Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Panasonic G1 video

In this video we compare the size and weight of several popular cameras with the Panasonic G1.

For more information on the other cameras featured in this video see our camera photo gallery on the second page of this report.

This new camera from Panasonic is neither a standard compact camera or a digital SLR. It's a micro four thirds system standard.

Micro four thirds system

Panasonic claims that there are 113 million digital camera owners in the world and the 23 million of these would upgrade to a digital SLR if SLRs were easier to use, lighter and less bulky. These 23 million users make up the target audience for Panasonic's G1.

Experts are describing it as the most important innovation in camera technology since the introduction of opto-mechanical image stabilisation, which effectively reduces the blur in photos caused by shaky hands.

Panasonic G1 lenses and video mode

The camera is available for £599 with a 14-45mm kit lens, and a 45-200mm zoom lens is also available. In Spring 2009 three more lenses will become available, and next year should also see the release of a G1 with a video mode - something that the current G1 lacks.

The camera is available in blue, red and black. More information can be found in our first look of the Panasonic G1, which will be updated with full results once the model has passed through our rigorous testing.

Digital camera, DSLR or Micro four thirds?

Which camera should I go for? It's a difficult question to address as it really depends on your requirements. The more compact models can take excellent pictures but are limited in the versatility and the creative options that they offer the user. They fit nicely into a pocket however, and are much easier to carry around on holidays or with you on a night out.

The larger digital cameras, often called bridge cameras, offer more versatility than the smaller models. 

They often feature a more powerful zoom; the Panasonic FZ28 has an 18x zoom, for example. They also usually provide more manual controls, like adjustable flash strength and aperture, and shutter speed priority modes.

Digital SLRs, like the Sony Alpha 700 featured in the video, take terrific pictures with the supplied kit lens. The beauty of a digital SLR, however, is that the lens can be readily changed, offering the user a much wider range of creative shooting options. The trouble with digital SLRs, though, is that they're big and they're heavy.

Collector's item

The Panasonic G1 is smaller than an SLR and offers greater versatility, so therefore fits snugly between a compact and a digital SLR camera. It's still a little bulky though and, as it's a new technology, it's a little pricey. It's an important leap forward in digital photography however, and it could one day become a collector's item.

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