Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds Lumix DMC-G1 reviewed: only knock is the price

The question has been on your mind since we first got wind of this so-called "Micro Four Thirds" concept back in August: how will it stack up? Now that Panasonic's Lumix DMC-G1 is filtering out to the world, we're able to kick back and digest a mammoth review of this here camera thanks to the fine folks at Digital Camera Resource. Without going into dissertation-level detail in this space, we'll tell you that the biggest issue critics had with the G1 was its price. Not the image quality. Not the size. Just the price. In other words, Panny has delivered a superb camera that offers up "very good quality photos, an unmatched live view shooting experience and a nice collection of both automatic and manual controls." Deemed the first to "truly offer a point-and-shoot experience on an interchangeable lens camera," the DMC-G1 looks to be a real winner if you've got $800 to blow.

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

[Nick @ Nov 1st 2008 10:42PM]

Nice to see some Panasonic cameras getting recognition. They make some great models, but somehow they seem to be overlooked for the most part. Almost no one I know owns a Panasonic camera - most opt for Casios, Kodaks and Canons.

The only complaint I have with my Panasonic DMC-FX9K is that the LCD display is of pretty low resolution, making it sometimes difficult to judge if a photo came out really good until you copy it to your machine. A small complaint considering the price of this model; I'm sure their higher-end models use higher-res displays.

[Adam @ Nov 1st 2008 11:35PM]

Time to upgrade the DMC-FX9K! :-) Just bought the TZ5 and can't be happier. Allows for some good zoom but without the bulk.

[Josh G @ Nov 2nd 2008 1:08AM]

I hear ya! Panny make excellent excellent cameras, and yet are always overlooked. Shame really, but hopefully this camera and subsequent models will turn it around for 'em :)

*hugs his FZ7

[DBrim @ Nov 2nd 2008 1:32AM]

Panasonic needs more lens options in order to become more relevant in the DSLR market.

[Firebird @ Nov 2nd 2008 2:17AM]

There are plenty of lens options, Olympus uses the 4/3rds system as well, and Olympus makes some excellent lenses. Worst case scenario is you need a 4/3rds to micro adapter, but there is no lack of good glass.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Nov 2nd 2008 6:07AM]

@Firebird, there is a general incompatibility between Oly and Panas. Oly has in-body IS, Panas - in-lens. Consequently, out of all 4/3 lenses, only Panas lenses support IS. IOW, if you get Panas body, you have to buy Panas lenses. If you have Oly body, all lenses would be OK (as long as you turn off in-lens IS, if any).

As Oly user, I do not care. But from my POV, the divide where to put IS, is huge problem for 4/3.

Also, for u4/3, it is questionable, whether Oly would manage to cramp IS into a body. I suspect that u4/3 offering from Oly wouldn't have in-body IS (a-la E-4X0).

[Oliver @ Nov 1st 2008 10:44PM]

i don't get it... are they just saying it's "too expensive" because it's $800, which is not all that expensive compared to other DSLRs, or does it not perform well enough to be worth $800? I'll admit, I haven't read the article, but from Engadget's description, this arbitrary decision of $800 being too high seems to be a bit nonsensical.

[Ian @ Nov 1st 2008 11:05PM]

Exactly. If paying $800 is going to get you the image quality of an $800 DSLR, then it's not expensive.

If paying $800 is going to get you the image quality of a $500 budget DSLR, it isn't too expensive if you're putting a lot of value into the G1's small size.

[bebop @ Nov 1st 2008 11:10PM]

Too expensive vs. the Nikon D60 for example, which is $100 less for the double zoom kit. Sure, its apples and oranges to an extent, and depends on how much value you place on the small physical size and liveview implementation, but at the end of the day I imagine people choosing one or the other would flip for the dSLR.

The G1 will surely fall to about $650 by January, though, so the unfavorable comparison isn't permanent.

[Pretol @ Nov 2nd 2008 5:05AM]

Did you miss the part where it's not an SLR? Did you also miss the part where there are real SLR's made by Olympus that are the same size? And did you also miss the part where there are cheaper REAL SLR's on the market ALREADY?

[Ricardo @ Nov 2nd 2008 7:48AM]

@Pretol, so what it's not a DSLR? It doesn't have a mirror, what difference does it make? Does it affect picture quality? Actually it does affect, because there isn't a mirror to move and vibrate the camera.

I don't think it's too expensive, that's only slightly more than what I paid for my FZ50.

[bhtooefr @ Nov 2nd 2008 8:50AM]

Except it does affect image quality indirectly. LCD viewfinders almost always have lag problems.

Give me a real viewfinder, and I'll deal with the mirror vibration.

[jorvay @ Nov 2nd 2008 9:06AM]

@Pretol
Thank god it's not a dSLR. As someone who grew up with a photographer father, I was always taught to be ever so careful with delicate SLRs. This camera removes the critically delicate components but offers a similar feature set and image quality. It's like an SLR, but I can throw it in my backpack for a bike ride or a hike without worrying about it so damn much.

