By Gordon Brockhouse
In February 2011, Panasonic will begin shipping its most compact Micro Four Thirds camera to date, the Lumix DMC-GF2. The GF2 is 20 per cent smaller and seven per cent lighter than its predecessor, the DMC-GF1.
Like the GF1, the GF2 does not have an eye-level viewfinder. Users compose and review pictures on the 460,000-dot three-inch LCD touchscreen. Photographers can lock focus and exposure onto a specific subject simply by touching the subject on the screen. If you’re photographing a playing child, you can touch the image of the child on the LCD, and the GF2 will use its AF tracking function to keep the child in focus.
With the GF2’s Intelligent Scene Selector in iA mode, the camera will automatically switch to the appropriate scene mode according to the subject touched. Touching a face on the screen will put the GF2 in portrait mode. Touching a forest or mountain will put it in scenery mode. Touching a flower in the foreground will put it in macro mode.
Panasonic says the GF2’s new Venus Engine FHD processor enhances the images produced by the 12MP LiveMOS sensor, improving detail, texture and low-light/high-ISO performance. The new processor also enables HD video capture in AVCHD format at 1920×1080 pixels interlaced (1080i60) or 1280×720 pixels progressive (720p60). It can also record video in motion JPEG format, at up to 1280×720 pixels. The camera has a built-in stereo microphone and dedicated video button.
Other features an automatic sensor-cleaning function, 17 scene modes, and a My Colour mode with eight creative preset effects.
The GF2 has a solid aluminum body, and is compatible with all Micro Four Thirds lenses, including Panasonic’s Lumix G 12.5mm f/12 3D lens, which allows the G2 to take 3D photos.
Five different SKUs will be available. A kit with a 14-42mm standard-zoom lens will be available in red or black (shown at top of story). A kit with a 14mm f/2.5 pancake lens will be available in black, white or red (shpwn here). Pricing will be announced prior to shipment.
