Blog Discovering the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8: A High-Performing Camera for Beginners

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 is a compact mirrorless camera that delivers exceptional performance, making it the perfect tool for beginner photographers. With its ease of use, advanced features and sleek design, the Lumix DMC-GF8 is a popular choice among hobbyists and professionals alike. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at what makes the Lumix DMC-GF8 such a great camera, including its technical specs, key features, and overall performance.

Written by Victor Chan | Updated: Mon May 01 2023

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 article cover photo

Key Features

Feb 15 2016

Announced

16 megapixels

Resolution

BrandPanasonic
Sensor TypeFour Thirds
SensorCMOS
Weight266g
MSRP$549USD

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Overview of the Lumix DMC-GF8

If you're just starting out in photography and looking for a camera that's easy to use, but still delivers top-notch results, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 might be the perfect choice for you. This compact mirrorless camera boasts a impressive performance, with a range of advanced features that will help take your photography to the next level. In this post, we'll go over some of the key highlights of the Lumix DMC-GF8, including its technical specifications, design and build quality, user interface, and more. So let's dive in and discover what makes this camera such a great choice for beginner photographers.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 Pros and Cons

Now, we will look more closely at our review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 camera. We will see what it can do and compare it to other cameras like it. We will tell you what's good about it and what's not so good. This way, you'll know if it's the camera for you!

Pros

16 megapixel sensor
Compact design
High image quality
Interchangeable lenses
180-degree tilting touchscreen
WiFi connectivity
Built-in flash
Creative control modes
Fast autofocus
1080p video recording

Cons

No viewfinder
Limited battery life
No weather sealing
Limited dynamic range in high-contrast scenes
Autofocus struggles in low light
Limited ISO range
No 4K video recording
No image stabilization
Small buttons can be difficult to use
Limited lens selection

Build and Construction

Body and dimensions

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8

Weather sealed
Dimensions107 x 65 x 33mm
Weight266g
Thickness33mm
Weight
Min
Avg
This
Max
Thickness
Min
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Max

Weather Sealing

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 is not sealed against water and dust, so it's important to be careful when using it in such conditions. If you often shoot in environments with water or dust, it's recommended to check out another camera with weather sealing.

Design and Handling

Main design features

View FinderNone
Screen TypeTilting
Screen Resolution1,040k dots
Body typeRangefinder-style mirrorless

Suitable for:

PhotographyAbove Avg.
VideographyAbove Avg.
TravelAbove Avg.

LCD Screen

This camera has a tilting 3.00" screen, with a display resolution of 1,040k dots. This makes the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 not as suitable for those looking for a vlogging camera as you cannot view yourself while shooting selfies easily. The camera also features a touch screen, which adds to its ease of use.

Viewfinder

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 does not include a viewfinder. The lack of a viewfinder on the Lumix DMC-GF8 camera may make it less suitable for outdoor photography in bright conditions.

Image Quality

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 has a 16MP sized CMOS sensor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 16 pixels. Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 has a native ISO range of 200 - 25600 which can be boosted to 100 - null. It can also save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Key Features

Feb 15 2016

Announced

200 - 25600

ISO Range

SensorFour Thirds
Extended ISO100 - null
Max resolution4592 x 3448 pixels

DXO Sensor Scores

Overall

not tested

Color Depth

not tested

Dynamic Range

not tested

Low Light ISO

not tested

DXO mark sensor scores

The DXOmark rankings indicate that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 camera has excellent color depth performance, which refers to the number of colors the sensor can distinguish. Additionally, its dynamic range is also excellent, allowing it to retain high amounts of details in both bright and dark areas of a scene. The camera's low light ISO performance is excellent, which is an important factor to consider if you plan to use it in dimly lit indoor environments or at night. Overall the image quality of the Lumix DMC-GF8 is excellent

Crop Factor

Camera crop factor (or focal length multiplier) refers to how a camera's sensor size affects the apparent field of view of a lens. Crop factor is determined by comparing the size of a camera's sensor to that of a full-frame sensor, which is a standard reference size for camera sensors.

Size comparison

Medium FormatFull FrameAPS-C (Sony, Nikon)

Crop factor calculator

Crop factor

1x

Full frame equivalent

24mm

This camera: Four Thirds

24mm

850100150200

Connectivity, storage, battery

StorageSD/SDHC/SDXC card
Battery Life230 shots
Battery Model
HDMI
USD
Wireless Connectivity

Storage

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC card with 1 slots for storage. This may suffice for everyday use. However, for professional applications such as wedding photography, it is not recommended as a memory card malfunction could lead to the loss of all footage.

Battery

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 uses the undefined model of battery pack. This is rated for 230 shots shots which is high. If you intend to take photos or record videos for an extended period, it might be a good idea to bring along additional batteries.

Photography Features

Flash

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 has built in flash which is great for event photography and in low light situations. However it lacks an external flash shoe, which limits you to using the built-in flash.

Shutter

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 boasts a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/500s, which is ideal for shooting fast-moving subjects in bright environments, such as in sports photography. Faster shutter speeds enable you to freeze the action and capture every detail, making it easier to get the perfect shot.

With a continuous mechanical shutter speed of n/a or an electronic shutter speed of n/a, this camera is not capable of capturing the perfect moment more easily, making it not as suited for wedding, sports, and wildlife photography. Higher shutter speeds make it easier to capture fast-paced action, ensuring that you never miss the perfect shot.

Autofocus

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 includes contrast detection autofocus (AF), with 23 number of focus points.

While contrast detection is generally more accurate and precise, phase detection autofocus is faster and more effective in most situations, particularly when photographing moving subjects.

Phase detection autofocus works by dividing the incoming light into pairs and then analyzing how they intersect on the camera's sensor. This method allows the camera to determine not only if a subject is in focus but also the direction and distance needed to adjust the focus to achieve perfect sharpness.

On the other hand, contrast detection autofocus works by analyzing the contrast of an image and adjusting the focus until the highest contrast is detected. While this method is very accurate, it can be slow, especially in low light conditions or when photographing moving subjects.

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FAQ

What is the sensor size of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8?

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 features a CMOS sensor

Is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 weather sealed?

No the Lumix DMC-GF8 does not have weather sealing.

When was the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 announced?

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 was announced on Feb 15 2016

Does the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 have in-body image stabilization?

No the Lumix DMC-GF8 does not have in-body image stabilization that can compensate for camera shake, making it easier to shoot handheld in low light conditions.

What is the ISO range of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8?

The Lumix DMC-GF8 has a native ISO range of 200-25600, which can be expanded to ISO 100-null for even greater sensitivity in low light conditions.

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