Panasonic Lumix GH-1 review

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