A fake GF2 image created by Blog.livedoor.jp.
Those who tested the camera said the GF2 is a very easy to use camera. The usability of the GF2 is much better than the current [shoplink 17230]Sony NEX[/shoplink] cameras (we compare the GF2 with the NEX because of the similar size). There are no big design changes (it’s thinner and less high and has a different button layout than the [shoplink 14828]GF1[/shoplink]). I guess Panasonic goal was to create a minimalistic, easy to use, tiny and cheap Micro Four Thirds camera to appeal beginners (maybe the GF2 is the reason behind the recent Panasonic LX5 price drops on Amazon
We have not many specs now. We know it has the same G2 sensor (12 Megapixel) and faster AF.
P.S.: Touchscreen (not confirmed yet but highly probable).
If you have more info about the GF2 contact us at 43rumors@gmail.com or use the contact form on the right sidebar. Thanks!
76 Responses
WE WANT PICTURES!!!! WE WANT PICTURES!!!! WE WANT PICTURES!!!! WE WANT PICTURES!!!! WE WANT PICTURES!!!! Please!
It will be hard that time. Only a very few people saw the camera.
Any rumors about price point?
Not yet 🙁
I guess that’s better then nothing, will bring more users on-board
Admin is there any rumors about GF3 with built-in EVF?
Hi Frosti. I am working on it…
In other words. This is not an improvement over the GF1. More of a cheapening of it.
That was exactly my guess!
Yes
What’s the difference between the GF1 and the G2 sensor btw?
moreorless nothing. G1=GF1=G2=G10=E620=EP1=EP2=EPL1 with the difference of AA-filter thickness, panasonic having a slightly lighter anti aliasing filter, olympus a bit thicker one, with the expection of EPL1, which has even a lighter aa-filter than panasonic.
And, to my taste, Oly has much better color handling and better high iso performance….at least when i converted E-pl1 and E-p2 files (from the net) they were much better than my G1 files….
So, you could have titled the post “GF2 is not a camera any of our readers want, except as a Christmas gift to your sister”
Meanwhile, Oly snorts, rolls over in bed, and goes back to sleep. Nighty-night Oly!
Well, I might buy one.
I’ve been tempted by the GF1 as a second camera, despite it having essentially the same guts as the G1 (plus video). But it isn’t *that* much smaller, and the deals aren’t sweet enough yet, so there’s no real point for me.
If the GF2 shaves off another couple of ounces, adds some incremental improvements and shrinks the whole thing just a bit more, it’ll be more interesting. Especially if the interface is actually improved, not merely dumbed down. Has a camera company finally put some real effort into designing a truly excellent user interface? (Instead of another big helping of Button ‘n’ Menu Stew.) Now that would be something.
It also sounds like the 14/2.5 is an obvious kit lens. That’s a lens I’d like to have, but not at its full standalone price. As a kit lens, it might be a good deal.
Would I like to have a small form-factor m43 with GH2 guts, articulated screen and built-in EVF? Sure would. But are we likely to see such a camera any time soon? Don’t think so.
I do hope the rumor is wrong about the sensor and that it uses the GH1 version instead. Even so, the same old sensor is not an automatic deal-breaker for this enthusiast. Why? Because after 18 months with the G1, I’ve found that it’s actually a very good sensor, and with experience I’m able to get more out of it than I could a year ago. With a better processing engine, there may be more life in it than most people think. And using that sensor will also help control costs — a real benefit.
So I’m not prepared to write it off as a toy because of the “perfect camera for beginners” tag. At least not until I’ve seen specs and price, and had a chance to handle one.
Agreed. I’ve been looking at m43 as a step up from compact, and while the GF1 was impressive, for me it seemed a bit too big and clunky. If it’s a bit smaller and more compact, I’ll likely pick one up.
@WT21
Don’t agree: a super compact GF2 kit with 14mm pancake would be picked up by many of the enthousiasts at a $499 price point (my guess). Get the lens and a very compact camera for a good price.
