Now some of you may have noticed a dramatic increase in color reproduction and detail in my Otterbox coverage here. That had been possible with the help of this recent addition to my collection: the Panasonic Lumix GF3.
There are plenty of considerations when purchasing a camera however this is one of those investments that can be considered consumable partly due to the fact that a new one (or three) within a specific category can be expected every year.
My primary consideration is portability; we all know that there are plenty of DSLR toting ‘hobbyists’ out there and while I do not intend to become a professional photographer right now, I like a certain quality to my shots/footage without the ‘bulk’ that comes with them and that is precisely what the GF3 offers.
This camera belongs to the Micro Four-Thirds system cameras along with Olympus’ Pen series and Sony’s NEX series. I chose this particular kit because of the prime lens, one that allows focus and defocus of close proximity objects in contrast to the background, eventually I hope to find one with a larger aperture for greater flexibility.
WIthin the box there’s the body, two lenses (one prime and a 14-42), a flower hood, charger and cord, strap, USB and video connections, software CDs and manuals. Here are some of my negative impressions while using the unit:
- At first it is a little bit confusing because what is displayed in the live view is a perfectly exposed preview and is usually not what you will get when you take the photo.
- Because of the absence of the electronic viewfinder, operation is fundamentally different as you cannot bring it up to eye level. This also leads to greater battery drain because the LCD is constantly on. There is however a monitor off function which helps with power management while you’re looking for the next thing to shoot.
- Orientation detection is also absent on the body so only specific lenses will automatically reorient the photo one a picture is taken with the camera on its side.
- While high ISO values are supported, it is not adviseable to use because the sensor size and value combination leads to a considerable amount of noise.
Apart from the above it performs excellently and produces fantastic image quality. Expect better quality footage from here on out.
That does not mean I’ve decomissioned my X10 though, it’s a great phone and with good enough optics… it just needs enough light… here is an example:
So with my trusty X10 and GF3 we look forward to more adventures!
Add Comment