Panasonic premieres DMC-GH1 with HD video recording

<p><a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030315panasoniclumixdmcgh1.asp">http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030315panasoniclumixdmcgh1.asp</a></p>

<p>So this is the second (although basically visually identical) camera that Panasonic has released since the Micro Four Thirds lauch and Olympus STILL has no camera, and not even an improved mock-up at PMA???? Cool for Panny, not so cool for Oly.</p>

<p>One cool thing they have added is 1:1 proportion images. They have also changed the other proportions... on the G1 I think they are all cropped down from 4:3, on the GH1, all of the formats maintain the same feild of view via an oversized sensor.... so that none of the formats max out the actual dimension of the sensor.</p>

<p>Hand's on review:<br>

<a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030316lumixgh1handson.asp">http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030316lumixgh1handson.asp</a></p>

<p>Sadly, this is the only comment from Olympus in regard to its M4/3 products:</p>

<p>http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/parts/image_for_link/167572-10353-8-2.html</p>

<p>Panasonic also displays a mock-up of 45/2.8 macro lens with O.I.S. which appears for the first time and not covered by dpreview:</p>

<p>http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/parts/image_for_link/167445-10348-12-1.html</p>

<p>Strangely, there seems to be no info or mock-up of previously announced 20/1.7 for which I've had the greatest expectation!</p>

Panasonic also showed Lumix-branded Leica R and M adapters. According to Panasonic UK reps, the 20/1.7 is slated for fall.

<p>David, thanks for the inside info. So if I would have to wait until fall, I might look at what Olympus will bring out in summer.</p>

<p>Is it strange to anyone else that the new pattern that seems to be developing in cameras is that they are releasing bodies before lenses? I understand that Oly and Panasonic want to be sure to have the best designs... but Panny especially has been making video equipment with short registration distances and a gang of lenses for them for a long time now... I'm really surprised that Panasonic doesn't have a few C-mount lens designs laying around they couldn't retrofit and put to work. And if Olympus waits until summer to release their Micro Four Thirds camera... which will be approximately one year after the official announcement of the Olympus/Panasonic new line and releases the rumored two bodies with only one lens, I think alot of the anticipation that has been built up for this system is going to fall flat... and compatibility wise, unless the Micro Four Thirds lenses have identical compatibility on both Panny and Oly, the whole thing might just become a major mistake, especially for Olympus. I am still having trouble seeing the point in a compact camera with a big honking zoom lens hanging off the end of it, and the rumored Olympus lens is set to be even bigger. That 20mm would make these cameras worth it.</p>

<p>I get the feeling micro four-thirds is going to, mainly, be a Panasonic thing. They are the ones with the flopped DSLR system and the most to gain by being aggressive in this line. With the E30 and now E620 DSLR's and no recent signs on whatever they are going to come out with in micro four-thirds, Olympus has made a pretty sizeable comment that their DSLR system is their main focus, so I would not get to anxiety-ridden worrying about when we might see whatever it is they are developing. We'll see it when we see it. It may be delayed even further before it finally comes out.</p>

<p>That's really too bad, these cameras have really finally answered one of the issues I have with digital cameras, which is that the cameras are insanely big compared to the size of the sensor.</p>

<p>Bad for Olympus but not for me! </p>

<p>I don't care if it is Pansonic or Samsung that delivers my properly sized digicam that can accept manul focus lenses.</p>

<p>I look forward to the G2 ( or Olympus or Samsung or Canon- I don't care) that would have an image quality like a real cam and not a P&S cam (as in the Panasonic G1).</p>

<p>I am not interested in hybrids or videocams. I am not at all interested in oversized and heavy Olympus cameras with tiny sensors either. :)</p>

<p>What we really need is the camera system that suits our needs, not the brand name. So long as there is any company involved with the M4/3, that's fine for me.</p>

<p>As I stated in a past thread, the original 4/3 system was the false start because it has obviously failed to deliver what it had promoted at first. Unfortunately, Olympus has been involved with the original 4/3 system too deeply to get out of it, which should be why Oly had to release E-30 and E-620 before it offer their M4/3 system due in summer.</p>

<p>Apparently, Panasonic is trying to offer a "micro RED" system with the release of GH1 and 14-140 zoom which is an overkill for me, but that could be the main trend for the next dicade. So, I'm pretty much interested. ;)</p>

<p>Yeah a "micro-RED" home video recording system is pretty interesting. I wonder if they won't build a proper "cam-corder" style body to go with it eventually.... with a large storage drive... I'm surprised no-one is just using USB thumb drives for storage... these are becoming pretty standardized and go anywhere...</p>

<p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/29/buslinks-64gb-usb-2-0-flash-drive-pro-2-series/">http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/29/buslinks-64gb-usb-2-0-flash-drive-pro-2-series/</a></p>

<p>Of course at that price and size, you could just bring 2 of the $100 32GB drives and be fine.</p>