By Leonard Goh
29/10/2008
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/digitalcameras/0,39001469,62047725,00.htm

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 is the world's first Micro Four Thirds shooter. The new interchangeable lens system promises a smaller physique compared with dSLRs, yet operates like a point-and-shoot. Before putting this camera through its paces in our Lab tests, we decided to show just how small the G1 is compared with the Canon EOS 450D, Fujifilm FinePix S100FS and Canon PowerShot G9.

The G1 looks like your average dSLR because findings from Panasonic's market survey revealed that the general consumer still prefers traditional designs which they associate with professionalism. Thus the company designed the shooter with a decent hand grip and prism hump, even though there is no mirror mechanism within the camera.

Photo credit: Leonard Goh

Click here for larger images:

Another diagonal view

The review unit came with the 14-45mm F3.5-5.6 kit lens. This is one of two lenses made for the new standard. There is an optional adapter available to attach Four Thirds lenses to Micro Four Thirds camera bodies.

Photo credit: Leonard Goh

Click here for larger images:

In our hands

The G1 felt a tad too small for our liking and, as you can see, our pinkie was left dangling off the shooter.

Photo credit: Leonard Goh

Click here for larger images:

Tilt and swivel LCD

The 3-inch LCD can tilt and swivel to facilitate awkward shooting angles.

Photo credit: Leonard Goh

Click here for larger images:

The internals

The number of contact pins between the lens and the camera body has been increased from nine to 11 for the Micro Four Thirds shooter. Note that without the mirror and shutter mechanism, the sensor is exposed when the lens is removed.

Photo credit: Leonard Goh

Click here for larger images:

Top view: G1 vs dSLR

There isn't much difference between the Canon EOS 450D (left) and the G1 (right), except the Panasonic is slightly slimmer because the lens-to-sensor distance has been reduced by 50 percent.

Photo credit: Leonard Goh

Click here for larger images:

Top view: G1 vs prosumer

Beside the Fujifilm FinePix S100FS (left), the G1 does look diminutive. But the former has a longer zoom range, thus explaining its bigger size.

Photo credit: Leonard Goh

Click here for larger images:

Top view: G1 vs point-and-shoot

Other than the hand grip, the G1 is almost as small as Canon's PowerShot G9.

Photo credit: Leonard Goh

Click here for larger images:

Lens comparison

The Canon EF-S 18-55mm (left) and the Panasonic G Vario 14-45mm (right) lens. Both offer approximately the same focal length when fitted onto the EOS 450D and the G1, respectively.

When the Micro Four Thirds Standard was announced, Panasonic and Olympus did mention that the new optics will be much smaller.

Photo credit: Leonard Goh

Click here for larger images:

Side view: G1 vs dSLR

Side view of the EOS 450D (left) and the G1 (right). Not much difference here for the depth of the handgrip, except the G1 is a little shorter than its competitor.

Photo credit: Leonard Goh

Click here for larger images:

Side view: G1 vs prosumer

Compared with the FinePix S100FS, the G1 does look more compact. However, if you just want a camera that can handle most shooting situations without the hassle, the Fujifilm might be a better candidate.

Photo credit: Leonard Goh

Click here for larger images:

Side view: G1 vs point-and-shoot

We leave you with this picture of the two Gs. On the left is the Canon PowerShot G9 and on the right the Lumix DMC-G1. The hand grip of the Panasonic makes the camera look slightly larger, but in reality there is not much of a difference.

Photo credit: Leonard Goh

Click here for larger images: