What’s new: The camera’s full review is available now at Neocamera!

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Panasonic has announced the new Micro Four Thirds digital camera, the LUMIX DMC-GF1. It claims to be the world’s smallest and lightest system camera with built-in flash and HD movie recording.

The GF1 features 4/3-type 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor and can deliver up to 60 frames-per-second Full-time Live View images. Its large, 3.0-inch Intelligent LCD with a wide viewing angle offers automatic backlight control as well as color and brightness adjustment.

The DMC-GF1 has advanced functions that will satisfy experienced photographers and features the improved iA (Intelligent Auto) mode for beginners with Face Recognition technology.

The iA mode includes MEGA O.I.S., which helps prevent blurring from hand-shake, and some “intelligent” functions - Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Exposure that prevents blocked shadows and blown highlights and Intelligent Scene Selector.

The DMC-GF1 also features My Color mode with a total of seven preset effects - Expressive, Retro, Pure, Elegant, Monochrome, Dynamic Art, and Silhouette. Live View function enables you to see how these settings will affect the photo before you shoot.

The camera can record 1280 x 720 high-definition movies. The iA (Intelligent Auto) is also available for motion image recording.

The GF1 comes with either a 14-45mm zoom lens or a 20mm f/1.7 prime lens and will be available in four colors: true black, active red, sleek silver, and clean white. It is compatible with a number of accessories, including the Live View Finder that provides full-time live view.

Also please note that the camera will autofocus with the following lenses only:
- Olympus Zuiko 25 F2.8 ‘Pancake’
- Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6
- Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4-5.6
- Panasonic Leica D Summilux 25mm F1.4 ASPH
- Panasonic Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-50mm F3.8-5.6 ASPH. Mega OIS
- Panasonic Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-150mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH. Mega OIS

Camera Reviews:

Photoreview.com.au:
The camera provides many of the benefits of a DSLR: interchangeable lens options, a relatively large sensor, raw file capture and full manual controls, though its full capabilities can only be realized with raw file capture - and only by those who are prepared to edit images in Adobe’s Photoshop.

Dcresource.com:
The DMC-GF1 a very responsive performer and its photo quality is very good as well with well exposed photos and no noise until ISO800.

Photographyblog.com:
The camera takes most of the good points of its bigger brothers, the G1 and GH1, and squeezes them inside a smaller body. It features fast auto-focus, excellent image quality and 720p video.

Dpreview.com:
The camera offers superb resolution, and excellent overall image quality up to ISO 1600 (RAW files are still better that JPEGs) as well as intuitive user-interface that combines compact and DSLR features. Though its flash is very weak and the body non-stabilized.

Letsgodigital.org:
Panasonic has delivered a great camera with the GF1, and the brand deserves nothing but praise. It is a camera for everyone on the hunt for the combination; small size and great quality.

Cameralabs.com:
The GF1 delivers much better performance than a traditional compact at high sensitivities, along with higher dynamic range and the potential for much shallower depth-of-field effects. In short, it’s a world apart from what you’ll achieve with a typical compact.

Neocamera.com:
If both quality and portability are needed, the Panasonic GF1 makes an attractive middle-ground. The last factor to consider is versatility.

Sample Photo Galleries: photographyblog.com, dpreview.com, letsgodigital.org, cameralabs.com, neocamera.com.

Alternatives/Rivals: Olympus E-P1.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF1 – Specifications:

• Metal Body
• 4/3 type MOS Sensor
• 12.11 Megapixels
• Maximum Image Size: 4000 x 3000
• Aspect Ratios: 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1
• 3.0 inch TFT LCD with 460,000 dots
• Focus: Auto Focus Manual focus, Face Detection, AF Tracking, 23-Area-Focusing/1 Area Focusing, Single or Continuous AF, AF detection range: EV 0-18 (F3.5 lens, ISO 100), Pre AF (Quick AF/Continuous AF), AF+MF, MF Assist(5x, 10x)
• No Image stabilization
• Extended optical zoom Yes
• Exposure Modes: Program AE, Aperture priority, AE Shutter priority, AE Manual, iAuto, SCN (16 Scenes), Movie, Custom (2)/
• Sensitivity: 100-3200
• Metering: Multiple-Weighted, Center-Weighted, Spot
• Shutter Speed: 60 -1/4000 sec, Bulb
• Continuous Shooting: 3 fps
• Movie Mode: 1280 x 720 at 30fps
• SD / SDHC / MMC Memory Cards

Official Information: panasonic.net.

