Panasonic launches world’s first Micro Four Thirds ultralight DSLR camera

By on Sep 12, 2008 at 3:57 PM
General September 12, 2008

Panasonic announced on Friday the 12MP Lumix DMC-G1, the world’s first camera based upon the new Micro Four Thirds standard. Announced in August by Olympus and Panasonic, the micro four thirds standard allows for reduced size and weight in both camera bodies and camera lenses by removing the mirror box from the lens design. Sacrificing a true to life optical viewfinder for a mirror-less Live View electronic viewfinder, the distance from the lens mount and the image sensor (flangeback distance) has been cut in half. The lens mount itself has also been decreased by 6mm. Smaller flangeback distance and smaller lens mount = Lighter cameras and smaller lenses. No more lugging around a 10lb gear bag as the new G1 weighs in at a mere 385 grams (0.85 lbs) and has shrunk 6-8mm in size; while still retaining the overall shape, feel, and performance of a heavier, full-bodied DSLR. Sweet! It is expected in the US in November 2008. The folks over at Imaging Resource got their hands on a pre-production model and have done a hands-on review. Click on the link to see how this new lightweight contender performs.

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  • Shinigami

    If thats Micro, I want nano or smaller four thirds.
    On the pics they showed when making this standart the camera looked several times smaller than original DSLRs. I guess it was all about marketing…
    Sigma DP1 still rules, but where’s my DP2/DP3??

    Yes, I want a “compact” camera to be pocket-friendly. And yes, I want good optics in it as well as some manual controls, good automatics, superb details, 10mp module, very nice colors and overall great quality. I’m ready to pay even $1000 for that (considering that some DSLRs now cost $600).

    But guess what? There just isn’t such a camera!

  • jon

    Well its much smaller than the other cameras so you can’t really not like it. My canon 20d is huge!

  • John

    I like the colors. Some style…Maybe the Mcintosh computers of the DSLR world. Do you think DSLR cameras are worth the price? I found this site that gives some info on them. http://www.dslrcamerareviews.com Just trying to decide whether to buy a DSLR or point and shoot. Maybe I should wait for this new Panasonic as price seems reasonble as well. Thanks for any advice.

  • http://www.bgr.com Kelly Hodgkins

    @John
    It all depends on how you are going to use the camera. I have a point and shoot because I want it to fit in my pocket and I want to be able to have it when the moment arises. I had a big DSLR and a prosumer grade video camera and I never had them when I needed them.

    The point and shoots are less expensive and more portable but they dont have the same performance of the DSLR. If you want to do serious shooting, get a DSLR. I took my point and shoot to an air show recently and the pictures were pathetic compared to pictures taken by those with a DSLR. If you want to take the casual photo while on the go, then get a Point and Shoot. The image quality of a point and shoot is good but you dont have a lot of flexibilty to take good pictures outisde of the normal picture taking situation (ie, subject in front of you relatively still and in good light). Throw in some movement or challenging lighting conditions and the weaknesses of the P&S become glaringly obvious.

    The one nice thing about this new Panasonic camera is that it is a step towards blurring the line between a point and shoot and a DSLR. As technology improves, the DSLR may shrink in size enough that they may be almost as easy to carry as a point and shoot. It is not there yet as this camera is still pretty big compared to the tiny P&S cameras.

    JMHO, hope it helps.

    oh one last thing. here are a few good websites for camera reviews and camera info:
    Steves Digicams : http://www.steves-digicams.com/

    Digital Photography Review : http://www.dpreview.com

    Imaging Resource : http://www.imaging-resource.com/

  • http://blog.russdesigns.com russdogg

    I’d have to try out the “electric viewfinder” first. It seems like it’d be pretty tough to beat the simple prism/mirror setup in terms of realism. I don’t know about you but I hate looking through a video camera’s crappy electronic viewfinder.

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