Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Encyclopedia
The Panasonic
Lumix
DMC-GH1 is a digital mirrorless interchangeable lens camera
adhering to the Olympus and Panasonic developed Micro Four Thirds System
(MFT) system design standard. Panasonic classified the GH1 as a hybrid stills/video camera and the GH1 was introduced and marketed as a higher end camera than Panasonic's first MFT camera, the stills only, non-video capable Lumix DMC-G1
.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 was the second MFT camera introduced under the MFT design standard and the first MFT camera to include HD video recording capability. The GH1 was announced at the April 2009 Photo Marketing Association Annual Convention and Trade Show
.
The camera was used to create the first DSLR feature film, "Rejouer" by Liam Finn. As part of the marketing of this camera, Panasonic sponsored some professional filmmakers by allowing them to borrow the GH1 camera for their projects. One such GH1 model camera was used to film the pilot of the Swedish Horror Film Marianne
.
At first glance, the GH1 appeared to be just a video capable version of the world's first MFT system camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, first introduced in September 2008. In fact, there were many distinguishing features that made the GH1 a unique, and perhaps even a ground breaking product. A new multi-aspect image ratio sensor, full AVCHD
HD video capability, stereo sound recording, dual CPU image processing, and a purpose built super zoom lens were all packaged into a small, lightweight DSLR form factor, but without the bulky mirror box and pentaprism.
sensor. The 14 megapixel multi-aspect image ratio GH1 sensor was designed to cover a slightly larger image circle
than the native 4:3 image aspect ratio of its 12.1 megapixel cousin in the G1. This means that the GH1 14 megapixel sensor was capable of recording full 12.1 megapixel images in user selectable, native aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 with no cropping. This also meant that the HD video was a true 16:9 native image, and not a cropped portion of 4:3 HD video. As of mid-2011, this multi-aspect ratio four thirds sensor design was unique to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 and its successor Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
hybrid still/video camera. All other MFT system cameras, whether produced by Olympus or Panasonic use a single aspect image ratio sensor.
Panasonic first pioneered the concept of a multi aspect ratio image sensor in its compact camera, the 2008 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
which used a much smaller 1/1.63" CCD
technology sensor.
recording in true HD 1080p
at 24 frame/s or 720p
at 60 frame/s high-definition video
s with continuous autofocus
(AF) and Dolby Digital
stereo sound recording. The GH1 was also the first consumer-priced interchangeable lens camera to also offer continuous autofocus capability while shooting HD video. While capable of recording in AVCHD, the GH1 can also record in more popular Motion JPEG formats at a maximum resolution of 720p at 30 frame/s. AVCHD is a file based (non-magnetic tape) format for recording and playback of HD video, jointly developed by Sony and Panasonic in 2006 for HD recording. All still or video/sound recording is to a SD
or SDHC memory card
. The user is also able to manually select shutter speed and aperture openings for more creative control over HD video recording. Dolby Digital stereo sound is recorded via a stereo microphone, with a wind blocking feature to reduce background wind noise, built into the camera. More capable, optional external stereo microphones may also be fitted to the camera.
In the United States, the HD video recording length is limited to the capacity of the memory card (or the battery life, unless the AC power adapter is used). File sizes are no larger than 4 GB due to the SDHC file allocation table
limits, but the video will be seamless between files. In Europe, however, the HD video recording length is limited to 30 minutes, due to EU regulatory and tax reasons.
directly from the camera.
The camera has a dedicated video button and a stereo
microphone, features not present on then contemporary competing video-capable DSLRs.
The dual processor Venus Engine HD also allows perhaps the fastest contrast detect autofocus marketed at the time, as well as implementation of a live view electronic viewfinder with DSLR like functionality, but without the penalty of a complex and bulky mirror box and pentaprism. A 23 area or user-selectable single point focusing system and face detection are additional features offered by the increased processing power.
s (DSLRs), typified by Canon EOS
or Nikon
FX
or DX
offerings use Phase Detect Auto Focus (PDAF) systems. PDAF are typically very fast and responsive systems. When used in Live view mode, especially for video, traditional DSLR's must rely on direct output from the main image sensor in order to autofocus. Relying strictly on the sensor output to autofocus is called Contrast Detect Auto Focus(CDAF). CDAF as implemented in traditional DSLR's is so slow as to be almost unusable for all but non-moving objects.
The GH1 lacks a separate PDAF sensor and relies solely on CDAF to autofocus. Designed from ground up as a live view, CDAF camera, and not as an "add on" auto focus system for a primarily PDAF centric camera, the GH1 CDAF system breaks new ground. In combination with the dual processor Venus Engine HD, the GH1 CDAF system is easily as fast any traditional PDAF DSLR in the same price range. In combination with other features, including a 23 area AF, user selectable single AF point anywhere in the frame, subject tracking AF and facial recognition AF, the GH1 offered the fastest and most comprehensive CDAF system available at the time in a consumer camera, on par in most performance areas with similar entry level DSLRs.
