Panasonic's Lumix G1/GH1: first micro Four Thirds camera

[editor]

First G1 review - and they're loving it.

Using the Lumix DMC-G1
So what does it feel like to use? In a word - delightful. We've tried other hybrid attempts in the past, but nothing has come close in terms of build quality and reliability. Every shot we took came out sharp, even in the lowest ambient light.

The intelligent auto mode seemed to be more reliable than in Panasonic's lower-end models (hotlink to FX150 review?) - perhaps due to the higher quality components it in the G1. We've yet to inspect our shots on a computer (the superglue seems to have flowed freely over new cameras' memory card slots this year) but on the sharp 3" screen the results look superb.

Things seemed a little noisy at higher ISOs, but we'll leave any conclusions until we're able to inspect the images with a fine-toothed comb.

Excitingly, we also saw a prototype for a future model in the G series, incorporating HD video and stereo sound recording - a lightweight contender to Canon and Nikon's recent ventures into SLR HD video.
The price, we're told, will be 750 Euro for the body and 14-45mm lens, with a full kit (as before, but with the 45-200mm lens included) available later this year for 1000 Euro.


For now, we're sold on the micro four-thirds system, and if Panasonic gets its marketing right it could go very far in the consumer market. Look out for a full review when the camera launches in October.


http://www.techradar.com/news/photo...hands-on-panasonic-lumix-dmc-g1-review-470501

 

[Bernie Gunther]

True, but think yourself lucky you don't have to lug one of these any more:
<snip>

Having said that though, my F3HP (with no motor drive) is my preferred choice for 'going light' these days. Way more solid, compact and inconspicuous than the D200, especially with those nice neat little AIS lenses.

 

[cybertect]

I'm feeling big love for these new cameras.

I hate lugging around hefty SLRs.

After a week of hauling around my 5D and collection of Canon glass on holiday, I'm feeling much the same.

 

[editor]

I'm still mustard keen to check out this camera.

 

[editor]

First review in and it's a good 'un:

What I liked:

* Very good photo quality
* World's smallest interchangeable lens camera; comes in black, red, and blue
* Excellent live view shooting experience
o High resolution, 3-inch rotating LCD display
o Ultra sharp and very large electronic viewfinder; eye sensor allows seamless transition between LCD and EVF
o Fast refresh rate on both screens; very good outdoor/low light visibility
o Super-fast contrast detect autofocus
* Dust reduction system
* Full manual controls, including numerous white balance controls
* RAW image format supported, powerful (but clunky) editing software included
* Intelligent Auto mode picks a scene for you, detects faces, tracks a moving subject, and brightens shadows, all automatically
* Well-implemented face detection feature; digital redeye removal
* Custom spot on mode dial, customizable function button, make-your-own grid lines
* Compact, stabilized kit lens has minimal distortion and corner blurriness
* HDMI output

What I didn't care for:

* Expensive compared to entry-level D-SLRs (and not much smaller, either)
* Images get a bit noisy at ISO 800 in low light, ISO 1600 in normal light; shoot RAW for best results at those settings
* Limited lens selection; only a handful of classic FourThirds lenses support autofocus, and they require a $170 adapter
* Design annoyances: poorly-placed front command dial and drive switch; AF-assist lamp easy to block
* Burst mode could be faster
* No focus distance shown on lens, or on LCD/EVF in manual focus mode
* No movie mode

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_g1-review/index.shtml

 

[Paul Russell]

First review in and it's a good 'un:
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_g1-review/index.shtml

I had a quick play around with one yesterday (I was walking around Bournemouth with a big SLR and a bloke came up to me in the street to tell me that Jessops had the G1 in!).

It seemed quite good -- focus seems fast, fold-out screen is good, the electronic viewfinder is OK, doesn't compare to an optical one of course. The kit lens is quite plastic-y. With that 20mm lens it might be interesting, but not sure if it has that many advantages over the Olympus 420, which has a "proper" viewfinder.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Bought a G1 last week and took a few photos last night at the Montague Arms - Harry Merry was playing.

All on taken on "IA" auto setting, no flash. Well pleased with this, big step up from my old Nikon 995 swivel body camera.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46773356@N00/sets/72157608761646992/detail/

 

[editor]

This pro website has also given the G1 a very enthusiastic review:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/panasonic-g1.shtml

Uncle Fester: how are you finding it?

