Posts: 5,739
Threads: 264
Joined: Aug 2004
Reputation:
2
Considering how wonderful the GF-1 looks, the GF-2 has been rendered quite ugly IMO by messing with the camera's proportions. Beauty is all about proportions, isn't it?
Posts: 2,224
Threads: 76
Joined: Aug 2005
Reputation:
0
I am interested to see the specs. 43 Rumors report that that this afternoon it will be released.
They have some specs from Panasonic China on their site too.
Canon stuff.
Posts: 5,739
Threads: 264
Joined: Aug 2004
Reputation:
2
There is quite a lot of detail out this morning. Touch screen interface instead of dedicated external controls stands out for me as a major change to the worse. One of the beautiful things about the GF-1 was the fact that you had *real* controls - a breakthrough feature for enthusiast/semi-pro photographers. One of the worst things about the GF-1 was that the LCD became quite hard to see in bright sunlight. Moving the external controls to the LCD seems like a step in the wrong direction to me. The GF-2 has been designed to compete head to head with the Sony NEX - which is aimed at the point and shoot market as opposed to the enthusiast market. There are rumors of a third GF camera that incorporates an internal rangefinder-style viewfinder (ala the Fuji X100). IMO, that is what the GF series really needs - and not a reduction in size at the expense of usability. However, Panasonic may well decide to refocus their product strategy - providing more pro features for the GH series and dumbing down the GF series. That would be a sad thing - but understandable from a marketing perspective. If they don't provide a GF with a real internal viewfinder soon, you will see sales of the already highly appealing Fuji X100 go through the roof (provided that it has decent IQ).
Just my $.02
Posts: 3,036
Threads: 253
Joined: Jun 2005
Reputation:
3
I don't know nearly enough about the new camera to have an opinion, but hey, this is the internetâ¦
I've used the touch-screen Panasonic G2, and I have to say that I like it. I'm not a fan of touch screens, but the ability have the camera focus and take the photo with a single tap on the screen is brilliant. The touch interface also makes the AF tracking feature very easy to use, to the point where it becomes practical for video. If I had a touch screen on my GH1, I'm sure I'd enjoy using it.
I see that the GF2 retains the click-wheel, which I don't love, but it does keep the major photographic exposure controls off of the screen, unlike some other touch-screen cameras - including Panasonics - that I could mention. And with firmware updates, even the Sony NEX is turning into a decent little camera. Like I said, I don't know nearly enough about the GF2, but I'm optimistic.
matthewpiers.com • @matthewpiers | robertsonphoto.blogspot.com | @thewsreviews • thewsreviews.com