The compact camera war has heated up further with almost all manufacturers coming up with their own interchangeable lens compacts. Panasonic is stepping up the war with its new camera which is compatible with the company’s 3D lens. The Panasonic Lumix GF3 which weighs just 7.83oz claims to be company’s smallest and lightest digital interchangeable lens system camera yet.
This 12.1-megapixel camera features mirror free camera technology together with DSLR based sensors. The GF3 is rooted on Micro Four Thirds standard of lenses, which include Panasonic’s 3D lens, giving it 3D image capabilities. A built-in flash is available with a pop-up mechanism that helps stop the vignetting effect on images.
The camera’s autofocus modes make for high quality images with its accurate auto exposure and white balance creating rich colors. Low noise images are possible due to its Venus Engine FHD image processor. In low-lit situations, the camera’s high ISO sensitivity setting helps achieve sharp resolution. Its Contrast AF system reduces errors at wide apertures, offering high amount of focus in shots.
Darin Pepple, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company, commented about the camera, “The Panasonic GF3 compact system camera is extremely small and its newly-designed rounded body is quite attractive, which we expect to be popular among those users wanting to step-up from a point-and-shoot, yet who view traditional DSLRs as bulky and overly complex. While the size and weight of the GF3 has been greatly reduced, Panasonic does not compromise what is at the core of every LUMIX, which is exceptional photo and video quality with an easy-to-use interface.â€
A 3-inch touch enabled screen allows manual control over focus and quick 4x zoom. Touching the subject on the screen enlarges it on a small window, allowing users to keep the rest of the image in view for framing. After locking on the subject, the GF3 tracks the subject with the AF Tracking and another touch allows the user to select the size of the AF area. It’s smartphone like menus can be modified according to users’ preferences through the camera’s drag and drop options. The touch feature also plays back photos and videos which can be flipped through just like pages in a book. A thumb wheel is also available with the camera for users not comfortable with the touch feature.
The Panasonic Lumix GF3 camera has a dedicated video record button at the top for quick video recording. It records 1920 x 1080 full-HD video in AVCHD format. This camera is also equipped with Dust Reduction System consisting of a supersonic wave filter in front of the Live MOS sensor that vibrates vertically approximately 50,000 times per second and repels dust and other particles from the GF3’s sensor.
The Lumix also has the new iA Plus mode, making clicking pictures and shooting videos with its automatic settings uncomplicated. Extra traits like defocusing around faces, exposure compensation, and color balance are also offered by this mode. Photo style and Creative Control are two modes in the camera which give users distinctive options. Creative Control offers usual color modes like expressive, Retro, High Key, Sepia etc. Photo style mode gives finer adjustments like standard, vivid, natural, monochrome, scenery and portrait presets.
Accessories which can be used with the GF3 include external flashes, PL and ND filters, leather cases, straps, and more. The camera will be available in black, white, red and brown bodies. The Panasonic Lumix GF3 can be bought with its 14mm lens kit system at a price of $699.99 (approx Rs. 31,404). In late August, it will be available with the 14-42mm lens kit system at $599.99 (approx Rs. 26,918).