 

[Uncle Fester]

Very impressed - not used a digital camera with this level of quality before. Image quality, auto focus and auto exposure in low light is extremely good. Raw mode is supposed to dramatically improve low light detail+noise, but haven't tried that yet.

The flip out screen enables me to take pictures at waist level, which i find less intrusive for photographing people. The auto-switch sensor for viewfinder/screen gets triggered if i hold the camera too close, but theres an override button. The manual focus screen zoom is a great feature.

Another review at digitalcamerainfo with comparisons against the D60/D90.

 

[editor]

DPreview's done a comprehensive review - and they're digging it, giving it a Highly Recommended rating.

Image quality was, generally, a very pleasant surprise. The G1 uses a Four Thirds sensor and although it's a new sensor that's not been used previously in another Four Thirds camera, we would have expected at least a comparable image quality to the current Olympus DSLRs. And the G1 certainly did not disappoint us - far from it. In good light it produces consistently high image quality out of the box, there's not really a need to play with any of the parameters. At the camera's standard JPEG settings G1 images show natural tones and colors and hardly any artifacts. Image detail is impressive indeed. The G1 pulls visibly more detail out of a scene than the conventional Four Thirds DSLRs that we have tested before and is on par with the very best in the entry level DSLR bracket such as the Canon 450D. Shooting in RAW will get you even more detail and generally clean output.

At higher sensitivities things get naturally a bit more difficult but Panasonic's well balanced noise reduction does a pretty good job. In low light the G1 cannot quite keep up with the very best entry-level DSLRs but performs solidly and produces images that show an appealing balance between noise reduction and detail retention, only the very highest sensitivity setting should probably be reserved for emergency occasions.

The G1 is certainly not without problems. One of the biggest is the limited lens support: there are currently two dedicated zooms, neither of which is that fast (aperture wise) and an adaptor for standard four thirds lenses, most of which don't autofocus (and are ridiculously out of proportion to the tiny body). Another is price, though we don't consider the G1 to be overpriced - it's just relatively expensive when compared to the rest of the market. Less easy to forgive is the performance of the electronic viewfinder in low light - if you do a lot of low light shooting you'll be yearning for a return to simplicity and clarity of an optical viewfinder and a good old fashioned mirror.

Another point worth mentioning is the the lack of a video recording capability. There are no apparent technical reasons for leaving out something you get in a fifty buck point and shoot compact, and we've no doubt it will hurt the G1's sales; particularly since Panasonic has already shown prototypes of a 'G1 HD' version of the camera that does offer video capture.

The G1 is a slightly curious camera; it is technically innovative but it's far from revolutionary; it simply replaces one means of getting the image into the viewfinder for another one, and the result brings some benefits (it's small, has some clever features and is darn cute) but also some disadvantages. It certainly doesn't reinvent the digital SLR, because it's designed to look, handle, operate and feel like one, and it's still far from pocketable. But it's an impressive debut for a system we think has huge potential, and everyone here that used it, without exception, fell for its undeniable charms.

If you can live with its limitations the G1 is an appealing and viable DLSR alternative that's a lot of fun to use and is capable of superb results. We can't wait to see what the future holds for the Micro Four Thirds system when a slightly less conservative approach to camera design is applied.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcg1/page33.asp

 

[editor]

Neat comparison:



http://news.cnet.com/8301-13580_3-10151608-39.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

 

[editor]

The new GH1 now comes with HD video.

I'd like one please!

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030316lumixgh1handson.asp

 

[editor]

Buh-limey. Check out the incredible quality of the video footage shot on the Lumix HG1.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/04/panasonic-lumix-gh1-shoots-some-sample-footage-gets-examined/

Post edited sunset here: http://vimeo.com/4441911?pg=embed&sec=4441911

Damn, it's good. I think I want it!

 

[Hocus Eye.]

That video is very impressive in image quality. It looks like what I said a while ago perhaps somewhere on these forums but maybe elsewhere, that still photography and video would come together in one camera. The advent of HD television is also a big jump forward. I might give up photography in the future. It is all too glossy and hot now. I don't really want to look at images that are so intense that it makes real life seem dull.

