Teeny Micro Four Thirds Panasonic camera launched

The Gadget Show  Monday 13 June 2011

We’ve seen some stunning looking cameras from Panasonic in the past, and the company has just added the Lumix GF3 to its already impressive lineup. This Micro Four Thirds camera is packed with features, and has the style to match up its specs.

One of the big advantages of Micro Four Thirds cameras is that unlike DSLRs, they don’t have any internal mirrors. This allows them to be a lot smaller, while still featuring large image sensors and offering decent quality.

The compact Panasonic Lumix GF3 is a great example, with the actual camera body looking little larger than some of the changeable lenses themselves. According to Panasonic, it’s 17 per cent smaller than the GF2 – the camera it replaces – and a not insubstantial 15 per cent lighter.

There’s a 12.1-megapixel sensor on board, offering an ISO range of between 160 and 6400, and the GF3 is also capable of shooting 1080i AVCHD video. As with some of Panasonic’s other models of late, there’s a touchscreen on the back, measuring in at 3 inches.

Impressive stuff, and we can’t wait to get our hands on one. Only the lack of hot shoe lets it down, preventing keen photographers from plugging in their own flashes and equipment.

What do you think of the Panasonic Lumix GF3? Would it tempt you to upgrade from your current camera? Or even downgrade from a DSLR? Leave a comment and let us know.