Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 review
Extremely compact and luxurious, takes gorgeous photos and videos but currently looks overpriced next to the Sony NEX range
Specifications
17.3x13mm 12.0-megapixel sensor, 1.0x zoom (28mm equivalent), 319g
The layout of controls is very similar to those on the GF3’s closest rival, the Sony NEX-5. However, the GF3’s touchscreen speeds up certain functions and transforms the accessibility of autofocus options. We particularly appreciated being able to touch the screen while recording a video clip, whereupon the camera automatically tracked the subject in question to keep it in focus.
This is one of many reasons why the GF3 excels as a video camera. The 1080p resolution and AVCHD format encoded at 16Mbit/s helped to deliver sharp details with minimal compression artefacts, and autofocus was smooth and virtually silent. There was remarkably little noise in low light, and close-up shots exhibited a film-like shallow depth of field. The lack of an exposure lock for video is disappointing, but the camera reacted smoothly to changing lighting.
Taking photos with the GF3 was an extremely satisfying experience, too. It’s not the most secure camera to hold one-handed, but its shape and feel – and the solid clunk of its mechanical shutter – give a sense of real luxury. Even the leather neck strap is a step up from the norm. It’s seriously fast, too, switching on and capturing a shot in just one second, and taking just 0.6 seconds between subsequent shots. Continuous mode ran at 4fps for 13 JPEGs or six RAW images before slowing to a slightly disappointing 0.5fps.
The GF3 can take some astonishingly good pictures – Click on this image to enlarge it
Image quality was excellent, as long as we kept an eye on the shutter speed in low light and switched to manual ISO speeds to avoid blurry shots. Details were astonishingly sharp, and in bright light, subtle textures such as foliage and skin were captured with superb clarity. We failed to replicate the problem of under-saturated bands in skin tones that we’ve seen in previous G-series cameras’ JPEGs. Noise levels inevitably rose when lower light demanded fast ISO speeds, but noise was lower than we saw from the GF2. However, it wasn’t as low as from the best consumer SLRs – and also, crucially, the Sony NEX-5.
Turn to page 3 for our take on pricing and offers …
Basic Specifications | |
---|---|
Rating | **** |
CCD effective megapixels | 12.0 megapixels |
CCD size | 17.3x13mm |
Viewfinder | none |
Viewfinder magnification, coverage | N/A |
LCD screen size | 3.0in |
LCD screen resolution | 460,000 pixels |
Articulated screen | No |
Live view | Yes |
Optical zoom | 1.0x |
Zoom 35mm equivalent | 28mm |
Image stabilisation | none |
Maximum image resolution | 4,000×3,000 |
Maximum movie resolution | 1920×1080 |
Movie frame rate at max quality | 25fps |
File formats | JPEG, RAW; AVCHD Lite, QuickTime (M-JPEG) |
Physical | |
Memory slot | SDXC |
Mermory supplied | none |
Battery type | Li-ion |
Battery Life (tested) | 340 shots |
Connectivity | USB, AV, mini HDMI |
HDMI output resolution | 1080i |
Body material | metal and plastic |
Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds |
Focal length multiplier | 2.0x |
Kit lens model name | LUMIX G 14mm/F2.5 ASPH |
Accessories | USB and AV cables |
Weight | 319g |
Size | 67x107x58mm |
Buying Information | |
Warranty | one-year RTB |
Price | £550 |
Supplier | http://www.jessops.com |
Details | www.panasonic.co.uk |
Camera Controls | |
Exposure modes | program, shutter priority, aperture priority, manual |
Shutter speed | 60 to 1/4,000 seconds |
Aperture range | f/2.5 to f/22 |
ISO range (at full resolution) | 160 to 6400 |
Exposure compensation | +/-3 EV |
White balance | auto, 5 presets with fine tuning, custom, manual |
Additional image controls | contrast, saturation, sharpness, noise reduction, Intelligent Resolution, Intelligent Dynamic, colour space |
Manual focus | Yes |
Closest macro focus | 18cm |
Auto-focus modes | multi, flexible spot, pinpoint, face detect, tracking |
Metering modes | multi, centre-weighted, centre, face detect |
Flash | auto, forced, suppressed, slow synchro, red-eye reduction |
Drive modes | single, continuous, self-timer, AE bracket |