Panasonic's Lumix DMC-GF3 Digital Camera with 14mm Lens Kit gets you started shooting Micro Four Thirds with both the GF3 camera body and a 14mm lens. From day one you can start to make photographs and videos without the bulk of traditional DSLR camera systems. This lightweight and easily transportable camera gives you a compact option that does more than point-and-shoot. That means you don't have to sacrifice creativity when you want to be unencumbered.
The aforementioned creative options start with the ability to use any number of lenses thanks to the Micro Four Thirds mount. From there, shooting controls like scene modes and manual focusing control give you power to craft photos to fit your vision. That being said, the DMC-GF3 also provides plenty of automatic options that can be used alone or combined with manual choices for the level of freedom you want over your shooting.
At the core of the GF3 you'll find a 12.1Mp Live MOS sensor and the Venus processing engine. The Venus Engine FHD and the image sensor work together for low noise images. Another highlight of this combo is the Intelligent D-Range Control which enables maximum capture of the image's full range of contrast without blowing out highlights or mucking up the shadows. The camera also boasts numerous scene modes for those times when you want the GF3 to do all the work, and even a dust-reduction system for clean images that need less work done in post-production.
Of course, like any digital camera worth its salt these days, the GF3 captures HD video. You can record up to 1080/60i videos in the AVCHD format. A built-in mono microphone with a wind-cut function captures audio to go along with that video as well. When it's time to share your video on the big screen, the HDMI mini jack allows for one-cable connection of your video (audio too!) to your HDTV. Other video highlights include near silent focusing, multiple lens options thanks to the Micro Four Thirds mount, and touch-enabled subject AF Tracking.
When it comes to the 3.0" touch screen LCD you'll be pleased to find that this intuitive display moves through all the camera's mode settings and menus, even allowing you to trigger the shutter from the screen. However, for those still craving the DSLR feel, the menus and modes can be accessed using the mode dial as well. A built-in pop-up flash allows for lowlight shots caught with confidence, while an ISO range up to 6400 means you can shoot without the flash and still capture detailed, beautiful shots in lower light.
The GF3 also offers LUMIX Light Speed Auto Focus technology which locks onto your subject quickly, for an accurate shot when you're ready to hit the shutter. Intelligent Auto and Intelligent Auto Plus modes also come in handy by automatically adjusting the defocusing area, exposure control, and white balance. The GF3 also features the LUMIX Photo Style Mode which allows the user to create popular color effects. In addition, the LUMIX Creative Control Mode, accessed from the mode dial, allows for creative effects to be produced in-camera.
This kit includes the following items:
Lumix DMC-GF3 Digital Camera Body Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH Lens
At the heart of the DMC-GF3's simplified functionality is a large 3.0-inch LCD (460k- dot) that allows for intuitive touch control of menus and most shooting, focusing, playback and effects controls. Menus can be customized using simple drag-and-drop actions like those on most touch-enabled smartphones. This allows for a custom user interface, giving Quick Menu access to functions that can be tailored to any user's expertise level. Even the shutter can be triggered from the touch-enabled LCD by simply touching the subject you want focused and captured. Using the touch-screen operation, a user can lock onto a subject, enabling AF Tracking in both still and video modes. When you're ready to shoot, the subject will be in focus and ready to capture.
For those who miss the tactile feel of a traditional DSLR mode dial, the DMC-GF3 offers an innovative mode thumb wheel that quickly cycles though all available modes with visual feedback provided on the large 3'' touch-enabled LCD.
Available Scene Modes: Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Architecture, Sports, Peripheral Defocus, Flower, Food, Objects, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Illuminations, Baby, Pet, Party and Sunset, which can all be controlled from the intuitive touch-enabled LCD.
Many LUMIX MFT lenses come with MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) built-in. This feature helps prevent blurring from hand-shake. Working together with the camera's Intelligent ISO Control, which reduces motion blur by adjusting the ISO sensitivity if the subject moves, you're sure to capture images that are sharp. The 14mm lens included with this kit does not have O.I.S. capabilities.
The noise level of the DMC-GF3 offers significant reductions in electronic noise vs. prior models and now approaches the low noise signatures of the renowned LUMIX GH2. The Venus Engine FHD uses new Intelligent Resolution technology to sharpen edge detail without softening fine detail. In addition to maximizing edge and fine detail, the Venus Engine offers Intelligent D-Range Control. Intelligent D-Range Control enables maximum capture of the image's full range of brightness, without blown-out highlights and muddying shadows.
Manual control over focus is available in the DMC-GF3 and now features a quick 4x magnification feature. By simply touching the subject, that subject is then enlarged in a small window, allowing you to keep the rest of the image in view as a framing reference. Beyond 4x, that small window fills the monitor so even more control over focus fine-tuning can be achieved. This handy feature is available from both the MF Assist (Manual Focus) and AF + MF focus modes.
The DMC-GF3 now offers a large LCD touch-focus area, enabling touch-focus control from any part of the image as seen on the LCD. Unlike traditional DSLRs that limit the number and position of focus points, the DMC-GF3 uses the entire image sensor and can even fine-tune focus with a new fine-tuning Pinpoint AF feature. When Pinpoint AF is enabled, the image is enlarged, allowing for pixel-level setting of the focus area desired. Once set, the DMC-GF3 will use this fine-tuned focus point to produce a sharp, detailed image
With LUMIX Creative Control Mode, accessed from the Mode dial at the top of the camera, an expressive look to the image can be achieved without the need for complicated post-processing software. Common effects can be achieved via the touch-control menu as a pre-setting in an easy-to-understand "what you see is what you get" experience. Effects include: Expressive, Retro, High Key, Sepia, High Dynamic and now, Miniature Effect