Digital Home Thoughts: Panasonic GF2 Reviewed by PhotographyBLOG

"The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 is the World’s smallest and lightest compact system camera with a built-in flash. Replacing the popular GF1 model, the new GF2 is is 19% smaller in size and 7% less in weight than its predecessor, thanks largely to the introduction of a touch-control interface via the 3 inch 460,000-dot LCD screen. The DMC-GF2 also offers full HD movies at 1920 x 1080 at 60i (NTSC) / 50i (PAL) in AVCHD format with stereo sound, a new Graphic User Interface, a 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor, Venus Engine FHD image processor, expanded ISO range of 100-6400, a built-in pop-up flash and Dust Reduction system."

Well, the camera may not have shipped yet, but here's a review of the Panasonic GF2. PhotographyBLOG concedes that it is not quite the replacement for the GF1, but it offers much to shooters looking to upgrade from small-sensor compact cameras, and at a lower price than the GF1's launch price. I prefer to keep my external controls, so the GF2 is even less appealing to the GF1 for me. However I can see it will appeal to the more casual shooters with its slightly smaller size, the 1080p video, and the touch screen controls. The interesting thing is how Panasonic is using the 14mm f/2.5 lens in the promo shots; the smaller lens certainly makes the camera look smaller, but, like the NEX cameras, I wonder how many people will still be interested once a bigger lens with greater telephoto reach (consumers love telephoto lenses) is used.