What’s new: Imaging-resource have posted the camera’s review!

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Olympus launched the Olympus E-P1, the first Olympus Micro Four Thirds model, a digital camera with interchangeable lenses but without a mirror!

The E-P1 is peculiar in its incredibly small size, retro style, and ease of use – without giving up any of the benefits of D-SLR quality. It includes all the advantages of Olympus imaging technology e.g. image stabilization, a dust reduction system, and interchangeable lenses.

The camera features a 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS sensor, 3 inch LCD Screen and Dual Image Stabilization (electronic and mechanical). A new TruePic V image processor ensures crisp and clear images or movies and guarantees ultra-high processing speeds. It also enables the application of six Art Filters to both movies and still images.

Among its interesting functions you can find an intelligent i-Auto option, Multi Exposure mode (allows several RAW images overlay in real-time) and e-Portrait (smoothes away wrinkles and eliminates imperfections and blemishes) in the camera.

Video function allows shooting of high-resolution HD (1280×720p, 30fps) movies, the application of Art Filters, the ability to vary depth of field, angle of view, and autofocus during recording. This can be done with all lenses. Unfortunately, it records only up to 5 minutes in one single shot.

The new model is compatible with all Micro Four Thirds lenses and, via an adapter, the full range of existing Four Thirds lenses.

The Olympus E-P1 will be available for purchase in July 2009 in two stylish options: silver or white.

Camera Reviews:

Steves-digicams.com:
The E-P1 is a well-rounded digital camera .While there are a few things that could be better (shooting performance, low-light AF performance), there’s the ability to capture beautiful photos, a host of creative still and video options, pleasing HD video quality, and various accessory options in the camera.

Photoreview.com.au:
With the Pen E-P1, Olympus has stated a clear intention to establish the first product in what we hope will be a profitable niche between top-end advanced digicams and compact DSLRs. However, in its attempt to create a camera that offers something for everyone, Olympus has produced something of a ‘curate’s egg’ (only excellent in parts).

Dpreview.com:
Although it’s fractionally noisier than the best APS-C models, and the dynamic range isn’t as good as the very best-in-class cameras, the E-P1’s image quality is overwhelmingly positive.

Letsgodigital.org:
It’s a true cross between a compact and an SLR, though there are still points of improvement to be worked on, especially for professional photographers, whilst for consumers the downsides are far less important.

Dcresource.com:
Very good photo quality; better high ISO performance than previous Olympus D-SLRs. But it takes the E-P1 about 1.3 seconds to prepare for shooting. That’s on the slow side for an interchangeable lens camera. And autofocus performance is by far the E-P1’s weak spot. At least, the shutter lag isn’t an issue.

Digitalcamerareview.com:
The camera delivers excellent image quality in a tiny package. The single biggest problem with it is that it is unacceptably slow.

Digitalcamerainfo.com:
The E-P1 takes damn good pictures, shoots video, uses interchangeable lenses and finally makes the new Micro Four Thirds camera format a challenger for a place in your pocket if you have a spare $800 in there now, that is.

Imaging-resource.com:
The camera corrects for chromatic aberration and geometric distortion and its built-in image stabilization helps stabilize all lenses. It shows very good color rendition and better than average detail.

Sample Photo Galleries: dpreview.com, letsgodigital.org, digicamreview.com, dcresource.com, digitalcamerainfo.com, imaging-resource.com. 

Alternatives/Rivals: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 and DMC-GH1 (both Micro4/3).

Olympus E-P1 – Specifications:

• 12.3 Megapixels
• 4/3″ Hi-Speed Live MOS sensor, 17.3 x 13.0 mm active area
• Maximum Image Size: 4032 x 3024
• File formats: RAW, RAW + JPEG, JPEG (EXIF 2.2)
• 3.0″ LCD screen (fixed, 230k dot resolution)
• HD movies (720p) with stereo sound
• Built-in Image Stabilization
• Face Detection & Shadow Adjustment
• Shooting Modes: Auto, Program AE (with shift), Aperture priority AE, Shutter priority AE, Manual, Art Filter, Scene select (14)
• Art Filters: Pop art, Soft focus, Pale & light color, Light tone, Grainy film, Pin hole
• Sensitivity: ISO 100 - 6400
• Metering system: 49-zone multi-pattern
• Metering modes: Digital ESP, Center-Weighted Average, Spot (2%), Highlight based spot, Shadow based spot
• Shutter speed 60-1/4000 sec
• Continuous Shooting: 3.0 fps, RAW: 10 frames max
• External Flash
• Live View: 100% field of view
• Weight (no batt): 335g (0.7 lb)

Official Information: olympusamerica.com.

