Panasonic micro-4/3 DMC-G1 announced

[NikosR]

Strictly consumer level but is it a sign of things to come?

http://www.dpreview.com/Previews/PanasonicG1/

Two slow zooms also announced with rumours of a fast prime coming.

If they have managed to make the EVF acceptably high quality for casual shooting and the contrast detect focusing acceptably fast for all but the most demanding applications it would make this a very interesting fisrt attempt.

[BJL]

Two slow zooms also announced with rumours of a fast prime coming.
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Better than rumors: Panasonic has officially stated a brief lens roadmap, seen for example at [a href=\"http://www.dpreview.com/Previews/PanasonicG1/]http://www.dpreview.com/Previews/PanasonicG1/[/url]
To be release this year with the G1 camera:
- entry level standard zoom: 14-45/3.5-5.6 OIS
- entry level telephoto zoom: 45-200/4-5.60 OIS
To be released next year:
- "all-in-one" zoom (oriented to HD video usage): 14-140/4-5.6 OIS HD
- ultra-wide zoom: 7-14/4
- normal prime: 20/1.7

The last two hint at starting to move beyond "entry level" users.
I wonder if that extremely wide 7-14mm zoom (FOV of 14-28 in 35mm) design is significantly easier and cheaper than an SLR design would be, free from the back-focus distance constraints needed with an SLR mirror box? I dream of it being far less expensive than the equally wide Olympus 7-14/4 for 4/3, or the Nikon 14-24/2.8.


My big questions about Micro FourThirds are still the speed of the CD AF and lag of the EVF, which is 60fps 800x600. Preliminary comments are reasonably favorable ...

[DarkPenguin]

Don't forget that it comes in 3 colors.  I really wish they had a banana yellow version.

Wonder what it will cost.

First (ISO 100) samples look good (And I'm not just referring to the broad.) ...

http://panasonic.net/pavc/lumix/systemcame...1.html#gvario01

[PSA DC-9-30]

Wow, I love those colors-- maybe they can offer a Hello Kitty or Pokemon version!  

Seriously, I think the big news here is the new 4/3 sensor,which will hopefully have improved DR and lower noise. Hopefully Olympus will step up to the plate with a nice modern-day Pen type camera with a metal-body and weatherproofing.

[dalethorn]

Wow, I love those colors-- maybe they can offer a Hello Kitty or Pokemon version!   
Seriously, I think the big news here is the new 4/3 sensor,which will hopefully have improved DR and lower noise. Hopefully Olympus will step up to the plate with a nice modern-day Pen type camera with a metal-body and weatherproofing.
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Based on the dramatic reduction in noise Pana did with their LX3, I'd guess the G1 will be really superb in that respect.  There are a few things that look iffy in the announcement, but it will only get better.  I just hope the lenses prove to be a good, stable investment.

[Er1kksen]

They've displayed mockups of the future lenses mentioned, the 7-14 looks quite a bit smaller than the current zuiko alternative, and the 20mm prime looks like it's also a bit smaller than the current zuiko 25mm pancake. More pancakes, especially fast ones, are always a good thing.

Reports of AF "on par with current entry level DSLRs" and excellent vf performance have me pretty impressed, I can't wait to see what olympus brings to the table (I want something that I really can jam in my pocket with that 20mm attached, the dang prism hump on this new thing would get in the way... I'm hoping for scaled-down E-330 form factor, like this is a scaled-down L10).

[DarkPenguin]

So the question I have is about the viewfinder.  Obviously DR displayed in the viewfinder cannot exceed that of the sensor.  But is the viewfinder displaying everything the sensor is recording?  Would you even want that?  Presumably it will show what the jpeg will show.  Just curious about what it will show for those of us trying ETTR.

[BJL]

On size: Panasonic has indeed launched a "Micro L10"; just slightly smaller than an E-420, but with a big flippy LCD in that smallish package. Hopefully Olympus will follow with a more pocketable "Micro E-420". I suspect an agreement between Olympus and Panasonic to divide up product sectors within 4/3, with Olympus lately putting much emphasis on size and weight in its mass market 4/3 products while Panasonic aims slightly more "upscale". (Like the different images pursued by different divisions of US car makers.)

On the 800x600x3, 60fps EVF: maybe it could offer a live preview version of the flashing black and white blown highlights warning offered in some LCD review modes. A "highlight based" approach to exposure level automation also seems possible, now that the sensor itself is a 12 million zone light meter.

[BJL]

They've displayed mockups of the future lenses mentioned, the 7-14 looks quite a bit smaller ...
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Do you have a link to photos of those mockups? A relatively small and inexpensive ultra-wide does seem to be a potential advantage of non-SLR lens designs.

[Ralph Wagner]

Do you have a link to photos of those mockups? A relatively small and inexpensive ultra-wide does seem to be a potential advantage of non-SLR lens designs.
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Here's a link to the G1 w/20mm f1.7 mock up

[a href=\"http://www.seriouscompacts.com/2008/09/panasonic-lumix-20mm-f17-asph-photo.html]http://www.seriouscompacts.com/2008/09/pan...asph-photo.html[/url]

[Er1kksen]

http://www.digitalcamera.jp/html/HotNews/i...12/G1-073-L.jpg

7-14 on the left, 14-140 HD in the middle, G1 w/ 20mm on the right, up top there's a future update to the G1 with video (note the letters HD in red) with the 14-140 mounted.

http://www.digitalcamera.jp/html/HotNews/i...12/G1-069-L.jpg

Closeup of 7-14 and 14-140.

Everything there is set to hit the shelves in 09, hopefully. I want that 7-14, that 20mm, and perhaps a smaller body, and that's what I'll be taking gallavanting around the world with me after graduation. Maybe a basic normal zoom if the Olympus version (expected to be even smaller by not having in-lens IS) is small and cheap.

[BJL]

Thanks both of you for the 2009 Panasonic Micro 4/3 product photo links!
(Next, I want price info. for that 7-14/4!)

[Er1kksen]

You and me both. The general consensus by people who know what they're talking about is that the simpler design allowed by the shorter register distance means less R+D money and easier manufacturing, and the smaller size means lower materials cost, especially considering less optical glass, so it should be less expensive than the current 7-14. Of course, it's also a bit of a "system prestige" lens, not a consumer grade offering, so who knows... BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE "LEICA" WRITTEN ON IT! That was the main thing that was always keeping prices up on panasonic lenses, Leica set price requirements for anything that had its name stamped on it. Even the old Lumix L1 these days is practically like buying the lens and getting a free camera thrown in. You can buy the E-330/15-54 with similar quality for less than half the price. It's ridiculous. But leica seems to be uninvolved in these new offerings, so I'm optimistic about prices.

I'd better be, as most of whatever I make in the next year will have to be divided between travel money and this new photographic system, my old 4/3 setup is just too big to be convenient. I'll probably sell all of it next june or so, after I've done some senior portrait sessions.