Review Date: December 5, 2011
Category: Point-and-Shoot to Beginner
Photoxels Gold Award – Interchangeable Lens Camera
USER’S EXPERIENCE
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 – Here’s what I receive in the box:
- Lumix DMC-GF3 [black]
- No memory card
- Li-ion Battery DMW-BLE9PP 7.2V 940mAh 6.8Wh
- DE-A99 Battery Charger
- Shoulder Strap
- USB Cable and A/V Cable
- Stylus Pen
- Manuals: Basic Owner’s Manual (printed), Owner’s Manual for advanced features (CD)
- Software CDs: PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.2 HD Edition (Win only), SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.1 SE (Win & Mac)
- Kit lens Lumix G X Vario 14-42/F3.5-5.6 ASPH POWER O.I.S. Ø37mm with Lens Cap
Love at first sight. When I first set eyes on the Panasonic GF3, it was love at first sight. The GF3 came in a number of colors and they all look attractive, but I especially liked the white one. The GF3 is also the perfect size and weight combination to replace a point-and-shoot digicam, especially with the added advantages of blazing fast auto focus and DSLR level image quality.
Set it to iA for fully automatic shooting or switch to one of the PASM modes to take over full control. Though most of the controls are accessed through the MENU, the latter is well designed and it does not feel like you have to hunt for the most important functions. The Touch Panel LCD is also well implemented, resulting in a very user friendly camera that is intuitive to use.
The Lumix GF3 does not have a hot shoe so you have to do with the tiny pop-up flash. I am not sure why camera manufacturers do not simply include a small built-in bounce flash to make a complete camera; we’re not talking here about a powerful external flash but one adequate enough for portrait photography.
My review camera came with the Lumix G X 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH Power O.I.S. kit lens with power zoom lever. I like it since you just have to touch the lever to zoom. A scale displays while you zoom. There are only 5 steps, each corresponding to a focal length on the scale: 14mm, 18mm, 25mm, 35mm and 42mm, so it does not allow you to stop at a precise focal length as a manual zoom would, nor can you do fancy zoom while you shoot a still picture at a slow shutter speed. But that’s this lens, and the beauty of an interchangeable lens camera is that you can attach the lens you want.
When shooting a movie, you can zoom but the sound will also be recorded.
One of the practical feature is Pinpoint AF. Bring it up by pressing LEFT/AF MODE and selecting PINPOINT. A crosshair displays on screen. Touch the screen where you desire pinpoint focus accuracy and the screen image magnifies to allow you to position the crosshair precisely where you want to focus.
PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.2 HD is a basic image viewer and editing software that seems to have been written back in the 80s. Perhaps, it is time for Panasonic to upgrade to a better image viewing and editing software? The Owner’s Manual for advanced features is on a CD, is well written, illustrated and indexed.
What I like about the GF3:
- A really enjoyable camera with user-friendly and intuitive controls.
- Very good image quality with low noise up to ISO 800.
- Very good handling and feel.
- Very well implemented Touchscreen interface.
- Fast and precise AF, even in low light.
- Love the AF Area with adustable AF frame size and whole screen coverage.
No review is complete without a couple of improvement suggestions:
- Tiltable LCD.
- Hot Shoe or built-in bouceable flash.
- Stereo sound.
- Better image editing software.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 [GF3X] is a real winner as an alternative to the traditional entry-level DSLR. You’ll find a camera that is easy to use for a point-and-shoot user with performance and image quality that rival the traditional entry-level DSLRs. Highly Recommended.
Next: Panasonic GF3 QuickFact Sheet / Buy
