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Micro Four Thirds: And So It Begins
Sept. 12: Panasonic today announced the world’s first Micro Four Thirds-system digital camera, and it’s intriguing. Built around a Four Thirds sensor, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 is an interchangeable-lens digital camera with an electronic viewfinder instead of a pentaprism or penta-mirror finder. In other words, it looks like an SLR, and takes a variety of lenses like an SLR, giving the user the same kind of picture-taking flexibility that an SLR provides…but it’s not an SLR.
It’s something new and somewhat different. But it’s also familiar.
With either the 14-45mm or 45-200mm lens (both announced today) attached, the G1 looks much like any EVF camera out there. It has a small LCD monitor built into the viewfinder which shows the same info that the swing-out 3-inch LCD shows. It also has a feature set that the intended audience–amateurs who like the concept of an SLR but don’t want to lose the convenience of a compact–should embrace. These features include smart scene selection abilities, face detection, focus tracking, and optical image stabilization.
Panasonic’s incredible shrinking camera: The G1, superimposed over a full-sized Four Thirds system DSLR, is somewhat smaller, comparable in size to a typical EVF camera.
But what about more serious photographers? Check the specs: The sensor is the same size as that found in Panasonic and Olympus Four Thirds DSLRs, and 12MP is quite respectable. An adapter allows users to attach any Four Thirds lens (some of which are designed for pro use), and all Panasonic flash units are compatible. Manual exposure control is an option, as are all the usual P/Tv/Av choices. On the downside, The G1’s 3 fps burst mode may take it out of the running for sports shooters, and some serious photographers simply don’t like the idea of using an electronic viewfinder under any circumstances.
The camera will be in stores in time for the holiday rush. We’ll see if it catches on. (And we eagerly await to see what Olympus has in store for this new format. Stay tuned…I have a feeling there’s more Micro Four Thirds to come soon.
-Mason Resnick
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