 Micro Four Thirds User Forum |
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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1
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908
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Sun July 8, 2012
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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$230.00
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9.0
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Description:
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Year introduced: 2011
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Posts: 6,853
Registered: April 2009
Location: Boston, MA (United States)
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Author
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Amin Sabet
Registered: April 2009
Location: Boston, MA (United States)
Posts: 6853
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Review Date: Sun July 8, 2012
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $230.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Very small, great AF, great price
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Cons:
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Uses 1st gen MFT sensor which isn't as good as GX1 sensor
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This and the GF5 which replaces it are Panasonic's competitors to the Olympus E-PM1. The E-PM1 seems to get more love, but for the price, I don't think the GF3 can be beat. There are some particular great deals on the GF3 kits with the 14mm lens, which is my favorite lens for going ultra compact with Micro 4/3.
The main knock on the GF3 is that it is too small (a strength to me) and lacks enough physical controls. I find the controls to be adequate for my needs and have no trouble controlling aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure comp, basically everything I want to control.
My hand feels a bit cramped on the GF3, something I remedied by using a stick-on Gariz soft release button and triggering the release with the inside of my index finger's first knuckle.
Things I love about the GF3:
-The price is right
-Very pocketable with 14mm lens
-Great AF speed and accuracy/precision
-Good looking camera (some find it girly, but I like it)
Things I don't like:
-Sensor (uses same sensor as E-PM1) isn't as good as GX1 sensor
Things I like about GF3 but aren't essential:
-Automatically corrects color fringing for Panasonic lenses in Lightroom
Things that may matter to some people but not me:
-Most prefer Olympus JPEG engine to Panasonic (I shoot RAW and don't care)
-Has an onboard flash that I don't use
Things lacking that aren't dealbreakers for me:
-Touchscreen is less sensitive than some others (E-PM1 doesn't have touchscreen at all)
-Touchscreen not articulated (same for E-PM1)
-No in body stabilization (E-PM1 has this)
-No hot shoe or EVF port (E-PM1 has both)
The score I gave (9 out of 10) takes into account value for money at today's going rate. You can easily a GF3 brand new with the 14mm lens for under $400. I spent over $300 on the lens alone when it came out, and it was worth every cent for that excellent and underrated prime lens. Getting the GF3 along with it is a no brainer if you're looking for a very small MFT camera with a great pancake 14mm lens.
My only reservation is the use of the 1st gen sensor (same sensor in E-PM1/E-PL2/E-P3). Fwiw, the GF5 sensor seems little, if at all better, so I wouldn't pick the GF5 over the GF3 unless the costs are close.
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Amin
Mu-43.com Webmaster (Site FAQ | Help Forum | My Disclosures | My Flickriver | My G+ Profile)
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