| Type | Micro Four Thirds System |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 17.3 mm × 13 mm Live MOS |
| Maximum resolution | 4000×3000 (12.0 megapixels) |
| Lens | Micro Four Thirds System mount |
| Flash | Built-in pop up, TTL, GN 11 equivalent (ISO100 · m) |
| Shutter speed range | 60–1/4000 sec |
| Exposure modes | Manual, Program, Automatic, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority |
| Focus modes | Automatic or Manual Face detection / AF Tracking / 23-area-focusing / 1-area-focusing |
| Viewfinder | EVF color display, 100% field of view, 0.7x (35mm equiv), 1.4x magnification, with 1,440K dots equivalent; LCD or articulated multi-angle 3-inch (76 mm) inch color LCD (460,000 dots equivalent) |
| ASA/ISO range | ISO 100–3200 |
| Flash bracketing | ±3.0 EV in ⅓ EV steps |
| Custom WB | custom modes |
| Storage | SD, SDHC |
| Battery | Li-Ion 7.2 V, 1250 mAh |
| Weight | body 385 g, with 14–45mm lens 638 g |
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 is the first digital mirrorless interchangeable lens camera adhering to the recently developed Micro Four Thirds System system design standard. The G1 camera is similar to the larger Four Thirds System format DSLR cameras, but replaces the complex optical path needed for the optical viewfinder with an electronic viewfinder EVF displaying a live view image directly from the sensor. Eliminating the mirror box and optical viewfinder allows for smaller and lighter camera bodies, while the less complex optical path also allows for smaller, lighter lens designs[1].
The G1 was displayed for the first time at photokina 2008; sales in the United States and Europe commenced in November 2008.
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The Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system design standard was jointly announced in 2008[2] by Olympus and Panasonic, as a further evolution of the similarly named predecessor Four Thirds System system [3] pioneered by Olympus. The Micro Four Thirds system standard uses the same sized sensor (nominal 4000 pixels by 3000 pixels) as the original Four Thirds system. One potential advantage of the smaller MFT system sensor (when compared to market leaders Canon and Nikon APS-C and full frame sized) is potentially smaller and lighter lenses. The smaller MFT sensor allows for a reduced image circle which allows the development of smaller and lighter native lenses. The MFT sensor has a crop factor of 2.0 when compared to 35mm film equivalent full frame sensors. By comparison, the more popular consumer (as opposed to professional) DSLRs such as those made by Canon, Nikon and Sony have 1.5 to 1.6 crop factor APS-C sensors, which means larger and heavier lens designs. For example, a typical Olympus MFT M.Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens weighs 112g, is 56mm in diameter and 50mm in length.[4] The equivalent Canon APS-C DSLR EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 kit lens weighs 190g, and is 69mm in diameter and 80mm in length[5]
While the older Four Thirds system design standard allowed the incorporation of a single lens reflex (SLR) camera design including a mirror box and pentaprism based optical viewfinder system, the MFT system design standard sought to pursue a technically different camera, and specifically slimmed down the key physical specifications which eliminated the ability to include the traditional complex optical path and the bulky mirror box needed for a SLR optical viewfinder. Instead, MFT uses either a built-in (Panasonic) or optional (Olympus/Panasonic) compact electronic viewfinder (EVF) and/or LCD back panel displaying a Live view from the main image sensor. Use of an EVF/back panel LCD and smaller four thirds image sensor format and allows for smaller and lighter camera bodies and lenses. The MFT system standard also specifically includes seamless switching between still photography and HD video recording recording as a design criterion.
MFT cameras are physically slimmer than most interchangeable lens cameras because the standard specifies a much reduced lens mount flange to imaging sensor plane distance of just 20mm. Typically this so called flange focal distance is over 40mm on most interchangeable lens cameras.[6] The MFT system design flange focal length distance allows for, through use of an adapter, the possibility to mount virtually any manufacturer's existing and legacy still camera interchangeable lens (as well as some video and cine lenses) to an MFT body, albeit using manual focus and manual aperture control. For example, many theoretically obsolete 35mm film camera lenses, as well as existing current lenses for APS-C and full frame DSLR's are now usable on MFT cameras. As an example, an older (i.e., used, obsolete and low priced), but still high quality, 50mm f/1.8 "standard" lens from a 35mm film camera can be used on a MFT camera body. With MFT sensors having a crop factor of 2.0, the old 50mm f/1.8 "standard" lens becomes a high-speed (although manual) 100mm f/1.8 telephoto portrait lens. So the MFT system allows the re-use of expensive lenses that may have outlived their 35mm film format camera, and can be used on a modern digital camera body capable of both still and HD video recording. Similarly, the MFT system design allows current DSLR lenses to be used as well, although only with manual focus and aperture control.
