A miracle of dwarf Knips Art

Small, flat, 28 to 200mm zoom, RAW, PASM modes, viewfinder, large screen - and to my surprise, because somewhere it was different, not only plastic, but the whole front and top casing made of metal, which looks noble , Another compact camera in my possession is the Nikon Coolpix A, but that's with 4 cm already too thick and hard to slip just once in the pants - but I was looking for a quick time plug. There are other dwarf snapping, but not otherwise with the viewfinder.

Many moan about the quality of the viewfinder, on the one hand correctly, but on the other hand ... well, he is small, pixelated and has a color cast, on a par with digital viewfinder in the 90s. But hey, it is a seeker in a tiny package, and even with glasses, you can use it well, for example when the sun when it is more difficult via the display, but also for the telephoto range, because keeping and better his eye pressed camera stable can aim. Not ideal, but usable. In the 90 you looked quite natural and harmless by such pixels tunnel.

Another Stöhn theme is the power button. I find it hard to understand how you can this be confused with the trigger (which some writing on the net), because of the power button is recessed and can only be achieved with strong curved forefinger, the trigger beyond the housing and in an ergonomic position for the Finger.

The camera turns on and off quickly. Nothing more annoying than when you have to wait until two or three seconds, but this is in about one second at the thing. The configurable rotary ring on the lens is great, for example, in the automatic exposure can thus be fixed vary the time. On the Fn button also configurable I put the AEL lock function that I often use. About the Q-Menu, I have immediate access to the ISO setting.

The image quality is impressive for such a small sensor, not only sharp and good resolution, but also in light-dark contrast dynamics not bad. They perhaps should not be compared with a large APS-C camera, for example, also Sony's 1 inch sensor provides more resolution, but I did it anyway (compared with Sony RX10 and Nikon Coolpix A). If one does not begin in 100 percent magnification to examine the pixels and to check the noise, makes the small Lumix pipsqueak next to the two larger sensors still a good figure. Especially the AF is wieselflink and fail. And in macro There are two modes - normal macro to 3 cm and zoom macro, which allows you to zoom in even further. The colors are typically more focused on Panasonic something cold and distant. As for wide-angle focal length: I believe no genuine 28mm, 29mm more (for comparison, I had the "28er" Nikon Coolpix A, Ricoh GR and Sony RX100, showing a slightly more detail). A trifle to nagging: The definition is not optimal. For example, landscapes - in my case it was a city skyline with steeples and houses - it should be noted that the motives blurred blurring at the edge. In this screen is not a problem, but for larger prints or 100% can be seen at the edge blurring.

Automatics work solid, but I feel in the program automatic or manual modes better off, because I, for example, a central spot autofocus prefer, as well as fixed parameter settings. The ISO-automatic works well, the camera does the ISO-values ​​as long as possible in a small area. Until ISO 800 you can go quite well about it trickles increasingly. ISO 1600 for an emergency. ISO 3200 is porridge. But that's normal for the sensor size.

The processing of the case makes a very good impression. Nice that the USB port behind a small flap is hinged and not - as with other Mini Knips devices - under a fiddly Gummipopel. The overall equipment is excellent. Well, AEB is with max. +/- 1 aperture slightly underpowered. The plastic wheel for mode selection above might also be able to be a little less cheap, perhaps sunk slightly so that it is not pretending to unintentional quickly. Those are little things that I would like to see different.

So - for the size and the price obtained a fully equipped clippers which - measured on the sensor size - makes excellent photos. With the viewfinder I can live with (the LF2 could however better get missed). The camera is pretty much exactly what I was looking for your pocket.

Addendum dated July 17: A long search for a suitable camera bag for LF1 was eventually successful: The Hama Hardcase Sky camera bag 60H black is nice and small, the camera fits snugly into it, and can be worn on a belt or reassign per band also.

Supplement of August 6: I have a little slippery casing equipped with a leather covering. This I can highly recommend, the camera picks up considerably better (and looks much more stylish appearance). To find by search engine under "Panasonic LF1 Leather Kit".