Panasonic DMC-GH1

If you're not looking for video recording capabilities, there's no good reason to choose the Panasonic Lumix GH1 over the far less expensive G1 introduced last year. The two cameras are nearly identical in feature set, and while the GH1 has a new image sensor, that doesn't mean it's a better image sensor. In fact, for still photos, we ran into more difficulties with color accuracy and low light performance with the new camera (though shot to shot speed has improved).

If you've been tantalized by the idea of an interchangeable-lens camera that shoots high-def video, though, Panasonic delivers the goods. While video quality results aren't radically better than the video-enabled SLRs we've tested, they are superior overall. More important, though, are two key factors. Unlike the SLRs, the Lumix GH1 offers an extraordinary level of control over your video shooting settings, including aperture, shutter speed and even ISO settings, plus fine adjustment of white balance, color and more. Equally important, you get live autofocus while shooting video, a feature found routinely on camcorders but sadly missing from video SLRs to date. In a perfect world, the GH1 would match the still image performance of topnotch SLRs in its price range, and it doesn't quite live up to that lofty goal. However, it's one of those cameras that seems to shoot better than it tests. We enjoyed using the camera and are pleased with many of the images we captured. Resolution is very good and, if colors aren't very accurate, that doesn't mean they're unattractive. We do wish there were more available Micro Four Thirds lenses, but at least the 14-140mm kit lens included here delivers first-rate performance. And while $1500 is a lot of money, you are getting a high-end lens with an extensive zoom range and a camera that succeeds as an all-in-one device better than any still or video camera before it.

Performance:
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.

Video Performance:
The Panasonic GH1 is the first DSLR camera to really impress us with its video performance. Its image quality is first-rate, the manual controls are outstanding, and its AVCHD and MJPEG compression options are an excellent touch. Most importantly, the camera is equipped with a live autofocus feature—something that is conspicuously absent on most other video-capable DSLRs.

Components:
The articulated 3-inch, 460,000-dot LCD is a standout feature, providing shooting-angle flexibility that's especially appreciated in video recording, and improved handling stability. The electronic viewfinder is better than most but still not great, especially in low-light situations. We like the 14-140mm kit lens a lot, both for its nice zoom range and its whisper-quiet performance that keeps focusing noise out of your video recordings. However, there aren't a lot of Micro Four Thirds lenses out there, so those who value a lot of interchangeable variety may want to stick with the traditional SLR manufacturers.

Handling:
The Micro Four Thirds format lets manufacturers build small cameras... sort of. While the GH1 is marginally smaller than the Olympus E-450 (currently the smallest SLR on the market), it's a statistical rather than a practical difference, particularly when you add that big GH1 lens to the equation. That said, we found handling the GH1 perfectly comfortable wth two exceptions. The front control dial is poorly placed, making it too easy to click (enabling exposure compensation changes). This was a big problem shooting with the G1 -- it's a smaller problem now, since it seems to take a bit more pressure to click on the GH1. However, the movie recording button is basically part of the rear thumb rest, and it acted as a magnet to our wandering digit. We appreciate one-button access to video shooting, but the actual implementation leaves something to be desired.

Controls:
The camera has something for shooters at every level when it comes to the control scheme. If you're a novice, the auto mode uses scene recognition to match settings to the situation rather than simply taking an exposure reading and let it go at that. If you prefer manual controls, you have the usual program, aperture-priority, shutter-priority and full manual choices. And if you want to drill down further, the camera supports film modes for setting color, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction, each of which can be individualy adjusted.