Tuesday February 3
 
17:42
 
G1 Review: Conclusion

ISO 200, F18, 15s

In use, the G1 acts and feels like a DSLR, but it’s smaller, lighter, and offers a whole lot more than equivalent entry level DSLRs (the D60 doesn’t include exposure bracketing and only has 3 focus points, for example). With its tilting screen, adjustable spot focus, and good manual focus, it’s a joy to use on a tripod.

In terms of image quality, banding at higher ISO’s means that it can’t match my D60 in terms of quality. It’s still streets ahead of any point and shoot, however – and as a camera I can throw in my bag and take anywhere, for its size there is no better quality at the moment. So despite it’s shortcomings, I’m pleased.

Rumour states that the G1HD will be available before summer 2009. From comments made by Panasonic, new lenses will be required for HD: “The new HD lens has a dedicated system for autofocus in movie video recordings, and the movement of the aperture is totally different for HD lenses; it has to be working continuously.” If Panasonic implement HD properly, with aperture control and continuous focus, the G range will be really exciting. (For more on what’s currently known about the G1HD, visit this page.)

For me, the G1 is the Sony 707 of today. It’s a ground breaking camera, just like the 707 was: the 707 was the first consumer camera to offer 5MP, it had an EVF, tilt screen, laser focus, excellent quality up to ISO 400, and was roughly the same size as the G1.

The G1 is fun to use and carry about – and as a DSLR user who feels that every time he uses his P&S over ISO 400 that it’s a “waste of pixels”, the G1 offers some relief.

Good for:

• Tripod use: Rotating LCD screen; lower ISO quality is excellent.
• Handing to members of the public to take your photo: Excellent live view with face detect.
• Being inconspicuous: It doesn’t attract the stares a “real” DSLR attracts.
• Throwing in a bag and carrying around: Light; Screen is protected.
• Offering high-end features in an entry level model: No crippling RAW+JPEG or bracketing; Multiple focus points.
• Speed: Sometimes it is too fast.
• High ISO: While not as good as the Nikon D60, the high ISO is still better than some entry level DSLRs
• Replacing a P&S: You wont get any better quality or convenience for the size.

Bad for:

• Lens selection: At the moment there are only two Micro Four Thirds lenses.
• JPEG shooters: The JPEGs lack detail
• Quality of the kit lenses: Purple fringing and distortion (although both these are almost completely fixed with in camera JPEG/Lightroom 2.2).
• Lack of DOF: Portrait shots, flower shots can look “point and shoot like”.
• Slow lens: F5.6 at 45mm (90mm equiv)
• Transient model: By summer 2009 it is highly likely the HD version will be released. The G1 could become the only Micro Four Thirds camera which doesn’t have HD video, because it’s likely that anything Olympus do will also have HD to match Panasonic.
• Japanese: If you buy the camera in Japan (like I did, because I live in Japan), there’s no way to change the language to English.

Click here to check the latest G1 price – it’s cheaper than you think, and much cheaper than the GH1.

Update – 19th May 2009

I sold my G1 and bought a GH1 – the HD video version – but ended up returning the GH1 due to focus problems and buying another G1. Read the story here.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Review
1. Introduction
2. EVF, LCD, and Focus
3. RAW Magnification
4. RAW vs JPEG
5. High ISO
6. Kit lens – Barrel Distortion
7. Kit lens – Purple Fringing
8. Miscellaneous Observations
9. Conclusion

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 – Main Page