Sometimes, after a long day of hauling a full-sized digital Single Lens Reflex (dSLR) camera and spare body around an event, one would give anything to be able to shed some of the weight, yet retain the versatility that having access to multiple lenses gives you.
Sometimes, after a long day of hauling a full-sized digital Single Lens Reflex (dSLR) camera and spare body around an event, one would give anything to be able to shed some of the weight, yet retain the versatility that having access to multiple lenses gives you.
That is the thinking behind the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3CK kit. Many designers wonder why, when even point-and-shoot cameras have three-inch LCD viewers on the back, many photographers would add the weight and complexity of an SLR system to a camera that usually includes an LCD, anyway? It's a good question and, having shot with point-and-shoot, LCD viewers and SLR systems, one can see that the immediacy of putting a camera and lens combination up to one's eye, framing it and and shooting, has a lot of advantages.
Take a long straight at a track, for example. Even if you position yourself in the right spot -- and you are relying on an LCD, for example -- you will find that getting the cars you want in frame at the exact moment is nearly impossible using a three-inch LCD. First there's the ambient lighting conditions that you face and there may be fans jostling your camera. Second, there's the possibility that, if you choose a long lens setting, you will introduce blur or shake into the image. It's much better to have that viewfinder there -- and tripod, of course -- at certain times.
On the other hand, what if you were able to have some of your proverbial cake and eating it, too, which is where the Panasonic Lumix system comes shining through. For most assignments, if you were to have several bodies with several lens choices, you would be able to set your camera's electronic details up to handle the auto-stabilization, lens opening (ISO number or F-stop), as well as the speed. Since there is usually a way to increase either the brightness or contrast of the GF3CK's three-inch viewing LCD, you can then shoot an assignment such as a wedding with a choice of lenses and spare bodies.
The key to this is what Panasonic Lumix describes its MFT system or Micro Four-Thirds mounting system and 12 specially designed lenses, the manufacturer has been able to not only take the extra weight out of the camera by eliminating the mirror and associated hardware and electronics that one normally associates with a dSLR. By using some interesting design tricks, the GF3CK's design team has pulled off a coupe that puts the auto-stabilizer circuitry within the lens itself while keeping the lens size to pancaked down. In other words, as you use the 14 to 140 mm Vario lens with its 10X zoom, you will find that your images are almost instantly motion or blur-free and rock steady and that they allow you to work in conditions with features that are normally associated with professional gear.
All of this is jammed into a camera that is very little larger than the smartphones that are appearing on the market everyday (most of which also offer 8 MP cameras themselves). At 1.3 by 4.2 by 2.6, weighs in at 7.8 ounces the GF3CK is the sort of professionally based, yet lightweight point-and-shoot style camera that people are used to using today. No, it doesn't have the viewfinder, but once you have your special conditions handled by the GF3CK's electronics, you are ready to go. And, since you have the LCD viewer available, if you have to change anything you can do it quickly, picking any of the 12 specialty lenses that were developed for the GF3CK. There are also adapters available for older Lumix lenses.
All told, this is a strong camera system -- note the use of the word system -- because it is all designed around the MFT mounts and Lumix camera bodies that have been developed to take advantage of the advantages of the Panasonic GF3CK camera body and system.
For example, it features automatic contrast tracking, as well as automated face recognition. In this system, if you feel the need to set things yourself, you can or you can let the GF3CK handle things for you.
Further with the proper high-definition interface cable installed, you can take high-definition video either in clips or as single shots and display them right on your high-definition TV. The GF3CK features, among other things, full stereo sound reproduction as well access to HDMI interface cabling.
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