture quality it’s equivalent to a Canon 500D or Nikon D5000. Basically you should consider it a DSLR in a smaller body, rather than a compact camera.
This review of the GF1 makes comparisons with the 500D as well as the LX3, so it’s worth a read if you’re interested. The short version is that the GF1 significantly beats the LX3 in terms of detail – especially in RAW format – but both being Panasonic, they give quite similar colours.