Panasonic Lumix GH1

Bridging the gap between compact and full-blown D-SLR, the Panasonic Lumix GH1  is the second Micro FourThirds camera, and uniquely, offers full HD video recording with AF.

The introduction of the Panasonic Lumix GH1 late last year signalled the arrival of a whole new system known as Micro FourThirds. Removing the mirror box normally found on a D-SLR meant a reduction in body size for the G1, but it still offered the flexibility of interchangeable lenses. The lack of an optical viewfinder required an electronic one instead, and this resulted in the Micro FourThirds breakaway system. So how does the latest addition in the form of the Panasonic Lumix GH1 actually stack-up?


Features & build
The Panasonic Lumix GH1sports a 12.1Mp sensor, with physical characteristics identical to the more familiar FourThirds system and there’s the same 2x focal length multiplication to apply to any attached lens; for instance, the supplied 14-140mm kit lens would produce a 35mm focal length equivalent of 28-280mm (a very impressive focal length in itself that beats pretty much every other kit lens and has been designed specifically for HD, too).
The GH1 won’t directly accept standard FourThirds lenses, but there is an adapter available if required. Interestingly, though the pentaprism has been removed in an effort to decrease overall size, the body is not massively smaller than a typical D-SLR, like a Canon EOS 450D or Nikon D60. With the relatively bulky 14-140mm lens attached, this advantage becomes even less pronounced.
The electronic viewfinder is the best we’ve seen to date, but it’s no substitute for a true optical viewfinder. At the rear of the Panasonic Lumix GH is a flip-out 3in screen for vari-angle shooting with a resolution of 460K dots. As well as Live View, you can also shoot full HD video with a resolution of 1280x720 @ 30fps. You can also record at 1920x1080 @ 25fps using Panasonic’s AVCHD format.
The GH1 also features a stereo microphone next to the hotshoe – a first – while a dedicated stereo microphone can also be attached if required. That’s not forgetting another first - you can continue to use AF while recording, a feature that hasn’t been available until now.         

Performance & handling
The Panasonic Lumix GH1 fits nicely in the hand, with most of the controls familiar to a D-SLR user. AF is acquired solely via contrast-detect, and not the more traditional AF-point system found on D-SLRs. And it has to be said, it works well – AF tracking is pretty strong, while you can select an individual focus area, though it can be a bit laborious to keep moving the AF area. The 4-way D pad allows quick access to ISO, AF and WB, as well as a defined Function. The menu itself is clear and concise and will be familiar to any Panasonic compact users who are upgrading.

Image quality
The GH1’s metering system coped well, delivering well-exposed images constantly under a range of lighting conditions. Like most other FourThirds D-SLRs, though, it can’t quite match competitor D-SLRs with APS-C size sensors when it comes to Noise, due to the increased signal-to-Noise ratio of the slightly physically smaller chip. Viewed in isolation, Noise looks well controlled at high ISOs, but when assessed next to results from similar priced D-SLRs, such as the Nikon D90, the GH1 can’t quite match this level of Noise handling.

Verdict
It’s worth bearing in mind that the original G1 is still available for under £500, albeit with the much more conservative 14-42mm kit lens, and the only marked difference between the two models is the addition of HD video. How much of a deal-closer this will be depends on you. The HD video facility is very strong on the Panasonic Lumix GH1, especially with the ability to AF during recording. For over half the price, however, both the Canon EOS 500D and Nikon D5000 make very strong cases for themselves, while you’ll still have quite a bit of change if you want to invest in a comparable focal-length lens.  
The GH1 is a solid performer, and is a viable alternative to a D-SLR if you’re thinking of upgrading from a compact, but the asking price is unrealistic when compared to the established competition.


At a glance
Street price (with 14-140mm
kit lens): £1299
Resolution: 12.1Mp  (4000x3000 pixels)
Lens mount:  Micro FourThirds
Focal length multiplication: 2x
Focusing: Contrast AF
Burst rate: 3fps (4 RAW & 81 JPEG)
Write times: 2.5secs (RAW) 1.5secs (JPEG)
ISO range: 100-3200
Shutter range: 60secs- 1/4000secs, Bulb
Monitor: 3in, 460K dot VGA
Live View: Yes
HD video: Yes: 1280x720 @ 30fps
Storage: SD/SDHC
Weight (body only): 385g
Dimensions: 124x90x45mm

www.panasonic.co.uk