Panasonic GF3 - The dumbing down is complete.

kdemas

kdemas

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I am so happy I bought the GF1, and kept it, now that the new GF3 has been announced. The GF1 is a real compact camera that an enthusiast can enjoy with lots of external controls, AE/AFL locks, you name it. The GF2 took away some of the manual controls and tucked them into menus to make the camera more appealing to P&S converts.

Now, the GF3 has finished the job, external controls toast, thumbwheel control gone, flash and EVF/Accessory port gone, stereo audio capture gone. It's a reallllly nice and east to use camera for a beginner, not what I enjoy any longer for my usage. On the bright side it has a whopping sensor refresh rate so auto focus should be faster than any Cevil camera out there.

As mentioned in the mini-review the upgrading P&S market seems too sweet to pass up and the enthusiast model in the lineup is the victim. Too bad there aren't more enthusiasts interested in cameras like the GF1, it's development would have made for a great shooting machine.
 
Indeed, as a Lumix G1 owner, to me the Panasonic range seems to get downgraded with every release. It's funny because every tourist I see seems to have a Canon G10 or G11, seems the knobs and buttons don't put them off.
 
Eventually there will only be one design and interface and each manufacturer will add branding. Just like modern Asian automobiles....

They are so stupid. Look at how much energy a camera like the X100 generated. Or for that matter, what an awesome camera the original Pany G1 was compared to what they are trying to sell us now.... a used $250 G1 is the best of the lot!

And in the other direction, how some decent simple cameras for kids and the feeble-minded? Nice big buttons, easier interface, some acknowledgement of cultural differences, etc. none of which would be that expensive to do, but a huge market differentiator.

Walmart and Best Buy must influence the design decisions far more than actual people....
 
Well said Frank.

Frank Version Two said:
Eventually there will only be one design and interface and each manufacturer will add branding. Just like modern Asian automobiles....

They are so stupid. Look at how much energy a camera like the X100 generated. Or for that matter, what an awesome camera the original Pany G1 was compared to what they are trying to sell us now.... a used $250 G1 is the best of the lot!

And in the other direction, how some decent simple cameras for kids and the feeble-minded? Nice big buttons, easier interface, some acknowledgement of cultural differences, etc. none of which would be that expensive to do, but a huge market differentiator.

Walmart and Best Buy must influence the design decisions far more than actual people....
Click to expand...
 
I think the G3 is the closest successor to the GF1. It's a tidy little unit!
Looks like they repositioned the GF- series one more step closer to the P&S market with the latest incarnation. I guess they have their reasons although it's a shame to see the last remnants of the GF1 completely evaporate in the GF3.
 
The GF3 is described as the "successor" to the GF2 (and the GF2 as the predecessor) and directly compared to it. That's a new model and replacement.

The good news is you can still get either of the previous models if you want one!
 
kdemas. I understand. It's a succession of models but I was looking outside the box having owned and sold the GF1 and now seeing the G3 reviews. the G3 is in my opinion, everything I wanted the GF1 to be. I could not say the same for the G1/2 range because of their size.
The EVF on the GF1 was a pain to use. It would get snagged on stuff putting it in and out of my bag. It had poor resolution and really was a last-resort view finder. The slip-on EVF really is a cumbersome but necessary evil to have around.
There are a few side-by-side pics on the net of the GF1 and the G3 and there is really little difference in volume. My guess is that as soon as the shelves are stocked with G3's you'll see a growing number of used GF1's hit the classifieds.

My point is, I think the model line-up has been more clearly defined now. Whereas before there was too much overlap.
The way I see it now:
GH2- serious videographers and photography
G 3 - compact full featured detachable lens camera with in-built EVF and tilt screen
GF3 - Easy step-up from P&S non-detachable lens market in a familiar configuration.
 
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I'm rather grateful to Panasonic for this trend. Upgrade temptations are numerous enough without the race to keep up in the GFx race. If they'd upgraded the sensor, I might not be so happy. It's a interesting feat to cram that much in such a small package, but I can't help but feel the users they are aiming the GF3 at won't appreciate the excellent pair of primes that make the system so tempting to others.
 