When taking still photos, the GH1's Contrast Detect Auto Focus (CDAF) performance is comparable to the phase-detect autofocus systems in similarly priced DSLR systems.
HD video mode also uses this purpose-designed contrast-detect AF system, making the GH1 the only DSLR type camera at the time available to offer continuous autofocusing while shooting video.
Newly introduced for Panasonic MFT cameras was "Face Detection", a facial recognition technology. The GH1 implementation of Face Detection was an improvement of the concept first introduced in 2007 on the high end Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10
Four Thirds (not Micro Four Thirds) DSLR camera. Th GH1 allows the user to memorize two different faces. When a face is recognized, the camera will automatically prioritize focus on that face in both still and video recording modes.
(1.44 million dots) electronic viewfinder
(EVF), a sophisticated projection system to achieve a clearer, smoother display than that of compact camera EVFs. The high resolution electronic viewfinder uses a technology known as LCOS, the same technology used in Panasonic's professional high end video cameras, and is supposed to be capable of much higher resolution than either LCD or plasma display
technologies. As implemented in the GH1, the effect is 60 frame/s full time live view with no visible pixels for an image as large or larger, and brighter than competing optical viewfinders using a mirror box and pentaprism than most prosumer
DSLR's.
The EVF has a high enough resolution view that manual focusing is possible. Unlike traditional optical viewfinders which may use a ground glass focusing screen, the GH1 EVF takes a small portion of the scene and magnifies it 10X. This magnified portion may be moved around to any section of the live view. In manual focus mode, touching the lens focus ring will immediately turn on the magnification for manual focusing.
The MFT system standard specifies the lens mount flange to image sensor plane distance (flange focal distance
) as 20mm, which is less than half that of typical DSLRs. The effect is that the GH1 body is smaller in every critical dimension, especially depth, and is also lighter weight when compared to a typical DSLR. This 20mm flange to image sensor distance prohibits the practical implementation of the traditional mirror box and pentaprism optical viewfinder of the typical DSLR. The Panasonic electronic viewfinder is the solution to that packaging issue.
With an electronic viewfinder, in addition to providing a clear brighter than DSLR view, the user can also select between a variety of image aspect ratios (4:3; 3:2; 16:9 and 1:1) looking through the lens in live view, something impossible with the traditional DSLR optical viewfinder.
The EVF allows additional flexibility is in information and situational awareness. The user may select various overlays so that more than 20 pieces of critical information are available at a glance to the user without removing the eye from the electronic viewfinder. For example, flash setting, optical image stabilization mode (there are 3), drive mode (single, burst, bracket, timer), image aspect ratio, image quality (RAW
, JPEG
or both), exposure indicator, ISO speed, shutter speed
, aperture
, record mode, white balance, composition grid lines, histogram, etc. are just some of the available pieces of information in the EVF, all without ever having to move the eye from the viewfinder.
The EVF live view mode also allows a preview of the actual exposure in manual mode. The user can adjust shutter speed and aperture in manual mode and see the actual effect on the recorded exposure in the EVF. In addition to the usual depth of field preview, the GH1 allows a unique shutter speed effect preview, giving the user a fairly accurate preview of the finished image blurring when using a slow shutter speed.
In low light, the EVF has another advantage, in that it can brighten up the scene, allowing the user to see more detail than might typically be possible with a traditional optical viewfinder, the same way TV broadcasts of sporting events at twilight show much more color and detail than human eye can see.
The EVF has some disadvantages, however. In extremely low light at the sensor limits, image quality degrades into a grainy, and often lagging image. It should be noted that at such low light levels, optical viewfinders become equally difficult to use. With the EVF being an electronic display, the GH1 uses considerably more battery power than the traditional DSLR, requiring more frequent battery changes. In burst mode
, when the main image sensor must pull double duty recording the image and also feeding a live view to the EVF, image lag may become apparent,and it can be difficult to follow a fast moving object in the viewfinder. As a result, the GH1, as are all current EVF centric MFT cameras, is not a strong action sports camera.
Virtually all the functionality of the EVF is available on the articulated 3 inches (76.2 mm) LCD display panel on the back of the camera. The EVF also has an eye sensor, so that the EVF will turn on almost instantaneously, switching off the LCD panel when the eye is brought up the EVF.
was USD 1500.00 (June 2009) for both the camera body and the 14-140mm kit zoom lens. Later on in the GH1 sales life cycle, the GH1 body only price was USD 700.00 and the 14-140mm zoom lens only price was USD 850.00
which was announced in September 2010.
