It's Official: Panasonic GF1

It's Official: Panasonic GF1
Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Panasonic GF1 has been announced, along with the long-awaited Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 and PanaLeica 45mm f/2.8 macro. My only slight disappointment with the announcement is that the GF1 seems to use the same sensor as the G1 and E-P1 rather than the multi-aspect ratio (and higher performing) sensor from the GH1.

Full coverage at 1001 Noisy Cameras.

DPReview has image samples from the long-awaited 20mm f/1.7 lens.

The GF1 is available for pre-order at Amazon in two kits (with 17mm lens or with 14-45mm zoom. Both kits are listed at $899.

I expect this will be available in very limited quantities as the GH1 has been largely out of stock and the Panasonic 7-14mm lens is nowhere to be found. I'm personally torn between pre-ordering now, which may be the only way to get a GF1 soon, and waiting to see what Leica announces on September 9.

I'm convinced that there will be a Leica version of this camera.

Posted by Amin Labels: Panasonic GF1

Comments (12)

Logging you in...

Dashboard | Edit profile | Logout

Logged in as

0 Vote up Vote down

Matthew · 814 weeks ago

FINALLY! A Panasonic M4/3 camera. I was pretty excited about the Olympus EP1, but never did quite love it just because I don't love Olympus' digital products. They nailed the Zuiko 50s, UWAs and Macro's back in the film days with most of those lenses still being heavily sought after today, but I just can't love their digital cameras. To me, the images are noisy with poor color balance and from what I understand, the EP1 isn't much of an upgrade.

I love that Panasonic went with a 12mp sensor (I'd have loved to see 10, actually) rather than bumping it up to some outrageous number like 14+. I love the idea of the optional EVF. Ricoh has been absolutely praised for this option. With the EP1, the viewfinder is only good for the 17mm lens. With Panasonic's Viewfinder, it translates the view no matter what the lens is. Very smart on their end. I also love the fact that they kept their standard kit lens and didn't create some funky, collapsible lens that may, or may not hold up. I've already read strange stories on the web about the "loose barrel" and "shoddy extending barrel construction" of the EP1's kit lens. Oly had a great little kit lens before, keep it that way. Like the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

As far as your interest in a Leica counterpart. I'm sure you can count on it being in the $999-1299 price point. Not sure that it would be worth it, but it may be just to use actual Leica glass. Although the GF1 should allow that same thing with the use of an adapter. I'm really thinking this may be my next Compact Camera purchase. I'm going to see what happens when it actually gets in the hands of the consumers, but so far, it looks very appealing.

Report

0 Vote up Vote down

Robert · 814 weeks ago

Leica version coming up next week?

http://us.leica-camera.com/news/news/1/6742.html

Report

1 reply · active 814 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

amin 67p · 814 weeks ago

Yes, I think so. They will announce an M9, almost certainly, and they will also announce a Leica version of the GF1 for those of us who can't afford the M9.

Report

0 Vote up Vote down

Drdul · 814 weeks ago

Well, I'm glad I bought the E-P1. I need image stabilization for low-light street shooting, and don't need a flash or viewfinder. Manual focus is all I use, so AF performance is a non-issue. i would have been interested in the GF1 if they had incorporated the multi-aspect sensor, as I prefer shooting at 3:2. I'll be hanging onto my LX3 for a while longer!

BTW. the Leica version of this is called the X1. Maybe with Leica in the picture, Panasonic will make the 12 mm pancake lens that I'm waiting for.

Report

4 replies · active 814 weeks ago

0 Vote up Vote down

Sam Jones · 814 weeks ago

Funny, not a single photo on your website or flickr feed is is low light! I wonder how well you are doing with the EP-1 in low light, simply because the autofocus really starts to crap out in the dark, and Panasonic's contrast-detection tech is far superior.

Report

0 Vote up Vote down

andhika · 814 weeks ago

um, didn't you read the part "Manual focus is all I use, so AF performance is a non-issue."?

many streetcappers still work that way, they preset the camera for an expected range or situation. So when it came, they just snap it. No need to wait for AF.

oh and, mind you, being "low light" doesn't have to be "low-key" in result, Sam...

Report

0 Vote up Vote down

andhika · 814 weeks ago

meh, i googled "streetcappers" after i wrote that weird word and found no relevant result!
by cappers i meant something like capturers, but let me correct it to "street shooters" to avoid confusion.

Sorry =)

Report

+1 Vote up Vote down

amin 67p · 814 weeks ago

I've seen the X1 rumor and think the photo being passed around looks like a fake. An APS-C sensor and Elmarit 24/2.8 sounds like someone's dream. We're much more likely to see a GF-1 with Leica cosmetics and otherwise not much change.

Report

0 Vote up Vote down

Andrew · 814 weeks ago

wow sam, was that necessary? do you feel better after calling him out?

Report

0 Vote up Vote down

andhika · 814 weeks ago

re: the 20mm/1.7 samples -- does anyone notice the slight harshness of the bokeh for green backgrounds (leafs, grass), when shot not wide open? Just being picky though--other than that it's really fine.

re: IS for low-light street shooting, if the subject is people, i don't think IS will help much. In that case i'd go for a camera with the cleanest pic at ISO3200/6400. If the subject is still then it's a different story...

Report

0 Vote up Vote down

jimmie · 813 weeks ago

I gotta say, the GF1 is one the better looking bodies to come out in a long time and it has truly gotten me excited. With 8 and 16mm lenses on the way, this guy has a lot of potential. Technology makes things smaller and better all the time - just need some decent optics to back it up. The (m)4/3rds format might just be the start of something good. Just need to see how the GF1's low light performance is and this might just end up in my arsenal.

Way to break the mold ...

Report

+1 Vote up Vote down

Quillcards 6p · 812 weeks ago

There is a detailed review of the GF1 in the 12 September edition of Amateur Photographer. The reviewer likes it, but there is one killer sentence tucked into the panel that highlights 'resolution, noise, and sensitivity. The sentence reads:

"There is a granular texture visible in images throughout the sensitivity setting range, whether the high-sensitivity noise reduction is set to its highest or lowest setting."