THE BOTTOM LINE

In the burgeoning small camera/big sensor category, the Panasonic Lumix GF1 is probably the best model out there right now with surprisingly fast autofocus; a simple and lightweight design; an excellent HD movie mode; and solid image quality and resolving power in good light. The dodgy results at high ISOs, however, and the deceptively large size of the camera when all its parts are added on make the GF1 a questionable purchase when stacked up against a less expensive, entry-level DSLR.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

www.panasonic.com

Pros: Very fast autofocus for a Contrast Detection-based camera; excellent movie mode; very good image quality in good light; simple and discrete design.

Cons: Noisy images at high ISOs; camera not as small as it seems when all the parts are added on; aggressive anti-noise processing in JPEG mode blurs detail.

Price: $899 (with 14 to 45mm lens)