Panasonic GF3 tested at PhotographyBlog! (+new E-P3/G3 images)
Photographyblog (Click here) posted the new GF3 review: “We do have a few more concerns about the GF3 than the GF2 though, most notably the lack of an external viewfinder, flash hotshoe, stereo sound and fewer external controls, but the majority of the GF3′s target audience will probably never notice their absence, while the speedy auto-focus may tempt more advanced users looking for a small and inconspicuous system.”
Just my two cent, if the target audience of the GF3 is an attempt to woo compact camera owners than the problem of the camera are not the lack of some GF1 features, but the price! It’s to high to appeal the compact camera mass typology. Don’t you think so?
Check the price and availability of the GF3 at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
P.S: Dpreview updated the Olympus E-P3 samples gallery with images with revised settings. Outbackphoto posted a set of G3 image samples.
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Recent comments
Comment from elflord: That or if they had a decent normal leng...- Comment from elflord: If they could do all this without making...
Comment from Mr. Reeee: Exactly.
If the GF3 were $399 for a bo...
Comment from Jason: I waited for the GF3 specs to come out b...
Bob B.
11 months ago |Well….even if you do not like the camera…You have to admit that Panasonic is good at one thing: Targeting a section of the market.
Now..about that brown……..
Ulli
11 months ago |though they are surely capable cameras, their design don’t appeal to me, except maybe for the GF1
AndyOz
11 months ago |I havent seen one yet but from the photos I really dont like the look of it. I really like the GF1 and G3 designs so its not an issue with Panasonic design in general. There is just something about the hump that i dont like. But hey i am probably not target market. Hope it sells well for them.
Mr. Reeee
11 months ago |That hump is a real problem. It’s SO much easier to CARRY an external flash rather than have one built-in.
It’s sort of a common design element. The G3 and GH2 have their EVF/flash/microphone humps, so not only does it function for the flash but adds a (slight) family resemblance. It shares the curvy, sexy lines of the G3, too.
I’ll be curious to see and handle one (and an EPL3), before passing judgement.
Yun
11 months ago |More concern on ISO performance ! All the GF series still struggling at ISO 800 . Perhaps Panasonic should come out something to enable it to perform in image quality at ISO 1600 / 3200 that can truely rival NEX & Samsung mirrorless cameras .
Kenny
11 months ago |Same concern, otherwise Panasonic is heading to a right direction with GF3. For P&S up-graders, there should be something beneficial from a bigger sensor in exchange for losing their 30X zoom.
James
11 months ago |I think that the deal breaker is lack of image stabilisation when fitted with a pancake lens. Also, P&S upgraders will likely want a zoom lens and the current kit zoom is too large for that camera.
leendert
11 months ago |+ 1
I like the Panasonic body’s (GF1, G3).
But the kit lenses are too big.
Thats why I choose Olympus PEN.
elflord
11 months ago |Why should we care about image stabilization on wide angle lenses ? Canon are doing OK with their L lenses, and none of their premium lenses below 100mm has stabilization. So if lack of stabilization is a deal breaker, why didn’t all the Canon/Nikon users switch to Olympus 4/3 or Sony ?
It seems to me that there’s an obsession with technology here, which might be why m43 is packed with wizzbang technology but lacking in quality optics (still waiting for a portrait lens, but we have a good selection of slow zooms, with an without stabilization !)
Jim
11 months ago |looking at the DPR new ep3 jpgs (with NR and sharpness turned off) there seems way less processing than people have thought…. I actualy would keep it on and let the camera do its thing… they look better!
Jan
11 months ago |If only it had stereo recording it would had been a nice little and usable device. I do not know why Panasonic and Olympus stick on momo recording as part of their marketing strategy. Nobody is selling cheaper cameras featuring black and white pictures only. So why their keep doing it with the sound recording? Its so stupid..
Kenny
11 months ago |sound recordings from in camera mic are horrible anyway, mono or stereo doesn’t really matters.
AliceJapan
11 months ago |I don’t think the current pricing of $699.95 will stick once it is released. On the Panasonic US website, they have lowered the pre-order price of the G3 to $629.99 and with EPP, $524.99. The pricing for the GF3 is not even mentioned yet on the online store.
elflord
11 months ago |It’s not a video camera. Even with a stereo mic, it wouldn’t be — no external mic, no flip LCD screen, no dof control in video mode.
Kenny
11 months ago |no flip LCD, no depth of field control …, that is a killer for this camera. If I am going to ever buy a m43, it has to be compact yet with full video control and priced right. I hate electronic companies when they play such games of hiding some no-cost features from their “mid-range” product to artificially create a high end product. A high-end product should be better built with high quality material but not features.
elflord
11 months ago |If they could do all this without making it any bigger, the GH series would be pocketable.
