Skip to navigation

Panasonic Lumix GH-1 review

in Digital cameras

Verdict

An interesting camera with a flexible lens, but it can't compete with a traditional DSLR on image quality or value

Review Date: 20 Oct 2009

Reviewed By: Dave Stevenson

Price when reviewed: £957 (£1,101 inc VAT)

Overall Rating
4 stars out of 6

Features & Design
5 stars out of 6

Value for Money
2 stars out of 6

Image Quality
4 stars out of 6

Panasonic Lumix GH-1 prices

Subscribe to PC Pro magazine. We'll give you 3 issues for £1 plus a free gift - click here

From around the web

User comments

Review critique

Sadly, I have to take you to task as this isn't the fairest of reviews. The GH1 is in many ways a milestone. As a DSLR (let's not get into technical semantics about the mirror/shutter, pentaprism etc.) its 12Mb stills capability is more than good enough — even with the small sensor it's still been compared to a Nikon D300 in terms of the final rendered image (AP? Can't remember).

But the real beauty of this camera is its ability to shoot full 1080 HD video with interchangeable lenses and, with the right adapter, any lens you care to name. This offers amazing creative opportunities for small film-makers like myself, where achieving the "film look" using wide aperture primes to provide extreme bokeh from shallow DOF is a kind of Holy Grail, particularly at this price. It's cheap. Really. Just consider the excellent kit lens it comes with: 10x zoom, ultra-quiet for noiseless auto-focussing (no, the 5D2 doesn't have that) and very compact; costing a current street price of £700 for that lens alone. Now does it seem better value? Factor in the excellent folding LCD screen which neither the 5D2, 7D, or the newly announced 1D4 have (and is pretty ESSENTIAL for video making) and you have, for the money, something rather unique.

And if you doubt my word, just check out the amazing video being produced and shown on the GH1 groups on Vimeo. Yes, I do like this camera.

By Bureaunet on 20 Oct 2009

@Bureaunet

Nice Review - I believe you!

By nicomo on 20 Oct 2009

Leave a comment

You need to Login or Register to comment.

(optional)

Latest Category Reviews
Sony Alpha NEX-7 review

Sony Alpha NEX-7

Category: Digital cameras
Rating: 4 out of 6
Price: £1,129
Canon PowerShot S100 review

Canon PowerShot S100

Category: Digital cameras
Rating: 5 out of 6
Price: £383
Nikon Coolpix S9100 review

Nikon Coolpix S9100

Category: Digital cameras
Rating: 6 out of 6
Price: £180
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 review

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Category: Digital cameras
Rating: 6 out of 6
Price: £319
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 review

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Category: Digital cameras
Rating: 5 out of 6
Price: £450
Compare reviews: Digital cameras

advertisement

More From PC Pro
Latest News Stories Subscribe to our RSS Feeds
Latest Blog Posts Subscribe to our RSS Feeds
Latest Features

advertisement

Sponsored Links
 
 
SEARCH
SIGN UP

Your email:

Your password:

remember me

advertisement


Hitwise Top 10 Website 2010
 
 

PCPro-Computing in the Real World Printed from www.pcpro.co.uk

Register to receive our regular email newsletter at http://www.pcpro.co.uk/registration.

The newsletter contains links to our latest PC news, product reviews, features and how-to guides, plus special offers and competitions.