Panasonic Unveils First Micro Four Thirds DSLR

September 13, 2008: Australia has been omitted from what appears to be a worldwide release by Panasonic of details of the first Micro Four Thirds DSLR camera and lenses.
We don’t know why we were left out but it’s an on-going practice from this company. In consequence we’ve had to rely on overseas reports for details of what appears to be a highly significant new product. Claimed as the smallest DSLR camera yet released, Panasonic’s new DMC-G1 Lumix sports a 17.3 x 13.0 mm Live MOS sensor with 13.1 million photosites. It offers a resolution of 12.1 megapixels with a 4:3 aspect ratio and comes with the Olympus-developed supersonic wave filter (SSWF) dust removal system.

The DMC-G1 will be manufactured in three colours: blue, black and red.
Measuring 124 x 83.6 x 45.2 mm and with a body weight of 385 grams, the G1 has a free-angle 3.0-inch LCD with high resolution and a wide viewing angle. It will be manufactured in traditional black as well as blue and red. The camera body has a textured coating that is comfortable to hold and Full-time Live View enables users to check pictures before shooting. The DMC-G1’s mirror-less construction has made it possible to add a 1,440,000-dot equivalent LVF (Live View Finder). Both the LVF and the LCD provide a 100% field of view and users can superimpose Movable Guidelines, a Real-Time Histogram or highlight alerts to help achieve correct exposures.

Front view of the DMC-G1 with the 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens.

Rear view showing the control layout and free-angle LCD.

Side view of the DMC-G1.

Top view showing the mode dial, grip and additional controls.

The DMC-G1 provides a full range of shooting modes, including P, A, S and M settings plus an iA (Intelligent Auto) mode that is the same as in Panasonic’s compact digicams and combines MEGA O.I.S., AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control, Face Detection AF/AE, Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent Exposure. Twenty-five Scene mode pre-sets are also provided, along with exposure compensation, white balance adjustment, and colour effects like My Colour Mode and Film Mode. By pressing the Preview button and Display button, users can preview changes and adjust the image right on the LVF or LCD before shooting as well as checking the effects of the depth of field and shutter speed adjustments.

Supplied software includes the Silkypix Developer Studio 3.0 SE software utility, which lets you develop RAW data files and save the results in JPEG or TIFF format. The DMC-G1 will be offered as body only or as a single-lens kit with the new Lumix G Vario 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. lens. A twin lens kit will also be available with the Lumix G Vario 45-200mm f/4.0-5.6 MEGA O.I.S. lens. The Lumix G lenses comply with the new Micro Four Thirds System standard and have been designed specifically for the 4/3 image sensor, and support the Contrast AF function of the DMC-G1.

According to the online news reports, Panasonic will release the DMC-G1 in the USA and UK in mid-November. Pricing for these markets is expected to be announced next month. Details of the DMC-G1 and the new Lumix G lenses can be found at http://panasonic.net/pavc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/outline/index.html. For information on the Micro Four Thirds System, visit www.four-thirds.org/en/.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Image sensor: 17.3 x 13.0 mm Live MOS sensor with 13.1 million photosites (12.1 megapixels effective)
Lens mount: Micro Four Thirds mount

Aspect ratio: 4:3