Every camera aficionado knows that Panasonic was one of the pioneers of the mirror-less camera, which was seen as one the most significant development in the imaging sector. When it brought out the Lumix DMC-G1, its design pretty much mirrored (puns intended!) that of a traditional SLR, which made it rather bulky. Also, it didn’t come with a movie mode, which also drew a considerable amount of flak from the critics and aficionados alike. Thus, as an answer to such critique, Panasonic introduced the Lumix DMC-GF1, which is a more improved version of the G1. Not only does it come in a smaller, slimmer and more compact package, it includes the video mode too and, what’s more, it comes in wonderful colours, which take away the drab and serious look that an SLR exudes. This camera comes with 12.1mp resolution and a prime kit lend of 40mm (in 35mm scale).
Design and FunctioningThe GF1 is undoubtedly smaller than its big brother, the G1, and instead of a traditional DSLR hand-grip, the Lumix DMC-GF1 has a slightly raised vertical area on the front-right which isn't big or pronounced enough to be of much assistance. The rubberized thumb-rest on the rear is a lot more useful and offers support to the user while using. The Lumix DMC-GF1 comes in colours like Midnight Black, Pearl White, Metallic Silver, Plum Red and Baby Pink. Optical image stabilisation is supplied via the lens, rather than being built-in to the camera body, rather than the body, like all the other models of Panasonic. One scene mode that this camera comes with, which is particularly worthy of mention, is the new Peripheral Defocus option, which makes it easy for beginners to achieve a blurred background / sharp subject effect without having to understand what apertures are. Intelligent Auto mode tries to make things as easy as possible for the complete beginner. It allows the user to point and shoot the camera without having to worry about choosing the right scene mode or settings. The Panasonic DMC-GF1 has a small dedicated Motion Picture button to the right of the shutter button, which is the improvement from its earlier models. This camera is compatible with SD/SDHC as well as MMC cards.