Panasonic has not endorsed the hacks, and certain firmware releases from Panasonic, notably 1.3, made the camera unhackable, that is, until about May 2011, when another hack was developed to get around the Panasonic version 1.3x.
The hacks are not for the faint of heart. An incorrect application of the hack can "brick" the camera, rendering the camera totally inoperative. There have been anecdotal reports from Panasonic of hacked cameras being returned with "fried" CPU's.
! Recording File Format
! Image Quality
! Aspect Ratio
! Image Size
|-
|
JPEG
(DCF, Exif 2.3)
RAW
DPOF
compatible
|
RAW
RAW+Fine
RAW+Standard
Fine
Standard
|
Panasonic
Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
Lumix
Lumix
Lumix is Panasonic's brand of digital cameras, ranging from pocket point-and-shoot models to digital SLRs.Compact digital camera DMC-LC5 and DMC-F7 were the first products of the Lumix series released in 2001. They are equipped with Leica lenses....
DMC-GH1 is a digital mirrorless interchangeable lens camera
Mirrorless interchangeable lens camera
A mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera is an emerging class of digital system cameras, intermediate between compact digital cameras and digital single-lens reflex cameras . They are characterized by a no-mirror design and an interchangeable lens mount...
adhering to the Olympus and Panasonic developed Micro Four Thirds System
Micro Four Thirds system
The Micro Four Thirds system is a standard created by Olympus and Panasonic, and announced on August 5, 2008, for mirrorless interchangeable lens digital cameras and camcorders design and development...
(MFT) system design standard. Panasonic classified the GH1 as a hybrid stills/video camera and the GH1 was introduced and marketed as a higher end camera than Panasonic's first MFT camera, the stills only, non-video capable Lumix DMC-G1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 is the first digital mirrorless interchangeable lens camera adhering to the recently developed Micro Four Thirds System system design standard...
.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 was the second MFT camera introduced under the MFT design standard and the first MFT camera to include HD video recording capability. The GH1 was announced at the April 2009 Photo Marketing Association Annual Convention and Trade Show
Photo Marketing Association Annual Convention and Trade Show
The Photo Marketing Association International International Convention and Trade Show is an annual imaging technology trade show conducted by PMA held in Las Vegas. The PMA International Convention and Trade Show frequently are the occasion for the public introductions of important imaging products...
.
The camera was used to create the first DSLR feature film, "Rejouer" by Liam Finn. As part of the marketing of this camera, Panasonic sponsored some professional filmmakers by allowing them to borrow the GH1 camera for their projects. One such GH1 model camera was used to film the pilot of the Swedish Horror Film Marianne
Marianne (2011 film)
Marianne is a 2011 Swedish horror film, directed by Filip Tegstedt, that premiered at the 2011 Fantasia International Film Festival on 2 August 2011....
.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Features
Upon its announcement introduction in March 2009, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 was marketed as a "Creative HD Hybrid" camera, Panasonic's top-of-the-line Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system camera, and fully compliant with the MFT system standard. The resulting GH1 camera was a remarkably small and lightweight interchangeable lens camera, with an electronic viewfinder, designed not only to take still photos, but perhaps even more importantly a fully HD video capable camera.At first glance, the GH1 appeared to be just a video capable version of the world's first MFT system camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 is the first digital mirrorless interchangeable lens camera adhering to the recently developed Micro Four Thirds System system design standard...
mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, first introduced in September 2008. In fact, there were many distinguishing features that made the GH1 a unique, and perhaps even a ground breaking product. A new multi-aspect image ratio sensor, full AVCHD
AVCHD
AVCHD is a file-based format for the digital recording and playback of high-definition video....
HD video capability, stereo sound recording, dual CPU image processing, and a purpose built super zoom lens were all packaged into a small, lightweight DSLR form factor, but without the bulky mirror box and pentaprism.
Multi-Aspect Ratio Sensor
The HD video capable GH1 was designed around a unique 14.0 megapixel (12.1 megapixel effective) Live MOSLive MOS
The Live MOS sensor is a brand name of Image sensor used by Leica, Panasonic and Olympus in their Four Thirds System DSLR manufactured since 2006...
sensor. The 14 megapixel multi-aspect image ratio GH1 sensor was designed to cover a slightly larger image circle
Image circle
The image circle, or circle of illumination, of a lens is the circular area in the image plane formed by the cone of light transmitted by the lens . Within this circle is the smaller circle for which image definition is acceptable, the circle of good definition ; however, some authors make no...
than the native 4:3 image aspect ratio of its 12.1 megapixel cousin in the G1. This means that the GH1 14 megapixel sensor was capable of recording full 12.1 megapixel images in user selectable, native aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 with no cropping. This also meant that the HD video was a true 16:9 native image, and not a cropped portion of 4:3 HD video. As of mid-2011, this multi-aspect ratio four thirds sensor design was unique to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 and its successor Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is a digital camera with HD video recording capability that uses the Micro Four Thirds System. Though commonly referred to as a DSLR camera, it has no mirror or optical viewfinder, but has instead both a fold-out LCD screen and a electronic viewfinder...
hybrid still/video camera. All other MFT system cameras, whether produced by Olympus or Panasonic use a single aspect image ratio sensor.
