Panasonic Lumix G1 hands-on

We got to handle Panny's new micro Four Thirds camera, the Lumix DMC-G1, this evening. It's obviously small for a interchangeable lens camera, but it's not stunningly small. The build quality shows that Panasonic isn't kidding around here: the camera is a hefty and solid, with a decent shutter click and no-nonsense manual controls. The 3-inch LCD also doesn't disappoint, though the digital viewfinder is a tad disorienting, and precise focusing could be an issue. Yes, we fully recognize the irony of taking crummy photographs of a camera, but work with us here.

Gallery: Panasonic Lumix G1 hands-on

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[jblock @ Sep 18th 2008 10:01PM]

I am waiting to see Olys attempt at the micro 4/3s segment, but I am still pretty excited by this camera. Now just give me a pancake lens for this...

[jblock @ Sep 18th 2008 10:05PM]

Oh and Olympus? No more xD please, and just because the camera is small doesn't mean we need microSD either, just plain old SDHC or CF please. Maybe spot metering while you're at it. Any other requests for the Olympus crowd?

[SteveJr_Ri @ Sep 18th 2008 10:05PM]

apparently literally hands on...but it looks cool for an entry level pro camera

[jordan turpentine @ Sep 18th 2008 10:36PM]

still not pro. prosumer/mega zoom crowd should be pleased though

[Salsa Shark @ Sep 19th 2008 11:54PM]

14-45mm != "mega zoom"

[TareX @ Sep 18th 2008 10:10PM]

"G1 hands on"... that's what I caught on the RSS feed :)

Anyway cool camera...

[Yubastard @ Sep 18th 2008 10:17PM]

"I'm not a hologram, though I am crummy."

[Vinnie @ Sep 18th 2008 10:24PM]

how much is this supposed to cost?

[mrpoo @ Sep 18th 2008 11:41PM]

List pricing is around $800, street price better be waaaay below that.

[PCIV @ Sep 18th 2008 10:31PM]

So canon retired the series to give to panasonic?

[Kenjis9965 @ Sep 18th 2008 11:10PM]

Eh...theres a Contax G1 too you know..

And Canon has a D60, just like Nikon does..

Pretty much unless its a "legendary" name, ie, if someone came out with a F6 or something...i doubt any of the companies would get mad or anything...

[Temple @ Sep 19th 2008 12:18AM]

Contax G1 was amazing! Hoping the future of the micro-4/3rds sensor is similar in design.

Instead of making a live-view camera look like a dSLR, they should make it look like a black-body Leica M or a Contax G1 instead since its much closer in concept.

[Ian @ Sep 18th 2008 10:44PM]

Ooooh, a decent shutter click.

And I probably have 3 or 4 different shutter clicks to choose from!

[jeff @ Sep 18th 2008 10:44PM]

What happened to the HD logo on the front and the avchd logo on the back? Can you say photoshop?

[paultakeda @ Sep 19th 2008 12:12AM]

The G being shown in Japan is next year's model with video. The G1 does not have video. This was noted in the digital photography sites (like dpreview.com and imaging-resource.com).

[Bleck @ Sep 18th 2008 11:02PM]

Let me guess Engadget, you use the 'iPhone' to take the pictures of the G1? Seriously... use a decent camera to take some decent pics. Not anymore of this grainy crap. I have less grain in my cereal.

[Kenjis9965 @ Sep 18th 2008 11:04PM]

I'm still torn on it, I think its a very good looking camera [asthetics] and it certainly has some good specs backing it up, But the EVF and the fact it uses contrast-detect AF just make me nervous...

That and it looks WAY too small to me, about the size of one of those as i call them, Semi-SLR point and shoots..And those are rather hit or miss to me...

And the anticipated price point of it just seems a bit steep...

[Jose El Maton @ Sep 18th 2008 11:09PM]

Haha, good call! Some of those shots are terrible!

