Build and control
The Panasonic GX1 is the replacement for the GF1 that enthusiast photographers were all hoping for when the GF2 was unveiled. It combines a comprehensive featureset and plenty of direct controls (including a mode dial) with a touchscreen in a compact body.
The GX1 uses the rectangular shape of the GF-series rather than the min-SLR styling of the G3 and GH2 and has a fixed LCD screen. It is particularly well suited for use with one of Panasonic's new power zoom X lenses and it looks great with a pancake lens mounted.
Although the GX1 has the same 15.83 million effective pixel sensor as the G3, it also has the more advanced Venus Engine VII HD processing engine of the GF3. These two points mean that image quality should be at least on a par with these two cameras, if not better.
Panasonic's Mr Uematsu tells us that the award for the ultimate image quality from a Panasonic camera still belongs to the top-end GH2 though.
Build
Panasonic has upgraded its choice of material for the GX1, it has an all metal body and buttons. This gives the camera a very high quality, dependable feel.
Unfortunately, the lettering on the buttons is quite hard to see in anything less than good light. We raised this point when we met with Panasonic in Japan in September to see a very early pre-production sample of the GX1, and suggested that it would be useful to have an option for these buttons to be illuminated in a future camera.
Sometimes it's the small things that make a big difference and the remodeled grip on the GX1 has a significant impact. Although the GF1 is small and neat, so it fits conveniently into a coat pocket or bag, it isn't especially comfortable to hold between shots without a strap. The GX1's fingergrip provides a secure, comfortable hold both when shooting and between shots.
Control
Like the G3 and GF3, the GX1 has a customizable Quick Menu screen for adjusting settings quickly.
The GX1 also has four customizable buttons (two real and two virtual on the touchscreen) that can be used to access 4 out of 25 different controls. This increases the number of shortcuts available on the camera and makes it very quick to use once you are familiar with the set-up.
The GX1 is the first Panasonic G-series camera to have a level to help keep horizons on an even keel. It works in portrait and landscape format and can be used to correct horizontal and vertical tilt. Once activated a yellow line becomes visible on the LCD screen, it turns green when the camera is level.
Although the GX1 level indicator is just a thin line, we found it remains visible when viewing the screen from quite extreme angles – just when the horizon is most likely to tilt.
For those occasions when the camera is indicating the exposure is incorrect and time is pressing, Panasonic has introduced a new feature called One-push AE. When this option is activated the camera sets what it considerss an appropriate expsoure automatically.
This could be useful when speed is of the essence, especially when less experienced photographers are experimenting with the advanced exposure modes.
Touch Zoom
The GX1 is the first G-series camera from Panasonic since the new power zoom X lenses were announced, so it's no surprise that some extra functionality has been built-in with these optics in mind.
Although focal length can be adjusted as normal using a switch on the lens barrel, the GX1 has a feature called Touch Zoom which enables it to be adjusted using the touchscreen. Simply touching an on-screen icon enables the focal length to be adjusted.
Helpfully the zoom controls can be hidden, so not too much of the screen is obscurred, but they can be accessed very quickly if the focal length needs to be changed.
Panasonic has enabled GX1 users to adjust the speed that the Touch Zoom feature operates via the menu, with slow, medium and fast options being availble.
We found the Touch Zoom works well although it seems more suited for use when the camera is on a tripod and while the GX1 has a tripod bush, compact system cameras are more about travelling light and taking shots on the hoof.
Autofocus
Panasonic has introduced a new AF option with the GX1. Called Autofocus Flexible, this switches between single and continuous AF as the camera calculates is necessary. It appears to work well, but we will need to investigate it more closely when we have a full production sample to test.
Optional electronic viewfinder (EVF)
Like the GF1, the GX1 doesn't have a viewfinder built-in, but it has an accessory port to connect an external EVF (which mounts in the hotshoe).
Panasonic has introduced a new external EVF, the LV-F2, with 1.4 million dots. This viewfinder provides a 100% field of view and provides a very natural image of the scene. We used a working sample for a few minutes and did not experince and colour drag - red, blue and green light behind the viewfinder information as the camera is moved.
Speaking in Japan in Septermber, Panasonic's Mr Uematsu promised that in the future the LX-series of compact cameras will feature the same accessory port as the G-series so that users only need to buy one EVF.
Sample images
We were able to take a few images with a pre-production sample of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1. We can't assess image quality properly until we have a production sample, but the early results look very promising.
Vivid mode
Expressive mode
Toy camera mode
ISO 160
ISO 200
ISO 800
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
ISO 6400
ISO 12,800
Summary
On the face of the it, the GX1 looks set to be a very popular model with enthusiast photographers who want a small camera that provides plenty of control and options for customisation.
We hope to get a full-production sample in before Christmas and we're looking forward to giving it a thorough test.
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