$499 for the body and the 14/2.5? I really really hope you’re right, but my guess is you’re about $100 low. This is Panasonic after all… a company that’s been pricing some products a little more aggressively lately but still not really known for bargain prices, especially not at launch.
It’s gonna be way, way higher… The GF1 costs more than that, why would the newer model cost more?
People I’ve spoken to thought that the GF1 is expensive in UK pounds and no zoom was not good to some people, but that kit is cheaper. Every photographer (earning a living from doing it) I have shown the camera to who hadn’t used it before loves it.
I replaced my Canon G series with a GF1, my brother is about to do the same and the same thing will happen with lots of other people with G series cameras.
So a wise move from this limited market research would be to make one model as small as possible get that out and then think about bringing something more high end for the part of the market that cares more about image quality, robustness and being more inconspicuous than walking around looking like paparazzi.
Christmas gift for your sister sounds like a huge sales volume to me. People should relaize that the target customer of GFx is those who has no ideas between dslr, p&s and mirrorless…. Most of the M43 buyers are moms of a newborn baby, girls at the parties, moms on vacations…. We, photography enthusiasts, who participates in the dpreview forum and rumor sites, are just small numnber. IMO, we should be thankful to panny and oly for making their GFx and EPx useful enough for our taste and needs.
It will be interesting how image quality of that camera measures up against the E-PL1. If it’s targeted as an easy to use camera, not only will it directly compete against the NEX due to the form factor, it will also go against the E-PL1 (which beats the GF1 in terms of image quality according to its dpreview review).
This is getting interesting. If they don’t screw up the form factor, that camera can become a winner.
panasonic will always be behind olympus regarding image quality. olympus (especially with the EPL1) has maybe one of the cameras with the best ooc-jpeg quality from all. i am sure the successor will be even better, although to tell the truth from what i have seen i don’t like the E-5 images so far. olympus started to use a new and different sharpening algorithm that makes the images look like paintings. i prefer the rendering of EPL1.
ooc jpegs are for point and shoot users and souvenir pictures imho, which is ok, but if you want to make the most out of pictures, then you’ll use raw and post process them
So you are processing RAWs when you shoot a family event?
i only use raw all the time, but as zigi states, it would be nice to have good looking jpegs as well sometimes. i shot the birthdayparty from my mother back in september and i have still not worked over all the raws because of lack of time.
if panasonic was able to deliver good jpegs out of camera, i could already have a ready to print album maybe.
Yeah that’s true…
Many events I’m late at “publishing” because I don’t take time to process the RAWs.
This is one of the reasons I bought E-PL1 instead of GF1. I realised that I often take time to pp images, and often family don’t want to wait. JPEG output quality is important.
The G2 sensor is essentially the same as the GF1 sensor. Do you really think that the GF2 doesn’t have a new better sensor?
It would be thrifty of Panasonic to keep the same sensor for all cameras but the GH2.
So smaller form factor and touch screen? I’m whelmed. Great time to pick up a GF-1.
I hope price is low, and Sony NEX-3.
We want real pictures not picture of GF1 where the only thing changed is the numberal 2! Your picture may even turn some interest away as if so similar why get it?
From the discription given so far of being more useable I would guess the GF2 will retain both the hotshoe and a small flash of some kind. No doubt it will have an all new body with extended flange which I hope they keep the body metal like NEX5 and not like plastic NEX3 but maybe the latter to keep the price low or if they are retaining a GF1 model with new sensor. Pany has already indicated that they are more interested to bringing out new options to grow the m4/3 market. If it has less height but same width as GF1 then it will be a true replacement still capable of handling all existing Pany lenses.
Well, the picture is clearly captioned as “fake” and the description tells us to expect few major design changes. It’s not really that likely to turn interest away, is it? Or to be very far off the real thing assuming the rumor is true?
Smaller, touch screen. What’s not to like if the hands using it are the right size? Remember, women tend to take (lots of) pictures, rather than talk about them online…….