Seriously, why are people gripping so strongly to an archaic technology rather than hoping for, or even demanding, a superior alternative? Maybe the G1 viewfinder isn't quite as smooth as a true mirror/prism combo, but it's damn close, and this is only the first camera of it's kind. Photographers should be excited that companies are starting to seriously tackle the weakest parts of high-quality cameras.

[Ricardo @ Nov 2nd 2008 9:46AM]

@bhtooefr, did you actually read the review?

"The most impressive part of the DMC-G1 is its live view shooting experience. The Micro FourThirds system was designed from the ground up to be live view only, and Panasonic has really hit one out of the park in this area. You'll compose your photos with either the 3-inch, rotating LCD display or a large electronic viewfinder. Both of these screens have exceptional resolutions of 460,000 and 480,000 pixels, respectively, and outdoor and low light viewing is excellent. While the EVF is undoubtedly one of the best ever, it still isn't as sharp or clear as a traditional optical viewfinder. The live view is bright and motion is fluid. You can overlay preset grid lines, or make your own. Numerous focusing modes are available -- including face detection, 23-point auto, 1-point adjustable, and subject tracking -- and the camera focuses just like the fastest point-and-shoot cameras on the market. The bottom line: Panasonic is the first company to truly get live view right."

It's just a matter of time before EVFs become better than optical viewfinders.

[wodheila @ Nov 2nd 2008 11:16AM]

Exactly Bebop. Post Christmas early 09 price will be different.

[jollyllama @ Nov 2nd 2008 8:09PM]

Ricardo:

Viewfinders are like women: Pixels are never better than the real thing.

[Galley @ Nov 1st 2008 10:53PM]

My Lumix has served me well for many years.

[John H. @ Nov 1st 2008 11:05PM]

Well, it's better than any camera I've ever owned.

[ooglek @ Nov 8th 2008 12:25PM]

If you've never owned a camera, you could say that about any camera, which makes your comment uninteresting and troll-like. If you've owned top of the line cameras, maybe you're saying something interesting, if you included the models you've owned. Why say something like this and not include any relevant points?

[Cal @ Nov 1st 2008 11:08PM]

sample photos look a little jaggy to anyone else?
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_g1-review/P1000091-pp.JPG
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_g1-review/P1000010-pp.JPG

[samk64 @ Nov 1st 2008 11:17PM]

they probably look jagged from being shrunken down from high resolutions

[Adam @ Nov 1st 2008 11:37PM]

Forbidden!

[Josh Ladella @ Nov 1st 2008 11:50PM]

yeah, that second "d" in "Forbidden" looks pretty jaggy in both of the images...

[Einhanderkiller @ Nov 2nd 2008 1:43AM]

Click in your address bar and press enter. You get forbidden because the images are being linked.

[Jeff @ Nov 2nd 2008 1:23AM]

Its jaggy because the dpreview guy resizes his pictures and doesn't always apply the right interpolation. Take a look at the full resolution photos then judge.

[Jimbo @ Nov 1st 2008 11:24PM]

I'm not at all convinced about the price tag. $800 seems a lot for someone to spend that's considering the move up from traditional point-and-shoot cameras. The camera doesn't appear much smaller than Nikon or Canon's entry level DSLR's and both have a wider range of lenses available.

If I was to recommend a camera to someone considering the move from point-and-shoot's I'd say get the Nikon D40- which is a fantastic camera and available for around $400

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 1st 2008 11:52PM]

Too big. I'm waiting for the Leica-sized Olympus. This really is only a bit smaller than a small APS-C DSLR.

[Plothole @ Nov 2nd 2008 2:29AM]

Ditto. I'm not really interested in a replacement for my DSLR. However I can already see the Olympus µ4:3 complimenting it, for times when I need something more discreet and "pocketable" (even if it's only a jacket pocket).

[Ian @ Nov 2nd 2008 12:03AM]

Yeah, I'd rather have the Olympus E420 with 25 mm lens. It's tiny enough to fit in a jacket pocket, and is smaller than the Nikon D60 in a practical sense rather than just "by the numbers".

I guess if you're desperate for an EVF, this is a good deal.

[Connor @ Nov 2nd 2008 12:58AM]

G1? Impostor!

[Rusty @ Nov 2nd 2008 1:46AM]

I don't see anything really wrong with it, but, I and a lot of "FZ-20/30/50" owners was hoping this might be
the replacement for the super zoom. We are still hoping something in a 35-500 or 28-400 zoom range "all in one" camera. My personal taste isn't to be carrying around a bag full of lens/filters/flash etc. I carry my camera in a bag to protect it, but it usually stays in the trunk of the car when snapping photos.

[jorvay @ Nov 2nd 2008 9:17AM]

Yeah, I've got my fingers crossed for an FZ50 replacement some time soon. I love the FZ30 and its results.

[Cantevid @ Nov 2nd 2008 3:32AM]

I anticipate Canon' s G10

[Zippy the Pinhead @ Nov 2nd 2008 4:38AM]

Yah, like he said.

G10 - less than $500 and it'll shoot circles around this overpriced Panny.

The G10 just went heads-up with a $40k Hasselblad and came out even, come on!

