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PANASONIC CANADA INTRODUCES ITS LATEST LUMIX G SERIES DIGITAL CAMERA – THE LUMIX DMC-GF1
The LUMIX GF1, the world’s smallest and lightest system digital camera with built-in flash*, packs powerful DSLR and HD video capabilities into a sleek and easy-to-use compact body
Mississauga, ON (September 2, 2009) – Today, Panasonic Canada Inc. announced the new LUMIX DMC-GF1, the world’s smallest and lightest system digital camera with a built-in flash*. This addition to the award-winning LUMIX G Series, distinguishes itself with an elegant, compact design reminiscent of classic film cameras. The LUMIX DMC-GF1 also builds on Panasonic’s success with the revolutionary LUMIX G Series of digital interchangeable lens system cameras based on the Micro Four Thirds system standard. With its compact size, user-friendly design, ability to record High Definition (HD) video, and take professional-quality photos, the LUMIX GF1 redefines digital photography standards.
Panasonic revolutionized the digital camera industry with the world’s first Micro Four Thirds digital camera, the LUMIX G1 – a compact “DSLR-like” digital camera that produces exceptional image quality. Panasonic continued to raise the innovation bar with the launch of the LUMIX GH1, adding full HD 1080p video recording with continuous auto focus.
“The LUMIX GF1 continues the evolution of our LUMIX G Series, with its sophisticated, small body which makes it easier and more convenient to carry,” said Doug Borbath, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Canada Inc. “The GF1 is ideal for point-and-shoot consumers looking to step-up to DSLR-quality or for current DSLR users who want greater convenience without compromising performance quality or creative flexibility.”
The lightweight body of the LUMIX GF1 provides experienced photographers with the ideal digital camera to carry with them at all times. Like its predecessors in the series, the LUMIX GF1 eliminates the pentaprism found in traditional interchangeable lens cameras – this mirror-free structure allows Panasonic to dramatically reduce both size and weight.
Though small in size, the LUMIX GF1 thoroughly optimizes the advantages of a system camera to ensure high performance whether capturing photos or HD video. It can record 1280 x 720 High Definition video in AVCHD Lite, a format that enables longer recording times. Plus, with a dedicated video record button, capturing video is convenient and easy. The LUMIX GF1 can also record HD Motion JPEG in 1280 x 720 and other video recording formats including: QVGA, VGA and WVGA. Its unique Movie Program Mode allows consumers to adjust the depth-of-field while shooting in HD video, so background and foreground can be blurred to give creative effects – something typically only possible with expensive professional camcorders.
In addition, the LUMIX DMC-GF1 offers the new My Color mode, which includes seven preset effects – Expressive, Retro, Pure, Elegant, Monochrome, Dynamic Art, Silhouette and Custom – which allows users to manually set the colour, brightness and saturation levels. With the Live View function, users can see how these settings will effect the photo before they shoot, making it easier to capture the exact mood or atmosphere desired. For even more elaborate effects there are a total of nine Film modes to choose from – settings for the contrast, sharpness and saturation levels can be personalized for each mode and stored to memory using a custom save function. Furthermore, the exposure meter can be displayed in other shooting modes and the correlation between shutter speed and aperture is shown with a colour-coded warning that alerts users when the settings are not in the proper range.
For those not quite comfortable with extensive manual and creative controls, the LUMIX GF1 provides a user-friendly setting that can address a beginner’s comfort level, while helping them evolve their photography skills. For instance, Panasonic’s new Scene mode, Peripheral Defocus, lets users take a photo where the foreground is in focus and background is blurred – or vice versa. This popular effect can be intimidating for a beginner, but in the Peripheral Defocus mode, by simply selecting the objects to be blurred and focused using the camera’s keypad, it is simple for photographers of any level.
The LUMIX GF1 also features Panasonic’s popular iA (Intelligent Auto) mode, a system of user-friendly technologies that engage automatically – no setting changes needed allows for intuitive use when shooting still or video images. While shooting video, iA activates Panasonic’s O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization), which helps reduce video-blurring due to handshake. In addition, Face Detection automatically detects a face in the frame and adjusts focus, exposure, contrast, and skin complexion on it so it always turns out beautifully. Intelligent Exposure continually checks the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure setting as conditions change to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows. For still photos, the iA system encompasses Face Recognition (up to six faces can be registered); Auto Focus (AF) Tracking; Mega O.I.S.; Intelligent ISO; Intelligent Exposure; and Intelligent Scene Selector.
