Apart from the touch screen operations, the GF2 has a bagful of gimmicks to allure potential buyers. In this post, we will dig into the worthy ones and tell you some nitty-gritty which may have been overlooked.
I.Dynamic
First, there is the I.Dynamic option which is actually the increasingly popular HDR function. The operating manual is short of an explanation of how this function works. Usually the wider dynamic range on the strength of such a function is achieved by combining several bracketed shots. But if that is the case in GF2, we have not noticed any occurrences of double images common to HDR function when the shutter speed was dragged down or the camera was intentionally shifted a bit. Such is sort of a mystery.
(Top: Without I.Dynamic; Bottom: I.Dynamic High)
Does the I.Dynamic work fine? There are four settings under the option: Off, Low, Standard and High. Our impression is that the results are discernible at the middle and high-level settings.
(Top: Without I.Dynamic; Middle and Bottom: With the I.Dynamic on, the camera chose the middle-level and then the high-level settings for the following two shots)
Interestingly, the camera will chose for the highest possible level under your selected setting fit for the contrast of the scenes regardless of what mode the camera is on. For example, the camera will use the low-level setting for a slightly contrasty scene even though you opted for High. So when some reviewers on the Internet wrote that the results were not noticed, they didn't notice the GF2's such performance. Probably they had chosen scenes which were not contrasty enough and the camera just decided not to employ the I.Dynamic function despite the user set it to activated.
Architecture Scene Mode
(Click to enlarge to check out the difference)
Under the Scene mode, there is the Architecture feature which sharpens the images. It is handy when you wish for a quick fix to achieve sharper final images of buildings or the cityscape. Alternatively, you can adjust the default image to produce sharpened shots. But this Architecture feature is really more handy.
Quick Menu
(The Quick Menu can be activated either through the on-screen button or the physical Q.Menu/Fn button to the right of the LCD screen)
The customisable Q.Menu is a great way for the user to access the frequently
used options. Users can tailor-make the menu by allotting ten selected options to the menu for a quick recall. Thanks to the touch-screen operation, the implementation is the best we have seen and works on a par with, if not better than, that on Ricoh cameras. The selection and cancellation procedures are intuitive too – just drag the options to and from the table and the list to select or unselect.
iA Function
Next we go to the iA function.
(The iA can be activated at the press of the dedicated button in all shooting modes)
The iA mode is probably the most advanced and trusty intelligent mode of its kind we have seen on cameras. In addition to deciding the usual photographic settings, the iA mode will also chose, and rightly so, the scene mode befitting the scene. Use this function when you have no time to tweak the camera to capture the decisive moments Actually, the same iA mode is featured in all of Pany's more recent cameras.
Distinctive Colours
We like the My Colour mode because even though similar colour filter functions can be found in other comparable cameras, Pany implements it better with a range of useful and distinctive effects. An opposite example is that in the Samsung's NX series in which some colour effects are either a bit of an extreme or not discernible.
We also like the way Pany allows the user to scroll the wheel to change from one effect to the other. It is a real joy to use and helps to achieve images in different creative colours without missing the decisive moments.
However, unlike the GF1, the colour filters are only available under the Scene mode in GF2. In the GF1, the colour filters are selectable in all camera modes which is more flexible.
Customisable Slots
There are three customisable slots hidden in the menu. The Customisable slot is a standard function in cameras of this class. But regrettably, the GF2 doesn't allow the user to customise the slots for the more meaningful photographic settings (for example, a locked focal length and focus) except for the following options, thus rendering the C mode less useful than otherwise:
These gimmicks are all good and well, but we would like to see how relevant they are in real shooting. Before concluding the test, we will move on to see how the camera performs in real actions. Of course, as usual, we will post some full-size RAW and Jpeg images.
(to be continued)
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