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Introduction
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01.Sample Photos
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02.Design
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03.Product Tour
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04.Hardware
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05.Durability
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06.Photo Gallery
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07.Image Quality
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08.Sharpness
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09.Color
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10.Noise Reduction
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11.Dynamic Range
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12.Low Light
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13.Distortion
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14.Video
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15.Usability
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16.Ease of Use
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17.Handling
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18.Controls
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19.Speed
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20.Features
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21.Extras
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22.Video Features
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23.Specs & Ratings
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24.Conclusion
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25.Comments
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Previous: Page 23
Specs & RatingsNext: Page 25
CommentsConclusion
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
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.Hardware
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.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 individually adjusted.Sample Photos
In the following sample images, clicking on the larger image will download the full resolution original. Each photo is accompanied by four actual-size crops.
| Landscape Sample | ||||
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Focal length: 22mm This was shot in program mode on a bright afternoon, using 23-point metering. We boosted the brightness of the Live View screen two notches and had no problem working in the sunshine. The GH1 did a nice job capturing detail, including the fine lines of the boat rigging. And there are no signs of color fringing even in the corners. |
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| Close-up Sample | ||||
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Focal length: 48mm Shot as part of the same sequence as the landscape above. The lens doesn’t allow focusing at close distances, but zooming in while standing above this slip number produced a nice sharp image with good reproduction of detail and texture. The lens is a big factor in the high GH1 kit price, but at least you’re getting quality for your money, as shown in the fine details and hard edges in these crops. |
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| Low Light Sample | ||||
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Focal length: 25mm We found these artistic tiles at a dimly lit subway stop (about 40 lux) and planned to grab a tripod, but decided to try shooting handheld first. To our surprise, these very nice results emerged. Holding the camera at a low angle with arms straight and the screen tilted upward helped keep the camera steady. Noise reduction is at the default middle setting. Yes, there’s a bit of noise (noticeable in the purple house close-up), but we’re impressed with this available light result. |
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| Film Mode Samples | |
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Dynamic |
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Smooth |
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Vibrant |
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Nature |
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Nostalgic |
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Black and White Standard |
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Black and White Dynamic |
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Black and White Smooth |
| Noise Reduction Detail Sample | |
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Focal length: 54mm To explore the relationship between noise reduction setting and image detail, we shot these shelves with the camera on a tripod, with dim daylight filtered through window shades, at a consistent ISO 1600. The image at left was shot with the default middle noise reduction setting, and can be clicked to load a full-sized version. As shown in the close-ups below, raising the noise reduction setting helps significantly, and not much fine line detail is lost in the process. |
