Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1

portability, usability, performance, size, image quality

battery, energy

97% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

portability, usability, performance, size, image quality

energy, exposure

90% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

usability, screen, size, image quality, viewfinder

100% of the reviews on Amazon.ca give this product a positive rating.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 is a surprisingly well-realised premium compact camera, offering excellent still image and video quality complete with RAW support, built-in wireless and NFC connectivity, fast burst shooting, a longer lens than the main...

Like most high-end compact cameras these days, the Lumix LF1 tries hard to carve out its own niche. We've seen many rivals that replicate some parts of its feature set, but none that matches it spec for spec.

Genuinely pocketable body ; Built-in electronic viewfinder ; Decent 7.1x zoom range with f2.0 at wide-end ; Built-in Wifi & NFC for wireless control and image transfer

Viewfinder image is small and low resolution ; No 1080p video, only 1080i ; No touchscreen ; No multiple exposures or timelapse mode ; No built-in GPS - have to use app on smartphone

When you first look at the LF1, it's hard not to compare it to the LX7 and quickly discover the older model actually out-features it in a number of respects which many enthusiasts will care about. I've detailed them above, but the more you use the LF1,...

Excellent balance of details and noise, Low image noise until ISO 400, Very reliable metering, Low optical distortion, Very fast autofocus near wide-angle, Instant shutter-lag, Fast shot-to-shot speed, Smallest camera with built-in EVF, Good build quality

Dim lens slows AF towards telephoto, Below-average Auto White-Balance, Low color accuracy, Poor EVF resolution, Slow optical zoom, 1s Filming delay, 1080i @ 60 FPS, Poor tripod mount placement, Very short battery-life

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 is a unique compact which provides efficient photographic controls and a built-in EVF in a very small and solid body. Its dual control-dials, traditional mode-dial and viewfinder together make it more pleasing to use than...

Over the years I’ve owned a number of digicams just like this one and each has been damned useful. Pop in the pocket. Pull it out. Shoot. And enjoy.

Built-in Wi-fi connectivity ; Wide zoom range ; Good image quality ; Built-in electronic viewfinder

Maximum aperture is a touch slow ; LCD screen could be better ; Slightly muted colours straight out of the camera

Completing the full specification is both Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity. These features allow for the simple transfer of images between the LF1 and either smartphone or tablet, while the Panasonic Image App allows for remote operation of the LF1 through...

Solid-feel build ; Electronic viewfinder ; Raw files can be shot

It's pricier than rivals ; Pixel fringing

Small size (particularly considering feature set), lens control ring, built-in viewfinder has its appeal, bright aperture at wide-angle, raw & JPEG, 1/1.7-inch sensor size better than many standard compacts, manual focus and focus-distance indicator

Poor quality viewfinder isn't of much use, limited battery life, lens dips to f/5.9 at 200mm equivalent, stubby lens control ring, pricier than LX7, images a little flat, overexposure common in bright conditions, no touchscreen

The Panasonic Lumix LF1 sounds like a dream on paper, but its wide-ranging feature set overreaches and, therefore, the camera fails to meet its maximum potential. It's got its heart in the right place, but cramming all this tech into the small body...