Panasonic is one of the pioneers of the mirror less camera class. This is a strategy to find a niche in the camera market that is tending towards Panasonic’s core business of electronics in the digital photography era.
The market reality is the brand image of Canon and Nikon carries more weight than the capabilities of individual camera models. After an initial attempt to break into the DSLR market, Panasonic have attempted to outflank the established market leaders and create their own class of camera.
Their four thirds digital sensor is smaller than the common ASP-C sensor for DSLRS and this proved to be one of the handicaps for their full size DSLR attempts. However, it is an advantage in digital cameras where compactness is of greater importance than for DSLRS.
Panasonic have a multiple camera range in the mirror less class, with different design approaches allowing photographers to choose one that matches their style.
The emphasis with the GX1 is on making a compact and easy to carry camera. One of the consequences is the GX1 lacks a viewfinder in the camera. Panasonic offer Lumix G3 is for photographers who want a compact camera with a built in viewfinder.
“Panasonic expects the LUMIX GX1 to please a lot of photo enthusiasts who have been eager for a technology upgrade comparable to the LUMIX DMC-GF1, which continues to be a very popular digital camera with dedicated followers who appreciate the compact size, yet high quality of photos and video,” said Darin Pepple, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company.
The Lumix GX1 uses a 16 megapixel fourth thirds sensor with extended ISO range up to 12800 that is common with other Lumix mirror less cameras.
DxOmark Tests
The DxOMark lab tests below the article show the Panasonic’s sensor out performs the smaller sensor in the new Nikon 1 cameras, while the larger sensor in the Sony NEX-C3 gives the Sony an advantage in low light, where it produces less noise in the image at high ISO settings than the other two cameras.
In reasonable to good light the tests show the sensor in Lumix GX1 is capable of producing quality images matching the Nikon J1 and the Sony NEX-C3.
Compact Zoom lens
Where Panasonic have again seized the initiative in this rapidly evolving class is the area of making easy to carry compact cameras. The industry tendency has been to concentrate on producing compact and very stylish camera bodies, but this gets lost when a general purpose zoom lens is attached. The Nikon J1 has a very slim elegantly styled body, but attaching the standard zoom lens takes the depth out to 91mm.
The previous solution to the lens length problems was lovely pancake prime wide angle lenses that kept the overall package compact and easy to carry. This does restrict the flexibility of the camera system. Photographers could carry a pocketful of other lenses if they need a focal length other than a wide angle. This goes against the intention of having an easy to carry compact camera system for general purpose use.
The Panasonic Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42 mm f/3.5-5.6 Power O.I.S. zoom lens for the GX1 addresses this problem with a zoom lens owing much in its mechanical design philosophy to compact Point & Shoot cameras. Fitting the lens on the GX1 reduces the overall depth of the camera to approximately 67mm, significantly less than the Sony or Nikon.
The focal length multiplication factor for the four thirds sensor gives it the same angle of view as a 28mm to 84mm zoom on 35mm film camera. A good range from wide angle to telephoto to cover most common situations. The trick is that it telescopes into a short length when the camera is turned off, just like a Point & Shoot digital camera. Similarly, it does not have the traditional manual zoom ring, but uses controls on the camera body to power zoom the lens.
Panasonic do have an older 14-42mm zoom of conventional design that is cheaper but not as compact as the new lens
For photographers upgrading from a Point & Shoot digital camera the lack of viewfinder and zooming the lens using controls on the camera should seem quite normal.
The advantage of the interchangeable lens system is that when a different lens is more important than convenience it is easy to swap lenses. There are an increasing number of lenses for the micro fourth thirds mount on the Lumix GX1, from Panasonic and Olympus, with specialist lens manufactures such as Sigma starting to produce lenses for this system.
Prices
The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GX1 is available in black and silver bodies in the following kit options:
DMC-GX1-X with the LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S (H-PS14042) lens (SRP) of $US949.99;
or the
DMC-GX1-K with the 14-42 standard zoom for an SRP of $799.99;
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