Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Fast autofocus ; Touch-focus controls for video and stills ; Very small for an interchangeable-lens camera

Underexposed images in Auto mode ; Touchscreen is ineffective for some controls

The Lumix GF2 is an enticingly compact interchangeable-lens camera, but its touchscreen interface is an inefficient way to access some important controls.

The instant the Panasonic GF1 hit the market it seemed that people began anticipating the GF2's release. What would Panasonic change? How would they improve one of the most popular cameras in their model line? Instead of a sequel to the GF1, the GF2 is...

Compact body with relatively large imaging sensor ; Excellent build quality and handling ; Easy-to-use interface that allows excellent level of camera control even to novices ; Still one of the best-handling cameras in its class for enthusiasts ;...

Uninspiring JPEGs mean Raw conversion needed to get best results ; Auto White Balance can be too blue ; Sensor is starting to show its age (in terms of noise/dynamic range) ; Lack of flash exposure compensation means having to hope the camera gets it...

The GF2 sees Panasonic packing a lot of approachable creative control into a compact package, with one of the best-implemented touchscreens we've ever seen on a camera. It's fast and responsive with excellent raw image quality, but the jpeg output is...

GF1 users, then, are unlikely to see the GF2 as a sensible upgrade path, but for those looking to step away from compact cameras Panasonic have created a very legitimate option. While we’d hope such users would at least occasionally stray from the...

Compact body and lens. Simple to use. Good image quality. Minimal shutter lag. Fast autofocus. Variety of HD video recording formats. Responsive touch screen. Stereo audio recording

Low-light performance isn't as good as some competitors. Image sensor is not true APS-C size. Proprietary USB port

Very good photo quality (though see issues below) ; Compact and well-built rangefinder-style body ; 3-inch touchscreen LCD with 460,000 pixels, good outdoor visibility ; Well-implemented touch features include touch AF / touch shutter / customizable...

Tends to underexpose a little; highlight clipping can be an issue ; Redeye a problem; no removal tool in playback mode ; Strong vignetting and some corner blurring on F2.5, 14 mm kit lens ; Lots of features removed from GF1, including a physical mode...

In conclusion, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 is a good choice for those looking for an interchangeable lens camera (though I'd pass on the 14 mm lens). It offers very good photo quality, an easy-to-use interface, Full HD movie recording -- all in a body...

Excellent build ; Fast, responsive AF ; iA” offers some degree of control

Dated and cluttered interface ; lacks manual video control ; Relatively average image quality

Smaller, lighter, and now touchscreen friendly, Panasonic has done its best to introduce a wider range of photographers to its “GF-series”. There's no question that the changes do make the GF2 more appealing to photographers with less advanced skills,...

Much improved noise scores; Very good sharpness

Both due to heavy in-camera processing; Some may miss the physical controls

The instant the Panasonic GF1 hit the market it seemed that people began anticipating the GF2’s release. What would Panasonic change? How would they improve one of the most popular cameras in their model line? Instead of a sequel to the GF1, the GF2 is...