We go hands-on with the new Panasonic Lumix LF1 - the serious compact with a built in electronic viewfinder, and f/2.0 7.1x optical zoom lens.
| Panasonic Lumix LF1 in Compact Cameras
The Panasonic Lumix LF1 is the latest "Serious compact" camera from Panasonic and features a bright f/2.0 Leica 7.1x optical zoom lens, 12 megapixel sensor, and rather uniquely for a compact camera, it has a built in electronic viewfinder.
Key Features
- 12.1mp 1/1.7inch MOS sensor
- Venus engine
- Built in compact EVF with dioptre correction
- Control ring and composition guide
- f/2.0-5.9 Leica DC Vario Summicron lens
- 7.1x optical zoom 28mm wide-angle - 200mm equivalent
- Full HD video with stereo sound (AVCHD)
- Wi-Fi built in
- Available in black or white
Panasonic Lumix LF1 Handling
Looking at the classic design, you can imagine that this compact camera will be picked up by Leica, for a Leica version. The lens is impressive with a bright f/2.0 aperture at the wide end, although at the telephoto end this reduces to f/5.9. The camera is quite compact, noticeably smaller than the nearest competitor, the Nikon Coolpix P7700, with a size more similar to the Olympus XZ-10.
On the top of the camera is stereo microphones for video, the mode dial, with manual controls as well as two custom modes and panoramic shooting, as well as the shutter release surrounded by the zoom control and finally the on/off switch.
The electronic viewfinder has dioptre correction which should help those that wear glasses, particularly as the electronic viewfinder is quite small, so you will want to be as close to it as possible. There is a manual switch to switch between the rear screen and the EVF as there is no built in eye-detection feature.
The camera has a number of different grid overlays to aid composition, which can be seen above, with example photos showing you how to use the guide.
On the bottom there is a battery / memory compartment, as well as a metal tripod thread. The camera uses a compact battery, and also features a small built in flash, and you can see from the design of this camera that Panasonic has really worked on keeping this camera as compact as possible. We will be posting our full review when production versions of the camera are available.
Panasonic Lumix LF1 Hands-On Photos of Equipment
Panasonic Lumix LF1 Specifications
| Manufacturer | Panasonic | |
| Lens | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2 - f/5.9 | |
| 35mm equivalent | 28mm - 200mm | |
| Optical Zoom | 7.1x | |
| Image Sensor | ||
| Pixels | 12.1Mp (Megapixels) | |
| Pixels (W) | 4000 | |
| Pixels (H) | 3000 | |
| Sensor Type | Live MOS Sensor | |
| Sensor Size | 1/1.7 inch | |
| Sensor Size (width) | No Data | |
| Sensor Size (height) | No Data | |
| Aspect Ratio |
| |
| LCD Monitor | ||
| LCD Monitor | 3in | |
| Screen resolution | 920K dots | |
| Touch Screen | No | |
| Focusing | ||
| Min Focus | 3cm | |
| Focusing modes |
| |
| Exposure Control | ||
| Shutter speeds shortest | 1/4000sec | |
| Shutter speeds longest | 60sec | |
| Bulb mode | No Data | |
| Exp modes |
| |
| Metering |
| |
| ISO sensitivity | 80 - 12800 | |
| White balance |
| |
| Exposure Comp | +/-2 | |
| Shooting Options | ||
| Continuous shooting | 10fps | |
| Video | ||
| Movie mode | Yes | |
| Video Resolution |
| |
| Video FPS | 50i | |
| Stereo Sound | Yes | |
| Optical Zoom with Video | Yes | |
| Other Features | ||
| Image Stabilisation | Yes | |
| Interface | ||
| HDMI | Yes | |
| USB | USB 2 | |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | |
| Storage | ||
| Card Type |
| |
| File Type |
| |
| Power Source | ||
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion | |
| Battery Life (CIPA rating) | 250shots | |
| Box Contents | ||
| Box Contents | Camera, Battery Pack, AC adaptor, USB Cable, Hand Strap, CD-ROM | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Weight | 170g | |
| Width | 102.5mm | |
| Height | 62.1mm | |
| Depth | 27.9mm | |
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We don't have the latest price however the link below will take you to the most relevant items. Panasonic Lumix LF1 SEARCH |
We don't have the latest price however the link below will take you to the most relevant items. Panasonic Lumix LF1 SEARCH |
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Photographs taken using the Panasonic Lumix LF1
Comments
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24 Apr 2013 4:18AM-
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24 Apr 2013 1:21PM-
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5 May 2013 3:03AMHuh?
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7 May 2013 9:09AMQuote:"The optical viewfinder has dioptre correction"
Huh?
Updated
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16 May 2013 4:25PMSo few portable cameras have an optical viewfinder, for me it is a priority
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24 May 2013 12:03AMBut what please me in the LF1 EVF is that it´s on the uper left corner of the camera, just like the old and first super zoom, the FZ1 (my first lumix that stay working till now in my work shop taking records/pictures of complicate jobs)! This is a clever place because you can press the left side of the camera on your nose, holding with the right hand while your eye cath the EVF and the LCD stay free of smearings from your nose! Most cameras get the LCD full of "nose prints" every time you look at the EVF!
Kudos to Panasonic !!!
I´m quite sure this camera will be a sucess !!!
ASAP I´ll buy one !
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24 May 2013 3:14PM(There is a mention of LF1)
"My Camera Must have an Electronic Viewfinder"
"Why I hate Optical Viewfinders"
[link=]http://cameraergonomics.blogspot.ca/2013/05/my-camera-must-have-electronic.html[/link]
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28 May 2013 8:48PMI still have an LX1 and I think the LF1 may be the nearest replacement for it. The current LX7 is larger and almost 50% heavier than my LX1 - no longer as pocketable! Every LX iteration is a bit more portly!!
Also I'd like to know how good that lens protector is? I put my LX1 in a pocket along with coins and keys and the 'old fashioned' lenscap keeps the lens safe. Are those shutter flap things locked in place when the camera's off?
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29 May 2013 12:09AMWhy I hate Optical Viewfinders
[link=]http://cameraergonomics.blogspot.ca/2013/05/my-camera-must-have-electronic.html[/link]
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29 May 2013 12:31AMSign In
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