Panasonic goes “micro” with new Lumix camera

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 31 October 2008 10:51

Opinion and Analysis

Aside from the Full-time viewfinder (3-inch 460,000 dot LCD screen) on the back of the camera, the “optical viewfinder” is a “high-performance 1,440,000-dot-equivalent electronic viewfinder system” that Panasonic says is as good as a conventional viewfinder because it has a 100% field of view and receives its signal direct from the Live MOS sensor.

In addition, an eye sensor automatically turns the electronic optical viewfinder on and turns it off when you look again at the back of the camera.

There are plenty of other advanced features, including the ability to take 16:9 high-def (1920x1080) images for display on full HDTVs, with the G1 even coming with an HDMI “output terminal”, although to connect it to an HDMI-equipped HDTV you’ll need to purchase a separately available HDMI mini cable.

Although the camera uses Panasonic’s new Micro Four Thirds System lenses, the G1 is compatible with existing Four Thirds System lenses through the use of a lens adaptor.

Set to go on sale in mid-November, the camera will come in single and twin lens kits.

The price for the LUMIX DMC-G1 Single Lens Kit with LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. lens is AUD $1,649 RRP.

The Twin Lens Kit including the LUMIX DMC-G1 with two lenses, LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. and LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm/F4.0-5.6/MEGA O.I.S., is AUD $2,199 RRP.

Now we wait to see how other camera manufacturers will respond!