Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1

Review Index – (updated 17 October’09)

TrustedReviews
“There’s no doubt at all that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 is a very nice camera. Build quality is excellent, and the camera body and control layout are very well designed. Performance is first rate, image quality in both still and video modes is certainly acceptable, and the extensive list of features and options give it a lot of creative potential. The only question is whether you want to pay such a high price for it.”
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CNET.au
“If you’re looking for an entry point into the Micro Four Thirds world, don’t buy the GH1. That said, if you’re interested in dabbling in some professional video footage and also want some great still images to boot, the GH1 is a great investment. Just watch out for that incredibly expensive swing tag.”
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WhatDigitalCamera
“The GH1 is an exceptional camera, but more than anything it is an exceptional video camera. In terms of still imaging it has some improvements on the previous G1 model, though these are not significant enough on their own to justify the huge price difference.”
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Wired (Editor’s Choice)
“The Lumix GH1 captures Pantone-precise colors and Ginsu-sharp details for both video and stills. Whatever you shoot, it offers the same bucketful of configuration options, including shutter speed, aperture, light sensitivity, and 12 style modes, like the sepia-toned Nostalgic effect.”
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PhotographyBay
“I was really pleased with the GH1 as a fun and capable alternative to a DSLR. It’s certainly not a camera for everyone; however, it’s a camera anyone can pick up and start using. If all the buttons are too intimidating, it’s easy to pick the GH1 up, set it to Auto mode and start shooting. Users wanting to move up from a point and shoot camera to something with better image quality will instantly benefit from the GH1’s larger sensor.”

DigitalCameraReview
“The bottom line here is that the $1500 GH1 is a near perfect choice for shooters graduating from a prosumer/long zoom digicam to their first dSLR. For more serious photographers who eschew video in favor of still photography, the GH1 might not be their best option.”

PopPhoto
“Given the quality of its HD video, the GH1 is more compelling than the G1 was. But it’s quite pricey, since it comes only as a kit with the 10X zoom lens. That’s a useful—and for many people, all-encompassing—range. Nevertheless, we look forward to a more economical offering from Panasonic. After all, if you don’t care about continuous AF in video, you could get a Nikon D90 kit with 18–105mm f/3.5–5.6 VR lens for about $350 less.”

PCW
“The GH1 comes into its own, however, when shooting video. It can record video in high definition and save it as either AVCHD or motion-JPEG files: movie buffs will want to know that it can handle both 720p and 1080i, although oddly the 1080i movies are captured at 25fps progressive and converted in the camera to 50fps interlaced.”
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New York Times
“The camera is fast, well-designed, enormously satisfying to use, and generally tops in image and video quality. Yet even the GH1 is only a way station, not a destination. First, you don’t yet get all the creative possibilities of S.L.R. video, since there are only four lenses in the Micro Four Thirds line so far.”

PCWorld
“Judged on its merits alone, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 shines. But at $1500, it’s significantly more expensive than an entry-level DSLR–and that’s before factoring in the price of buying those hard-to-find Micro Four Thirds lenses. Those with enough cash and curiosity to invest in the GH1 will be pleased with its ability to capture video.”
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LetsGoDigital
“The Panasonic G-series is the first series of system cameras aimed at a specific photographer, not the actual specialist, but someone with high demands when it comes to camera / video quality. We will no doubt soon hear of Panasonic’s plans with the Micro Four Thirds system, however; if you can’t wait, you will have a very complete camera with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 for high-quality picture and video capture in a most creative way!”
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OutbackPhoto
“The Panasonic GH1 will be the first camera we likely use more for video than for photography. We bought the GH1 to experience one of the most advanced Combo Cams (does HD video and still with larger sensor than the consumer video cams).”

TechRadar
“The only other real problem in our tests was that autofocus proved quite hit and miss. Considering its high asking price, the GH1 ultimately feels more like a clever gadget than a proper camera.”
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GoodGearGuide
“The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 is easy to use, and you get the hang of it quickly. It feels a little bulky and cumbersome considering it’s using technology that’s designed to enable smaller cameras to be built. However, if you’re used to a digital SLR then this should be of no consequence. It will take super-crisp photos with vibrant colours and its video mode is very useful.”
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Pocket-lint
“Ultimately though, the biggest hurdle for the GH1 is its cost. Although the asking price includes that very decent spec lens, that’s still quite a big ask of the “advanced amateur”. Its manufacturer might argue that the set-up will be all most will ever need, yet if you don’t need video or the longer lens, the G1 predecessor now looks considerably better value.”
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Luminous-Landscape
“With its articulated LCD and electronic viewfinder it trumps the 5DMKII in terms of shooting practicality, and also other models from Nikon, Canon et al which suffer from similar shooting inconveniences as well as an inability to shoot true 1020/P24. Sure, the GH1 will be superceeded soon enough, but for the moment it is the king Combocam.”

DigitalCameraInfo
“Still image test results for the GH1 are a mixed bag, with good sharpness, low distortion and chromatic aberration but poor color accuracy and white balance, and more image noise than we’d like. Burst mode produces just over 3 shots per second, not great but acceptable.”

