Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Pro Reviews

Recent additions, including the new DMC-G3 suggest Panasonic’s emphasis may have shifted to entice more cost conscious photographer to the MFT format. Whether the touchscreen is enough to compete with the likes of the Olympus PEN E-PL2, remains to be seen. Still, with the Lumix DMC-GF2 Panasonic has succeeded in creating a clever and exciting camera. And while it's not the cheapest of interchangeable lens models in this class, it has a great range of accessories and is well suited to enthusiasts wanting more than point and shoot.

The Panasonic Lumix GF2 seems to have a lot of future-thinking in place. There's touchscreen, 3D compatibility and Micro Four Thirds boasts the largest selection of lenses compared to any other Compact System Camera manufacturer. The new slimmed-down body size is great, though not without its issues: why the physical mode dial has been removed is beyond us (please bring it back) and the 14mm prime lens really isn't going to be for everyone (a body only option would have been great). The touchscreen may be a step too far for some, but it does add some great practical touches in use such as movie focusing. Still a great little camera, but one that seems to step sidewards from where the Panasonic Lumix GF1 was some 15 months ago, when we were hoping for more of a giant leap.

Panasonic Lumix GF2 Mirrorless Camera Review - Joshua Waller reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 - the compact mirrorless camera from Panasonic sits in the middle between the popular GF1 and the tiny GF3.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 is a good camera, with fast autofocus, useful touch-focus controls for stills and video, and an impressively small size for the performance it provides. Ultimately, however, it had me itching for a Lumix GF3, which I'm hoping will offer a return to more-traditional physical controls in addition to touchscreen-focusing options and improved performance in Auto mode. A combination of the GF2's touch-focus capabilities and the GF1's real buttons and dials would add up to a compact interchangeable-lens camera that pleases both casual and more-experienced shooters. As it stands, the GF2 leaves a few too many important controls to its touchscreen while abandoning the old-school knobs and buttons that would make it easier to shoot with.

Though we still really like Panasonic's GF series, there are several trade-offs to take into account before you buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2. Its raw-format images look extremely good, but JPEG shooters looking for best-possible photo quality may get frustrated by image artifacts. And while lots of photographers will appreciate its relatively compact but functional design and zippy performance--though still not for action shooting--there's nothing special about its feature set, including underpowered video capture.

Overall, I had a great time with the little Panasonic GF2. Although it doesn't quite catch up to that of Sony's aggressively styled NEX-5, the Panasonic GF2's new body is noticeably more compact than that of the GF1. It's extremely nimble and compact -- still a little too large to slip into a pair of slacks without looking like you have a camera in your pocket (I did get looks), but the design has never been more sportcoat or jacket-friendly. With the 14mm f/2.5 prime lens mounted, it's about the same profile as the Sony NEX-5 in a pocket, just a slightly different shape. With the 14-42mm lens, all that changes, but it's still amazing what a few millimeters can do to make a camera more portable. Although I'm a traditionalist at heart, the advantages of Panasonic's touch screen implementation were such that I mostly didn't find myself missing the extra controls. Factoring in the more compact body and swift autofocus, I found the Panasonic GF2 a very enjoyable camera to shoot with, and one to which we're happy to award a Dave's Pick.

Ultimately though the Lumix GF2 is a desirable and welcome new addition to Micro Four Thirds camp and one that will undoubtedly find favour with enthusiasts and ambitious novice photographers alike. It's a lovely camera to use and one that's also physically very desirable, but the issues discussed on this page - or perhaps more fairly, the benefits of its rivals - means it just falls short of our top rating in direct comparison. It still earns a hearty Recommended though.

Though we still really like Panasonic's GF series, there are several trade-offs to take into account before you buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2. Its raw-format images look extremely good, but JPEG shooters looking for best-possible photo quality may get frustrated by image artifacts. And while lots of photographers will appreciate its relatively compact but functional design and zippy performance--though still not for action shooting--there's nothing special about its feature set, including underpowered video capture.

The GF2 is a very different camera to its predecessor, which can confuse the fact that it's a camera very well suited to its target market. It offers both beginners and experienced photographers a simple but powerful control method (we'd say it trumps both the Olympus E-PL2 and the Sony NEX-3 and -5 in this respect), albeit one that requires a leap-of-faith to embrace the touchscreen control. Sadly, however, the underlying camera technology is starting to show its age. So, while it's quick and easy to use, the images - particularly in JPEG mode - are rather less spectacular. In Raw, there's plenty to be played with and the outcomes are not radically different from the best cameras in this class.

The GF1 didn’t just count the SlashGear team among its admirers; in fact it was one of the most loved Micro Four Thirds models around. That leaves the LUMIX GF2 with plenty to live up to. Panasonic has clearly decided to shift the GF2′s positioning to target the consumer crowd, with a greater focus on the iAuto mode and the relegation of more complex – and often intimidating – manual controls into the new touchscreen menu structure. Those manual options are still there, of course, but they’re arguably harder to access on the fly than the various physical buttons of the GF1.

The new GF2 adds an intuitive touch screen and a more svelte form factor. High ISO performance isn't on par with the best DSLRs, though overall images were very good.

There’s plenty to like about the GF2, and anyone who values hands-on control or wants to be able to trigger external flashes should choose it over the NEX-5. However, with the NEX-5 delivering superior photos for £100 less (with equivalent lenses), the GF2 can’t compete for value.

Cheaper than the GF1 was on launch, the new DMC-GF2 takes Panasonic's compact system cameras in a new direction, aiming to appeal to a wider base of users who are looking for DSLR-like results from a simpler and more compact design. While it's certainly not a logical upgrade for current GF1 owners, the GF2 deserves to make a big leap forward both for Panasonic and for the Compact System Camera market as a whole.

Though the aim here with the GF2 was to fashion a compact system camera that was both easier to use and swifter than its predecessor, that aim has only been partly realised. In the final analysis, while the GF2 is an excellent camera in its own right, it doesn't feel as revolutionary as Panasonic's first attempt in the GF1. But if it draws a wider audience to Micro Four Thirds and its inherent benefits - smaller bodies and smaller lenses, yet results comparable (if not an exact match for) the DSLR 'big boys', then we're all for it.

The GF2 gets a whole lot of things right: it’s small and light and can easily fit into the pocket. The touchscreen is very future thinking but you don’t have to use it if you don’t want to, meaning there’s always a backup button to press in most circumstances. However, the lack of a physical mode dial and the fact that only the 14mm F/2.5 kit lens comes bundled in with the package pose a couple of issues that could have easily been avoided.

Panasonic has not announced pricing yet, and prospective buyers are in for a bit of a wait: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 is slated for availability in January 2011. We think it will be worth the wait.

In truth there's not a lot about the GF2 to tempt GF1 owners to upgrade, but it's still a hugely capable camera that, as long as you can accept the touchscreen, looks like it should work pretty well. We suspect that when it starts getting into the hands of users a lot of the inevitable initial scepticism will disappear; on the other hand we do still hope the Panasonic finds a way to produce a more GF1-like design in future too.