Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 explained

Model:Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3[1]
Kind:Micro Four Thirds System
Sensor:4/3 type MOS ('Live MOS sensor')
Res:4000×3000 (12.0 megapixels)
Lens:Micro Four Thirds System mount
Shutter:focal-plane
Shutterrange:60–1/4000 sec
Metering:144-zone multi-pattern sensing system
Emode:Program AE, Aperture priority AE, Shutter priority AE, Manual, iAuto, SCN, Movie, Custom (2)
Mmode:Multiple-Weighted, Center-Weighted, Spot
Fmode:Auto Focus, Manual focus, Face Detection, AF Tracking, 23-Area-Focusing/1 Area Focusing, Single or Continuous AF, Touch shutter, Quick AF, Continuous AF (during motion image recording), AF+MF, Touch MF Assist
Cont:7 RAW images, Unlimited JPEG images with a fast card; H: 3.8 frames/sec, M: 2.8 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)
Viewfinder:None (no accessory hotshoe)
Speedrange:ISO 160–6400
Flash:Built-in-Flash, TTL, GN 6.3 equivalent (ISO160 · m)
Rearlcd:3.0" Low temperature Polycrystalline TFT LCD with Touch panel;wide angle view
Storage:SD /SDHC /SDXC
Battery:940 mAh 7.2v Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery
Dimensions:107.7x
Weight:Approx. 264g (camera body, battery, SD Card),
Approx. 319g (incl. 14 mm lens, card and battery)
Madein:Japan

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 is the eighth camera in Panasonic's Lumix G-series adhering to the Micro Four Thirds System (MFT) design standard, and was announced in June 2011.[2]

The Panasonic DMC-GF3 uses a resistive touchscreen to provide mode selections, and as such that there is not a mode dial on the camera. Many features are no longer controlled by dials and buttons and wheels, but via the 3-inch touchscreen (460k- dot) at the rear of the unit.[3]

At the time of introduction on 13 June 2011, the GF3 was the world's smallest and lightest digital interchangeable lens system camera.[2]

The GF3 has received generally positive reviews for a small camera with a large sensor, and has speedy handling, including very fast auto focus, and good image quality. The camera was praised for its improvements in jpeg colour rendering and high iso over the previous Panasonic GF2 model but criticised the GF3 for its lack of external controls and hotshoe (preventing use of the Panasonic viewfinder or flash system) and the older 12MP sensor which is showing its age against the newer Panasonic sensors and the larger APS-C sensors used in the Sony NEX cameras.[4]

The GF3 began shipping in late July 2011 and was configured in several kits [5] available with the Lumix G 14mm F2.5 lens (GF3C), the Lumix G 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 (GF3K), both the Lumix G 14mm F2.5 and 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 lenses (GF3W) or the Lumix G 14-42mm X PZ lens F3.5-5.6 (GF3X). The last letter of the product code identifies the GF3 body colour, available colours are Black (Code K), Pink (Code P), Red, (Code R), Brown (Code T) and White (Code W).

Features

The GF3 is one of the world's smallest and lightest interchangeable lens system cameras. Designed in accordance with the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system design standard, the GF3 is capable of both still and High Definition video, and is able to use a wide variety of MFT lenses supplied by both Olympus and Panasonic, as well as other third party lenses which conform to the MFT system design standard. With certain of the system pancake lenses, the GF3 is small enough to fit into a pocket, and yet is capable of delivering images that rival lower end digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras that are much bulkier in both size and weight.

The GF3 boasts an upgraded processor, so that it can focus much faster than predecessor GF1 and GF2 models, even though it uses the same 12MP four thirds sensor. The GF3 focus and reaction time is on par with its more expensive Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 sibling, but the GF3 cannot match the image quality of the newer, higher resolution 16MP G3 sensor, especially under low light conditions where higher ISO (greater than 800) speeds are used. However, even though the GF3 uses the older 12MP sensor the in camera JPEG processing has been improved for better colors and better high ISO performance when compared to the GF 2 and GF1 camera bodies. The GF3 puts small size at a premium, and when paired with a pancake lens made by either Panasonic or Olympus will make a particularly attractive purse or pocketable large sensor, interchangeable lens camera. Examples of such pancake type lenses would be the Panasonic Lumix 14mm f/2.5,[6] the Olympus 17 mm f/2.8[7] or the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7[8] pancake lenses. The newly introduced Panasonic 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 X series power zoom lens[9] is a very compact zoom lens which in storage mode is only slightly larger than the Panasonic 20mm pancake.

Firmware updates

Panasonic Firmware releases

Panasonic has announced the following firmware update[10]

