PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-G1

A Pioneer, but Not a Game Changer


Dreaming of the day when you can have the performance of a D-SLR in the body of a compact camera? It may be closer than you think. The 12.1-megapixel DMC-G1 is the first camera to incorporate the Micro Four Thirds standard, which shrinks the lens diameter and forgoes the mirror box you'll find in a traditional D-SLR, making it more compact. While the DMC-G1 delivers good image quality, the competitively priced Canon EOS Rebel XSi ($799.99 list) gives you sharper images with less noise for about the same price.—and the GI isn't that much smaller.

Panasonic says it didn't shrink the body of the DMC-G1—at 13.6 ounces—as much as it could have, for fear of scaring off anyone shopping for an SLRquality camera. As a result, there's a great deal of dead space inside. Still, the DMC-GI's overall build is quite nice. It's available in black or blue, but our test camera was a fiery red. It features ergonomic curves for a solid grip, and its dials have raised bumps for easy control. All of the camera's controls are right at your fingertips, which allows for quick access to the many features.

What D-SLR users will miss most on the DMCGl—and other upcoming Micro Four Thirds cameras, for that matter—is a true optical viewfinder. Since the new standard loses the mirror box that reflects the image through the lens, it has to simulate one. The DMC-G1 achieves this with a tiny LCD where the viewfinder would normally be. It works okay for displaying pho:o information like ISO and shutter speed, but I found motion blur to be particularly distracting.


PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-G1
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-G1 is a solid first stab at a Micro Four Thirds camera, but you'll probably want to wait for the second generation of products, or simply go with a traditional entry-level SLR like the Canon EOS Rebel XSi.—PJ Jacohowitz

PC Magazine April 2009