Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Review

[CCJ]

Announced on 7th July 2011, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 is the newest addition to Panasonic's lineup of Micro Four Thirds System cameras. As the smallest and lightest digital interchangeable lens system camera with built-in flash, it's a stylish and pocketable camera. It's no slouch when it comes to taking photos either, with a high-speed precision Contrast Auto-Focus system capable of focusing in approximately 0.18 seconds. Read on for the full review!

Specifications

Specification	Panasonic DMC-GF3	Panasonic DMC-GF2
Sensor	4/3 type Live MOS Sensor 12.1 million effective pixels	4/3 type Live MOS Sensor 12.1 million effective pixels
Aspect Ratios	4:3 3:2 16:9 1:1	4:3 3:2 16:9 1:1
Image Sizes	4:3 - 4000 x 3000 - 2816 x 2112 - 2048 x 1536 - 1600 x 1200 (when 3D lens attached) 3:2 - 4000 x 2672 - 2816 x 1880 - 2048 x 1360 - 1600 x 1064 (when 3D lens attached) 16:9 - 4000 x 2248 - 2816 x 1880 - 1920 x 1080 - 1600 x 904 (when 3D lens attached) 1:1 - 2992 x 2992 - 2112 x 2112 - 1504 x 1504 - 1440 x 1440 (when 3D lens attached)	4:3 - 4000 x 3000 - 2816 x 2112 - 2048 x 1536 - 1600 x 1200 (when 3D lens attached) 3:2 - 4000 x 2672 - 2816 x 1880 - 2048 x 1360 - 1600 x 1064 (when 3D lens attached) 16:9 - 4000 x 2248 - 2816 x 1880 - 1920 x 1080 - 1600 x 904 (when 3D lens attached) 1:1 - 2992 x 2992 - 2112 x 2112 - 1504 x 1504 - 1440 x 1440 (when 3D lens attached)
File Formats	RAW RAW + JPEG (EXIF 2.2) JPEG MPO (with 3D lens)	RAW RAW + JPEG (EXIF 2.2) JPEG MPO (with 3D lens)
Movie Mode	AVCHD - NTSC Full HD (1920 x 1080, 60i, 17Mbps or 13Mbps), HD (1280 x 720, 60p, 17Mbps or 13Mbps) - PAL Full HD (1920 x 1080, 50i, 17Mbps or 13Mbps), HD (1280 x 720, 50p, 17Mbps or 13Mbps) Motion JPEG - HD (1280 x 720, 30fps) - 4:3 QVGA (320 x 240, 30fps), VGA (640 x 480, 30fps)	AVCHD - NTSC Full HD (1920 x 1080, 60i, 17Mbps or 13Mbps), HD (1280 x 720, 60p, 17Mbps or 13Mbps) - PAL Full HD (1920 x 1080, 50i, 17Mbps or 13Mbps), HD (1280 x 720, 50p, 17Mbps or 13Mbps) Motion JPEG - HD (1280 x 720, 30fps) - 4:3 QVGA (320 x 240, 30fps), VGA (640 x 480, 30fps)
Lenses	Micro Four Thirds mount lenses Four Thirds mount lenses via adapter	Micro Four Thirds mount lenses Four Thirds mount lenses via adapter
Focus Modes	Contrast AF system Manual focus Face detection AF Tracking 23-area focusing 1-area focusing Pinpoint focusing Single or Continuous AF Touch AF	Contrast AF system Manual focus Face detection AF Tracking 23-area focusing 1-area focusing Single or Continuous AF Touch AF
AF-Assist Lamp	Yes, dedicated lamp	Yes, dedicated lamp
Image Stabilisation	None (lens only)	None (lens only)
Digital Zoom	Up to 4x	Up to 4x
Exposure Modes	Programe AE Aperture priority AE Shutter priority AE Manual iAuto iAuto Plus Creative Control Scene Custom (3 memories)	Program AE Aperture priority AE Shutter priority AE Manual iAuto My Colour SCN Custom (3 memories)
Scene Modes	17	17
Creative Control Modes	6	9
Sensitivity	Auto ISO Intelligent ISO ISO160 - ISO6400	Auto ISO Intelligent ISO ISO100 - ISO6400
Metering	144-zone multi-pattern sensing system	144-zone multi-pattern sensing system
Metering Range	0 to 18 EV	0 to 18 EV
Metering Modes	Multiple-weighted Center-weighted Spot	Multiple-weighted Center-weighted Spot
AE Lock	Can be assigned to Fn button	Can be assigned to Fn button
AE Bracketing	3 or 5 frames 1/3 or 1/2 stops to +/- 2EV	3 or 5 frames 1/3 or 1/2 stops to +/- 2EV
Exposure Compensation	-3.0 to +3.0 EV 1/3 EV steps	-3.0 to +3.0 EV 1/3 EV steps
Shutter Speed	60 - 1/4000s Bulb (up to 4 minutes) Flash X-sync 1/160s	60 - 1/4000s Bulb (up to 4 minutes) Flash X-sync 1/160s
White Balance	Auto Daylight Cloudy Shade Halogen Flash Custom 1 Custom 2 Kelvin temp (2500-10000K, 100K steps)	Auto Daylight Cloudy Shade Halogen Flash Custom 1 Custom 2 Kelvin temp (2500-10000K, 100K steps)
WB Fine Tuning	Yes (blue/amber bias, magenta/green bias)	Yes (blue/amber bias, magenta/green bias)
Colour Space	sRGB Adobe RGB	sRGB Adobe RGB
Image Parameters	Saturation Contrast Sharpness Noise reduction	Colour / Black and White Saturation Contrast Sharpness
Drive Modes	Single Continuous H (3.8fps, no live view) Continuous M (2.8fps, with live view) Continuous L (2fps, with live view)	Single Continuous H (3.2fps, no live view) Continuous M (2.6fps, with live view) Continuous L (2fps, with live view)
Buffer	7 RAW images Unlimited JPEG images with a fast card	7 RAW images Unlimited JPEG images with a fast card
Self-timer	2 sec 10 sec 10 sec, 3 images	2 sec 10 sec 10 sec, 3 images
Flash	Built-in manual pop-up TTL auto/manual Guide no. 6.3 (ISO160, m) Sync modes: Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync First curtain sync	Built-in manual pop-up TTL auto/manual Guide no. 6.0 (ISO100, m) Sync modes: Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync with red-eye reduction, Slow sync First curtain sync
External Flash	None (no hot shoe)	Hot shoe TTL Auto with FL220/FL360/FL500 (optional)
Viewfinder	None	Optional electronic viewfinder
Orientation Sensor	Yes (with OIS lenses only)	Yes (with OIS lenses only)
LCD Monitor	3.0" low termperature polycrystalline TFT LCD 3:2 aspect ratio Wide viewing angle 460k dots 60fps Approx 100% coverage Brightness (7 levels), Colour (7 levels)	3.0" low termperature polycrystalline TFT LCD 3:2 aspect ratio Wide viewing angle 460k dots 60fps Approx 100% coverage Brightness (7 levels), Colour (7 levels)
Microphone	Mono (with Wind Cut: Off, Low, Standard, High) Microphone level adjustable (4 levels)	Stereo (with Wind Cut: Off, Low, Standard, High) Microphone level adjustable (4 levels)
Connectivity	USB 2.0 Video Out (NTSC/PAL) HDMI	USB 2.0 Video Out (NTSC/PAL) HDMI
Print Compliance	PictBridge DPOF	PictBridge DPOF
Storage	SD/SDHC/SDXC Cards	SD/SDHC/SDXC Cards
Power	Li-ion battery pack (7.2V, 940mAh)	Li-ion battery pack (7.2V, 1010mAh)
Dimensions	107.7 x 67.1 x 32.5mm	113 x 68 x 33mm
Weight	225g (body only)	265g (body only)