See also

Micro Four Thirds Camera introduction roadmap

Item Model Sensor Electronic View Finder (EVF) Announced
1 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effective)EVF; 1.4x magnification; 1.44M dots 2008, October [11]
2 4:3; 3:2; 16:9 (multi-aspect); 14.0 mp (12.1 mp effect) EVF; 1.4x mag; 1.44M dots 2009, April [12]
3 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) 2009, July [13]
4 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect)opt hotshoe EVF LVF1; 1.04x mag; 202K dots 2009, September [14]
5 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2009, November [15]
6 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2010, February [16]
7 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect) EVF; 1.04x magnification; 202K dots 2010, March [17]
8 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect)EVF; 1.4x mag; 1.44M dots 2010, March [18]
9 4:3; 3:2; 16:9 (multi-aspect); 18.3 mp (16.0 mp effect)EVF; 1.42x mag; 1.53M dots 2010, September [19]
10 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect)opt hotshoe EVF; 1.04x mag; 202K dots 2010, November [20]
11 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect)opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2010, November [21]
12 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect)opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2011, January [22]
13 4:3 / 16.6 mp (15.8 mp effect)EVF; 1.4x mag; 1.44M dots 2011, May [23]
14 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect)N/A 2011, June
15 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect)opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2011, June[24]
16 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect)opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2011, June[25]
17 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect)opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2011, June[26]
18 4:3 / 16.6 mp (16.0 mp effect)opt hotshoe EVF LVF2; 1.4x mag; 1.44M dots 2011, November[27]
19 4:3 / 16.9 mp (16.1 mp effect)[28] EVF; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2012, February[29]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: DMC-GF3 | PRODUCTS | LUMIX | Digital Camera | Panasonic Global . 26 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110827235811/http://www.panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/gf3/index.html . 27 August 2011 . dead .
  2. Web site: Archived copy . 26 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120508135906/http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/pressrelease/gf3.html . 8 May 2012 . dead .
  3. Web site: Panasonic Singapore launches Lumix DMC-GF2 micro four-thirds camera. 12 January 2011. Vrzone.com. 26 December 2018.
  4. Web site: Panasonic DMC-GF3 Review. Dpreview.com. 26 December 2018.
  5. Web site: DMC-GF3 | PRODUCTS | LUMIX | Digital Camera | Panasonic Global . 4 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111020131752/http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/gf3/specifications.html . 20 October 2011 . dead .
  6. Web site: Digital Interchangeable Lenses | PRODUCTS | LUMIX | Digital Camera | Panasonic Global . 10 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928225747/http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/lens/g_14.html . 28 September 2011 . dead .
  7. Web site: M. 17mm f2.8 . 14 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111007222406/http://olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1462 . 7 October 2011 . dead .
  8. Web site: Digital Interchangeable Lenses | PRODUCTS | LUMIX | Digital Camera | Panasonic Global . 14 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160226002349/http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/lens/g_20.html . 26 February 2016 . dead .
  9. Web site: Digital Interchangeable Lenses | PRODUCTS | LUMIX | Digital Camera | Panasonic Global . 10 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110929144405/http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/lens/g_x_vario_14_42.html . 29 September 2011 . dead .
  10. Web site: Archived copy . 26 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120223150728/http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/pressrelease/x_lens.html#firmware . 23 February 2012 . dead .
  11. Web site: Panasonic Lumix Dmc-G1: World's Smallest and Lightest Digital Interchangeable Lens Camera* . 13 February 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110728110405/http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prModelDetail?storeId=11301&catalogId=13251&itemId=292233 . 28 July 2011 .
  12. Web site: Archived copy . 26 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120409010414/http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/pressrelease/gh1.html#1 . 9 April 2012 . dead .
  13. Web site: Olympus E-P1 'digital Pen' - in depth preview + samples. Dpreview.com. 26 December 2018.
  14. Web site: Archived copy . 26 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120409071237/http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/pressrelease/dmc_gf1.html#1 . 9 April 2012 . dead .
  15. Web site: Olympus launches E-P2 Micro Four Thirds camera. Dpreview.com. 26 December 2018.
  16. News: Olympus unveils the affordable Pen. 3 February 2010. Digital Photography Review . 3 February 2010.
  17. Web site: Archived copy . 26 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120521102741/http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/pressrelease/g2g10.html#2 . 21 May 2012 . dead .
  18. Web site: Archived copy . 26 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120521102741/http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/pressrelease/g2g10.html#1 . 21 May 2012 . dead .
  19. Web site: Archived copy . 26 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120409010520/http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/pressrelease/gh2.html . 9 April 2012 . dead .
  20. Web site: Archived copy . 26 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120817010447/http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/pressrelease/gf2.html . 17 August 2012 . dead .
  21. Web site: OLYMPUS PEN Lite E-PL1s|デジタル一眼カメラ|オリンパスイメージング. OLYMPUS IMAGING. CORP. Olympus-imaging.jp. 26 December 2018.
  22. Web site: Olympus E-PL2 announced and previewed. Dpreview.com. 26 December 2018.
  23. Web site: Archived copy . 26 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120508104352/http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/pressrelease/g3.html . 8 May 2012 . dead .
  24. Web site: OLYMPUS - News Release: World's fastest AF*, Flagship of PEN series "OLYMPUS PEN E-P3". Olympus-global.com. 26 December 2018.
  25. Web site: OLYMPUS - News Release: High functionality and high performance into a small body, "OLYMPUS PEN Lite E-PL3". Olympus-global.com. 26 December 2018.
  26. Web site: OLYMPUS - News Release: First model of the New Line of "PEN mini" Series "OLYMPUS PEN mini E-PM1". Olympus-global.com. 26 December 2018.
  27. Web site: DMC-GX1 | PRODUCTS | LUMIX | Digital Camera | Panasonic Global . 13 December 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120519063946/http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/gx1/index.html . 19 May 2012 . dead .
  28. Web site: Olympus announces OM-D E-M5 weather-sealed Micro Four Thirds camera. Dpreview.com. 26 December 2018.
  29. Web site: OLYMPUS - News Release: The OLYMPUS OM-D, a new generation system camera compliant with the Micro Four Thirds System standard. Olympus-global.com. 26 December 2018.