Paolo Bonello said:
kdemas. I understand. It's a succession of models but I was looking outside the box having owned and sold the GF1 and now seeing the G3 reviews. the G3 is in my opinion, everything I wanted the GF1 to be. I could not say the same for the G1/2 range because of their size.
The EVF on the GF1 was a pain to use. It would get snagged on stuff putting it in and out of my bag. It had poor resolution and really was a last-resort view finder. The slip-on EVF really is a cumbersome but necessary evil to have around.
There are a few side-by-side pics on the net of the GF1 and the G3 and there is really little difference in volume. My guess is that as soon as the shelves are stocked with G3's you'll see a growing number of used GF1's hit the classifieds.

My point is, I think the model line-up has been more clearly defined now. Whereas before there was too much overlap.
The way I see it now:
GH2- serious videographers and photography
G 3 - compact full featured detachable lens camera with in-built EVF and tilt screen
GF3 - Easy step-up from P&S non-detachable lens market in a familiar configuration.
Click to expand...

+1

A very astute assessment :). I also view the G3 as the upgrade path to my GF1.

I really like my GF1, but the low-res EVF, like Paolo says, is a last resort option. I tolerate it, but if Panasonic had issued a high-res EVF for the GF1, I could keep the GF1 and be completely happy with it for a very long time.

--Warren
 
Paolo - That definitely is the segmentation they're after. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the G3 also has lost a little something. Again, fewer manual controls and the loss of the "eye sensor" for the EVF. Some nice new performance in the mix thankfully.

My lament in starting this thread is simply that the enthusiast focused m4/3 camera is basically no more. I totally understand the Pany corporate positioning, though I feel they have abandoned an important niche.

Choices choices :)
 
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kdemas said:
Paolo - That definitely is the segmentation they're after. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the G3 also has lost a little something. Again, fewer manual controls and the loss of the "eye sensor for the EVF. Some nice new performance in the mix thankfully.

My lament in starting this thread is simply that the enthusiast focused m4/3 camera is basically no more. I totally understand the Pany corporate positioning, though I feel they have abandoned an important niche.

Choices choices :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I would really miss the eye sensor feature. I'm used to using it on my G1, and I already miss it when I use the GF1 w/EVF.

You're right, Kent, I got into mu-43 because I thought there was a long and interesting future ahead for enthusiasts. I don't have a good feeling about the trend to 'dumb down'/remove enthusiasts' features with every new body released.

I am reassessing the commitment that I made to this format (over a year ago). So far, I am still into it, but I'll probably keep my equipment as-is for a while and see what develops. My G1/GF1 tandem will keep me going for a while :).

--Warren
 
Yep, I'm glad I still have my GF1. No reason to "up"grade it with the GF2 and definitely not the GF3, which BTW, I find quite ugly looking. Not that that's the most important thing for a camera, but you got to admit that that domed top looks pretty dumb.

I have invested somewhat in panasonic glass (20mm, 14-140, 7-14) and appreciate how the lenses compare to my Canon L glass, so I'm not considering leaving the micro4/3 system soon. But I sure am disappointed that Panasonic haven't produced a worthy, RF-like form factor camera with a high-res in-body EVF. I don't understand why they haven't listened to the vibes before the introduction of the X100. If they can't produce anything like that I would probably upgrade to the GH2 or its successor.
 
Bummer.

If Olympus has the same thing in mind for E-P3, they'll have more than just low sales volume to worry about.
 
"Panasonic GF3 - The dumbing down is complete."

As is the uglification.

I'm really hoping that Panasonic gets the hint from the attention generated by the Fuji X100 and its VF. Maybe they've got something up their sleeve (a different direction for MFT)? Agree with Frank's comments about the G1. Feels like it's been downhill (or at least a consistent feeling of disappointment) for Pani MFT since the G1 (and GF1) release.



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