Panasonic Announces GF2

Panasonic has announced the LUMIX GF2 digital camera, their smallest and lightest interchangeable lens system camera – complete with a built-in flash. The LUMIX GF2 is the successor to the GF1 and has been reduced approximately 19% in size and approximately 7% in weight. Additionally, the LUMIX GF2 is compatible with Panasonic’s new 3D interchangeable lens, so users will now be able to take 3D photos.

The camera will be available in Canada February 2011 and pricing will be announced prior to shipment.

Interestingly, it seems that Panasonic has finally settled on referring to their compact mirrorless digital interchangeable lens cameras as DSLM (DSLMicro) compact mirrorless cameras (as compared to the DSLR).

PANASONIC INTRODUCES COMPANY’S SMALLEST AND LIGHTEST DIGITAL INTERCHANGEABLE LENS SYSTEM CAMERA WITH FLASH

Panasonic LUMIX GF2 features touch-screen operation, Full HD video recording capability and is compatible with Panasonic’s Interchangeable 3D Lens

MISSISSAUGA, ON (November 4, 2010) – Panasonic Canada Inc. announced today the LUMIX DMC-GF2, its latest DSLMicro (DSLMicro) compact mirrorless camera complete with built in flash. Now the smallest and lightest interchangeable lens system camera available from the LUMIX family, the DMC-GF2 is compatible with lenses from the Micro Four Thirds standard, meaning the system is compact without compromising ease of operation or image quality. The LUMIX GF2 is also compatible with Panasonic’s new 3D Interchangeable Lens, the LUMIX G 12.5mm / F12, so users can take 3D photos.

“Compared to its predecessor the GF1, this new DSLMicro model is almost 20 per cent smaller and about seven per cent lighter yet it still retains its signature built-in flash,” said Doug Borbath, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Canada Inc. “We expect the LUMIX GF2 to be an attractive model for consumers who want a more powerful camera that doesn’t require professional photography experience. It’s also ‘future-proof’ with its 3D capabilities – making it a great choice for those looking to trade up their current camera.”

The LUMIX GF2 is extremely easy to operate for photographers at any level. Thanks to a newly- designed interface, users can set the focus or release the shutter by simply touching the large three-inch touch-screen LCD. This touch-screen LCD with a 460,000-dot-resolution makes taking great photos intuitive. By simply locking on a person or object of focus, the GF2 tracks the subject with the AF tracking function, even if there is movement – making it easy to take photos of moving subjects, like children playing. The contrast AF system adopted by the GF2 is not only accurate and easy to use, but also very fast. Users can choose from a wide range of AF (Auto Focus) modes, including multiple-area AF with up to 23 focus areas, 1-area AF with a selectable focus area, Face Detection, and AF Tracking.

The touch operation dramatically shortens the time spent navigating the menus. With the GF2’s newly-designed Touch Q-menu, the user can customize the camera’s shortcuts with the most commonly used settings. Together with the simple button components, including dedicated buttons for video recording and iA (Intelligent Auto) mode which lights in-use, users can operate the camera intuitively with ease.

With the Intelligent Scene Selector in the iA mode, the camera automatically switches to the appropriate mode according to the subject touched. For example, a touch on a human face switches to the portrait mode and a touch on the background or scenery switches to the scenery mode, while a touch on the subject close to the camera switches to the close-up mode. With the MF assist mode for manual focusing, users can enlarge the subject by just a touch to select 1x, 5x or 10x and smoothly move the subject by dragging it on the screen. In iA mode and the Peripheral Defocus mode, the range of defocus can be adjusted by just moving the slider with a finger, something not possible with larger more complicated DSLR cameras that don’t feature touch control.

While achieving breakthroughs in compactness of design and outstanding photo and video quality, the Panasonic LUMIX GF2 attributes its professional-level imaging performance to well-balanced engine and sensor technologies. For the image processor, the Venus Engine FHD is incorporated, featuring exceptionally high performance signal processing capabilities in both photo and movie recording. With the advanced noise reduction system employing the 3D NR and CNR (Chromatic Noise Reduction), users can capture clear, naturally-balanced images even when shooting at high ISO sensitivity levels to help prevent the colour bleeding.