The LUMIX GF1 also comes fully-equipped with a built-in flash and a large, 3.0-inch Intelligent LCD with a wide viewing angle and a 460,000-dot resolution. The Intelligent LCD offers automatic backlight control which, when combined with its high-resolution, helps improve visibility in all light environments – from sunny outdoors to low-light interior settings.
The LUMIX GF1’s sensor technology offers the best of both worlds – the superior image quality of a CCD sensor and the low-power consumption of a CMOS sensor. Advanced technology makes it possible to read four channels of data simultaneously, helping the LUMIX GF1 deliver 60 frames-per-second full-time Live View images while maintaining fine detail and rich gradation. The LUMIX GF1’s Venus Engine HD records stunning high-resolution 12-megapixel images using its advanced Live MOS Sensor. This sophisticated LSI circuit separates chromatic noise from luminance noise and applies the optimal noise reduction to each, helping to capture clear and beautiful images even when shooting at high ISO levels.
The contrast AF system adopted in the LUMIX GF1 is not only accurate, but also very quick – approximately 0.3 seconds with the LUMIX G H-FS014045 lens. Users can choose from a wide-range of AF 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 LUMIX GF1 also has a Quick AF function that begins focusing as soon as the user aims the camera – without pressing the shutter button halfway.
As with all Panasonic LUMIX G Series digital cameras, the LUMIX GF1 is equipped with a highly-effective Dust Reduction system. If dust gets inside the camera (when changing lenses), Panasonic’s Dust Reduction system addresses this problem by placing a supersonic wave filter in front of the Live MOS sensor which vertically vibrates around 50,000 times per second, thus repelling the dust.
The content captured on the LUMIX GF1 can easily be viewed on a Panasonic VIERA® HDTV by simply inserting the SD/SDCH Memory Card into the VIERA’s SD/SDHC Memory Card slot or into a Panasonic DIGA Blu-ray Disc Player. Alternatively, an optional mini HDMI cable can be used to output still and motion images recorded with the LUMIX DMC-GF1 directly to the TV for easy VIERA Link™ operation, with control of playback functions, such as slideshows, managed from the VIERA HDTV’s remote control.
The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF1 will be available in early October 2009 with two options. The kit option includes the newly-announced LUMIX G 20mm/F1.7 ASPH, a compact and lightweight “pancake” lens with a manufacturer’s suggested price (MSP) of CAD $1,099.99. The GF1 will also be sold as body-only option with an MSP of CAD $849.99. The optional Live View Finder DMW-LVF1 will also be available in October with an MSP of CAD $199.99. The DMW-MA2M and DMW-MA3R mount adaptors for Leica “M” and Leica “R” lenses, respectively, are available now. Both have an MSP of CAD $299.99.
Available in November is a new macro lens, the HES045 LEICA DG MACRO-ELMARIT 45mm / F2.8 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. (35mm camera equivalent: 90mm). The first Leica lens developed for the Micro Four Thirds System standard, this lens will have an MSP of CAD $1,199.99. The HH020 20mm pancake lens will also be sold separately at CAD $499.99 MSP. The HFS014045 LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm / F3.5-5.6ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. lens will be available at CAD $349.99.
•Panasonic in-house comparison. The speed may vary depending on the specifications of PC and the number of images stored in the PC and other condition.
•AVCHD Lite motion images recorded onto an SD Memory Card or a DVD cannot be played on a device that does not support the AVCHD standard.
•Some video recording functions may not be available depending on the lens that is mounted.
•When setting quality to HD, WVGA or VGA, Panasonic recommends using a high-speed card with “10MB/s” or greater displayed on the package.
•Continuous recording exceeding 2GB is not possible when recording motion JPEG. Remaining time for continuous recording is displayed on the screen.
•AVCHD Lite motion images recorded onto an SD Memory Card or a DVD disc cannot be played from a device that does not support the AVCHD standard.
•Turn Face Recognition item ON and register the person with full-face portrait on the shooting menu in advance. Refer to back page for detail.
•Some functions in iA mode may not be available depending on the lens that is mounted.
• Lenses that are not compatible with the contrast AF function can be used with manual focusing.
•There are some limitations to other functions depending on the lens to attach.
Panasonic, LUMIX and VIERA are registered trademarks of Panasonic Corporation.
LEICA is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH.
HDMI, and the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.
All other trademarks are property of the respective owners.
Panasonic imaging 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.
Related Links:
– Panasonic GF1 QuickFact Sheet
– Panasonic GF1 Sample Images
