Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Focal length: 14mm
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter: 1/500
ISO: 100

Shot with the kit lens at its widest setting, on a somewhat overcast day, with white balance set to daylight, film mode standard, using center-weighted metering and +0.7 EV exposure compensation.

We’re impressed with the solid sharpness from edge to edge, with undistorted straight lines and minimal color fringing.

Focal length: 20mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter: 1/160
ISO: 200

Shot in standard film mode on a fairly bright day, in program mode using auto white balance and multiple metering. This is a finely detailed, well balanced exposure.

Focal length: 31mm
Aperture: f/10
Shutter: 1 second
ISO: 3200

With a relatively high native noise level, the ability to use the GF1’s noise reduction system without losing out on fine detail is critical. We tripod-mounted the camera, set a 1-second exposure at ISO 3200, and adjusted the high ISO noise reduction setting in standard film mode from -2 through +2. As shown in the full-size crops below, the system effectively lowers image noise and doesn’t obliterate fine lines as we’ve seen with some other cameras.

Focal length: 37mm
Aperture: f/8
Shutter: 1/320
ISO:100

We shot this sign with autumn decorations using each of the nine film modes, using automatic white balance and multiple metering. The standard mode image is on the left, and can be clicked to open a full-sized version in a separate window.

The dynamic and vibrant modes do add pop to the ribbons, but have an unfortunate effect on the greens (which are nicely rendered in nature mode). We’re not sure where washed-out nostalgic mode would be useful, but we really like the tone and grey values in the three black and white film modes.

Focal length: 45mm
Aperture: f/9
Shutter: 1/640
ISO: 400

We boosted shutter speed by ramping up the ISO to 400 shoot this nautical detail handheld and leaning forward a bit perilously. The diverse textures are nicely reproduced, the lettering on the right metal fastening comes through clearly, and the white rope maintains a good tonal range.

Focal length: 24mm
Aperture: f/4.8
Shutter: 1/13
ISO: 3200

Shooting this fabric flower arrangement at the top ISO 3200 setting under low light conditions (around 40 lux) produces a lot of image noise, but also a lot of detail, as seen in the bar code label.\

The rightmost crop was taken from a shot at ISO 1600, preserving more of the fabric detail.