The Ski Channel
“It is nothing short of a piece of electronic genius! Suffice to say, we are hard, hard, hard on gear and the Panasonic DMC-GH1 was a workhorse and a tank even though it was light and ergonomic. We are camera snobs and this thing was worth its weight in gold.”

Camera Labs
“This is the most complete and well-rounded hybrid camera we’ve tested. Both the stills and movie capabilities are very well thought-out and implemented, with few compromises to mention. Considering this is only the second Micro Four Thirds camera on the market (and so closely based on the first), it’s an extremely impressive start for the youthful standard.”
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DPReview
“The GH1 offers the same ease-of-use and solid image quality as its sister model G1. On top top of that you get the best implementation of a HD video mode that we have yet seen on a large sensor camera. You pay a fairly hefty premium for this feature, but for anyone who is planning to make good use of the camera’s motion picture capabilities, the GH1 has to be highly recommended.”
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PhotoReview
“The integration of video with still capture is much better than we’ve found in any of the DSLRs we’ve reviewed to date and the video and audio quality are better than some of these models. Excellent video clips quality – and the ability to control depth of field when shooting video – will also attract enthusiast still/video photographers who wish to use both options.”
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Photoxels
“Not only does the GH1 provide the only Live View experience on a DSLR that is practical and usable, but Live View provides the photographer an even more accurate representation of what will actually be captured on the image sensor. Add the new HD Movie with continuous focus capability and the GH1 becomes a full-featured tool for budding and advanced amateur photographers alike.”

Imaging Resource
“Optical quality is surprising. Autofocus speed is impressive. And though the electronic viewfinder doesn’t do well with shadow detail, it’s still the best we’ve seen in lieu of a true optical viewfinder. Printed output finalizes the impression that the Panasonic GH1 is an excellent digital camera, as it easily outputs 13×19-inch prints from JPEGs and 20×30-inch prints from RAW files.”
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PhotographyBlog
“This camera offers a fantastically well-implemented Live View experience in a small and portable DSLR-like format with the addition of an intuitive video mode that mere mortals, and not just experienced videographers, can produce great results with. If you don’t need the video capabilities, though, the much cheaper DMC-G1 camera is by far the more logical choice.”
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DCRP
“The GH1 is both a very capable digital still camera, and its video recording abilities are impressive, as well. The AVCHD video format is not for the faint-hearted, and you may need to purchase some pricey software in order to actually edit it, so keep that in mind. At least Panasonic gives the user the option of using M-JPEG, at least for 720p and below. The bottom line here is that the GH1 is a solid pick if you’re after a camera/camcorder hybrid — if you like the camera but don’t need the video capabilities, then the much cheaper DMC-G1 is worth a look as well.”

PCMag
“Imatest results indicated that pictures taken in well-lit conditions (specifically, at ISOs 100 to 800) are a bit soft but offer low noise; at ISOs 1600 and 3200, images are sharp but very noisy.”

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CNET Asia
“For now, the GH1 is a great camera for those who want to experiment with filmmaking but who don’t have the budget for industry-grade video cameras. The still images from this snapper are good for its class, too. With such a good combination of features, the GH1 is expected to go far.”
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CNET
“The video shooting experience is better than that of any current dSLR, but while it has moments of excellence, the still photo quality and shooting experience doesn’t consistently match that of cheaper models.”

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ePhotozine Hands On
“I really liked the G1 when it came out and the GH1 hasn’t failed to impress me either. In some degrees I’m a bit of a stickler for tradition and I’m not all too bothered about video on DSLRs but with such an easy workflow it could tempt me to use it more. Of course this will all depend on the final product and as the camera I had was pre-production I couldn’t take any video or stills to see or show. What I can say is that the focusing is smooth, it works in video and the camera has plenty other things to offer.”

Gear Log Hands On

Photography Bay Hands On
“While it will sell alongside the G1, the GH1 really adds a lot to the Micro Four Thirds System in a way that we have all been waiting for. Video enthusiasts are really excited about the potential that the GH1 brings to the table. If it is priced right, the GH1 may very well fill a market niche that is still trying to define itself with a variety of solutions.”

LetGoDigital Hands On
“Even though activating the HD film mode is swift and easy, that doesn’t mean filming with the Panasonic LUMIX GH1 offers only limited possibilities. In addition to auto capture in combination with iA mode, it is possible to manually adjust exposure while filming. Shutter speeds and apertures can be set to preference, thus providing the possibility of creative filming with the Panasonic GH1.”

Fourthirds User Hands On
“In terms of video mode creativity, the GH1 can do certain things that are very difficult for conventional camcorders to achieve. Control and exploitation of depth of field blur is one. Camcorders have much smaller sensors, which results in a much greater depth of in-focus scene area, both in front of, and behind the main subject. By shooting with a fast aperture setting, the GH1 can creatively blur parts of the scene through limited depth of field.”

DPReview Hands On
“This is possibly the ideal camera for those who want a DSLR but without the hassle and expense of additional lenses to make it sing and dance. Make no mistake: this is a serious shooter and one that I and many others would be keen to use on all our photo projects.”