What’s new: Digitalcamerareview have added the camera’s full review!

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Panasonic has announced their new DSLR camera in March 2009 at the PMA trade show. Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-GH1 is the second model in the Lumix G range, following the original G1. It is based on the recent Micro Four Thirds standard, and the first to boast HD movie recording, in the choice of either the 720 or 1080 formats.

Like the G1, the GH1 operates 100% in Live View, offering electronic composition with either the excellent quality Live View Finder, or a fully-articulated 3in / 460k screen. The quick and broad 23-area contras-based AF system also remains here.

The DMC-GH1 kit is equipped with the LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. lens. This lens boasts a focal length of 28-280mm and supports a continuous AF function that works for both photos and movies. Its silence design helps suppress lens drive noise, so the camera records sounds clearly.

The camera’s highlights include:
* Full-HD movie recording in AVCHD format
* High image quality with 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor and Venus Engine HD
* Creative Movie mode to enjoy the freedom of manual settings
* iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode with Face Recognition and Contrast AF system
* Four Thirds adaptability – Multiplying photographic possibilities

Camera Reviews:

Cameralabs.com:
Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-GH1 is a well-rounded hybrid camera. Both the stills and movie capabilities are very well thought-out and implemented, with few compromises to mention. Considering this is only the second Micro Four Thirds camera on the market it’s an extremely impressive start for the youthful standard.

Imaging-resource.com:
Like the G1, the Panasonic GH1 is technically a non-SLR digital camera that uses an interchangeable lens design. Image quality when printed is pretty close to what we get from the Canon Rebel T1i, which is pretty darn good. It’s also surprising just how much better the GH1 is than its immediate predecessor, the G1, not to mention other Four Thirds cameras.

Photographyblog.com:
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 is the best attempt yet at implementing video recording on a DSLR-like camera. The combination of high price, compulsory kit lens and so-so image quality in low-light conditions won’t make it suitable for everyone though.

Photoreview.com.au:
The main problem is the total price of the package, though Panasonic lives up to their promise of providing good still and video capabilities in a small and lightweight package, when compared to current DSLR models.

Dpreview.com:
Like its sister model G1, the GH1 delivers solid image quality in most situations and there aren’t any major image quality issues to report on. However, the GH1 is sometimes slightly let down by its 14-140mm kit lens.

Letsgodigital.org:
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 is the first system camera that allows for capturing high-quality HD videos and photos. As there is no similar system offering the same video quality and video functionality, so from that point of view, the slightly high retail price seems justified.

Digitalcamerainfo.com:
Still image test results for the GH1 are a mixed bag, with good sharpness, low distortion and chromatic aberration but poor color accuracy and white balance, and more image noise than we’d like.

Digitalcamerareview.com:
The GH1 is a near perfect choice for shooters graduating from a prosumer/long zoom digicam to their first dSLR. For more serious photographers who eschew video in favor of still photography, the GH1 might not be their best option.

Sample Photo Galleries: imaging-resource.com (photos), imaging-resource.com (videos), dpreview.com (photos & videos), dcresource.com, photographyblog.com, cameralabs.com, letsgodigital.org, digitalcamerainfo.com.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 – Specifications: (See also its full specs)

• 4/3-type Live MOS Sensor
• 12.1 Megapixels
• TTL Built-in-Flash
• Free-angle 3.0 inch LCD/ 3:2 Aspect / Wide viewing angle
• Dust reduction system
• Supersonic wave filter
• Still Image Format: JPEG, RAW
• Aspect ratio: 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1
• Maximum Image Size: 4000 x 3000
• Movie Mode: Motion Jpeg [HD] 1280 x 720, 30fps
• Live View Finder (1,440,000 dots equivalent)
• AF mode: Face detection/ AF Tracking / 23-area-focusing / 1-area-focusing
• Light metering system: 144-zone multi-pattern sensing system
• Exposure mode: Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual
• ISO sensitivity: Auto, 100 - 3200
• Shutter speed: 1/4000 ~ 60 and Bulb (up to approx. 4minutes)
• Movie SCN modes, Still Image SCN modes
• Burst speed: 3 frames per second
• Available in three colours, black, red and gold

Official Information: panasonic.co.uk.