Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1

Opinion: GH1 will be my camera for a long time, because of its compact
size and superb imaging. With this half frame sensor, I don't
care about little noise in night pictures, I like art in
photography. It is not a microscope, you know ;-)

GH1 + 20 mm + B&W Dynamic = FUN and ART !

Opinion: Uber flexible, high quality, fun and easy to use. I have moved to the GH-1 as my main higher-end camera from my Nikon D80. The GH-1 pixel density results in a bit less low light capability vs. the D80, and the GH-1, while fast, is not quite as fast as the Nikon, but the trade-off in size, weight, and versatility is well worth it to me.

Key fetures/benefits:

1) Image quality is very good across a broad range of shooting conditions and subject matter (I have both of the panasonic G wide zooms and the 20mm primary micro4/3 lenses).

2) Ergonomics and the mix of physical controls, program modes, and menus is outstanding, best, quickest and most intuitive I've experienced in a digital/interchangable lens camera. I always seem to be able to get to the settings I want quickly, a critical capability in any camera, but something I demand of a higher-end unit. I especially like the sliders for on-off and Single/Multi/Timer, very quick to use and you can see just what mode you're in for these basic features. IA mode (Intelligent Auto) is highly usable when time is of the essence. Quick Menu button combined with D-Pad takes care of most of the rest.

3) Video is very good quality and easy to shoot once you get the hange of shooting video with an SLR form factor camera. A bit of a pain to transfer to PC, but nothing too serious. Required dedicated video record button is present and well located.

4) External Mic capability is a HUGE plus for anyone who takes the audio portion of their digital video even the slightest bit seriously.

Overall, a great camera that covers more of my still and video needs than any other I've used. Well done!

Opinion: This camera replaced a Canon 30D with "L-Glass". I trust the camera enough to shoot a wedding reception with an off camera Flash. My initial attempts at video are encouraging. It's a whole new ball game shooting video with a DSLR-like camera body. A tripod is nearly a must. For stills, in camera distortion correction is outstanding DXO applies very little correction to the output.

Opinion: When I first heard about this camera, I wanted it but couldn't find it anywhere...and $1499
was a bit much to justify. Then the GF-1 came out and I went with that camera instead and
was pleasantly surprised at its amazing image quality and portability. Last week, however, I
saw that the GH1 price had come down a bit, so decided why not get it as well and see what
happens - can always sell it on eBay. Went up to SF last weekend and spent a couple days
test shooting.

So...mixed results. At first, I felt the 14-140mm zoom - while an awesome range - took softer
photos than using my 45-200mm zoom with similar exposure/etc settings. The HD video,
while it looks good, is awkward when zooming (obviously). The AVCHD format is....less than
desirable for post work but I'm looking at ways around it. Not a total dealbreaka as I tend to
use my ZS3 for HD video. I did like that the GH1 has a larger image sensor so shooting 3:2
gives you larger images than with the GF1 for the same pixel density.

Viewfinder - awesome. I even used it in almost pitch black in my hotel room and was able to
make out more than with the LCD. I could also check pictures after taking them using just
the viewfinder and not the LCD.

End result? ...I'm torn. I love the GH1's larger chip, the full 1920 video (despite AVCHD
issues), the large 14 - 140mm zoom range, stronger flash, the viewfinder, and the swivel
LCD. But I also loved being able to carry my GF-1 in my pocket, a lens in the other pocket,
and not looking like a tourist everywhere I go. The auto-focus on both cameras is almost
instant, even in dark settings, so I'm not sure what folks are talking about re: slow auto-
focus.

Has anyone done a similar comparison test between the two cameras?

Opinion: GH1 vs. Canon 450D & GH2 wish list

I made a few days side by side comparison with the Panasonic GH1 (14-140mm) and Canon 450D (Tamron 18-270mm).

I liked GH1 a lot and especially:

- The small size and weight of the GH1. This is a really important advantage of GH1.
- The flexible swivel and tilt GH1 LCD monitor is just great :)
- The GH1 zooming and shooting noise is much less than with Canon.
- GH1 image quality is very good at low ISO settings like 400.

However, there was some serious troubles:

- The closed or lazy eyes problem exist with the GH1 + Metz 58AF-1. Canon 450D + 580EXII do not have this problem, because the time between the preflash and mainflash is only 56 milliseconds. Metz technical support sed that Metz 58AF-1 is able to work with 50 milliseconds time difference, but GH1 body is much slower.

- GH1 cannot control of the autofocus-measuring beam of an external flash unit !!!

- The GH1 operation and autofocus speed was slightly slower than 450D, but maybe this was only a feeling which may be due to silent focusing and shooting :)

- The image quality of Canon 450D is slightly better with high ISO settings.

I decied to wait for GH2 before I change my whole Canon system with several lenses and flashes to Panasonic system.

Panasonic GH2 wish list:

1) Shorter preflash and main flash time, ie. less than 55 milliseconds to eliminate the closed eyes problem with flash.
2) Autofocus-measuring beam control of an external flash unit must work.
3) More dynamic range to the sensor (I do not need more pixels)
4) Slightly better image quality at high ISO settings.
5) More operation speed.
6) Remove the mechanical shutter - I hope to get a silent camera.
--
Antti

Opinion: I've had this camera for several weeks now and couldn't be happier. Originally I was a bit disappointed that it weighed more than I expected, probably because I was comparing to a G-1 with the 14-45 lens, but as soon as I picked up a Canon with an equivalent zoom lens, the weight differential was obvious. My only challenge has been working with the AVCHD video files. So far I haven't found a program to work that I like.