[Neub Detat @ Sep 19th 2008 12:34AM]

uhh I highly doubt its an iPhone. See the blur in the background? That's Depth of Field. Its more likely he was using an SLR with one hand to take these shots, which would explain the mild shaking and the weird choice of focal points.

[Wwhat @ Sep 19th 2008 7:03AM]

I disagree

[tekdroid @ Sep 19th 2008 1:02AM]

not particularly small or particularly cheap has me wondering who will buy these, even when the cost issue is brought to sane levels.

[IrDisgruntled @ Sep 19th 2008 2:10AM]

Being an amateur photographer, this technology really fascinates me. What worries me is that these cameras are going to inherit their point-and-shooter cousins battery and EVF issues. I've never had a camera with a EVF last me more than an hour or two or so without having to change the battery pack. Can't wait to get my hands physically on one of these to test it out though.

[tc @ Sep 19th 2008 2:42AM]

I'm still not sure what the point of this camera is, besides the exchangable lenses (which is a nice thing, no doubt). Still, it has a smaller sensor than my compact camera that is much easier to carry around with me.

[meuh @ Sep 19th 2008 3:59AM]

The sensor is the same size as all other 4/3 camera's, the micro part in the names comes from the fact it dosn't use a mirror inside.

[Travis @ Sep 21st 2008 3:16PM]

NOT- Your compact has a sensor about the size of the fingernail on your pinky.... this camera has one that's bigger than a postage stamp. Depending on your camera we're talking 9 times the size or maybe more.

[TC @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:56AM]

My compact is the Sigma DP1, which has a larger sensor than the G1. Check out the stats on DPReview if you're unsure about the numbers.

[shaun @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:05AM]

lol. Of all the compacts you had...

[saia @ Sep 19th 2008 4:29AM]

A great place like engadget cannot post this crappy photos...

For those ones looking for a deeper preview, taka a glace at dpreview.com. They said EVF is amazing, brighter and one-step-beyond all you have seen before and focus speed is as good as entry level dSLR. Nevertheless the main problem with this model are the lens... f4 nowadays is unforgivable and two unique lens at launch time is ridiculous,

[Ted @ Sep 19th 2008 7:42AM]

Is this the first non-Leica lens on a Panasonic camera?

[cmil1212 @ Sep 19th 2008 8:48AM]

At least someone is fixing canon's g series. Too bad it's not canon. This is a wakeup call to canon.

[X-Man @ Sep 19th 2008 4:38PM]

This is very close to the type of camera I've been waiting for except that it's still not small enough and it doesn't do movies. I don't have any digital camera at the moment and thought I would have to purchase both a point and shoot camera that does RAW and a DSLR as well for more artistic type of photos. However, with something like this, I can use it for both types of situations. Granted, it won't go in my pocket, but it might just be small enough to take everywhere.

However, check out this link, http://www.dpnet.com.cn/html/2008-8/20080822_39647.html, I don't read Chinese, but this might be a micro 4/3 camera. Now this would be even close to what I'm looking for. Could it be the forthcoming Olympus?

[kookcoo @ Oct 7th 2008 10:39AM]

Nikon
Great pictures have never been easier to take; Great pictures used to require complicated and cumbersome equipment along with years of experience;Not any more; The D40 is compact, lightweight and designed specifically for ease of use, yet contains all the top-quality, high-performance technologies that you expect from a Nikon digital SLR; More info http://www.buycheapnow.co.uk/nikon-d40-digital-slr-camera/ And with world-famous Nikkor lenses, you know you have the sharpest and most reliable optical performance available; All in a camera light enough to carry with you everywhere;Beautiful photography has never been easier.

[MorganR @ Oct 14th 2008 7:47PM]

If you look closely, you'll see that the pictures say "panasonic". So pretty clearly a point-and-shoot form-factor with interchangeable lenses. Very interesting.

[Todd Haynes @ Sep 20th 2008 4:28PM]

This camera is perfect! Not too big nto tto small. I have seen pics taken with it and they look amazing for such a small camera. I am hoping the price will be lower than estimates.