Snapshots with the Panasonic GF3

All images - Panasonic GF3 14mm f/2.5 lens

Ann and I have been using the Panasonic GF3 and its kit lens the 14mm f/2.5, in "snapshot" mode over the Christmas holiday. Ann is still seeing if it works for her as a carry everywhere camera, and she is much more comfortable with the size and the live view only way of working.

However I have persevered!!

Looking at the results, its easy to see that the 12MP sensor on the GF3 is inferior to the GX1. Comparing like with like, the GX1 images look sharper, more saturated and definitely have more "pop". The GF3 also struggles with low light and has a more restricted dynamic range from what I can see. However it is VERY small!

It functions perfectly adequately as an outdoor camera, though the 14mm lens does have a fair amount of barrel distortion. In the end, as far as a camera for me is concerned, its not really something I would ever use, unless I had no alternative. While Ann seems to like it, I'm not sure that its that impressive when you put it up against either a Sony NEX-C3 or NEX-5n. Yes the kit lens is tiny, but using a wide-angle all the time is restricting. When you add a standard zoom to either camera, the size differences all but disappear, and the Sonys are much better in low light.

I don't really know how the GF3 has sold, but personally I think its Panasonics most disappointing camera. It is obviously aimed at a different market than me, but I'm not sure it hits the spot there either. Compared to a Sony NEX or the Samsung NX200, it strikes me as poor value alongside those cameras. Pansaonic obviously want a slice of this market and think they can compete. Personally I'd like to see them stick to what they do well, which is cameras like the GX1, which is very good indeed. The GX1 has a better sensor in almost every way, as far as I'm concerned. More pixels, better images and it seems better at high ISO's as well.

If whether it fits in a pocket is important, and every millimetre counts then you might find it of interest. Its not to me so I don't. It is pretty much how I thought it would be, and its most definitely not something I would use. Whether Ann feels differently, still remains to be seen. She is aware of the virtues of the NEX-5n, but is looking for a smaller camera / lens combination, hence this trial. Time will tell.

Panasonic GF3 test shots

A test of Anns GF3 at various ISO's. Files created from raw using Adobe Camera Raw  in Photoshop at the default settings.

Click on image > flickr > Actions > View all sizes > Original.

Irresistable

I always knew I wouldn't be able to resist the silver Panasonic GX1. As soon as I saw the magic "in stock" on the dealers websites any resistance I might have had crumbled. I always loved the GF1, and the upgraded GX1 with 16MP, decent viewfinder AND retro styling pushes all my buttons.

It is very pretty, very well made, the viewfinder works very well and as usual my latest period of time without a m4/3 camera has lasted a few days only. 

My wife Ann, has also decided to give the GF3 a try, and because of a complicated kit deal with christmas cashback offers we ended up getting a couple of lenses pretty cheaply with the GF3 almost "thrown in" or at least at a "real" price that we should exceed when (and if) its sold on ebay. Certainly not my kind of camera, as its VERY small, and doesn't have a you know what. I'll be giving it a review in the near future as I will with the GX1.

GF3 review at Dpreview

 

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcgf3/

Panasonic aiming to make GF camera "as small as a contact lens!"

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2011/06/panasonic-gf-series.html

Very funny.

From the same piece:-
Featured Comment by Jim McDermott: "Stop knocking Panasonic and Sony. We all realize the benefits of the truly pocketable camera, or as Mike calls it, the DMD. That magical moment arrives, you plunge your hand into your pocket, whip out the DMD, pause only to blow off the tissue fluff, take a second look, blow off that last, stubborn bit of fluff, switch on the camera, deftly descend through three menus on the touch screen, set the action program, touch back to shoot mode, raise the camera at arm's length to peer into the rear screen (your only option), whack celebrity in face accidentally as you do so, get knocked to the ground by said celebrity's boyfriend, land heavily on DMD, make mental note as you lose consciousness to bring along Gandolfi next time." 

Panasonic GF3 and 25mm f/1.4 lens announced.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGuiCJU-zc8&feature=player_embedded#at=76

Panasonic GF3 and Leica branded 25mm f/1.4 lens officially announced.

All the news and links to previews, reviews and samples at 43rumors.

http://www.43rumors.com/continually-updated-panasonic-gf3-and-leica-lens-announced/
Many thanks for putting all these links together. Up all night apparently!

http://www.seriouscompacts.com/f38/panasonic-gf3-25mm-f-1-4-announced-officially-2934/

More links -
Photography Blog.

http://www.photographyblog.com/previews/panasonic_gf3_photos/

http://www.photographyblog.com/news/panasonic_gf3_hands-on_preview/

http://www.photographyblog.com/news/panasonic_lumix_dmc-gf3/

http://www.photographyblog.com/previews/panasonic_25mm_lens_photos/

http://www.photographyblog.com/news/leica_dg_summilux_25mm_f_1.4_asph_for_micro_four_thirds/

1001 Noisy Cameras

http://www.1001noisycameras.com/2011/06/new-panasonic-gf3.html

http://www.1001noisycameras.com/2011/06/new-panasonic-leica-25mm-f14-m43rds-lens.html

http://www.1001noisycameras.com/2011/06/panasonic-planning-serious-gf-series-camera-gh-series-a-priority.html 

Panasonic Website

http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/gallery/lens.html#lensdg25

http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/lens/dg_summilux_25.html

http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/gf3/index.html

Dpreview
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1106/11061310panasonicGF3preview.asp


http://www.dpreview.com/news/1106/11061305panasonicleica25mm.asp

Video - in Dutch


Video- in Italian


Video - in Russian

Just a few brief comments - the lens looks good. 25mm f/1.4 and only 200g. The camera is small. Again there's a sight on one of the videos above with somebody really struggling to change settings. If I was still going to be using m4/3 I would have been very interested in the lens, for video particularly, but certainly not the camera.

Just one final point, the Nikon D5100 I have plus 35mm f/1.8 lens basically gives me everything that this (somewhat expensive at 899 euros) lens does on any m4/3 camera. Plus better high ISO performance and I can actually hold it and use a viewfinder and change settings without using the point of my nail or run my fingers over a touchscreen.

If this is the future of CSC's and m4/3 then I'm actually quite glad to be out of it. I had such hopes and things seemed to be going so well with the system, but I'm beginning to think that this is moving in totally the wrong direction for me, which is probably a good job since I'm having problems with it anyway.