Appearance and Ergonomics


With the GF3, Panasonic was determined to keep things small and simple. Losing the rear click-dial of the GF2 in favour of a compact-camera style dial with a four-way controller as well as a hot-shoe make this clear. The result is a small, simple, and unthreatening interchangeable lens camera that is accessible to photographers who want an upgrade from their compact cameras but don't want to trouble themselves with technical know-how.

While this makes the GF3 comfortable and familiar to users upgrading from compact cameras, it does have the downside of alienating enthusiasts. The lack of dedicated buttons means that users accustomed to having controls at the tips of their fingers will have to get used to navigating through menus to get to the settings they want. One clear casualty of this is the ISO setting; to change ISO, one needs to use the quick menu and click through a couple of times.



Despite the GF3's dimunitive size, it is comfortable to hold and handle. Panasonic has noted how small cameras can be difficult to handle securely, and has incorporated a thumbgrip to the body. It may not look like much of a feature, but it does make a world of a difference in practice.

Noise Performance


To test the GF3's noise performance, we shot the above scene at increasing ISO levels while adjusting shutter speed to ensure that exposure stayed the same. All shots were taken with the same lens, and cameras were set to their default JPEG settings. 100% crops of the same area are then compared.

Noise control on the GF3 is impressive; images at ISO1600 are very useable, and noise is well-controlled even at ISO3200. Noise becomes obvious at ISO6400 with 100% crops, but if one is shooting only for web the images are still more than adequate.

The chart below displays our noise test results. Do click the image below for the full-sized version.



The GF3 performed similarly to its predecessor, the GF2, in terms of noise performance. To check in on how the GF2 fared in its noise test, read our Panasonic GF2 review.

Additional Features


The strength of the GF3 is its promise of greater image quality without the need for extensive technical knowledge; its iA+ mode, a variant of Intelligent Auto mode that allows additional control, allows users to achieve effects such as blurred backgrounds without attempting to change technical settings. The slider for blurred backgrounds is shown below. In practice, its a very useable system.



Additionally, the GF3 comes with a built-in pop-up flash with a guide number of 6.3 @ ISO160, useful for those situations where you need that little bit of fill flash to add some light into your scene.



Conclusion
For those seeking an upgrade from their compact cameras, the Panasonic DMC-GF3 is a natural step up if one does not want to be burdened by the technical aspects of photography. It offers higher image quality without sacrificing the simplicity and ease-of-use inherent in compact cameras. One might even consider the GF3 to be an interchangeable lens compact; it has the form factor and design intent for it. Although enthusiasts might find the interface limiting, the GF3 is sure to find its way into the pockets of many a happy shooter.

Sample Gallery

(45mm, f/2.8, 1/100s, ISO250, +1.33EV)
This shot was taken with theLeica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 ASPH OIS. As expected, we have the sweets in sharp detail, with a nice creamy background.


(45mm, f/2.8, 1/60s, ISO800, +2.33EV)
Taken with the Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f/2.8 ASPH OIS. The subject is the glazed surface of a pan-seared foie gras. Look at the crisp detail delivered by the lens!


(14mm, f/2.5, 1/250s, ISO160, +1EV)
Taken with the Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 pancake lens.

And now some test shots from the NDP Rehearsal on 9th July

(14mm, f/2.5, 1/1000s, ISO160)


(14mm, f/2.5, 1/1600s, ISO200)


(14mm, f/2.5, 1/8s, ISO800)
Look at that shutter speed! ISO hasn't been pumped too high either. Respectable low-light performance for the GF3!