Very good photos, complicated operation

I have long wrestled with me and the Panasonic GF5, and am still not quite sure what to make of the camera. Therefore, here are my subjective impressions, who examined the technical details, will be possibly disappointed, but to me it was not important to reproduce the features list here again.
But an overall impression, after several months of use.
For comparison, here are a DSLR and higher-quality compact cameras.
From the idea I find the Panasonic, like the rest of the principle of system cameras well. Image quality as the bigger version, but half the size / half the weight.
Other system cameras I had not to compare, but actually I put on all cameras the same requirements: have the photos, provided the proper settings, be good and the service should not require additional studies.
If the photos in RAW format very well (more on that), but it already starts with the operation. The camera is of all the aforementioned cameras to date when it comes to the least Thoughtful simple and consistent operation.
The Menu of DSLR (Nikon) I had to also learn, but after a week it was all there, and the service has geflutscht. Here I am annoyed with each use, that I again something has to change in the menu, where I only one key press, then press on the screen to then but return to the scroll wheel because the icons and individual points on the screen are too small , and you ever slips away in the heat of the moment.
The options, which would offer a touch screen are not maxed out, in most settings, I wonder why the touchscreen was ever built.
The menu is overloaded in my eyes when shooting with three settings, and this also maintains, it does not matter, you can save their personal preferences well, but if you want to play around a little, then it quickly loses his nerve ...
Everything is very thought around the corner, what ever makes the attraction at a Japanese product, but at the GF5 is overkill.
This also applies to the preconfigured screen menus (sunshine, snow, portrait in backlight, etc ..): from the idea nice, but again set cumbersome, and for a serious camera users no more than a gimmick; a beginner will attract those opportunities, but he will be unable to cope with the rest of the camera.

Image quality: RAW format very well, even with weaker exposure. But already the JPEG compression is simply bad. An increase can be forgotten here simply, the JPEG photos are for the Internet, but not more.
The supplied program for RAW photos can convince the operation is very simple and very clear (why that does not work when the camera-menu ...).

The objective: in principle fine, but the operation of the zoom do not like it. Either do I zoom on the touch screen, but must then touch a side menu, then to be able to zoom operate, or may operate the zoom on the lens. Is probably intended for the left hand, because the lens but is very shallow, one must always insert finger exercises. A simple toggle switch would have fitted to the camera, and an operation would have been easier.
In addition, the lens is faint. Even when the camera starts the noise only in the higher ISO range, color and contrast markedly disappear from the images with less good lighting conditions. Since then can not get out as much fetch a high ISO value with a good noise filter. As a kit lens I would have what Brighter desired, even if it then would be at the cost of a fixed focal length.
In addition, other potential lenses are very expensive, they do not exist from vendors such as Tamron or Sigma (an advantage in the normal DSLR's), the choice is limited and with Tele is the handiness there. After all, you can zoom in quite a bit from the RAW format before it pixelt. Therefore, the digital zoom is not necessary, in my view.

The Blitz: sufficient. In various tests was indeed complained about the weak flash, but after all, the camera has a flash and portraits are super. Perfectly lit, very good color, very good contrast. The range is actually about three meters a little bit, but other system cameras have no flash.
However, what really annoys me is the lack of opportunity, the flash just like that to turn to. In automatic mode, it does not, in the program mode it can be set after all. But a small button this would also have had space.

The Files the picture quality is good, but I'm in weaker light conditions a fairly strong vignetting noticed. And in automatic mode, the camera seems constantly rumzuschrauben on the exposure, resulting in annoying flicker. So you can not just in automatic mode times quickly switch to film. But since I still have to try around, for video I actually my video camera. Whoever has tricks in stock, please write in the comments.

Positive is the battery performance, a charge lasts about 200-250 photos, with flash of course less. But the camera does not have after each use of the power, so far. Since there are other candidates. A spare battery is therefore not mandatory.

Also disturbing trifles the overall impression: the camera is not for the big men's hands, in spite of a handle, the camera is just in your hand, the grip would be even a ticking wider.
The supplied strap can only be described as a bad joke, for the price has something better to be there.
In addition, no lens / camera cover are included in the set offered here, if you want to remove the lens times. So far, the SLR in all it was about to be saved here why I do not understand.
The no viewfinder is available, of course you know in advance. Nevertheless, it bothers that you can not see anything on the screen when the sun shines.

Conclusion: for me, the camera is a streaky impression. If you purely kneels properly and cares about the quality of images in RAW format, the camera is good. Small, handy and sometimes just packed into your pocket, that's a great story. But in my eyes is the whole package is not consistent. I can not provide any argument why the GF5 should be better than a very good compact camera, or one of the predecessor models. 3.5 stars undecided.

Supplement May 2013: Now I have to compare a Nikon1 S1 here and the Panasonic wins in the direct system-camera comparison deutlichst! After now nine months like me still the quality of the photos and the processing of the camera. Not so much to me to be the somewhat complicated menu and unwieldy Zoom. BUT: if the system camera makes a promise: pictures of the big DSLR, within smaller dimensions, so the Panasonic GF5 fulfilled this promise, as opposed to Nikon. Especially pictures indoors in the evening or at night are really good, the lightning strong enough to illuminate perfectly. Here the Panasonic beats even my Nikon D5100. Overall, she has perfect color and contrast. In fact, the quality drops for landscapes (as another reviewer mentioned) and in the evening without a flash, here but I would possibly give the kit lens blame. I am now very busy thinking to buy me a bright fixed focal length, so that should then also the landscape photos are good. Despite all the shortcomings listed above points there is now a buy recommendation. After I've seen what Nikon understands (better compact camera with overpriced lenses) at the same price under a system camera, I can give only the Panasonic preference.