Panasonic’s Lumix GF3 for casual users

Micro Four-thirds (MFT) cameras have mostly competed with digital single-lens reflex (SLR)till now, and looked at hardcore photography enthusiasts as their audience. But this all changes with Panasonic's Lumix GF3. From the looks of it, this camera seems more suited for casual user.

For starters, the GF3 is the tiniest Micro Four-thirds (MFT) camera we've tested. Even with the 14mm Pancake lens connected, it'll fit in your pant pocket, which is quite a feat. The camera's classy all-metal body, available in a variety of colours, makes it quite pretty too.

The only thing that'll really keep enthusiasts away is its scarcity of buttons. If you need to make adjustments, including selecting the shooting mode (manual, aperture/ shutter priority etc.), you need to do it from within the menu.

This is rather tedious and time-consuming. However, the three-inch touchscreen Liquid Crystal Display(LCD) display allows you to tap to focus and take photos. This is convenient if you're waiting to capture a specific moment.

The GF3 is well endowed with features. It can capture 12-megapixels photos and shoot videos at a full-HD resolution of 1920x1080. However, the stereo mics from the GF2 have been downgraded to mono.

Photos are packed with details and colour reproduction is spot-on. Videos are clear too, but no manual controls are available, and you can't capture a still image while recording.

Verdict
Priced at approximately ₹39,000, the Panasonic GF3 comes bundled with two lenses making it good value for money. Although its immediate competitor, the Olympus E-P3 is the more professional of the two, the GF3 is cheaper, smaller and less intimidating. Buy it if you want quick and good results with minimal meddling involved.

Rating: ***1/2