Panasonic Lumix GH1: The Micro Four Thirds System gains a new member, and with an impressive arsenal of video functions it could just be the best yet

Product Overview

Overall rating:

85%

Panasonic Lumix GH1

Overall score:85%
Features:95%
Value:70%
Performance:85%
Image Quality:85%
Design:90%

Pros:

  • HD movie mode, articulating LCD screen, build quality, supplied lens

Cons:

  • High price tag, white balance issues, slow burst mode, shutter lag

Product:

Panasonic Lumix GH1 Review

Manufacturer:

Price as reviewed:

£1,299.00

Features (pt2)

Panasonic GH1 product shot

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 GH1 product shot

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 GH1 product shot

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 3: Design

Panasonic GH1 Page 4: Performance and value

Panasonic GH1 Page 5: Image quality

Panasonic GH1 Page 6: Specifications

Panasonic GH1 user videos

  1. 1. Panasonic Lumix GH1 review: Features
  2. 2. Features (pt2)
  3. 3. Design
  4. 4. Performance and value
  5. 5. Image quality
  6. 6. Verdict
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