So, Gadget Lab’s camera commentor/buff/aficionado

Charlie Sorrel has posted his thoughts about Panasonic’s GF1 Micro Four Thirds shooter. For those just joining (halloa!), the GF1 belongs to the Micro Four Thirds system, which is like a DSLR in that it uses a large sensor (the same as Olympus and Panasonic’s Four Thirds DSLRs) and interchangable lenses, but it doesn’t use an optical viewfinder, so it has no mirror, which means you’re stuck with LCDs for display but the camera is tinier and quieter.

Basically, they’re being called the digital equivalent of rangefinders.

The GF1 is exciting because like the E-P1 from Olympus (and unlike its own siblings, the G1 and GH1), the GF1 fully realizes the compact, retro styling MFT promises. Unlike the E-P1 and E-P2, the GF1 isn’t aimed at casual users and family snapshooters, but at the enthusiast and even pro markets (there’re first-, second-, and third-party adapters to mount basically every lens ever from Rokkor to Leica M to Canon FD and Nikon F to this thing).

And that leads us to this statement from Mr. Sorrel, who’s typical distaste for Olympus’ small sensors and general love of Nikon’s admirable low-light efforts are frequently noted:

But although the GF1’s LCD panel has only 460,000 pixels (many newer DSLRs have almost a million), the 60fps refresh rate makes a huge difference. You actually feel like you’re using the focusing screen on an old medium format TLR. Weirdly, I actually find it easier to frame shots than with my Nikon D700’s fantastic viewfinder.

Well, guess that answers how easily you can get by without an OVF, yeah?

Hit the link below to read his full mini-review.