Photography Digest

Panasonic exposed its first compact-body 'rangefinder-like' Little Four Thirds image photographic camera in September 2009, in the form of the DMC-GF1. This easily acquired a following as probably the best 'enthusiast' image photographic camera of its type, with its powerful operate set, fast reactions and system bristling with external controls. But since then the market has moved on and new opponents have exposed up on the scenery, with Sony's NEX cameras in particular developing a spread due to their awesome miniaturization and awesome image. Under this new-found stress of opponents, the GF has slimmed-down and exposed up with a new, structured look.

The DMC-GF2 is usually less scaled, externally-simpler version of the GF1 that's acquired many of the operate improvements we first saw on the G2 (most especially the touch-sensitive screen) plus Finish HD movie. Its individual has less sized impact scaled in every measurement than its predecessor's, developing it very nearly no more than the Panasonic NEX-5. In the procedure, though, it's reduce a considerable number of those external controls that until now have been the attribute of the G series - most obviously the exposure operate modify, but also the drive-mode manage that sat below it, along with several of the management control buttons on the back. This locations rather higher reliance on the touchscreen display show display for fast operate contrary to G2, and Panasonic has redesigned the interface (and the Quick Choice in particular) to help in this.

These changes all sign a apparent rethinking of the GF series in the market. Whereas the GF1 was unashamedly images photographic camera for lover digital cameras fans, the GF2 is now focused much more at lightweight image photographic camera entrepreneurs looking for an upgrade. According to Panasonic the design concentrate has been on offering impressive controls contrary to just offering a simple, unintimidating image photographic camera which happens to contain a bigger signal.

Despite this, there's still a few of apparent up-dates and improvements over previous times design, and while they're usually more major than impressive, this mainly reveals the growth of the GF1 design. Such as, the GF2 earnings Finish HD movie generating ability (1080i at 60fps from 30p capture) that is strengthened by a songs mic on the top bowl. In requirements conditions, at least, this creates for the most able identical connections image photographic camera movie ability aside from the GH2 (which provides 1080i at 60fps from 60p capture). On the image part the GF2 gets the G2's ability to catch at 2.6 fps while maintaining stay perspective, along with its ISO 6400 maximum possible knowing, improved Vehicle ISO system and a dedicated iAuto choice on the top bowl. Meanwhile 3D fans will certainly be satisfied by its assistance for the H-FT012 connections.

Much of the key requirements, though, remains the same, such as the stalwart (i.e. ageing) 12Mp Four Thirds signal and the 460k dot 3" 3:2 element amount LCD. The hot footwear and associated EVF port is still existing and appropriate, together with the little pop-up show, and luckily Panasonic hasn't been affected to remove the clickable thumbwheel that features the main exposure controls. However the pared-down system design certainly indicates the image photographic camera is managed by a new, a bit small energy.

One a little bit awesome marketing modify is that the GF2 isn't available involved with the awesome 20mm F1.7 hot dessert connections, but instead comes with a choice of either the newest 14-42mm zoom ability capability, the little 14mm F2.5 hot dessert, or in a dual connections kit with both. We're a bit disappointed by this choice, to be honest - yes the 14mm gives the smallest possible system, which has undeniable marketing value, but as far as we're concerned the stop-faster 20mm is a much more useful all-rounder. The GF2 comes in a choice of colors depending on market (out of black, red, silver, bright and pink), and for clients of the red and black modifications the 14mm connections activities a black (as in evaluation to steel grey) gun gun barrel.
Compared to the Panasonic NEX-5 and New new samsung NX-100

The trimming-down work out Panasonic has used to the GF2 indicates that it's now one of the smallest cameras in its category. Here it is with the 14mm F2.5 connections placed between two of its immediate opponents each dressed with their particular wideangle hot desserts, the Panasonic NEX-5 + 16mm F2.8 and New new samsung NX100 + 20mm F2.8.

The GF2 is now one of the smallest cameras of its type, although it's still not as tiny as the NEX-5 despite having a smaller sensor than the Sony's APS-C chip. The key difference is in the body height, though, which reflects the GF2's hot shoe and built-in flash: features which are missing from the NEX. The NX100 doesn't have a flash either.
Viewed from the top, the GF2 / 14mm F2.5 combo becomes, by a whisker, the slimmest of the three.

Compared to the Olympus E-PL2

Perhaps the GF2's most direct rival is the Olympus Pen E-PL2, which also belongs to the Micro Four Thirds system and therefore can use all the same lenses. The GF2 is smaller than the E-PL2 in every dimension, but not by all that much.

Side-by-side it's apparent that the GF2 is smaller than the E-PL2 in terms of both height and width. In compensation, though, the Olympus incorporates in-body image stabilization that works with all lenses.
Viewed from the top with the same lens attached, the GF2 is also fractionally slimmer than the E-PL2, which means it will slip in a pocket just that little bit more easily.

Compared to the Panasonic DMC-GF1

The GF2 is, unusually for Panasonic's recent releases, substantially different in design from its predecessor. Here it is sporting the 14mm F2.5 pancake alongside the GF1 wearing the 20mm F1.7. The sleeker, simplified design is immediately apparent.

From the front, what's most obvious is the reduced size of the GF2 - indeed it's not so much bigger than the LX5 (click here for a comparison). The loss of the mode dial (replaced by a stereo microphone on the top plate),the remolded grip and the closer integration of the hot shoe into the overall design all adds up to a cleaner, less boxy look. The GF2's 'Full HD' label signals the presence of its 1080i video mode.
Top-down, we can see that the GF2 is also somewhat slimmer the the GF1; Panasonic has succeeded in trimming about 4mm from the body depth.
It's at the rear, though, that the biggest changes lie. The wealth of buttons that adorned the GF1's back has been simplified right down, and the restyled four-way controller gives a more 'compact-like' appearance. The blue tinge to the GF2's LCD screen signifies a small, but welcome change - the addition of an anti-reflective coating to aid shooting in bright sunlight.

GF2 vs GF1 - major changes

Here's a brief summary of the major changes between the GF2 and GF1:

• Smaller and lighter body
• LCD screen now touch-sensitive, with added anti-reflective coating
• Fewer external controls (mode dial, drive mode lever, AEL and DOF preview buttons removed)
• Completely revamped, fully-customizable Quick Menu designed for touchscreen operation
• Built-in stereo microphone
• 1080i 60fps full HD video (from 25p sensor output)
• Continuous shooting at 2.6fps with Live View
• Increased maximum sensitivity (ISO 6400)
• iAuto button on top plate
• Variable 'Defocus Control' in iAuto and 'My Color' modes, with live preview
• Full support for F-FT012 3D lens
• No remote release socket
• 2nd curtain sync and flash exposure compensation no longer available
• New smaller DMW-BLD10 battery with slightly lower capacity (7.3Wh vs 9 Wh)

Original Article:www.dpreview.com