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Lumix SLR digital camera

16 Comments

Panasonic has released a new Lumix line SLR digital camera, the DMC-GF2. The camera is perfect for beginners, with a range of assistance options and a touch panel display. Among the assistance options is a one-touch “blur” effect, to add a sense of motion to action shots. A 3D lens is sold separately.

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16 Comments
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Looks nice, but it's technically not a slr camera. They need to decide on a definitive name for these cameras.

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It's a mirrorless camera, not an SLR! Please correct this, it looks silly to call this an SLR when the body isn't even thick enough to have a mirror.

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Their called Micro Four Thirds

a new breed of SLR camera

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Couldn´t they simply TTL (through the lens) cameras? That would be accurate, and TTL is already used in the context to describe light measuring.

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Any compact camera could be described as TTL. The micro-4/3 doesn't have an optical viewfinder so it's not really accurate to call it an SLR. It would be more accurate to call it an interchangeable lens digital camera, but people love acronyms.

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They have a name. They are called EVIL, for Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens Camera

They are EVIL cameras and I have one. They are excellent for video. I can't make up my mind about the still shots. Mine don't look nearly as good as they do from my SLR which has the same size sensor a 4/3 sensor which is exactly half the size of a 35mm film frame.

However, I can totally recommend the GF1 and GF2 cameras.

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Actually it's a Micro Four Thirds SLD. The D standing for Digital.

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Does it have English menus? If not, why promote this in English. "Warning, don't buy this in Japan unless you are Japanese" should be added.

Some people will say that that is no problem because they can read Japanese and the rest of us should, too. To them I say that by removing foreign language menus Panasonic is saying that does not want foreigners living in Japan to buy their cameras.

Having spoken to their service department about this problem I will not now buy any Panasonic product because their customer service has no desire to serve customers and that is what they tell customers.

There are other micro 4/3 camera manufacturers. I suspect some of them provide better service.

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Among the assistance options is a one-touch “blur” effect, to add a sense of motion to action shots.

I thought any action shot would be blurry unless this camera has a super high speed photo capability.

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I thought any action shot would be blurry unless this camera has a super high speed photo capability.

No, even a cheap point and shoot has a fast enough lens/shutter to stop motion in daylight.

Does it have English menus? If not, why promote this in English. "Warning, don't buy this in Japan unless you are Japanese" should be added.

Get on soapboxes much? I don't mind Japanese menus, and most foreigners in Japan can read Japanese (Chinese, Koreans, etc). Most foreigners aren't English speakers, you know.

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I agree with gaijintraveller. I have an old Lumix model which has English, Japanese and other languages. Good unit. Subsequent model releases of the camera only had Japanese. Bought one for the old man - who can't read any Japanese - without checking (stupid me). I've never asked him if he has even been able to take any photos with it 2 years later! I wouldn't mind this GF2 but will wait 6 months til the price comes down...

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Some people will say that that is no problem because they can read Japanese and the rest of us should, too. To them I say that by removing foreign language menus Panasonic is saying that does not want foreigners living in Japan to buy their cameras.

Let's reverse the role in hopes that you might understand how ridiculous your statement is.

"Some people will say that that is no problem because they can read English and the rest of us should, too. To them I say that by removing foreign language menus (insert any electronic manufactuers here) is saying that does not want foreigners living in (insert your country here) to buy their cameras"

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Lets look at it another way.

"Those cameras are sold in Japan for Residents of Japan and are NOT covered by any guarantee outside Japan. So buying in Japan and taking it outside will invalidate the warranty. But if you live in japan you are assumed to have enough japanese knowledge to operate it."

Very easy to change the firmware code to suit any market, been done for decades. But with warranties now being confined to certain regions/countries there is no longer a reason to support languages that are not major in said region.

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True Zenny - but the ironic thing is, in my experience anyway, the warranty is not even needed - these Panasonic cameras are made so well. Mine has been abused to within an inch of it's life going down ski slopes, dropped from heights etc - and it still takes great pics! The other benefit of having a Japanese-only menu is it is some reading practice!

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But if you live in japan you are assumed to have enough japanese knowledge to operate it.

Bad assumption. Actually they sell Japanese only and foreign language versions (for a higher price). I heard that the reason that they separate the models is that it causes confusion in Japan. If a local buyer accidentally switches his camera to German and he can't switch it back so he has to call the support line. I don't know if it's true, but it sounds rather lame.

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I wonder I would go for another LUMIX camera. I have 3 Lumix all 3 of different models. The sore thing is that all the batteries look identical cannot actually swap for different camera. What a dumb design? Batteries not compatible for each other model???

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