Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Like Samsung’s NX100, the GF2 from Panasonic is a small hybrid lacking an inbuilt or electronic optical viewfinder; you have to shoot it like a compact.

The GF2 feels solid and comfortable, with build quality that’s well ahead of the NX100. There’s not a lot of space on the grip thanks to the small body, so it’s not the ideal camera to use with a big zoom lens. There is, however, a built-in flash, which is handy but it looks too delicate for extensive use on its spring loaded perch.

With a 3-inch touchscreen combined with clearly marked controls, the GF2 is about as user-friendly as advanced cameras get. Changing the settings is as simple as poking the screen. You can even pick the focus point and take photos this way. The design of the menus looks a little too 90’s for comfort but the touchscreen makes up for that.

There’s nothing to complain about in terms of the GF2’s handling and speed and whether it’s left in Intelligent Auto mode or driven manually, the GF2 gets things right a great deal of the time. Images from the 12.1MP Micro Four Thirds sensor (i.e. not as big as the Samsung NX100 APS-C version) are impressive. They’re commendably sharp and deeply saturated with metering that’s consistently accurate. Noise is kept on a fairly tight leash and video quality is also very, very good. All in all, Panasonic is definitely on the right track with its latest hybrid cameras and this is one of the best out there.