Unlike the last "reviewer," I find the camera very responsive in both auto focus and shutter release lag. But I would agree that if you TYPICALLY shoot a lot of sports, high speed action situations, or very low light, there are better options

This is the camera I was waiting for!

Opinion: I was very unimpressed. Video is fine but the evf for stills
is disappointing. Flash is a disaster. More shutter lag than
my 5 year old point and shoot cameras.

Opinion: I Love this camera1! I have shot with Nikon digitals (through the D2x) for years and have always longed for this camera. Yes--there are tradeoffs, but having still and video in the same unit is HUGE for me! The high res EVF, while not as "natural" as an SLR, is actually easier to get critical focus--its manification is high (much more so than the highest manification DX Nikons) and 100% frame coverage. I bought an adapter for nikon lenses off eBay ($36) and have found I can do more with 40 year old Nikkors on this camera than I could on any Nikon digital. Manual focus is much easier to get right on this camera and the stop down metering is seemless, because the EVF autogains to adjust for the lower light levels--AND you can see stopped down sharpness and DOF in real time with the EVF. With many Nikon digitals, you have to stop down to meter and then revert back so you can see what you're doing. Some Nikon digitals simply won't let you use old lenses on the body. I can walk out the door with one camera (smaller than any interchangeable lens camera I have ever used) and know that I can get great stills and GREAT video no matter what. Plus, with these adapters, I can play around with all kinds of funky lenses from any manufacturer. Yesterday I was using an old vivitar belolows and a Nikon 50mm to take pictures of my daughter's individual eyelashes. Pretty cool.

Opinion: I tend to keep things for a long time, but finally decided that my venerable and
much-loved Canon Powershot G3 was really past it, despite still taking good photos.
More recently, I have also bought a Panasonic TZ3 as a cheap, small, carry-
everywhere camera with a wide-angle lens and good zoom. But like most compacts
the TZ3. But for my main camera I was waiting for something that stuck out from
the mainstream of cheap-ish compacts and big DSLRs. The Sony R1 was interesting,
with a big sensor and an excellent lens, but it was also big, heavy, and awkward to
use; an improved successor never appeared.

After long deliberation I recently bought a Panasonic GH1. Yes, it was expensive
(though I paid much less than elsewhere in the UK) - but as dpreview and others
have pointed out, the 14-140mm kit lens is on a very different level from the short-
zoom inexpensive kit lenses that usually come with entry-level DSLRs, and the video
capabilities seem to be as good or better than any other "still" camera. Concerned
about buying it via the web without actually handling it, I visited the shop offering
the low price and got a nice surprise - Panasonic UK was offering a shop-only free
3-year warranty (offer expires end-January 2010). I had also considered the Canon
G11 and the Panasonic FZ-38 but now I am adjusting to a camera that's bigger and
heavier than a compact, but smaller and lighter than a DSLR with a similar 10x
zoom lens. The other thing I have to get used to is the relatively slow f4 14-140mm
lens, especially after the G3's unusually fast f2 lens.

First impressions were of a solidly built and comprehensive package. Reading the
manual and dpreview's very detailed review (which is often clearer in explaining the
controls and menus!), I kept discovering nice touches that I hadn't known about.
The controls are sensible. The LCD screen and electronic viewfinder are excellent. As
everyone says, the viewfinder refreshes slowly in low light, but for me the
viewfinder is mainly to use in bright sunlight when the LCD is hard to see. The
"reward" for having the electronic viewfinder instead of an optical one is the nice
way it shows all the same information as the LCD screen.

It does take a bit of adjustment to the sheer number and range of options, and the
buttons are a bit on the small side. But the overall impression is of a thorough,
logical, and well-developed user interface giving good access to the most important
adjustments. Having used the TZ3 helped in finding my way around, but there's so
much more on offer here. Like the TZ3 the GH1 offers a choice of aspect ratios,
adding 1:1 to the list, and that is really useful. The handling is also fine - it's so
nice to go back to a camera where the zoom is by twisting the lens rather than
pushing a switch that zooms in discrete steps. Other really nice things include the
depth-of-field preview and the way the screen magnifies the image when focusing
manually.

The list of features certainly outshines even such highly rated entry-level DSLRs as
Nikon's D40, D60 or D3000. Live view, depth-of-field preview, the articulated high-
resolution LCD, and so many others seem very generous compared to entry-level
DSLRs which, however excellent, are designed down to a low price. Again, when
you consider that the GH1 doesn't seem overpriced.

I did wonder why an HDMI lead wasn't included, and it's annoying that the USB
connector is different not only from most other digital cameras but also from other
Panasonic models. But those are quibbles.

As for the pictures, it's still early days but they are detailed and clear, no big
disappointments there. Everything seems nice and sharp, and it all just seems to
work. I've taken photos in a variety of conditions and find the quality fine - I've
avoided very high ISO settings so noise has not been a problem at all. Videos are
also good (I need to try more of them), but until I find a better way to convert
AVCHD 1920x1080 to something easier to view and edit on my computer I'll stick
with the M-JPEG 1280x720 (which anyway offers a higher frame-rate, but consumes
storage at an alarming rate).

In response to Alan Ernst's comments that his TZ3's images are sharper at the edges
than the GH1's at the telephoto end of the range, I tried the same comparison and
don't agree. There isn't a huge difference, but the GH1 seemed sharper to me. I do
wonder about differences in exposure, ISO setting, etc.