Panasonic DMC-GF2 12.1 Megapixel Digital SLR Reviews Roundup

On November 4 2010, Panasonic announced the world's smallest and lightest compact system camera - the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2. Successor to the popular DMC-GF1, the new 12 Megapixels Panasonic GF2 is 19% smaller in size and 7% less in weight than than its predecessor. The DMC-GF2 comes with a touch control 460,000-dot LCD screen and a new Graphic User Interface (GUI) and full HD movies at 1920 x 1080 at 60i (NTSC) / 50i (PAL) in AVCHD format.

The Venus Engine FHD image processor features exceptionally high performance signal processing capabilities in both photo and movie recording. With the advanced noise reduction system employing the 3D NR and CNR (Chromatic Noise Reduction), you can capture clear, naturally-balanced images even when shooting at high ISO sensitivity levels preventing the color bleeding due to the chromatic aberration and deterioration of the resolution. The Intelligent Resolution technology is another feature of the Venus Engine FHD. With the Intelligent Resolution technology, 3 areas - outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation areas are automatically detected. The outline parts are enhanced effectively to give edges more clearness while giving a moderate accentuation to the texture areas to look more finely detailed. To the soft gradation part, superior noise reduction system of the Venus Engine FHD is applied to make it smoother. Apart from the uniform enhancement of sharpness, the Intelligent Resolution precisely performs signal processing pixel by pixel in the most effective way. As a result, images are naturally clear and crisp in both photo and movie recording.

The contrast AF system adopted by the LUMIX DMC-GF2 is very fast. Users can choose from a wide range of AF modes, including multiple-area AF with up to 23 focus areas, 1-area AF with a selectable focus area, Face Detection, and AF Tracking. The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF2, with a quality and solid aluminum body, will be available in black, silver, white, and red models with the following kit options: DMC-GF2C - 14mm F2.5 Lens Kit and DMC-GF2K - 14-42mm Zoom Lens Kit.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Sample Photos on Flickr



Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Camera Reviews Roundup


NeoCamera: "The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 shows good image quality with relatively low image noise up to ISO 400. Noise becomes noticeable at ISO 800 and is slight more pronounced at 1600 but both settings are quite usable. At ISO 3200, noise becomes more destructive and fine details start disappearing. The maximum sensitivity of ISO 6400 is clearly noise while remaining usable for small prints and sharing online. Those who..." - Aug 16 2011 More »
ePhotoZine: "There is very low noise at ISO100 and ISO200, with slight chroma noise starting to appear at ISO400. Noise increases at ISO800. There is more noticeable noise at ISO1600. At ISO3200 noise levels are borderline acceptable, with some loss of colour, although with some additional noise reduction could produce usable images, or with resizing would be suitable for web use. ISO6400 is best avoided with high noise levels,..." - Aug 11 2011 More »
PCWorld: "In PCWorld Labs subjective tests for image and video quality, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 exhibited the same tendency to underexpose images in Intelligent Auto mode as other recent Panasonic Lumix cameras did. The camera's Auto mode produces muted images and gravitates toward grayer whites than we'd like. Using manual exposure controls, the camera jumps to the other end of the exposure spectrum, as colors and w..." - May 21 2011 More »
RegHardware: "Plugged in to a Samsung 3D TV using the GF2's HDMI port, I had my first 3D experience and sadly a discouraging one. While I enjoyed taking the shots I found I could hardly review the images, as after 10 minutes of watching them on-screen with the active 3D glasses, I started to feel unwell and had to stop. Apparently, if you suffer even mildly from motion sickness 3D is not for you and I can confirm that, all in all..." - May 14 2011 More »
CNET US: "Though we still really like Panasonic's GF series, there are several trade-offs to take into account before you buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2. Its raw-format images look extremely good, but JPEG shooters looking for best-possible photo quality may get frustrated by image artifacts. And while lots of photographers will appreciate its relatively compact but functional design and zippy performance--though still not f..." - Apr 12 2011 More »
GearGuide: "Smaller, lighter, and now touchscreen friendly, Panasonic has done its best to introduce a wider range of photographers to its "GF-series". There's no question that the changes do make the GF2 more appealing to photographers with less advanced skills, and nobody can fault Panasonic for trying to make the camera smaller, the question perhaps should be whether the touchscreen adds to the experience of using..." - Mar 21 2011 More »
digitalcameraHQ: "While the GF2 may be a disappointment to a small, specific subset of enthusiasts (who also happen to be the most vocal commenters on the Internet), the majority will find it to be a full-featured, intuitive, and very useful photographic tool. In most senses it improves on the GF1, with a newer and more sensitive imaging sensor, higher-spec video recording, and reduced size and weight. It produces great stills and vi..." - Mar 19 2011 More »
Digital Camera Info: "The instant the Panasonic GF1 hit the market it seemed that people began anticipating the GF2's release. What would Panasonic change? How would they improve one of the most popular cameras in their model line? Instead of a sequel to the GF1, the GF2 is better described as a re-imagining of the GF series: same image quality, but intended for a wider, less experienced audience. With a simplified design, touchscre..." - Mar 18 2011 More »
CNET US: "There's so much to like about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 that the few, unfortunately serious, flaws with the camera seem to loom as even larger detractions. On the upside, it preserves much of the really nice design characteristics of the GF1, incorporating a very well designed touch-screen interface, and improves on that camera's already zippy performance. And if you shoot raw, the camera can produce some very nic..." - Mar 11 2011 More »
Imaging Resource: "Overall, I had a great time with the little Panasonic GF2. Although it doesn't quite catch up to that of Sony's aggressively styled NEX-5, the Panasonic GF2's new body is noticeably more compact than that of the GF1. It's extremely nimble and compact -- still a little too large to slip into a pair of slacks without looking like you have a camera in your pocket (I did get looks), but the design has never been more sp..." - Mar 09 2011 More »
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Camera Labs: "In removing many of the GF1's physical controls and replacing them with a touch screen, Pansonic has widened the appeal of the GF2 to those looking to trade up from an advanced compact. The risk, of course, was that it would alienate enthusiasts who, above all, want the same kind of control and handling as provided by a DSLR. It has skillfully managed to avoid that trap by retaining the crucial physical controls, na..." - Mar 07 2011 More »
dpreview: "The GF2's Raw image quality is very good. It's not got the freshest sensor on the market so will tend to produce more noise and less dynamic range than the very best of its peers, but it's not so far behind them that you'd dismiss it out of hand on that basis. There's plenty of detail being captured and, once you've worked out your favored presets as a starting point for processing, it's a camera that will readily p..." - Feb 25 2011 More »
DavidBabsky: "The compact 'EVIL' GF2's video now approaches that of the (higher-resolution) 16 megapixel GH2 DSLR by offering 1920x1080i stereo AVCHD - and with manual audio level adjustment! - but it's still a good way short of the quality of the massive full-frame Canon 5DMkII ..though shooting on a nice bright day, you could intercut GF2 and 5DII footage and not notice very much difference - except for the 5DII's signature sha..." - Feb 17 2011 More »
Digital Camera Resource Page: "Camera performance is very good in nearly all respects. The GF2 starts up as soon as you flip the power switch, focuses very quickly with all of the lenses I tested, and has minimal shutter lag or shot-to-shot delays. The camera can shoot continuously at three different speeds ranging from 2.0 to 3.3 frames/second, though the buffer fills quickly when you're using the RAW format. The GF2's battery life is not as goo..." - Jan 29 2011 More »
