Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 review (with 14-42mm HD lens, White)

On the top, there's a small on/off switch, movie record button, shutter button and the direct-access Intelligent Auto button that Panasonic wisely puts on the top of all its models. (My only wish is that it wouldn't override my autofocus settings.)

You can tilt the GF5's flash backward for more attractive flash exposures.

The back has a large, delineated thumb rest, along with a four-way navigation wheel that controls drive mode, AF area, white balance, and exposure compensation. The inset button pulls up the menu system, and three buttons above and below control playback, display options, and the Q.Menu; the latter can be reprogrammed to a user-determined function as well.

Panasonic's quick menu is one of my favorite interfaces. You can change the available options on the fly via that Q/wrench button on the lower left.

To go with the higher-resolution LCD, Panasonic redesigned the look of the touch-screen interface, and it's a lot more attractive than before. It also incorporates the flyout tab that debuted in the DMC-GX1, as well as interface hints. The new touch screen is nicely responsive.

The Power Zoom kit lens is convenient and collapses to make a very compact package. But it's a so-so lens, and reaching that zoom switch is annoyingly awkward.

The feature set is pretty standard for its class, though it's one of the few that still has a built-in flash. If you're a touch-screen addict, you'll probably consider the ability to operate the power zoom lens via the screen a very nice feature. It's got a full complement of configurable special effects, and it saves a raw file simultaneously.

Conclusion
The hardest thing about recommending this camera is to know which configuration makes sense. The 14-42mm HD lens -- also called PZ for "power zoom" -- makes for the most convenient, compact kit. But it's also a fairly middling lens, especially given that you're paying more for the package. The cheaper kit with the standard 14-42mm lens is probably the best deal, but then the camera loses its size advantage. In some ways, that the problem with all of these entry-level ILCs, though.

I think the Sony Alpha NEX-F3 has somewhat better photo quality overall and it has a tilting LCD, but otherwise I like the design and interface of the GF5 better. If you can find the GF3 for a better price with the zoom lens, that's probably your best deal.

Shooting speed (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Time to first shot

Raw shot-to-shot time

Typical shot-to-shot time

Shutter lag (dim)

Shutter lag (typical)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

1.4 

0.4 

0.3 

0.3 

0.2 

Sony Alpha NEX-F3

1.6 

0.7 

0.7 

0.4 

0.3 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

0.6 

0.6 

0.6 

0.6 

0.3 

Olympus PEN E-PM1

1.5 

0.8 

0.8 

0.6 

0.3