Another point. I feel that micro four thirds sells by word of mouth. Upgrade sales are a small part of the picture. I have influenced at least half a dozen people to buy m43 rather than a DSLR. If the GF2 is smaller than the GF1, one of my friends will buy one for sure (if available for Christmas). Otherwise she’ll get the E-PL1.
Are we sure that G2 and GF1 sensor is not the GH1 sensor?
If it’s the same sensor It means that they can improve output a lot just by post processing engine.
Is there a new CPU in GF2?
Panasonic is very thrifty sensor-wise!
No single camera has got the GH1 sensor.
And none probably will get the one which in GH2.
So, the rest of the bunch including ALL Olympus cameras have to rely on a processor only. 🙂
Yes, we are sure they are quite different sensors. The GH1 has a different architecture to improve dynamic range and on-chip A/D conversion to improve noise. It is a quite more expensive sensor.
But yes, new engine could improve an old sensor (its JPG output), as proved by Olympus with the E-PL1 and E-5. However, Panasonic’s new engine is not better than the old one, it’s just much more aggressive with noise reduction. RAW will be the same in any case.
Sounds like an appealing “entry” camera for m43, meant to compete both with the EPL1 and the Nex.
I think it should have a better hand grip than GF1. No hope for built-in EVF anyway.
Sounds more or less like the camera I’m looking to buy in the spring. Of the current crop, I’m leaning towards the E-PL1. This camera might change my mind — if the out-of-camera JPEG results equal the E-PL1’s.
ok. so the gf2 is smaller and is therefor some think for smaller hands… well, whats wrong with appealing to women anyway?
Annie Leibovitz, The Manipulator, Julia Margaret Cameron. these women kick all of our asses. buy one for your girlfriend, wife, mistress, mum (choose as appropriate)
…Imogen Cunningham, Ellen von Unwerth, Mary Ellen Mark…
The idea of a micro four thirds camera that could fit inside a suit jacket (without bulging) is very appealing to me. I have a feeling it’s appealing to a lot of other people as well.
I was expecting the GF2 to go more Pro; built in EVF, better controls and same sensor as GH2. Maybe we will see that in a new future model!?
Maybe…
I have been waiting for the GF2. I prefer the GF1 to the EP-2. However, I was really hoping that the GF2 would address some things the Olympus does better such as in-camera image stabilization and a better viewfinder, even if it is external.
no Panasonic m4/3 body ever had IBIS. dont keep your hopes up
Personally, don’t really care about any of the current offerings in m43…not what I’m looking for. Was looking forward to the GF2, but disappointed yet again. Will somebody PLEASE come up with one in the style of Fuji X100 with INTERCHANGEABLE lens??? Anyone?
Don’t give up your hope Casey 😉
Ok, I’m waiting for GHF1
You will not wait a long time 🙂
Tell us more, even if it’s a FT0.5!
Admin, we have FT2’s and FT5’s, we haven’t seen FT1’s for a long time!
(even if we did, because im the reader i have the right to complain about everything w/o any reason :))
I think Panasonic think size is the only thing that contributed to NEX success. The biggest reason was all the press the NEX got not size. All the press was due to the image quality of the bigger sensor and all the features the camera has. Making the GF2 smaller and dumber will drive a huge core of the GF1 customer base away. Well, good luck to them. Maybe it’ll work. Maybe it won’t. It just leaves a lot of customers without the camera they want from Pana.
> We know it has the same G2 sensor (12 Megapixel) and faster AF.
How it can be faster, if it will use the same senzor?
(GH2 is faster because his redaut speed is faster becasue of the senzor possibility)
Different processor.
If you look at DPRs preview of the GH2 you will see that the much faster AF speed and readout speed comes from the new processor which uses 3 sensors rather than just one and not just the new main sensor. The new LX5 using essentially same sensor but new 3 sensor processor increased its AF speed by 2X.
No, in dpreview for GH2 preview there is:
This sensor is capable of much greater output speed than its predecessor, bringing a host of benefits.
