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by Brad Soo on August 7 2009

panasonic-gf1-fingerprint-reader

Click on the image for a larger view (and sorry, the camera pic had to be interpolated)

Well, I’m not really a big fan of covering leaks and stuff, but when I noticed much of the internet community talking about the Panasonic GF1 (which was leaked this evening) and the ‘mysterious port/slot/piece/button thingy’ below the hot shoe, I thought I’d chime in to help solve the puzzle. It’s not a slot, it’s not a button, IT’S A FINGERPRINT READER!

The instant I saw the rendered pictures of the camera, I just knew what it was - I simply looked down to the palmrest of my notebook and boom, the exact same thing! *Of course, it could just be an electronic connector for an electronic viewfinder or external microphone or to plug in that popcorn machine you saw at Walmart. Happy speculating! (I have no idea what’s with the many cameras being leaked this summer, it’s almost as if it has become a new norm; how disturbing)

Update: For our readers’ sake, here’s what’s already known about the camera (you can also find this info elsewhere on the net)

  • It’ll be called the Panasonic Lumix GF1
  • It’s a Micro Four Thirds camera
  • There is an on-board flash, as well as a hotshoe for an external one
  • 720p HD movie mode with mono sound; there’s a dedicated movie button on the top of the camera
  • Two new lenses (20 mm and 45 mm primes) will be announced with the camera

Update 2: This is a speculation post. All the full juicy details available will have to wait until the camera becomes official on September 2nd!

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7 Comments

  1. carl August 6, 2009 Reply

    Doubt it's a fingerprint reader. More likely an EVF connector!

  2. Sergie August 6, 2009 Reply

    I vote fingerprint reader! I have a Lenovo X200 laptop and it too looks like the small object there. Doesn't stick out from the camera enough neither does it look like an EVF connector. If so, how will the connector 'stick' to the camera? The only way is via a magnet ala Apple MagSafe. But it still looks like a fingerprint reader anyway.

  3. name123a August 6, 2009 Reply

    Also doubt it's a FP reader - makes very little sense to put one on a camera… unless the plan to sell to CSI units or something bizarre like that… that child porn guy down the street has been asking for this and Pana has answered? Very doubtful.

  4. Brad (DPInterface) August 6, 2009 Reply

    Hmm, in the world of 'the more features, the better/merrier', I don't see the addition of something like a fingerprint reader being out of the ordinary, especially if Panasonic can put a big “New feature” sign in their promotional posters. I see a lot of areas where a fingerprint reader could be implemented: it could be linked to image encryption or even to something as simple as 'anti-tampering' for menu/custom settings. It won't be a feature used by everyone, no doubt, just like the way the Ethernet port on the Nikon Coolpix P6000, or built-in WiFi/GPS on some cameras aren't used by everyone who buys the camera.

  5. rgj August 10, 2009 Reply

    It look more lice a connector for a electronic viewfinder. I guess they are comming up with a hotshoe electronic viewfinder to help framing in bright light.

  6. pl cap August 13, 2009 Reply

    look a the rear of a ricoh gx 200 [ which i own along with the EP-1]and you will understand what this dimunitive rectangle really is. it will allow the use of an electronic viewfinder , on of the sore points in the olympus ep-1 otherwise an excellent camera

  7. Nikolay August 6, 2010 Reply

    HAHAHAHAHAHA LOL FingerPrint LOlz real it`s a connector!

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