IFA: Panasonic GF1 and FP8, Leica 45 mm macro

While waiting for the test on the Panasonic GF1, we managed to get a look at the next Panasonic micro 4/3 at IFA. The GF1 is more compact than the “false SLRs”, the G1 and GH1, and is positionned directly opposite the Olympus Pen E-P1.


It is a truly compact camera, even if it looks slightly larger than the Olympus — no doubt an impression due to the squarish shape of the camera (the two cameras are in fact identical in size to within 1 mm on all axes).

The GF1’s interface will be familiar to users of the G1 and GH1. Note that the scroll is now under the thumb, but is still clickable: in P, A and S modes, pushing it in allows you to move straight from the main settings to exposure correction and in M mode allows you to move between shutter speed and aperture.

Note that the new display scrolls the settings in bands. This will no doubt help beginners who want to understand the relationship between shutter speed and aperture.


Remember that the E-P1 has no flash because, apparently, there wasn’t enough space for one. In spite of being the same size, the GF1 does have one. What’s more it has sufficient movement and is far enough away from the lens to limit the risks of red-eye effect. Something else the E-P1 was lacking but that the GF1 does have: screen definition. The Panasonic has 460,000 pixels while the Olympus only has 230,000 pixels.


The optional screenfinder isn’t the most elegant and is placed on the flash fastening but can move up and down which compensates for the fact that the screen is fixed. It has very limited definition and is small in comparison to the viewfinders on the G1 and GH1: on these models it can be used as the main interface for framing your shot but on the GF1 is only really a fallback solution of very relative use.

Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 1:2.8/45 Asph


Panasonic is also gradually filling the gap in its range of micro 4/3 lenses. Apart from the new standard compact 20 mm f/1.7 mounted on the GF1, you can also use the Leica 45 mm f/2.8 Macro. It gives the options available on standard 100 or 105 mm Macros used in the silver film era: close-ups of course but also… portraits. With the equivalent of a 90 mm focal length and Full/Limit switch (meaning you can avoid searching for a subject 3 cm away when the subject is 3 metres away), it should be able to carry out the work of a lens with fixed portrait focal length.

Note that on “Full” the autofocus on the G1 struggles with the very wide focus field, at least in the softened lighting at the Panasonic stand: several centimetres from the subject, the depth of field is too reduced for the sharpness detection algorithms to function properly. This shouldn’t be a problem for anyone who's experienced with macros (who will be using the manual focus in any case). It is also regrettable that neither distance from the camera nor the magnification ratio are marked on the lens.

Panasonic Lumix FP8

Let’s finish the tour of the Lumix stand with a quick look at the FP8, Panasonic’s first ultra-flat compact, which should find a place somewhere alongside the Sony TX1, Nikon S70 and others.


Our first impression wasn’t a good one however: the FP8 doesn’t look as well built as the competition, the backlit buttons (very practical all the same) stick out and are uncomfortable and the TN screen has very limited viewing angles. Thankfully it’s responsive and efficient, which is the least you’d expect, given its lineage.