…
However, the faster readout also means the AF system can more frequently check the accuracy of its focus, meaning faster autofocus (on lenses that can respond quickly enough).
3 procesors used in LX5 speeded mainly image processing.
Declared 40% increase in AF speed is maybe also caused by multitasking optimization, but I don’t think it should help also in GF2. Don’t forget LX5 is compared only to LX3, which is rather old…
Just make GF2 slimmer than NEX5 with built-in flash, or at least as slim as LX5… GF1 is still kinda huge overall…
Panasonic has made a smart move, IMHOP. Having watched the NEX sales success with its smaller form and slightly better IQ than comparable mFT’s, they’ve responded in kind with a still smaller but professional appearing body featuring a touchscreen LCD (hopefully 3″ and HD) to reduce button clutter. I assume it also retains the flash unit. Combine this with the much smaller mFT lenses and it should be a more appealing alternative to comapact camera owners than the NEX.
I’d still prefer all of the above combined with Truepic V and IBIS. Come on, Olympus, give us something to work with here!
They are missing the boat again. We want fast AF, IBIS, and a better sensor and are willing to pay (a bit more) for it. Are none of the camera companies listening? The customers are spelling it out for you!
Jeez! Please give the IBIS a rest already! If you want IBIS (for stills and legacy lenses), buy an Olympus. If video is your thing, buy a Panasonic. It’s either/or, they have locked themselves into a system that won’t change. Choice is a good thing, remember?
The problem is that the Olympus AF system is crap and none of the compact primes have in-lens stabilization. You don’t have much of a “choice” because you have to choose between the lesser of two evils.
Want IBIS? Sorry, you’ll have to suffer with slow AF that likes focusing on the background just as much as the subject. Want a good AF system? Sorry, you’ll have to make do without image stabilization on any of the compact lenses (and the sensor isn’t good enough where you can just crank up the ISO, use a fast lens, and call it a day).
Both of these choices are significantly flawed in a critical area.
Maybe that “entry camera” will push me out of the M43 system : I’m now waiting a Fuji X200 with interchangeable lens, because Pany and Oly will never understand my prosumer wishes…
Gekopaca. Your wishes will be fullfilled early 2011!
Admin,
If your rumor sources are strong enough to state that, then why aren’t you putting the rumor up? You’ve but up more tentative rumors in the past, thus your rating system.
NEX5 doesn’t have IBIS. E mount lenses are relatively bigger. Images are more digital looking. I want GF2 having hot shoes, built-in evf, touchscreen, good images at 1600, and COMPETITIVE price.
Will the GF2 have a noiseless shutter (not like the GF1 loud shutter) and a swivel screen like the Nex’s one ?
cool if it will 🙂
I think the new Cam could be excellent for all of us,
1.MFT will gain larger user base and more share market of Mirrorless cameras (the benefits are obviouse, stuff will get cheaper)
2.Even thou GF2 will use the OLD sensor still the NOISE performance may yet be improved by better electronics around the sensor!
3.I think panasonic will name it GS1 or something similar, not GF2
It’s a buy for me if it’s smaller and cheaper.
any word about a flip or tilting screen?
Still no built in electronic viewfinder? Waste of time and money, as far as I’m concerned. Viewfinders are necessary for any focal length beyond about 40 or 50 mm (ff equivalent) and an expensive add-on that makes the use of flash impossible is a non-solution. Flip screen would be nice, but not necessary at this size/price point. Make it with a built in viewfinder, even a low-res one, and I would be interested. Make it with that and a tilting screen and keep it comparable to GF1 in size, and I’ll take it.
I am happy with E-P1 .. I am able to use camera without viewfinder (and I have it: optical, bundled with 17mm pancake .. but I did not used it) and flash I don’t use since my previous Fuji F50 fd.
Am I the only one who does not care abut flash and EVF?
I wonder if Pana/oly actually reading our comments&wishes and actually taking us seriously?
Whoa they dropped the price on the LX5? Awesome!