The G1 camera is smaller than comparable DSLRs, and its lenses are significantly smaller. It uses a sophisticated projection system[7] to achieve a clearer, smoother image in its electronic viewfinder than in compact camera EVFs. As it lacks a separate autofocus sensor, the G1 uses contrast-detect autofocus, utilizing the readout from the main sensor. The performance of this AF system is comparable to the phase-detect systems in conventional DSLRs.
The G1 camera was supplied with a 14–45 mm ƒ/3.5–5.6 kit lens (28–90 mm equivalent) and can use all native Micro Four Thirds System lenses regardless of manufacturer. Four Thirds System lenses can be used with an adapter, although response time, especially focus response, can be slower. Legacy lenses from nearly every major manual focus camera mount, such as Leica M, Leica R, Olympus OM, Nikon F, Canon FD, Minolta MD, M42 Screw Mount, Contax/Yashica Mount and others. Canon EF mount lenses can be used with an adapter, but native EF lenses are electronically controlled, and will therefore not have aperture control or autofocus. The Micro Four Thirds System specification supports lenses with optical image stabilization.
In many ways, the G1 was considered a landmark camera, kicking off a new market for mirrorless interchangeable lens system cameras.
The camera was available in three colors: black (suffix K), red (R) and blue (A).
Upon introduction the United States, MSRP for body and kit lens was set at USD 800.00[8]
The G1 camera's successor model is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 which was announced in March 2010.
| Item | Model | Sensor | Electronic View Finder (EVF) | Announced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 | 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effective) | EVF; 1.4x magnification; 1.44M dots | 2008, October [9] |
| 2 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 | 4:3; 3:2; 16:9 (multi-aspect); 14.0 mp (12.1 mp effect) | EVF; 1.4x mag; 1.44M dots | 2009, April [10] |
| 3 | Olympus PEN E-P1 | 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) | optional hotshoe optical VF-1; 65 degree AOV | 2009, July [11] |
| 4 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 | 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect) | opt hotshoe EVF LVF1; 1.04x mag; 202K dots | 2009, September [12] |
| 5 | Olympus PEN E-P2 | 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) | opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots | 2009, November [13] |
| 6 | Olympus PEN E-PL1 | 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) | opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots | 2010, February [14] |
| 7 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 | 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect) | EVF; 1.04x magnification; 202K dots | 2010, March [15] |
| 8 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 | 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect) | EVF; 1.4x mag; 1.44M dots | 2010, March [16] |
| 9 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 | 4:3; 3:2; 16:9 (multi-aspect); 18.3 mp (16.0 mp effect) | EVF; 1.42x mag; 1.53M dots | 2010, September [17] |
| 10 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 | 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect) | opt hotshoe EVF; 1.04x mag; 202K dots | 2010, November [18] |
| 11 | Olympus PEN E-PL1s | 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) | opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots | 2010, November [19] |
| 12 | Olympus PEN E-PL2 | 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) | opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots | 2011, January [20] |
| 13 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 | 4:3 / 16.6 mp (15.8 mp effect) | EVF; 1.4x mag; 1.44M dots | 2011, May [21] |
| 14 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 | 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect) | N/A | 2011, June [22] |
| 15 | Olympus PEN E-P3 | 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) | opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots | 2011, June[23] |
| 16 | Olympus PEN E-PL3 | 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) | opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots | 2011, June[24] |
| 17 | Olympus PEN E-PM1 | 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) | opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots | 2011, June[25] |
| 18 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 | 4:3 / 16.6 mp (16.0 mp effect) | opt hotshoe EVF LVF2; 1.4x mag; 1.44M dots | 2011, November[26] |
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Panasonic_Lumix_DMC-G1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1] at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by None - first MFT model |
Panasonic Micro Four Thirds System cameras November 2008–present |
Succeeded by Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 |