Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Camera
World’s Smallest And Lightest Digital Interchangeable Lens Camera
Oct 26, 2008
The Lumix G1 features the same large four-thirds size sensor as Panasonic’s DSLRs and a new range of smaller interchangeable lenses built for DSLR optical quality. There is also an adaptor to make an extensive range of DSLR lenses from Olympus Panasonic, Sigma, and Leica available for Lumix G1 users.
“The LUMIX G1 provides the power of a DSLR with many of the easy-to-use features from our point-and-shoot digital cameras,” said David Briganti, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “With the LUMIX G1, we’re able to provide manual controls and professional-quality images, while also making the camera much more compact and with intuitive features easy for those new to DSLRs to learn and use.”
Like a Leica?
While the Lumix-G1 betrays its aim at the Point-and-Shoot market by coming in red and blue colors, as well as basic black, the size and quality raises the question: is this the new Leica?
One of the key developments in 20th-century photography came with the 35mm Leica cameras. These were much smaller than their contemporaries, yet still produced high-quality images on 35mm film stock, originally from movie cameras.
The Leica rangefinder cameras with interchangeable lenses became favorites of photojournalists and street photographers, with legendary users such as Robert Capa and Henri Cartier-Bresson. The Leicas were easy to carry in difficult situations, such as the battlefields of Spain and France. Their small size also made them inconspicuous when taking candid and natural-looking photo essays of street life.
Smaller, Lighter and Less Conspicuous Than a DSLR
The Leica lost out to an extent with the Japanese development of the Single Lens Reflex Camera led by the Asahai Optical Company and their Pentax brand cameras. These allowed the photographer to see through the lens in the viewfinder, making focusing, and composing with focal-length lenses, more practical. As film gave way to Digital SLRs, camera size has grown to accommodate complex electronics and the now-essential batteries, and photojournalists are seeking a small lightweight camera to carry in those dangerous situations, particularly where the media are now prime targets as each side seeks to control the images reaching the outside world.
Most of the size reduction comes from getting rid of the optical viewfinder and mirror system in conventional DSLRs. Without the conventional optical viewfinder, the Panasonic Lumix G1 is reliant on electronic systems for focusing.
The G1 comes with a new fast Contrast AF (Auto Focus) function that is accurate and easy to use. There are a range of AF modes, including multiple-area AF with up to 23 focus areas, 1-area AF with a selectable focus area, Face Detection, and AF Tracking. In the 1-area AF mode advanced photographers can vary the AF frame size to suite particular situations by turning a dial. One aspect to help fast focusing with the Lumix G1 is a Quick AF function that begins focusing as soon as the user aims the camera – no need to wait to press the shutter button halfway. This provides quicker focusing that can help capture the subject before the crucial moment passes, an important tool for photojournalists and street photographers.
Disadvantages of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
There is a price to pay for the small size: a small battery and higher power consumption due to the electronic viewfinderm which means slightly fewer pictures per battery charge than compact entry-level DSLRs.
The Panasonic Lumix G1, the world’s first Micro Four Thirds System camera, is available in mid-November 2008 for a suggested retail price of $799.95, which includes the LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. kit lens. Also available in November, the LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm/F4.0-5.6/MEGA O.I.S. telephoto Micro Four Thirds lens has a suggested retail price of $349.95.
* Panasonic announce an updated model with video recording here
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