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Digital Camera Review: "The mirrorless/interchangeable lens class shows no sign of slowing down as Panasonic and Samsung are both introducing their second generation offerings while speculation is that Nikon is about to enter the fray. Panasonic's GF2 represents a measured approach to upgrades over the GF1: video goes to the full HD standard, 1080i; a 3D capture capability is offered via a new 12mm 3D lens and a touch screen operation..." - Jan 12 2011 More »
PhotoReview Australia: "Overall performance for shooting both stills and video clips was as we expected on the basis of our tests on the Lumix DMC-GF1. In adequate lighting, the contrast-based AF system was reasonably fast and accurate for shooting stills,  although there was some AF lag in dim lighting and a slight  tendency to hunt with close subjects in low light levels. AF re-adjustment while shooting video clips was fas..." - Jan 04 2011 More »
Trusted Reviews: "General handling quickly becomes intuitive therefore, saving on time wasted fiddling around when you could be lining up the shot required instead. In terms of performance we didn't notice a marked difference in quality over the GF1, and neither should there be as the sensor is identical and the available optics similar. In terms of image noise, though, disappointingly we noticed some grain creeping into shadow areas..." - Jan 03 2011 More »
Digital Camera Review: "With all the weather across the nation the GF2 was a day late reaching me, and arrived after we'd experienced a dramatic sunset as a week-long storm finally moved past. I used the cats as subjects indoors with flash then did a walk around the block and shot a few houses with Christmas lights before getting out in daylight this morning for a quick shoot. I shot aperture priority mostly with a few scene modes worked i..." - Dec 25 2010 More »
Pocket-lint: "Images are clear and colourful, and the 14mm renders sharp results. There was the odd bit of overexposure in some circumstances, though not frequently or worryingly so. The wide aperture lens makes for some great blurred background shots and, as the Micro Four Thirds design lends itself well to wide aperture lenses, this is a feature available in many of the other lens releases too. One of the 14mm's issues is that..." - Dec 16 2010 More »
CNET: "The GF2 competes against the Samsung NX100, Olympus Pen E-PL1 and E-P2, and Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5, among others, in the burgeoning hybrid camera market. While it doesn't quite have the charm of the Olympus Pen cameras, nor their built-in image stabilisation, we prefer its build quality to that of the NX100, and we found it easier to use than Sony's NEX-5. Like its rivals, the GF2 handles like a cross between a c..." - Dec 02 2010 More »
LuminousLandscape: "I only had the GF2 for testing for a few days - not enough to do any serious pixel peeping. I also did all of my shooting in JPG mode, since currently the only raw software is the provided Silkypix, which I don't care to use. I'm sure that Adobe will support the GF2 in their next update to Camera Raw and Lightroom, possibly by the time the camera ships early in the new year. But what I see on screen and in prin..." - Nov 20 2010 More »
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Photography BLOG: "The appeal of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 is definitely in the eye of the beholder, more so than most cameras that we've reviewed recently. While current GF1 owners will most likely bemoan the simplification of the control system in favour of a touchscreen system, compact camera owners looking to upgrade to the new breed of DSLR-like models will no doubt be attracted by the smaller design, cutting-edge interface and..." - Nov 18 2010 More »
Engadget: "The GF2's construction also merits praise, as its aluminum body looks to have been finished to a very high standard, offering us pretty much nothing to criticize. Its pop-up flash jumps open in a satisfyingly aggressive manner and can be retracted manually, while a couple of your standard-issue covers protect output ports and the battery and memory card slots. Speaking of the battery, it has a capacity of 1010mAh, w..." - Nov 09 2010 More »
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Imaging Resource: "I detected very little delay from when I half-pressed the shutter button to hearing and seeing focus confirmation with the 14mm f/2.5 lens. Almost none. According to the lab, the full-autofocus shutter lag is 0.38 to 0.41 second. That includes the shutter mechanism delay, which on mirrorless cameras is fairly long, because the shutter has to first close before opening for the exposure. That's about as fast as the GF..." - Nov 09 2010 More »
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Pocket-lint: "In the hand the GF2 feels like a quality camera. The reduction in size means there is less to hang on to, but a clever redesign to the handgrip around the front means you an still keep it stable. In fact, gripping both the GF1 and the GF2, we found the tapered grip of the GF1 was more comfortable than the older model. Panasonic have stuck with using premium materials, so it still has a metal body and that quirky fla..." - Nov 06 2010 More »
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Camera Labs: "Sony's Alpha NEX 3 and 5 shook up the market for small cameras with big sensors and removeable lenses, with the NEX-5 being particularly impressive for its small dimensions and big feature-set. In its favour, the NEX-5 has two extra Megapixels, but much more importantly delivered by a much bigger APS-C sized sensor with 50% greater surface area than the Micro Four Thirds models; this should give it lower noise..." - Nov 04 2010 More »
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PhotoRadar: "Like other G series cameras, the Panasonic GF2 is very nicely put together and it's aluminium alloy body has a high-quality feel. I was pleased to find that the redesign since the GF1 has introduced a small grip on the front of the body which gives a little more purchase.However, the addition of a more grippy-textured coating would improve this further. Whereas I can carry the DSLR-style G2 quite comfortably in my h..." - Nov 04 2010 More »
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