Panasonic unveils first Micro Four Thirds camera

(Credit: Panasonic)

While it's too soon to tell whether it'll be good, or popular, or both, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 does seem to be one of the more interesting camera announcements this year--and that's saying a lot, given how many innovative midrange and high-end dSLRs we've seen (and still have yet to see). The first non-dSLR camera to offer the flexibility of interchangeable lenses, at the very least the G1 promises to shake up the enthusiast compact market now dominated by models like the Canon PowerShot G9.

With the G1 specifically, and the Micro Four Thirds standard in general, Panasonic hopes to attract those users who want the advantages of interchangeable lenses and the power of a dSLR, but in a more compact camera. And to a certain extent, the G1's specs read like those of an entry-level dSLR, including a 12-megapixel Live MOS chip with the same expanded photosite design of the sensor in the Lumix DMC-LX3) and continuous-shooting speed of 3fps for an unlimited number of JPEGs and seven raw.

(Credit: Panasonic)

Unlike dSLRs, though, this one will come in colors: two-tone black and blue, and black and red, in addition to the more sedate solid black.

In the few minutes I had to hold it, it felt very comfortable and well made, with a metal lens mount that you rarely find in the cheap dSLRs. Plus it's definitely smaller than most dSLRs. Another big attraction will be the 3-inch, 460,000-dot flip-and-twist LCD. It will offer a full complement of manual and semimanual features as well as the automatic and semiautomatic capabilities common to all current Panasonic's, like Intelligent Auto mode. There's also a mode in which you can preview changes to settings like aperture and shutter speed, to gauge the effects in advance.

There are a couple potential downsides, however, when sizing up the G1 against dSLR competitors. Autofocus performance, for one. The G1 uses contrast AF, compared with phase-detect AF in dSLRs (though dSLRs with Live View generally use contrast AF in that mode). Contrast AF can be slower than phase detection, and not very efficient in low light, which is, well, low contrast. The G1 includes a Quick AF option, which doesn't wait for you to press the shutter button before it starts focusing; if it's like most continuous-focusing mechanisms, I suspect it will be a bit annoying.

Another drawback is its lack of an optical viewfinder. The G1 uses an EVF; a very nice 1.4 million dot EVF with 100 percent scene coverage, but an EVF nonetheless. They usually black out or freeze just after shooting, which can definitely sully the dSLR-like experience you probably want to have with this camera. Also, no movie capture in the G1; Panasonic plans to ship a model with movie capabilities next year.

Panasonic will include a Micro Four Thirds lens adapter.

(Credit: Panasonic)

At launch, Panasonic will offer two lenses for the G1, both with optical image stabilization: the Lumix G Vario f3.5-5.6 14-45mm (28-90mm equivalent) and the Lumix G Vario f4-5.6 45-200mm (90-400mm equivalent). Though Leica lenses are likely in the Micro Four Thirds future, these are Panasonic lenses. Panasonic will also offer a converter which will allow you to mount standard Four Thirds lenses on the G1, but AF will only function if the lenses support contrast AF.

The G1 and its supporting accessories will be available in November. Though pricing has not yet been set, Panasonic says the G1 with the 15-45mm lens should cost less than $800.

[DanClapp]

This is what the digital SLRs should have been all along.

I am a amature photo buff from way back. My first was a Cannon FTB all manual body with a couple of Tameron lens. With film there is a good reason to view thru the lens and then have the mirror get out of the way to record the image on the film. It was a VERY complicated and precise mechanisim and added a lot of cost to the camera body.

There is no need to have all that stuff insid a digital camera. Have the image projected onto the CCD and then view it on a screen that is out of the way, either thru a little peep hole if you must or like all other modern cameras, on the back of the body.

The primary benifit is to have really great glass, the ability to change the zoom, focus and f-stop on the lens without looking. Maybe now we can get some really good full frame chips and bodys at less than $5000.

I hope this catches on. It's been a long time coming.

Dan Clapp

[tbcass]

Sony has just introduced an excellent full frame DSLR, the A900, at $3000 list that may interest you. This Panasonic is interesting if they have solved the EVF blackout problem. As far as "the little peep hole" you refer to, I much prefer viewing and composing that way as LCD's are much too small for accurately seeing everything in the scene. Also they are difficult to see in bright sun. I don't understand your last sentence as all DSLR's allow you to zoom, focus and change f stop and shutter speed without looking. The info is visible in the OVF and it was even on my old Minolta SRT 101 I used back in 1970.

[rightslot]

Hey Dan,

I'm with you. And I'm planning on getting this camera--This Week!.

I?m very excited. Right now I have a Nikon D70. NOTHING IS WRONG.

But I am a lover of the greatest, latest. Especially in electronics. I believe in electronics and think that we are in the caveman days of computers, digital cameras/camcorders, cell phones, and home theater at large.

AS SOON as the camera appears in a store where I can get hands-on look, I will most likely buy it.
I am not expecting it to rival a $3500.00 Nikon/Canon/Sony, but it had better be MUCH better than the normal point-n-shoot that I can pick up on any street corner.
And...From everything I read it is that and more. I totally agree with your thought on the viewfinder.
In my mind, the present DSLR's have only adopted a few items from the film SLR.

I'm a forward thinking person.
This Lumix G1 seems to be a leap toward tomorrow.
I'll get back when I make that purchase.

rightslot

[old.ace]

I think this is a great step forward in digital photography. Can't wait to get my hands on it.

What I do not understand is the editor's negativity is based on 'the few minutes' of holding the camera.

[tbcass]

This is interesting but since it uses a standard 4/3rds sensor it will never be a truly "compact" camera ie, one that will fit in your pocket.

[Irelands child]

It's a rangefinder camera, with no significant lens choices in a digital format from what little info I see in the description. Nice camera, but why do we need one more type of camera when some of dSLR's such as the D40 have gotten so inexpensive and so good and with a range of lenses that go from dirt cheap to out of sight

[profgfr]

To the other commentators, this is not meant to be a pocket-sized compact camera (it has a full size chip, unlike the small chips on compact cameras, for one), but it does begin to approach the size of the original "small camera," the leica rangefinder.

Yet, other than size, this is most definitely NOT a rangefinder since the image you see is the exact same image as that which strikes the light sensitive surface (in this case, a chip). In other words, there will be no parallax distortion as in a rangefinder.

This is a really interesting development in digital photography and promises to foreshadow a range of other innovations (including the potential for extended video capability in an interchangeable lens camera with a good sized chip). One might even see this as a premonition of true photo/video device convergence, something that Nikon toys with in their new DSLR, but which can only support a minute or two of video before overheating. If the next gen G1 can beat that then things will get really interesting.