The Panasonic G-1

Steven Stone -- Wed, 12/10/2008 - 13:16

I've had my Panasonic G-1 for less than a week and I'm totally smitten.

It is easily the most flexible and easy to work with digital camera I've ever owned (including DSLRs).

The fold-out LCD is quite addicting and the eye-level electronic viewfinder is much better than previous incarnations such as that pitiful dungeon on a finder on the Panasonic LC-1. The manual focus "assist" which gives you a 10x magnification makes it easy to focus in low-light situations where even the Pentax K-10 (which has a bright by SLR standards finder) was nearly impossible to use.

Sample Pics to come as soon as I make some email-sized images in LightRoom.

Steven Stone -- Wed, 12/10/2008 - 13:36

Here are some examples of what the G-1 can do. These were all done with a Sunpack 433D bounced off the ceiling. The "Live-view" LCD viewfinder is essential for good cat pictures since cats hate it when you put a camera up to your eye (they usually run off at that point). Also bringing the camera down to their level makes for more dynamic compositions. With the Sunpack, Bantam battery pack and camera the whole rig weighs under 3 lbs. making it easy to hold and work with at waist level.

Here's one more shot

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

Steven Stone -- Sat, 12/13/2008 - 15:07

Here's an example of how good the G1 is. Not how clean AND sharp the edges are - especially the edge of the lamp - no chromatic aberration, no smearing. Now look at the dark areas for noise and color artifacts. Finally look at the fabric texture on the chair. ALso note the wall color and texture. This was at 400 ASA. Also this is only HALF the entire frame.

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

barondla -- Sat, 12/13/2008 - 21:13

Nice cat images. Havent seen the G1 yet. It does sound interesting. Seems like its still a pretty big camera though. Know its smallest interchangeable lens camera at the moment. But, 4:3 is the same size as a 110 film negative. Ever see a Pentax 110 slr system? Camera and 3 lens will fit in the average size palm. I know this is digital, but the electronics shouldn't have to be that large (not counting the sensor). Look at the Pentax Optios S3-6 they fit in an Altoids tin. Look at the Olympus Stylus P&S about as small. Even the Pana LX2/3 appear much smaller. Since we lost the slr prism & mirror why? Are they afraid to make it too small? Maybe that want to be able to bring out other models down the road that are "improved"
Will check this and the Olympus out since I have E300/330 dslrs.
thanks
barondla

Steven Stone -- Mon, 12/15/2008 - 12:16

Although the G1 is certainly bigger than a shirt-pocket camera and bigger than its sibling, the LX-3, it is still smaller than SLRs and the breakthrough is the electronic viewfinder.

I have a review of the G1 that will be posted in the next day or so that goes into more detail about why the G1 is so special.

I used mine yesterday at a family party and it produced some spectacular images that would have been much more difficult to make with a DSLR or pocket camera.

The rotatable viewfinder makes it so you can shoot easily at angles that would be difficult or near impossible with a DSLR.

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

Tom Martin -- Sat, 12/20/2008 - 20:59

Here is Steven's blog post on the G1:
http://www.avguide.com/blog/thoughts-the-best-digital-cameras-part-5

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