To help us provide you with free impartial advice, we may earn a commission if you buy through links on our site. Learn more

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 with 14mm lens review

Our Rating :
Price when reviewed : £620
inc VAT

Slimmer and lighter than the GF1 but image quality is eclipsed by the cheaper Sony NEX-5

Specifications

17.3x13mm 12.0-megapixel sensor, 1.0x zoom (32mm equivalent), 265g

http://www.amazon.co.uk

An SLR sensor in a compact body is an appealing prospect, and the GF2’s classic rangefinder-inspired styling makes it even more so. It’s a similar size and weight to the Sony NEX-5. Both are available with a choice of wide-angle pancake lens or bulkier 3x zoom lens. They both offer a full complement of manual controls, but the GF2 brings these features to the fore with a command dial and buttons for ISO speed, white balance and focus mode.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Best of all is the ability to specify the focus point via the touchscreen, with the choice of locking to that area or tracking subjects as they move around the frame. Performance is firmly in SLR territory, and there’s a conventional shoe for an external flashgun plus an integrated pop-up flash.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 rear

This second-generation model is smaller and lighter than the GF1 but this comes with some sacrifices. The battery is smaller and lasts for 320 rather than 380 shots. The exposure mode dial has gone, although mode selection via the touchscreen was just as quick. The disappearance of the drive mode dial and buttons for auto/manual focus, AF/AE lock, display options and depth-of-field preview are more regrettable, though.

Another major change over the GF1 is a new kit lens with an f/2.5 aperture and wide-angle 28mm-equivalent focal length. It’s remarkably small and light but we prefer the f/1.7, 40mm-equivalent lens that came with the GF1 – it’s a whole stop brighter and the narrower field of view makes more sense for a fixed-zoom camera.

Pages: 1 2

Basic Specifications

Rating ***
CCD effective megapixels 12.0 megapixels
CCD size 17.3x13mm
Viewfinder optional electronic
Viewfinder magnification, coverage N/A
LCD screen size 3.0in
LCD screen resolution 460,000 pixels
Articulated screen No
Live view Yes
Optical zoom 1.0x
Zoom 35mm equivalent 32mm
Image stabilisation none
Maximum image resolution 4,000×3,000
Maximum movie resolution 1920×1080
Movie frame rate at max quality 25fps
File formats JPEG, RAW; AVCHD, QuickTime (M-JPEG)

Physical

Memory slot SDXC
Mermory supplied none
Battery type Li-ion
Battery Life (tested) 320 shots
Connectivity USB, AV, mini HDMI
HDMI output resolution 1080i
Body material plastic
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds
Focal length multiplier 2.0x
Kit lens model name Panasonic H-H014
Accessories USB and AV cables, neck strap
Weight 265g
Size 68x113x33mm

Buying Information

Warranty one-year RTB
Price £620
Supplier http://www.amazon.co.uk
Details www.panasonic.co.uk

Camera Controls

Exposure modes program, shutter priority, aperture priority, manual
Shutter speed 60 to 1/4,000 seconds
Aperture range f/2.5 to 22
ISO range (at full resolution) 100 to 6400
Exposure compensation +/-3 EV
White balance auto, 5 presets with fine tuning, 2 manual, custom
Additional image controls contrast, saturation, sharpness, noise reduction, aspect ratio
Manual focus Yes
Closest macro focus 28cm
Auto-focus modes multi, flexible spot, face detect, tracking
Metering modes multi, centre-weighted, centre, face detect
Flash auto, forced, suppressed, slow synchro, red-eye reduction
Drive modes single, continuous, self-timer, AE bracket, WB bracket