Panasonic Lumix DMC GF1

Panasonic launched the Lumix DMC GF1 in 2009 as a mirrorless camera. It measures 119 x 71 x 36 mm and weighs 385 g, so it carries lightly in a small bag.

It suits photographers who want interchangeable Micro Four Thirds lenses without carrying a large body. The resolution covers everyday prints and online sharing.

Composition happens on the 3-inch screen, since the camera has no built-in viewfinder. That keeps the body compact, and it makes live view the normal way of working.

The 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor uses the Micro Four Thirds format, with the Venus Engine HD processor handling the images. That resolution leaves comfortable room for prints and normal cropping.

Lenses attach via the Micro 4/3 mount, which matches the Micro Four Thirds sensor format. Because the system uses interchangeable lenses, framing choices extend well beyond what a fixed-lens camera offers.

Autofocus offers 23 points, though the count alone says nothing about speed, accuracy or tracking. The 1/4000s maximum shutter speed allows brief exposures that help in bright light, while the 3fps maximum burst rate suits casual sequences more than sustained action.

Sensitivity runs from ISO 100 to 3200, and there is no in-body stabilisation. With nothing in the body countering camera shake, keep shutter speeds up, use a stabilised lens or support the camera when light falls.

The GF1 records Standard HD video up to 1280 x 720 pixels. This gives it a basic movie option for short clips, though the supplied maximum resolution is below Full HD or 4K.

The highest listed recording rate is 60fps. Panasonic identifies this as AVCHD Lite 60p recording with 30 fps sensor output, so it should not be read as 60 unique sensor frames each second.

Video can be stored as AVCHD or QuickTime Motion JPEG. That gives a choice of file formats, although the supplied facts do not establish clip duration, crop behaviour or heat limits.

There is no built-in timelapse feature. Automatic interval sequences therefore need an external interval solution or another device.

Framing and review happen on a 3-inch TFT LCD with 460,000 dots. Detail is adequate for composition, though fine focus checks take a little more care than on sharper panels. The screen flips out, which helps at waist level and overhead, and with no touchscreen you change settings through the buttons instead.

The features score of 36 out of 100 reflects a limited set, placing it in the bottom 19% of cameras in our database for Features. There is no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPS, so the camera offers no wireless route for images or location tagging. The body also has no weather sealing, so keep it out of rain and dust.

Lighting options are more flexible than the rest of this section suggests. A built-in flash handles fill light, and support for an external flash lets you add a stronger unit when the subject demands it.

Storage goes through a single SD, SDHC or MMC slot. With one slot you will be swapping cards when one fills, and there is no in-camera second copy of important frames.

The DMW-BLB13 battery is rated at 380 shots per charge, though the test conditions behind that figure are not specified. Real endurance depends on how much you use the screen, so a spare battery is a sensible purchase for longer days out.

The battery does not charge over USB, so charging takes place outside the camera between sessions. The storage and battery score of 21 out of 100, assessed as limited, comes down to these basics: one card slot, a moderate battery rating and no USB charging.