Tuesday February 3
 
17:41
 
G1 Review: Miscellaneous Observations

One thing I’ve found is that while the G1 focuses correctly, I often get photos with a little camera shake even though I have MEGA O.I.S set to Mode 2 and ISO set to Auto (up to ISO 1600). In that situation, I would expect the camera to increase ISO to maintain a 1/focus length shutter speed – but I’m seeing that the camera chooses a slower shutter speed. For example, at the 35mm equivalent of 62mm, the shutter speed is 1/40sec. Obviously the camera is assuming IS is doing its job – but either the shutter speed is too slow and I’m getting subject movement, or the IS is not doing it’s job. Occasionally I see echoes in the photo, where it looks like movement from the IS or the camera during the shot. I’ve been surprised to see this even at wide angle, but it could be that my yardstick of the 18-200 VR and Nikon Auto ISO is just a little too high.

Four Thirds has more depth of field than a Nikon or Canon DSLR at the same focal length. For example, at 50mm (35mm equivalent), F2.8 on the G1 has the same depth of field as F3.6 on a Nikon D60 (multiply by 1.25). It’s subtle, but it means backgrounds are slightly less blurred, subjects are slightly less isolated. It flattens the image. (Of course, it also means that more things are in focus – which can be a benefit).

One of the nice inclusions in the G1 is “pixel refresh”. Now that I shoot RAW, I don’t have a problem with bad pixels (Lightroom automatically removes them), but when I used to shoot JPEG, I continually got bad pixels on my D40x CCD. Three times I had to go back to Nikon. Pixel refresh means that should I be shooting JPEG, I’d be able to map bad pixels out myself. This is something that I wish every camera manufacturer would add to their camera.

Even though the 14-45 lens is tiny, the flash can’t clear the hood. And with the hood off, the focus assist can’t light anything close to the camera (the light hits too far left) – that’s a real shame because the lens has a nice small minimum focus distance (compared to the 40-50cm of the 18-200).

The finish on the G1 is excellent – which makes me wonder what the heck Panasonic was thinking giving that cheap strap. My Sony 707 didn’t have such a cheap looking strap, neither does my D60. For something which is supposed to introduce the world to Micro Four Thirds and which has such attention to detail elsewhere, the strap looks out of place.

I miss in camera raw conversion from the D60. However there are many features missing from the D60 that made me want to upgrade to a better Nikon – focal point selection, bracketing, dedicated ISO button, live view for tripod use. The G1 is entry level but has every one of those features, and more. Nikon makes you pay for them, crippling its entry level camera deliberately.

The speed of the camera is unbelievable. It’s so fast as switching between images during playback that sometimes I flick back two when I only meant to flick back one. Playback zoom to any level is almost instant (I like the stepped 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x approach).

Intelligent ISO seems anything but intelligent. In a low light situation at full zoom on the 14-45 kit lens, Auto ISO sensibly chose ISO 1600, but Intelligent ISO chose ISO 400 with an unfeasibly long shutter speed. The only way I could have got a clear shot at ISO 400 would have been to use a tripod – and if I was using a tripod, I would sent the ISO to a static value myself, not used Intelligent ISO.

Yes, it’s annoying switching lenses – 14-45 to 45-200 – after being used to the 18-200. The compensation is that I get a top end of 400mm instead of 300mm.

Now that I have a D90, it’s debatable whether I’ll buy the G1HD when it comes out or not. If it has the 14-140 lens, autofocus, external microphone support, and a good codec, I might – otherwise it offers little over the D90. If it has better high ISO quality, that would probably swing it also.

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.

If you are looking to buy a G1, please click here to find out the latest price. Even if you don’t buy from there, it helps support this site if you just check the price there. Thanks!

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