Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Photo answers review

Photo answers rating

Features & handling

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 digital camera uses the Micro FourThirds system and offers a 100%-coverage digital Live View viewfinder. Unlike a conventional optical viewfinder, this system shows you an image that’s been processed by the camera’s sensor. As a result, the G1 is neither a digital single lens reflex nor a twin-lens compact camera. It’s an elaborate hybrid of the two – a beefed up bridge camera, for want of a better description.
In design terms the G1 certainly makes a statement – it’s available in three textured metallic finishes: blue, red and classic black. But that’s not all that’s new. The micro lens mount incorporates a reduced flange, meaning the distance between the lens mount and sensor has been cut by half. This allows a range of DSLR features to be incorporated into a much more compact body. To give this a sense of scale, it’s 20% lighter, and has a 50% smaller footprint than Panasonic’s L10 DSLR.
Despite its compact size, the G1 is nicely sculpted with the main controls well positioned for quick and easy use. However, we found it’s too big to hold with your fingers and slightly too small to hold with your whole hand – your little finger is left dangling in mid-air.
Alongside the usual PASM shooting modes, the camera includes a number of features designed to make the transition up from using a compact camera a smooth one. The Intelligent Auto (iA) mode is made up of six detection and compensation modes that are automatically activated when you shoot a range of popular subjects in common situations. These modes include shake-, motion-, light-, face-, scene- and subject-detection. Like most automated functions on cameras, iA doesn’t work perfectly all the time. For instance, I found that when shooting in this mode the face-, subject- and scene-detection features often struggled to identify the subject, rendering the function more suited to parties (where it doesn’t matter quite so much). If you understand modes such as aperture and shutter-priority, iA is best left alone.
Live View is another popular feature aimed at the compact camera user. The G1 incorporates the same 3in free-angle LCD screen that was used on the Panasonic DMC-L10 and is very bright and clear with its 460,000 dot resolution.

Performance

The camera’s 12.1 million pixels are impressive and the ISO range is a reasonable 100-3200. Results are very good up to ISO 1600, with sharp edges and not too much noise. On the other hand, images shot at ISO 3200 are quite noisy with a loss of sharpness, so this is a setting that’s probably best saved for emergencies.
Perhaps the most innovative feature is the viewfinder screen – especially its ability to pre-emptively show you how your current shutter and aperture choices will affect your shots, before you’ve even pressed the shutter. For instance, when shooting a portrait with a wide aperture, the G1 will show the effect of the shallow depth-of-field in the viewfinder/on the screen. This is really handy for a beginner.
The autofocus is truly impressive. There are four modes, including tracking AF, 23-area AF, face detection and single point AF. The single point AF is perhaps the jewel in the G1’s crown; you can move the AF point to practically any point in the viewfinder and even change the size of it to focus precisely on small subjects.

Verdict

Panasonic has pulled out all the stops with the G1, creating a new type of hybrid camera that’s innovative and stylish. The G1 is (presumably) supposed to be easier to use than a DSLR but for me it wasn’t really any different in this area. The functions and features are fantastic, however, and make this an ideal first camera for beginners because it leaves room for them to progress.
You may find that the G1 has a profound affect on the way you shoot – perhaps making you lean towards a compact camera-style of working that’s probably more spontaneous and experimental than with a DSLR. Shoot frit and think later – great for snapshots, but obviously not for more considered photography.
Panasonic has gambled by creating a new type of camera aimed at people who find DSLRs too big, heavy, difficult to use and too expensive. This makes the suggested price of £600 seem way too high. We suspect this will drop after release, so keep an eye on the web and high street.


Specification