Where is that 2B pencil and drawing pad? It is time to start again from scratch.

 

[editor]

I've got to say I'm loving the idea of strutting around with a GH1 but the price is a bit of a nadger-slammer: £1299.99 with the new Lumix G Vario HD 14-140mm lens.

 

[editor]

Damn, I keep on getting tempted by the G1. They're now being used for high end jobs too:

OUR PLACE World Heritage is the global photographic initiative, which for the last three years has been documenting the sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list, exclusively using Panasonic LUMIX cameras.

Geoff Steven the Director and Assignment Editor of OUR PLACE says, “when we send the OUR PLACE photographers on assignment they can end up working in a wide range of different locations and situations; from crowded ‘living cities’ to remote wilderness areas. They often have to travel long distances to get to locations and the amount of gear becomes an important factor in their travel plans”.

“The low weight and portability of the LUMIX G1 and its interchangeable lenses is a great advantage to our photographers”, says Geoff.

“Another advantage of the small profile G1 is its discreetness – it does not look threatening to people who might be reluctant to be photographed. It delivers professional results but still allows the photographer to get close in where the action and best images are”, said Geoff.

UK photographer Guy Levy, recently used the LUMIX G1 on location in Tel Aviv, Israel.

He said, “Although very small the feel of the G1 camera in hand proves very positive and the controls are easy to use, the articulated screen provides flexibility when shooting in bright conditions. The physical size & weight of the G1 and the 45-200mm lens (90-400mm 35mm equivalent) makes the kit even more appealing. Where you would have needed a lot of glass to achieve these long focal lengths, the physical nature of this lens means that it goes with you everywhere unburdened”.

Guy added, “the effective image stabilisation, in this compact & light package, gives that extra confidence when shooting at the 200mm end of the range without a tripod. Navigating the functions and controls is intuitive and changing the aspect ratio was quick and easy. At base ISO, and throughout the ISO range, shooting raw the image quality is excellent for kit in its class”.

http://www.photographyblog.com/news/our_place_photographers_now_use_panasonic_g1s/

 

[cybertect]

Interesting, though the 2x crop is going to limit the usefulness a bit.

Leica 'M' and 'R' mount adapters from Panasonic.

 

[editor]

Another glowing review: http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/panasonic_lumix_dmc_gh1_review/

 

[editor]

Whopping great 31 page review here: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcgh1/

The GH1 offers the same ease-of-use and solid image quality as its sister model G1. On top top of that you get the best implementation of a HD video mode that we have yet seen on a large sensor camera. You pay a fairly hefty premium for this feature, but for anyone who is planning to make good use of the camera's motion picture capabilities, the GH1 has to be highly recommended.

 

[ethel]

does anyone else hate the tv ad? the photos look rubbish. "here, buy this camera and you too can take shit photos"

 

[dweller]

My dad has a G1 and really likes it.

I've been on the lookout for a m4/3 with an EVF at a reasonable price and I think I may have just found it. I've been getting so frustrated not having a viewfinder on a camera since the death of my first bargain Pentax digicam in 2005.
The G2 is at a certain supermarket website for under £200 and I just bought one.
Bargain for a camera that was going for nearer £600 just 12 months ago.
Picking it up on Saturday
The cost of additional lenses seems a bit brutal.
May see if the old man has got any to lend.
Also I've got an old OM 50mm lense from my lost (weep) OM1 so I'll probably get an adaptor for it
and see how it fares.

 

[editor]

You can buy the official Olympus adapter for £120 or get summat off eBay for around £30. I'm going for the cheapo choice - but near in mind you have to use the lens in full manual mode.

 

[cybertect]

but near in mind you have to use the lens in full manual mode.

Not quite 'full manual, unless I've understood your intent (or there's something odd about OM lenses that I'm not aware of) you don't have to shoot in Manual exposure mode.*

Pop the camera into Aperture Priority, adjust aperture on the lens and off you go, the camera does the rest.

I mean, yes, you have to focus manually and keep an eye on your shutter speed. as you would in Aperture Priority anyhow, but otherwise it's as easy as pie. Do it all the time with old Canon FD lenses on my G2.


* e2a: though you can do that too if you want to.

 

[editor]

It's manual as in there's no electronic or physical connection whatsoever between the camera and the lens.