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/kidding.shtml

[Pretol @ Nov 2nd 2008 5:03AM]

Did you miss the part where it's not an SLR? Did you also miss the part where there are real SLR's made by Olympus that are the same size? And did you also miss the part where there are cheaper REAL SLR's on the market ALREADY?

[Pretol @ Nov 2nd 2008 5:11AM]

G10 is a noise monster, and has a non-removable lens (and is overpriced). All reviews say keep it under ISO400. a 3/4 sensor is much larger than whatever canon G10.

The Panny G1 is not all that it's cracked up to be (at least to me), but it's DEFINITELY a step above Canon G10 (and sensor size is a BIG step up in my book).

You're comparing different classes of cameras

[Yem @ Nov 2nd 2008 5:40AM]

Canon fanboys are even more blinkered and annoying than apple fanboys.

[Temple @ Nov 2nd 2008 6:18PM]

The Canon G10 uses a point-and-shoot sized sensor. Which is the size of your pinky nail.

This Panasonic uses a Four-thirds sized sensor (which is a 2.0 crop), for comparison an APS-C Canon. The comparison to the Hasselblad was comparing a picture with ample light taken at infinity focus for the G10. In which case most cameras while produce great photos at that result, including this Panny G1.

Sensor size comparison:

Canon G10: 7.6mm x 5.32mm

Panasonic G1: 18mm x 13.5mm

The Panny is roughly six-times the sensor area then a G10. Not to mention larger photosites.

[Temple @ Nov 2nd 2008 6:24PM]

Also it should be mentioned the Canon G10 doesn't have interchangeable lenses. Not only can you use 4/3rds and m4/3rds lenses. There are already Leica M-lens, Leica screw-mounts, Canon rangefinder adapters to use your Leica lenses on you m4/3rds mount. The m4/3rds mount is incredibly well suited for lens adapters because there is little distance between the mount and sensor, a converter can be easily fitted to make up that distance relative to the lens system.

Also, where the m4/3rds will really shine is when 'rangefinder' sized cameras start coming out the size of old Leica M-series or the Contax G1/G2.

[tino @ Nov 2nd 2008 4:39AM]

The only knock is its price? It's freak too big! It's exactly the same size as the olymous e420. Why would you spend more money and give up AF on most of the 4/3 lens to get it?!

"Offer point and shoot experience on an SLR?" that's as dumb as saying "offering front wheel drive experience on a rear wheel drive." Do none of you bloggers use SLR beyond the green mode?

[Pretol @ Nov 2nd 2008 5:12AM]

I think in your analogy it'd be the other way around:

"Offering rear wheel drive experience in a front wheel drive"

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Nov 2nd 2008 6:14AM]

[Original spelling preserved]:
> It's exactly the same size as the olymous e420

If you cared to check the RTFA, you would have noticed, that G1 is considerably smaller. I say "considerably," because it is even smaller than e420, which is already small compared to everything else.

[MaxRC @ Nov 2nd 2008 1:29PM]

The analogy is correct. "point and shoot" denotes user friendliness, same as the more stable and forgiving front wheel drive layout. RWD requires more driver skill to handle, but is the preferred layout once vehicle power and performance goes beyond a certain level.

[Dave Lewis @ Nov 27th 2008 6:01PM]

I got mine from an ebay sell for $644 including shipping from an outfit in Pennsylvania after an ebay 10% discount. There is a canadian seller on there getting consistently around $550 for the G1 and short zoom. As for relative sizes to the e410 Olympus here is a quick shot I did of mine side by side.

http://www.performanceflyrods.com/miscpics/08s/redandblack.jpg

[J @ Nov 2nd 2008 4:57AM]

I'm able to get 25% off the price from the Panasonic UK store through work, I just checked and it works with the G1. That's £145 off the price making it just over £400 with the lens kit, now I think that's better value - for the UK anyway, as the general online retail is around £570+ :)

[substance90 @ Nov 2nd 2008 1:01PM]

Hey, can you hook me up with one of these? I`ll pay you commission if you want. Drop me an email here: [e-mail] Thanks in advance!

[MarbleMind @ Nov 2nd 2008 4:59AM]

I hope there's also a version that matches the color of my handbag.

[Samboini @ Nov 2nd 2008 6:55AM]

The tempation to put a Henry Ford quote is verging on irresistible!

[engadget @ Nov 2nd 2008 5:42AM]

$297 - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28K 10MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)

http://12tb.com/lookup/Photo/502394/B001CCLBSU/Panasonic__Lumix_DMC-FZ28K_10MP_Digital_Camera_with_18x_Wide_Angle_MEGA_Optical_Image_Stabilized_Zoom_(Black)

[Plothole @ Nov 2nd 2008 6:41AM]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/SensorSizes.png/431px-SensorSizes.png

^The last of these is close to what the Lumix DMC-FZ28k uses. By contrast the G1 uses the fourth from the last. In other words it's much larger. That gives it an advantage in terms of high ISO performance, dynamic range, and DOF control. Additionally an interchangeable lens system still gives you more flexibility with your options than a single fixed "megazoom".