GF-1 User's Impressions: Introduction

It has been some days since I picked up the GF1 and accessories on loan by the local sole distributor of Panasonic cameras. If I am to finish an user's impressions in a few words, I would say that returning the GF-1 will be rather saddening because of its superb image quality and larger sensor in a smaller body. But, as always, it is a beautiful rose not without thorns.

The GF1 feels absolutely solid and well-built in hand. The way the camera body evenly weighs is likable to any photographers unless he or she has been using only compacts. The camera has to be operated by both hands though, especially when the zoom lens is mounted.

With the 20mm (45mm equiv.; really fast at f1.7) lens mounted, the GF1 weighs the same as my GX200 with the wide converter. Well, a better reference can be made by the following photo:

With the Lumix 14-45mm (28-90 equiv. at f3.5 to 5.5 with OIS built-in) lens, the GF1 gains a few decimal pounds:

Such weights compare favourably with a regular APS-C-sensor DSLR. But if you're primarily a serious compact user, don't expect it to be either pocketable or even portable in a smaller (A-4 dimension) camera bag if you mount the zoom lens and EVF on the GF1 and bring along the pancake lens, flash and the necessary gear like a blower.

The GF1 is in a category of its own in relation to size and portability. For sure it is not designed to rival small-sensor compacts like GX200, G10 or LX3. It is on a separate turf in case you consider replacing your small-sensor compact with a M4/3 camera. In fact, for certain aspects, it cannot replace the small-sensor compact. More on this later.

The pancake lens is lighter but more expensive than the Lumix 14-45mm lens:

The external flash is a bit shorter but thicker than a pack of cigarettes:

The external flash is powerful enough for most situations with a GN value of 22 at ISO100, 31 at ISO200 and 44 at ISO400. It is TTL- and manual-capable.

Taken into account the weight and size of the camera, I also borrowed and primarily used the EVF for taking photos. It feels odd and actually tires the wrists for holding up the camera to compose with the LCD screen.

In the street, the GF1 hanging around my neck has been a head-turner. Everyone is checking it out in secret.

While using it, I feel being brought back to the days of using a SLR (I don't have a DSLR). The focusing ring and the zoom ring give a great photographic experience. The focusing speed is much crisper than a small-sensor camera even though it is not without downsides.

The camera has the PASM, scene, my colour (which is great fun) and custom modes. I haven't and will not try the iA and video modes.

Manual options are galore, most notably including doing your preferred aspect ratios, flash output, AF and metering modes, focusing area, bracket increments and ISO values.

The menu system has been explained in great length in dpreview, if you are interested.

Come back for the next post for this impression series. Meanwhile, some educational old posts about the MFT system are here, here and here.