[NewsPoster]

Panasonic has launched a new camera aimed at self portraits, that borrows heavily from the GF7 released last year. The Lumix GF8 mirrorless camera has a similar 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds Digital Live MOS sensor and Venus Engine image processor combination as its predecessor, but this latest model adds more functions for those who often take selfies and want to look their best, before posting the image to social media.

Capable of 1080p video at 60fps and an ISO of up to 25,600, DPReview reports the GF8 has a high speed burst of up to 5.8fps, up to 40fps using an electronic shutter, and includes low-light AF and face recognition AF modes. On the back of the retro shooter is a three-inch 1040k-dot touchscreen with a 180-degree tilt that flips upwards, while its Wi-Fi connectivity to a smartphone running the companion app offers QR code-based pairing of devices.

For self portraits, it adds to the face recognition mode with a face and eye detection AF that automatically sets the focus right for the user's face. Self shot mode is automatically enabled once the display is flipped up, with the camera able to be placed on a stand or a surface and the shot triggered with gestures, such as bringing two faces together in the frame or by waving a hand in front of the subject's face. A Beauty Retouch function includes options to clear the skin texture, whiten teeth, and apply make-up, while the shooting mode includes Soft Skin and Slimming functions.

Pricing and availability details for the Lumix GF8 have yet to be announced.

[bobolicious]

... and nowhere in the DPReview does there seem any mention of the lens or optical quality ...

And the digital camera corporates wonder why smartphones are taking over and sales are declining ?

Maybe the MBAs running these companies should take a photography course & learn how to actually make images, rather than pick scenes to apply 'makeup' ...? Better yet get some pro photographers running the ship...?

Perhaps it is because core quality has not improved is the reason websites still celebrate 40 year old hardware designs:

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/olympusom1n2/shared/zuiko/htmls/21mm.htm

http://diglloyd.com/blog/2014/20140727_1954-quality-future-is-fixed-lens-cameras.html

Has Apple figured it out: http://www.macnn.com/articles/16/02/02/alleged.event.on.ides.of.march.will.focus.on.iphon e.5se.ipad.air.3.new.watch.bands.132280/

[Steve Wilkinson]

It's not necessarily for 'selfies' either, but a lot of people are self-shooting video for advertising, tutorials, etc. where they need to be able to see where they are in the frame, etc. I've been kind of amazed that about the about only DSLR I'm aware of so far has been the Canon T'x'i series. You'd think more of the companies would recognize that need.