Panasonic Lumix GH1 review
Features (pt2)
Panasonic Lumix GH1: Dust reduction
To prevent dust build up, the GH1 uses a Supersonic Wave Filter to remove dust from the sensor. Mega O.I.S. also features in the lens, providing optical image stabilisation.
The LCD screen is a 3in TFT with an approximate 460,000 dot resolution, mounted on a two way bracket which allows it to rotate 270º vertically and 180º horizontally.
Panasonic Lumix GH1: Viewfinder
The viewfinder is an electronic one, though despite its size it offers a high resolution display equivalent to 1,440,000 dots, as well as dioptre adjustment.
Perhaps the most significant feature of the GH1 is its movie capability. It can record in motion JPEG to a maximum of 1280 x 720 pixels (HD 720p) at 30 frames per second, or in Panasonic’s own AVCHD format at 1920 x 1080 pixels (HD 1080p) and output at 25 frames per second (24 fps in NTSC).
Panasonic Lumix GH1: Video
The GH1 is the first to offer full manual control for video – though this has been since followed by a firmware update to the Canon EOS 5D Mk II – providing full adjustment of the shutter, aperture and ISO for creative video work, and notably offers continuous autofocus thanks to the silent motors in the lens. In fact, sound has been taken very seriously for video, with a stereo microphone mounted on top.
The built-in flash has a guide number of 11m (at ISO 100) and a sync speed of up to 1/160th sec. This can be set for red-eye reduction and slow sync, and can be fired in front and rear curtain for creative effect. The hotshoe also provides TTL sync with certain flash guns, as well as supporting hotshoe-mounted extrernal microphones should you be using one. These plug into the 2.5mm mic port around the camera’s side, where a mini HDMI port and a USB 2.0 connection are also located.
Panasonic Lumix GH1: Lens
The standard GH1 package comes with the all-purpose 14-140mm f/4-5.8 G Vario lens. This is equivalent to a 28-280mm superzoom in 35mm terms, and so certainly covers all bases. At around 460g the lens weighs more than the camera itself but it does contain the Mega O.I.S motors and, impressively, offers near silent operation.
Panasonic GH1 Page 1: Features Part one
Panasonic GH1 Page 4: Performance and value
Panasonic GH1 Page 5: Image quality
Panasonic GH1 Page 6: Specifications
Have your say!
Latest comments
July 13 09:45
Alex
Hi, you guys completely missed the point about price and value. The 14mm-140mm kit lens is superior to most (if not all) kit lens that are included with other DSLR and thus much pricier. You have to compare it with similar lenses such as the Nikon 18-200 AF-S VR f/3.5-5.6 and Canon EF-S 18-200mm F3.5-5.6 IS. Add the price of either of those lenses to the Nikon D5000 or Canon EOS 500D (accordingly) and you get a very similar price tag to the GH1. It's not the video features that make the camera expensive, it's the lens!
July 13 11:56
Mat Gallagher
With a price difference of £850 between the G1 with 14-45mm and GH1 with 14-140mm that is suggesting you are paying nearly £1000 for the lens. Nikon's 18-200mm VR is only £550.
December 29 16:08
wafawdf
next time you upload footage. do it un compressed or it is pointless. amateurs