Panasonic DMC-GF3 Review: Digital Photography Review

Camera Menus

The menu layout and design of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 is virtually identical to that found on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2. In normal shooting mode, pressing the Menu button on the rear of the camera calls up the main screen which provides touchscreen access to the menu selection window.

	An initial press of the Menu button brings you to the main menu screen. Its six mode buttons will look familiar to G-series users. You can tap any main menu button to enter its respective categories. But after that you must use the integrated control dial/4-way controller to navigate among or adjust individual settings.

Record menu

The Record menu is where you'll find options which relate to shooting still images. The GF3 features the same Photo Style offerings as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, replacing the limited 'Picture Adjust' options seen in the GF2. In this table and all those that follow the * indicates a material change over the last generation (we haven't marked all the menu items that have moved).


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
Photo Style *	• Standard • Vivid • Natural • Monochrome • Scenery • Portrait • Custom
Aspect Ratio	• 4:3 • 3:2 • 16:9 • 1:1
Picture Size	• Large (12MB) • Medium (6MB) • Small (3MB)
Quality	• Fine • Standard • RAW + Fine • RAW + Standard • RAW	RAW mode stores only the maximum number of pixels of your chosen aspect ratio, not necessarily the entire sensor.
ISO Sensitivity	• Auto ISO • i ISO • ISO 160 * • 200 • 400 • 800 • 1600 • 3200 • 6400	When set to Intelligent ISO, the camera increases ISO (for a faster shutter speed) if it detects subject motion

ISO Limit Set	• Off • 200 • 400 • 800 • 1600	Sets the maximum ISO value that will be set in Auto ISO mode. 'Off' sets this limit to 800
ISO Increments	• 1/3 EV • 1 EV
Face Recog.	• Off • On • Memory • Set
Focus Mode	• AFS • AFC • MF
Quick AF	• Off • On	Attempts to achieve focus as soon as the camera is pointed at the subject
Metering Mode	• Multiple • Center weighted • Spot
Flash	• Auto • Auto + Red-eye correction • On • On + Red-eye correction • Slow sync • Slow sync + Red-eye correction
Red-eye Removal	• Off • On
I.Resolution	• Off • Low • Standard • High • Extended
I.Dynamic	• Off • Low • Standard • High	Exposure and contrast are adjusted to compensate for scenes requiring a wide dynamic range.

Long Shtr NR	• Off • On	Takes a second, dark-frame to allow subtraction of long exposure noise
Shading Comp. *	• Off • On
Ex. Tele Conv.	• On • Off	Only uses part of the sensor, to simulate additional zoom; available in JPEG-only modes.
Digital Zoom	• Off • 2X • 4X	This feature is accessible in JPEG-only modes.
Burst Rate	• H • M • L	Selects 4, 3, or 2fps shooting. Live View is not available in H mode.

Auto Bracket	• Steps 3 or 5 frames 1/3 or 2/3 EV steps • Sequence: 0/-/+ -/0/+
Self-Timer	• 10 sec • 10 sec (3 images) • 2 sec
Color Space	• sRGB • AdobeRGB
Stabilizer	• Normal * • Panning *	Normal mode compensates for both up/down and left/right movement. Panning mode corrects for up/down movement only.

Motion picture menu

The Motion Picture menu contains all of the options related to video capture. This menu is also where you'll find the GF3's audio options, which include a wind-cut filter.


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
Photo Style *	• Standard • Vivid • Natural • Monochrome • Scenery • Portrait • Custom
Rec Mode	• AVCHD (1080i) • Motion JPEG
Rec Quality	• Rec Mode: AVCHD (1080i) FSH FH • Rec Mode: Motion JPEG HD VGA QVGA
Focus Mode	• AFS • AFC • MF
Continuous AF	• Off • On

Metering Mode	• Multiple • Center weighted • Spot
I.Dynamic	• Off • Low • Standard • High	Exposure and contrast are adjusted to compensate for scenes requiring a wide dynamic range.
Ex. Tele Conv.	• Off • On	Only uses part of the sensor, to simulate additional zoom.
Digital Zoom	• Off • 2X • 4X	Digital Zoom - crops the image to simulate additional zoom
Wind Cut	• Off • Low • Standard • High	Reduces wind noise in motion picture recording

Mic Level Disp.	• On • Off	Live display of sound level being detected by microphones
Mic Level Adj	Level 1 - 4
Flicker Red	• Off • 1/50 • 1/60 • 1/100 • 1/120	Reduces flicker effect from fluorescent lighting

Custom menu

The GF3's Custom menu is where you can define function button operation, enable onscreen guides and configure use of the touchscreen, including the option to disable touchscreen autofocus completely (an option first seen in the G3).


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
Cust. Set Mem.	• C1 • C2 • C3	Assigns current settings to one of three custom memories
Q.Menu/Fn	• Q. Menu • Fn	Defines operation of Q. Menu/Fn button
Fn Button Set	• AF / AE Lock • Preview • Photo Style • Aspect Ratio • Quality • Focus Mode • Metering Mode • Flash • ISO Sensitivity • ISO Limit Set • Ex. Tele Conv. • Burst Rate • Auto Bracket • Guide Line • Movie/Stills Rec Area	List of settings that can be assigned to the Fn button.
Histogram	• Off • On
Guide lines	• Off • Thirds • Center • Movable

Highlight	• Off • On
Expo Meter	• Off • On
AF/AE Lock	• AE • AF • AF/AE	Determines which parameters are locked when using the AF/AE lock function
Focus Priority	• Off • On	Determines if the camera waits for focus before allowing shutter release
AF Assist Lamp	• Off • On

AF + MF	• Off • On	Allows manual fine-tuning of focus once AF lock has been achieved
MF Assist	• Off • On	Digitally zoomed-in view to allow more precise manual focus
MF Guide	• Off • On	Displays a rough focus scale when focusing manually
iA Button Switch	• Single Press • Press and Hold	Defines behavior for switching to iAuto mode
Movie button	• Off • On	Enables/disables the movie button

Rec Area	• Stills • Movies	Changes the previewed aspect ratio between motion picture and still picture recording
Remaining Disp.	• Stills (frames) • Movies (time)	Switches between number of recordable pictures and available recording time
Touch Settings	• Touch Q.Menu Off On • Defocus Ctrl Off On • Touch Shutter Off On • Touch AF * Off On
Touch Guide	• Off • On
Touch Scroll	• H • L

Menu Resume	• Off • On	Menus return to last-used position
Pixel Refresh	Start processing Yes No	Checks the sensor for malfunctioning pixels
Sensor cleaning	Start processing Yes No
Shoot W/O Lens	• Off • On	This must be set to 'On' when using lens adapters