en agosto del año pasado, la Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 ha sido la única cámara de este formato en llegar al mercado. Since Olympus and Panasonic announced the format Micro Four Thirds in August last year, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 is the only camera in this format to market. Now, just passed the PMA 2009 in Las Vegas, and we can talk about the new Lumix GH1 adding HD video recording features of the G1 but, being recently introduced, has not yet reached the stores. Indeed, the ability to record video, it's one of the things that are missing in the G1, in these times when it seems an essential function in any camera of any type whatsoever.

The format Micro Four Thirds is an heir to the Four Thirds which has eliminated the typical case of the reflex mirror, which is responsible for diverting the light to the viewfinder to frame the actual image viewed through the lens , and that the time of the photo must be folded to allow light to pass directly to the sensor.

Removing the mirror, the camera works like a compact, taking up the image sensor and displaying it electronically through a screen, which can be further TFT screen or a small electronic viewfinder or EVF. However, Micro Four Thirds system, the shutter is mechanical, rather than addresses like the one used by most of the compact (some, like the Sony Cyber-shot HX1 , also uses mechanical shutter) and, most importantly, The objectives are interchangeable.

Despite what may appear by name, the sensor Micro Four Thirds format is the same size as the Four Thirds: 17.3 x 13 mm. However, the lack of mirror box allows you to design smaller cameras and, closer to the target to the sensor (40 mm to only 20), goals can be designed smaller and lighter.

Thus, the Micro Four Thirds cameras are a new category with some characteristics of the reflex, and others of the compact. For many are the unavoidable future of reflex cameras, which will lose the mechanical parts for the benefit of simplicity of construction. However, for this to become reality, electronic viewfinders should provide a quality comparable to direct vision that allows the mirror.

Another critical systems is the autofocus. With the arrival of SLRs with Live View have revealed differences in the approach phase comparison characteristic of the reflex, and the fact that by contrast, characteristic of the compact. The first is very fast, but needs a special sensor chip. The second uses the same image sensor, but is slower, because it will make several approaches to achieve the right approach. The absence of mirror prevents using the phase comparison approach, so the approach should improve markedly in contrast to approach the speed of a reflex.

Have you managed to Panasonic?

, veamos si Panasonic ha sido capaz de resolverlos satisfactoriamente. Once exposed the challenges facing the Lumix G1, as the first representative of the Micro Four Thirds format, see if Panasonic has been able to resolve satisfactorily.

After having tried for several days the Panasonic Lumix G1, the viewer experience is more similar to other compact cameras that use this system to that of a reflex camera. The reaction in the viewfinder is slower than desirable and the dynamic range is seen (naturally) the sensor and not the human eye. So with a reflex camera can see correctly the dark interior of a room and sunny outside, and the photographer must be aware that the photo will be impossible to record both. In contrast to the G1, if the outside is right inside will be dark, and vice versa. Is that bad or good? Personally I prefer to see reality and understand the equipment I use to predict what will come out, but certainly for novice photographers, it can even be helpful. What is certain is that it is more difficult to spot metering, and even the frame, when the brightness of the display keeps changing with each movement. Another interesting effect is how it comes to making visible flicker that all fluorescent tubes with the naked eye and is not noticeable, but the EVF is clear.

Because of this, the feel of the G1 to take pictures, is like a compact, we can not expect quick reactions and a clear vision as a reflex. Accustomed to the use of any reflex, the feeling is that the G1 has trouble focusing, and who is late for many photos, a little movement there, and that although it has a burst mode shoots (3 photos by second) and focus tracking. When it comes to static subjects this feeling is diluted and the response is more akin to a reflex.

As if it looks like a reflex, by design, is in use, the wearing and control of optics, with the difference that the goals are much smaller for any focal length. Bridging the gap (unaudited) quality, we could compare (pictured) the telephoto Panasonic Lumix G Vario 45-200 mm F/4-5.6 with Mega OIS stabilizer and ED lens, the Canon 70-300mm f / 4 -5.6 IS USM EF , which is designed for full format. The first amount (the sensor is half a FF) to a 90-400 mm full frame, so it would offer a power zoom even higher than the Canon , while the light is identical and both have optical image stabilizer. The Panasonic is 10 cm long, has a diameter of 7 cm, and weighs 380 g. Canon in the long is 14.3 cm, diameter of 7.7 cm and weighs 630 grams.

Hence the major advantage of the Lumix G1 is the ability to enjoy great telephoto and angular short, without this fire the volume or weight carried. Users of compact, you will not miss an optical viewfinder and the camera (along with a good set of objectives) will allow many more possibilities than any compact market.

However, the SLR photographer, the camera will fall short in some situations, will miss the optical viewfinder and focus speed, so unless the weight is a factor primircial, it is difficult to find truly comfortable reach with the camera.

How are the photos of the Lumix G1?

The Panasonic Lumix G1 uses a 12 megapixel sensor with 4:3 and a resolution of 4,000 x 3,000 pixels. It also has two modes "cut" to make the photo directly in 3:2 ratio (4000 x 2672) or 16:9 (4000 x 2248). The sensor is the same size as that of any Four Thirds camera ( Olympus , Panasonic, Leica ...), so we expect a similar performance in terms of depth of field (smaller than in the compact, but higher than in the APS and Full Frame) and noise levels.

In front of the sensor is a dust reduction system Supersonic wave of 50 kHz and a shutter curtain will never see it, even when removing the lens, remains open.

The images taken with the Lumix G1 have the quality of an SLR camera, with noise levels much lower than typical of the compact, and good definition. The camera is perfectly usable up to ISO 400 and even ISO 1600 is a tolerable noise level if we do not make enlargements to 100%.

A function that may be of interest is what Panasonic calls "extended optical zoom" to be left alone with the 3.1 megapixel sensor core to achieve extra x2 enlargement without loss of quality but in size. In this mode the camera would behave like a model with three-megapixel sensor and additional multiplication factor of x4, so the telephoto 45-200 mm, is equivalent to 180-800 mm. In fact we would get the same if we cut the picture on the computer only with the "extra optical zoom" the camera directly use the final frame and save steps. The trouble is that we can not use zoom when shooting in RAW format.

Price reflex

Probably the definitive element for many will shift the balance towards the purchase of a reflex camera, instead of the Lumix G1, the price. The camera with a 14-45 lens costs 750 euros, and if we add 45-200 we mentioned before the price increases to 1,050.

Moreover cheaper digital SLR can be found for less than 600 euros with two similar lenses, so the buyer should consider whether it is worth a smaller and lighter equipment, with the drawbacks of respondents commented about the absence mirror and also more expensive.

Shortly publish some galleries with photos taken with this camera during testing .

Other articles in this series:

1. Panasonic Lumix G1 test (This post)
2. Photos with the Panasonic Lumix G1