The Panasonic GX1 represents a leap for the company in terms of the features offered and the GX1 lives up to the hype surrounding its launch. Panasonic designed the GX1 specifically to fulfil the legacy of the GF1 where GF2 and GF3 have failed.
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Whether you are an amateur who wants good quality images or a professional who wants to try out a camera apart from your usual DSLR, the Panasonic GX1 has something for everybody and priced at less than $630.
The following Panasonic GX1 review is based on my own research on the internet before I bought the camera in January 2012. If you are looking for a detailed technical review, please visit dpreview.com.
Features and Benefits of Panasonic Lumix GX1
Some of the most compelling features of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 are the very fast autofocus and its sturdiness – which means that you can take it around wherever you like without having to worry about the conditions. The flexible controls and the adjustable settings provide the much needed adaptability to conditions that are different from an ideal shoot. The provision of a touch screen makes scrolling and navigating easier and this is indeed a welcome feature that is good to have. Hence, the Lumix GX1 is indeed an amateur’s bridge to the professional world of photography.
What I Like About Panasonic Lumix GX1
The Panasonic Lumix GX1 is an all-round camera with a host of interchangeable lenses from as wide as 7mm (14mm in 35mm equivalent) to 300mm (600mm in 35mm equivalent) with several prime lenses and even a 3D lens. You can also use a host of third party manual lenses from Voigtlander, SLR Magic and old film camera lenses with a m43 adaptor.
At the time of writing the GX1 has the highest resolution sensor for the micro four thirds (m43) format digital camera at 16 Megapixel. More pixels mean better image quality and better result when I processed the photos with Photoshop. And if you are into high ISO shooting, you can set it to 12,800 ISO on the GX1.
The exciting thing about the Panasonic DMC-GX1 is the ease of operation and this sets it apart from the other digital cameras in the market. Unlike the other cameras of a similar class, the settings adjustment in the Panasonic GX1 is smooth and one need not be a pro to get used to the settings.
What I Dislike About Panasonic Lumix GX1
Despite the higher resolution sensor, GX1′s image quality at high ISO above 1600 cannot match that of a full-fledge DSLR with a bigger APS-C sensor. So even if I could set the GX1 to ISO 12800, I won’t want do it when I want really sharp photos. If you are like me who shoot in RAW, then you’ll find the software that comes with the camera not very easy to use. Finally, I would prefer the GX1 to have additional dial for setting the mode and option to allow quick selection rather than pressing buttons and scrolling up and down.
Overall Thoughts about Panasonic Lumix GX1
Overall, the Panasonic GX1 is ideal for those who want a camera that can be handled like a DSLR but costs less than $800. Indeed, the Panasonic GX1 is a steal at the price at which it is offered.