Panasonic Intros the Lumix DMC-GF3 Micro Four Thirds Camera

Panasonic has just expanded its line of Micro Four Thirds interchangeable lens cameras with the addition of the Lumix DMC-GF3, which comes as a much more user friendly version of the previous GF2.

To make its latest creation more appealing to novice users, the Japanese company has redesigned the Lumix DMC-GF3 not just to be lighter and smaller than its previous model, but it also removed a series of features that have been considered unimportant for its targeted user base.

This means that the DMC-GF3 comes without a hot shoe, for an external flash, or a viewfinder.

In addition, Panasonic has also revised the touch-sensitive user interface to make certain commonly used setting more easy to find, and added a miniature art filter similar to the one found on Olympus' PEN camera line.

As far as its specifications go, the Lumix DMC-GF3 includes a 12.1 megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor, which can also shoot 1080i AVCHD video, a 3-inch touchscreen, ISO range of 160 to 6400, and an aluminum body.

“The Panasonic GF3 compact system camera is extremely small and its newly-designed rounded body is quite attractive, which we expect to be popular among those users wanting to step-up from a point-and-shoot, yet who view traditional DSLRs as bulky and overly complex,” said Darin Pepple, senior product manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company.

“While the size and weight of the GF3 has been greatly reduced, Panasonic does not compromise what is at the core of every Lumix, which is exceptional photo and video quality with an easy-to-use interface,” concluded the company's rep.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 will be available starting this July for $699 with a 14mm lens. Later this summer, towards the end of August, Panasonic will also introduce a 14-42mm lens kit system that will retail for $599.99.