Panasonic’s Venus Engine FHD enables Intelligent Resolution technology, which means that three areas – outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation – are automatically detected. Then, the outline parts are enhanced effectively to provide clearer edges while giving a moderate accentuation to the texture areas to look more finely detailed. To the soft gradation part, the noise reduction system is applied to make it smoother. Apart from the uniform enhancement of sharpness, the innovative technology Intelligent Resolution precisely performs signal processing pixel by pixel, resulting in images that are naturally clear and crisp in both video and photos. The 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor featured in the GF2 offers the best of both worlds – the superb image quality of a CCD sensor, plus the lower power consumption of a CMOS sensor.

All of Panasonic’s LUMIX G-Series DSLMicro cameras are equipped with the highly-efficient Dust Reduction System. If dust gets inside the camera when the user changes lenses, it could cling to the image sensor and show up as a spot in photos. The Dust Reduction System helps to reduce this risk by placing a supersonic wave filter in front of the Live MOS sensor. Vibrating vertically around 50,000 times per second, the filter repels dust and other particles.

The LUMIX GF2 shoots professional-quality full High Definition (HD) videos as well as handling still photography. The GF2 can record 1920 x 1080 videos at 60i or smooth HD 1280 x 720 movies at 60p in AVCHD. For those looking for better compatibility with computers, the GF2 can also record HD Motion JPEG in 1280 x 720 and QVGA, VGA and WVGA. A dedicated video record button makes it easy to start shooting videos, and high quality sound is recorded with the stereo microphone for Dolby® Digital Stereo Creator. Panasonic’s iA mode extends to video recording, with the following features: Optical Image Stabilizer, Face Detection, Intelligent D-range Control and Intelligent Scene Selector.

The Panasonic LUMIX GF2 is artistic not only in form, but also in function, as it provides an array of features that lets users capture true-to-life images while also creating their own expressive, beautiful images. The GF2 features My Colour mode which is integrated with the conventional Film mode. My Colour mode offers a total of eight preset effects — Expressive, Retro, Pure, Elegant, Cinema, Monochrome, Dynamic Art, Silhouette, plus Custom mode, which lets users manually set the colour, brightness, saturation and contrast levels. Also, with the Full-time Live View function, users can see how these settings will affect the images before they shoot, which makes it easier to capture the exact effect desired. The GF2 has 17 Scene modes, most of which can be used during video shooting too. The exposure meter can be displayed in the P/A/S/M shooting modes for entry-level users to visually learn the correlation between shutter speed and aperture to enhance their photography skills.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF2, with a quality and solid aluminum body, will be available in black and red models with the following kit options: DMC-GF2K – 14-42mm Zoom Lens Kit and DMW-GF2C – 14mm F2.5 Lens Kit in black, white and red colours. The LUMIX GF2 will be available in February 2011 and pricing will be announced prior to shipment.

Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds and Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds Logo marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Olympus Imaging Corporation, in Japan, the United States, the European Union and other countries.
The “AVCHD” is a high definition (HD) digital video recording / playback format jointly established by Panasonic Corporation and Sony Corporation.
Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.
All other company and product names are trademarks of their respective corporations.
This unit is compatible with both SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Cards. You can only use SDHC Memory Cards on devices that are compatible with them. You cannot use SDHC Memory Cards on devices that are only compatible with SD Memory Cards. (When using an SDHC Memory Card on another device, be sure to read the operating instructions for that device.)
The use of recorded or printed materials that are protected by copyright for any purpose other than personal enjoyment is prohibited, as it would infringe upon the rights of the copyright holder.
Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Panasonic products are marketed in Canada by Panasonic Canada Inc. (PCI). PCI is an affiliate of Panasonic Corporation (PC) of Japan, one of the world’s largest producers of electronic and electric products for consumer, business, and industrial use. Consumers seeking more information on the company’s products can call Panasonic’s Customer Care Centre at 1-800-561-5505 or access Panasonic’s home page at www.panasonic.ca.

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Related Link:

• Panasonic DMC-GF2 Technical Specs