Lumix GF3

While I was at Mid Valley the other day, I stopped over at Key Color, the place where I got my LX3 and 7D previously. I was actually inquiring about the Fuji X100, but they did not have any in stock.

Looking around for what was hot in the market, my eyes landed on the rather slimmed down Lumix GF3. That thing was tiny. Seriously tiny. Coupled with the stock zoom lens it came with, it really felt awkward and front heavy. But the small body complimented the 14mm pancake lens very well. The zoom had a built-in image stabiliser, but the pancake lens did not.

The body plus the pancake lens was RM1999, and with the EOS 1100D kit selling at around RM200 less, it would be a serious investment.

I got a few images saved onto my memory card. The ISO went up to 6400. So, here are the sample. Unfortunately I was not let loose with the unit.

1/80 f3.5 ISO4001/60 f3.5 ISO160 flash on1/60 f5.6 ISO800 at full zoom 42mm1/160 f4.0 ISO 3200So what were my first impressions? The unit is tiny, and being metallic, rather slippery as there were no rubberised grip surface. The autofocus were damn fast, either by using the shutter button, or tapping on the LCD screen. Grip is awkward with the zoom lens attached. Nice red colour - Puan Anita would definite loved that. The high ISO captures showed unbelievable lack of noice - definitely better than my old EOS 400D.

With an M-mount four-thirds lens converter, I can see potential in putting of those Leica M lens on these baby! LOL! 5 minutes was not enough to just the the product I was afraid, but I can see it as a potential street photography device with the pancake lens attached on it. Let's wait for the X100 first before I can make a judgement on what I should get to replace my trusty old LX3.