Jonathan
11 months ago |I’m pretty sure that Borat would say : ” GF3 are for girls ! ”
And for that brown… Chocolate is brown, and girls love chocolate.
shep
11 months ago |Ultra-miniaturizing the camera is a waste of time when the lenses are big. Olympus understands this better than Panasonic or Sony.
Olympius
11 months ago |Admin,
You are correct sir….as New York politician Jimmy McMillan would say, “the price of the GF3 is too damn high!”
It will sell well in Japan, and the rest of the world will take a pass…
Anyway, we are waiting for the GF PRO. So who cares….
Olympius
Bob B.
11 months ago |This is a case of “Form-Follows-Function” …and in this time it ain’t pretty…especially in brown.
Mr. Reeee
11 months ago |I think it’s a good looking camera. It’s got some personality. Kawaii!
Yeah, but brown? Why not purple? I like the EPL3, too, even if it’s a little generic looking. Either would make a good home for my neglected 20mm.
The thing that bugs me about the GF3 is the crappy dial instead of the Control Wheel and standard Panasonic rear button setup. A system should use common control elements, so if you swap between cameras the contols are nearly identical. If all I wanted to do was shoot in iAuto mode, no problem, but this is a real step backwards in terms of usability. I’ve traveled with 3 different brand cameras and it sucks every time I swapped, trying to remember how each one worked.
And $699? They can’t be serious about that price!
AndyOz
11 months ago |Well Mr Reee we shall have to agree to disagree on the styling of the GF3. I am not a big fan of the GF3 looks – I prefer the E-PL3 if is I was going to buy a little mini one.
And I was just looking at the prices of the G3 at BH – $599 for body only and $699 for G3 plus kit lens. Thats good pricing. The same price for a GF3 with 14mm lens. Ok you can get a GF3 with kit lens for $599. Only a hundred dollars more for a G3!!
Two things I notice – one the G3 is very well priced and two the GF3 is a tad over priced. I wish that Olympus would price the E-P3 a bit lower or at least throw in a free VF for the same price.
I just saw your comment about the hump – yes the hump is functional but alas it just doesnt look good to me
I like the little flash that comes with the E-PL3. Good idea from Oly.
Bob B.
11 months ago |The G3 is WAY more camera than the GF3. Hello? Sad but true…if anyone could have warned me what he GF line would turn into when I bought my GF1.”’ The HORROR of it all! LOL!
)
(totally tongue-in-cheek but it really is all true!
The whole GF start-out turned into one big HUMP!
Jason
11 months ago |I waited for the GF3 specs to come out before voting with my $$ and getting the GF2 for $499 with kit lens. I’m happy with that decision.
If I/my fiance (who I MOSTLY bought the cam for…lol) want to upgrade the body we’ll look at the G3/4, the certainly pending GH3 or the GF-Pro? As the GF3 is clearly not marketd to me or most of the people who likely frequent this site.
Does that make it a bad camera? No, just not a fit for pros/serious amateurs.
Mr. Reeee
11 months ago |Exactly.
If the GF3 were $399 for a body only and had the control wheel, I would consider it as a fun camera to use my auto-focus lenses and nothing more. There’s no way I’d want to use my manual focus lenses without an EVF… at least some of the time.
The GF2 sure looks a LOT more compelling that it did a few weeks ago.
elflord
11 months ago |That or if they had a decent normal length prime for cheap, especially if they shipped it as a kit lens for a good price.
The 14mm kit is too wide, the zoom is too big. The 20mm is about the right focal length and aperture, but it brings the package to about $900. For the same money, you could get an entry level DSLR with a kit lens, a “nifty fifty” and a shoe mounted flash.
davide
11 months ago |Exactly. Price is the issue. It should come at $600, at most $700 with the 20mm lens. At $600 I would buy it immediately. At $700 I would think about it seriously.
The current price ($700 with the crappy 14mm or $500 with the huge and bad 14-42mm) is a no-brainer: I don’t even consider it.
Bob B.
11 months ago |FOVEON for MFT……check out this post on Canon Rumors…http://www.canonrumors.com/2011/07/canon-3-layer-sensor-foveon-type-patent
Has everyone seen the images from the new Sigma SD1???? http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/sd1-dslr-sigma
What we need to do here…is cut out all the kiddy crap…and leading us all along on a string to buy more products…Fuji, Sigma, Canon or somebody…needs to make a 3 layered MFT Foveon Sensor so that we can have extremely small cameras, lenses and viewfinders, with INCREDIBLE image quality. It has to happen…what else is there for a giant IQ increase on the horizon for MFT?
…and I don’t need Thom or somebody to come on here and spout out all the reasons it can’t be done…
The industry just needs to do it.