This post continues the GF-1 impression series and talks about some of its well thought-out functions.
The function I think most useful is the exposure sliders working in tandem with the compensation ruler.
Useful Function One
Dpreview has made a flash gif about how the pair works here. But it doesn't mention a point which is useful in manual mode.
It works this way: in manual mode, when either the shutter speed or the aperture value is selected, both exposure sliders have some sections shaded in brownish colour. This is to show that if an exposure combo involves a value in the shaded area, it becomes not "right" to the extent displayed on the compensation ruler.
With reference to the above Dpreview's gif, the section from shutter speed (SS) 2 to 15 will have been shaded while the extent of the over-exposure is being shown on the compensation ruler.
This mechanism definitely affords the photographer quick informed guesses before the picture is actually taken, which tremendously speeds up the process of tuning and tweaking.
It should be mentioned again that although there is only one wheel for adjusting the exposure combo, its press-once-to-toggle design saves the photographer troubles in going between the shutter speed and the aperture value.
Useful Function Two
There is a AF-tracking function which traces the locked subject and adjusts the focus and exposure combo to the changes in its movement.
As shown in the above illustration, the LCD screen displays a target area to show the subject locked by the user. You simply hold the hands steady, then sort of fire and forget at the decisive moment. Very handy indeed.
This function works best when the subject is moving mildly. The LX3 also features this AF-tracking mode but, as far as I had tried it, it doesn't work well on that machine. But it surely works on the GF1.
I will continue with some other useful functions in the next post.
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