Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Micro Four Thirds camera

Panasonic’s smaller GF2 a winner over predecessor

THE first impression of the GF2 is that it is smaller (by 19 per cent) and lighter (by 7 per cent) than the GF1.

It feels more like a compact digital camera, even if it possesses all the features of a DSLR.

And there are significant improvements over its predecessor.

The built-in flash has a new pop-up mechanism to prevent the vignette effect, due to the short distance between the flash and the interchangeable lens.

There is now touch control via the LCD, and the adoption of a new Graphical User Interface makes it easier for the user to change and manipulate camera settings.

However, for those who are used to dial controls, this may not be so welcome. The GF2 can also record in Full HD (1920x1080) AVHCD format.

One noticeable feature of the GF2 is its relatively quicker recharge time for the built-in flash.

This makes for quicker picture capture indoors when the flash is required – taking it one step closer to achieving the capability of a standard DSLR.

Overall picture quality is sharp and the colours are natural and balanced. I would say Panasonic has a winner here. It did not simply tweak the GF1’s design. It made it a much better camera.

How much: $1,099 (body plus 14mm lens); $1,299 (body plus 14mm lens, and 14-42mm lens)

Source; www.mypaper.com.sg

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The Lumix FX77

Camera that lets you fix blemishes

PHOTOS are everything to Ms Yuka Obara, a well-known Japanese blogger, who insists that online snapshots of her be picture- perfect – especially because it is hard to delete poor-quality photos, once they are on the Web.

Known by her online profile name Yunkoro, the 20-yearold has honed her art for four years, in line with Japan’s cult of the “kawaii” or cute, which has given rise to creative profile pictures.

For example, she has plenty of advice on how to photograph oneself – making use of everyday items such as handheld mirrors and curtains – so one looks honey-eyed and candy- sweet.

“My blogs are there for people to see, so...I am quite particular about photos,” she said, adding that she has had as many as 1.1 million hits a day.

Additional help has arrived for those like her, in the form of Panasonic’s new camera that can clean and even put make-up on a subject’s face.

The Lumix FX77, released last Friday, has a “beauty re-touch” function that whitens teeth, increases the translucency of skin, removes dark eye circles, makes faces look smaller and even magnifies the size of eyes.

For the final touch, it applies rouge, lipstick and even eyeshadow.

Said Ms Akiko Enoki, a Panasonic project manager in charge of developing the camera: “There has been huge customer demand for such a product.“

According to data we’ve acquired, around 50 per cent of our digital-camera clients are not satisfied with the way they look in a photo.

“We came up with the idea, so our clients can fix parts they don’t like about their faces, after they’ve taken a picture.”

REUTERS

Source; www.mypaper.com.sg

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Meet your new GF

by Trevor Tan

03:35 PM Jan 12, 2011

The successor to the critically-acclaimed mirrorless interchangeable lens Micro Four-Thirds (MFT) camera, the Panasonic GF1, is here. Meet the GF2.

While it has the same 12-megapixel image sensor and image processor as its predecessor, the GF2 sees a raft of improvements in other aspects.

It's still a 3-inch display, but the screen is now touch-sensitive. You can even tap to touch focus during video recording. The GF2 is capable of shooting 1920x1080 full high-definition (HD) videos; the GF1 can only shoot 720p HD video. The maximum ISO setting has also been raised to 6400 from 3200 in the GF1. Finally, the GF2 has a built-in stereo microphone, compared to the mono microphone in the earlier iteration.

Despite the improvements, the GF2 is 19 per cent smaller and 20g lighter than the GF1.

The Panasonic Lumix GF2 retails at $1,099 (with 14mm lens) and $1,299 (with 14mm and 14-42mm kit lens). Choose from colours of white, silver, pink and black.

Source: www.todayonline.com

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 vs Leica D-Lux 5

Same same, but (slightly) different


Digital Camera Showdown: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 vs Leica D-Lux 5

by Trevor Tan

05:55 AM Jan 14, 2011

FOR years, it was hard to tell the difference between Panasonic and Leica digital compact cameras due to their close collaboration in jointly developing digital still cameras using Leica's optical lens units.

It's the same story with Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LX5 ($799) and Leica's D-Lux 5 ($1,290). Both cameras are equipped with a 10.1-megapixel image sensor, a bright f2.0 3.8x (24-90mm in 35mm equivalent) optical zoom lens and a 3-inch LCD screen. They support up to SDXC cards.

Both cameras weigh around 270g and are almost of the same size, except the LX5 is 18mm thicker due to its rubberised grip. The D-Lux 5 sports a clean, classical design and bears the famous "Leica" logo in front; the LX5 is less subtle with its prominent Lumix branding. The LX5 is available in black and white bodies, while the D-Lux 5 comes in black only.

The button layout is the same, with the mode dial, zoom lever, dedicated video record button and power button on the top right and a dial on the rear right for your thumb to change settings with ease.

A picture aspect ratio selector switch sits on top of the barrel while the focus selector switch sits on the side. This lets you change the aspect ratio from 1:1 to 16:9 and switch from auto to manual focus on the fly.

The two cameras seem well built, although the LX5's rubberised handgrip gives me added assurance. An optional handgrip ($130) is available for the D-Lux 5.

What I don't like about both cameras is the annoying lens cap you need to remove before you can shoot. I don't understand why Panasonic or Leica hasn't manufactured a self-retaining lens cap such as the one on the Ricoh LC2. Fortunately, I found a solution - just google "JJC ALC-5" and you can get yourself a screw-on self-retaining lens cap that can be used on both cameras. I got mine off eBay for $24.

I prefer to photograph through a viewfinder and if you have a Panasonic LVF-1, you can also use it on the D-Lux 5.

Start-up time is around 1.6 seconds for both; shutting down takes 2.2 seconds. Shutter lag is around 0.5 seconds while shot-to-shot timing is around 1.7 seconds.

In a variety of indoor and outdoor scenarios, I took the same shots using the same settings under the same lighting conditions, and did a picture-to-picture comparison. Generally, the LX5 seems to produce slightly sharper images. Although there are more details in the shadows areas for the D-Lux 5, the LX5 handles the highlights better. There is better dynamic range rendered in images captured by the D-Lux 5.

Noise performance is great in both, with no visible noise artifacts up till ISO 800. At ISO 1600, chromatic noise is readily seen but it is still acceptable. Even at ISO 3200, it is still good for Web use.

Both cameras produce stellar images with spot-on auto white balance. The 720p high-definition videos produced by both are equally sharp, with less wind noise than most digital compact cameras in the market.

Note that the D-Lux 5 comes bundled with Adobe Lightroom 3, which is worth US$299 ($387). The camera also has a two-year warranty, double that of the LX5.

So if you don't need photo editing software like Adobe Lightroom 3, go for the LX5. If you want resale value and a longer warranty, go for the D-Lux 5. TREVOR TAN

Source: www.todayonline.com

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