New Panasonic GF2 and 14mm lens reviews.
GF2 preview…in french
The french website hybridcams previewed the new Panasonic GF2 (Click here to read the google english translation). And Pixinfo posted a detailed ISO image table. A full review has been written by David Babsky (at stevehuff.com): “Its drawbacks are very few ..far, far fewer than I’d expected.. and it certainly APPEARS simpler to use for a novice. It’s a very nice little interchangeable-lens compact camera. But I’m not a novice. So I’d use it for movies (or for the 4/3 Leica 14-50mm f2.8 low-light portrait zoom) but otherwise I’ll stick with the GF1 (the “Leica M9.5″) for stills. Out of 10? Eight-and-a-half ..and I can hardly wait for a HI-RES clip on viewfinder, to match the resolution of the GH2 SLR.”
Check price and availability of all GF2 combos at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
Steve Huff had a lot of fun testing the new Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 pancake: “I found it performed excellent every time it was slung around me on the E-P2. What else can I say besides I LOVE IT! Over 500 frames shot with it and I found no issues or problems so I really have nothing bad to say about it. Is it as good as a Leica lens? NO, but this is under $400, not $4000
If you want a wide angle prime that is lightweight, thin and not so expensive then this one should be on your short list without question.”
Click on the shop names to visit the direct 14mm pancake page and check price and availability: Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.

Voldenuit
2 years ago |Sigh. The price on that 14mm needs to come down. m43 tax rears its ugly head.
OK, ok, it’s not fair to compare it to the Canon EF 28/2.8 ($240). For one thing, the canon design is 23 years old (!), and you need a $2500 FF body to get the same FOV as the Panny 14 + a m43 body. And there’s no equivalent on APS-C unless you dabble with the 15/2.8 fisheye (not rectilinear), 17/4L T-S (slower and a tiltshift, which may be a plus) or 20/2.8 USM (longer, and also an old design – 19 years old).
But I still think Panny needs to be more realistic with its lens prices if they’re going to have a shot at growing their market share beyond just dabblers with the kit zoom. If people are not invested in the system, then it will be very easy to lose customers as it makes more financial sense for them to switch systems when something better comes out from another company.