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Noise reduction at its lowest setting (NR-2) |
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NR-1 |
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NR 0 (the default) |
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NR+1 |
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NR+2 |
| Familiar Colors Sample | ||||
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Focal length: 54mm We test colors using an industry-standard chart, but we experience them in the familiar products we see every day. That’s why we shot this tableau in smooth film mode (the most accurate in our testing), under a combination of incandescent and fluorescent lights, using program mode and a manual white balance reading. The colors here are all a bit off, The final two crops were taken in Smooth (left) and Standard mode, which boosts the red in the KitKat wrapper noticeably. |
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| Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Specs | |
|---|---|
| Type | Digital Interchangeable Lens Camera |
| Focal Length Minimum | 14.0 mm |
| Focal Length Maximum | 140.0 mm |
| Still Pixel Count (gross) | 14.0 megapixels |
| Still Pixel Count (effective) | 12.1 megapixels |
| Sensor Size | Micro Four Thirds |
| Sensor Type - New | CMOS |
| Aspect Ratios | 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1 |
| Frame Rate(s) | 60i, 60p, 30p |
| Original Price | 1499.95 $ |
| Height | 83.566 mm |
| Width | 123.952 mm |
| Depth | 45.212 mm |
| Weight | 24.1 g |
| Model Colors | black, red, gold |
| Display Type | LCD |
| Display Size | 3.0 in. |
| Display Resolution | 460,000 pixels |
| Viewfinder Type | electronic |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 1440000 pixels |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 1.4 x |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100.0 % coverage |
| Diopter Adjustment - New | -4.0 to +4.0m^-1 |
| Media New | SD/SDHC |
| Connectivity Options | USB, A/V, miniHDMI, microphone, wired remote, hot accessory shoe |
| Battery Type | removable lithium-ion |
| Battery Model Number | ID-Security Li-ion Battery Pack |
| Mirror Technology (Interchangeable Lens) | Mirrorless |
| Waterproof | No |
| Manual Controls | manual focus, aperture priority mode, shutter priority mode, full manual exposure, custom white balance, ISO control |
| ISO Options | 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 100 |
| Minimum ISO | 100 |
| Maximum ISO | 3200 |
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Scores | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | Score | Weighting | |
| Color Score | 10.78 | 9.0 | |
| Color Modes Score | 5.0 | 1.0 | |
| Long Exposure Score | 5.31 | 4.0 | |
| Noise Score | 5.6 | 9.0 | |
| ISO Options Score | 5.5 | 1.5 | |
| Sharpness Score | 9.21 | 6.0 | |
| Chromatic Aberration Score | 8.58 | 3.0 | |
| Picture Options Score | 10.5 | 0.5 | |
| Dynamic Range Score | 7.76 | 6.0 | |
| Stabilization Score | 4.6 | 5.0 | |
| Auto White Balance Score | 8.39 | 4.0 | |
| Custom White Balance Score | 7.92 | 2.0 | |
| White Balance Features Score | 9.25 | 0.5 | |
| Playback Mode Score | 10.75 | 1.5 | |
| In-Camera Editing Score | 3.0 | 0.5 | |
| Software Score | 3.5 | 0.5 | |
| Direct Print Features Score | 3.75 | 0.5 | |
| Sensor Score | 2.0 | 1.0 | |
| Viewfinder Score | 7.0 | 1.5 | |
| LCD Score | 6.3 | 2.5 | |
| Flash Score | 7.5 | 1.0 | |
| Lens Mount Score | 8.0 | 1.5 | |
| Battery Score | 7.0 | 1.0 | |
| Memory Score | 3.0 | 1.0 | |
| Connectivity Score | 2.0 | 1.0 | |
| Other Hardware Score | 1.0 | 0.5 | |
| Shooting Modes Scores | 13.0 | 1.0 | |
| Live View Score | 4.25 | 2.0 | |
| Scene Modes Score | 7.5 | 0.5 | |
| Picture Effects Score | 4.5 | 0.5 | |
| Focus Score | 18.25 | 1.5 | |
| Exposure Score | 5.5 | 1.0 | |
| DOF Preview Score | 2.0 | 0.5 | |
| Metering Score | 8.5 | 1.0 | |
| Shutter Speed Score | 10.0 | 1.0 | |
| Self-Timer Score | 3.5 | 1.0 | |
| Other Controls Score | 0.0 | 0.5 | |
| Handling Score | 8.0 | 2.5 | |
| Controls Score | 9.0 | 2.5 | |
| Menu Score | 7.5 | 2.0 | |
| Manual Score | 4.5 | 1.0 | |
| Shot to Shot Score | 3.16 | 3.0 | |
| Drive and Burst Modes Score | 6.5 | 1.0 | |
| Video Color Score | 8.43 | 1.25 | |
| Video Sharpness Score | 10.97 | 1.25 | |
| Video Motion Score | 8.8 | 0.63 | |
| Video Noise Score | 12.3 | 0.63 | |
| Video Controls Score | 8.75 | 1.2 | |
| Video Low Light Sensitivity Score | 2.77 | 0.95 | |
| Video Low Light Color Score | 7.81 | 0.78 | |
| Video Low Light Noise Score | 12.49 | 0.78 | |
| Video Compression Score | 11.0 | 0.95 | |
| Video Audio Score | 3.0 | 0.3 | |
| Video Handling Score | 5.0 | 0.73 | |
| Color Other Features Rating | 0.0 | 0.5 | |
| Noise Other Features Rating | 0.0 | 0.5 | |
| Playback Other Features Rating | 0.0 | 0.5 | |
| Resolution Other Features Rating | 0.0 | 0.5 | |
| Design & Handling Other Rating | 0.0 | 0.5 | |
| Total: | 716 | ||
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