In Depth: Panasonic GF5 rumours: what you need to know

In Depth: Panasonic GF5 rumours: what you need to know:

Panasonic GF5 rumours: what you need to know

Panasonic currently has four ranges in its Micro Four Thirds line-up, but what do we know about the successor to the GF3?
Keep following this page for more updates on the GF5 as and when they emerge.

Panasonic GF5 specs

Update, 19 March 2012: Leaked images appear to show the GF5 in the clutches of a model. Suggestions have also been made that noise control on the GF5 will be at the same level as the Canon EOS 7D or Canon EOS 60D - we can't wait to see if that's true.
The GF3 was announced in June 2011 and is the smallest system camera in Panasonic's line-up, so it would make sense to keep the small form factor.
Megapixel count had previously been suggested as 16 million, the same as found on the Panasonic G3, but recently a leaked photo appeared to show that it would in fact house a 12.1 million pixel sensor, as found on the GF3, but with the sensor having an improved design for improved Signal to Noise Ratio.
Sensitivity of up to ISO 12,800 has been hinted at, which would it make it lower than the Olympus OM-D, but in line with cameras lower down in the PEN line-up.
Micro Four Thirds cameras such as the Olympus PEN E-P3 and Panasonic GX 1 are known for having ultra quick focusing speed, and it's therefore likely that the GF5 will be no different, with 43rumors suggesting a speed of just 0.09 seconds.

Panasonic GF5 release date

It is of course hard to speculate on a release date of a product not yet in existence, but we can take a look at previous releases to give us an indication.
It is thought that the GF5 will be formally announced in April or May, making it less than 12 months after the GF3 announcement, with on-sale dates coming just a few weeks after - perhaps we will be seeing a GF5 on sale before Photokina, which takes place in September.

Panasonic GF5 price

The GF3 upon release had a recommended retail price of around £550, making it one of the cheaper compact system cameras on the market but still an expensive proposition for those used to compact cameras.
However, recently the price of the camera has tumbled to around £300 online, we even saw it on sale during Focus on Imaging for the ludicrously cheap price of £200 with the 14-42mm kit lens, showing that these cameras are becoming ever more accessible.
It's likely that a new camera would feature a similar RRP as its predecessor, however if Panasonic is trying to attract a new audience, it may consider lowering its price.

Panasonic GF5 name

Where's the GF4 you might well ask... Panasonic has a history of skipping the number four, as seen in the jump from LX3 to LX5, its premium compact camera, as the number four is supposed to be unlucky in Japan.


Source :Google Reader