Panasonic first pioneered the concept of a multi aspect ratio image sensor in its compact camera, the 2008 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3, or LX3, is a high-end compact "point and shoot" camera launched by Panasonic in late 2008 to succeed the LX2.The camera was well-received by photographers and is often said to be the best camera of its type.- Features :...
which used a much smaller 1/1.63" CCD
Charge-coupled device
A charge-coupled device is a device for the movement of electrical charge, usually from within the device to an area where the charge can be manipulated, for example conversion into a digital value. This is achieved by "shifting" the signals between stages within the device one at a time...
technology sensor.
True HD Video AVCHD Recording
In full compliance with the MFT system design standard, the GH1 was designed from the ground up to be capable of AVCHDAVCHD
AVCHD is a file-based format for the digital recording and playback of high-definition video....
recording in true HD 1080p
1080p
1080p is the shorthand identification for a set of HDTV high-definition video modes that are characterized by 1080 horizontal lines of resolution and progressive scan, meaning the image is not interlaced as is the case with the 1080i display standard....
at 24 frame/s or 720p
720p
720p is the shorthand name for 1280x720, a category of High-definition television video modes having a resolution of 1080 or 720p and a progressive scan...
at 60 frame/s high-definition video
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
s with continuous autofocus
Autofocus
An autofocus optical system uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus fully automatic or on a manually selected point or area. An electronic rangefinder has a display instead of the motor; the adjustment of the optical system has to be done manually until indication...
(AF) and Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital is the name for audio compression technologies developed by Dolby Laboratories. It was originally called Dolby Stereo Digital until 1994. Except for Dolby TrueHD, the audio compression is lossy. The first use of Dolby Digital was to provide digital sound in cinemas from 35mm film prints...
stereo sound recording. The GH1 was also the first consumer-priced interchangeable lens camera to also offer continuous autofocus capability while shooting HD video. While capable of recording in AVCHD, the GH1 can also record in more popular Motion JPEG formats at a maximum resolution of 720p at 30 frame/s. AVCHD is a file based (non-magnetic tape) format for recording and playback of HD video, jointly developed by Sony and Panasonic in 2006 for HD recording. All still or video/sound recording is to a SD
SD
SD may refer to:* Salvia Divinorum* Southern Cross Decoration , a South African military award* Stage directions* Sisters of the Destitute, a Syro-Malabar Catholic women's order* Spasmodic dysphonia...
or SDHC memory card
Memory card
A memory card or flash card is an electronic flash memory data storage device used for storing digital information. They are commonly used in many electronic devices, including digital cameras, mobile phones, laptop computers, MP3 players, and video game consoles...
. The user is also able to manually select shutter speed and aperture openings for more creative control over HD video recording. Dolby Digital stereo sound is recorded via a stereo microphone, with a wind blocking feature to reduce background wind noise, built into the camera. More capable, optional external stereo microphones may also be fitted to the camera.
In the United States, the HD video recording length is limited to the capacity of the memory card (or the battery life, unless the AC power adapter is used). File sizes are no larger than 4 GB due to the SDHC file allocation table
File Allocation Table
File Allocation Table is a computer file system architecture now widely used on many computer systems and most memory cards, such as those used with digital cameras. FAT file systems are commonly found on floppy disks, flash memory cards, digital cameras, and many other portable devices because of...
limits, but the video will be seamless between files. In Europe, however, the HD video recording length is limited to 30 minutes, due to EU regulatory and tax reasons.
Dual CPU Engine
HD video is extremely data intensive, and Panasonic designed the GH1 around a dual CPU image processing system named the "Venus Engine HD". This dual CPU greatly speeds up HD image processing and offers a number of other advantages, including improved image noise reduction performance, ability to display a live view direct from the sensor for either the fully articulated LCD display on the camera back or the high resolution electronic view finder, a very fast contrast detect auto focus system, and even the ability to output both images and sound via HDMIHDMI
HDMI is a compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data. It is a digital alternative to consumer analog standards, such as radio frequency coaxial cable, composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video, D-Terminal, or VGA...
directly from the camera.
The camera has a dedicated video button and a stereo
STEREO
STEREO is a solar observation mission. Two nearly identical spacecraft were launched into orbits that cause them to respectively pull farther ahead of and fall gradually behind the Earth...
microphone, features not present on then contemporary competing video-capable DSLRs.
The dual processor Venus Engine HD also allows perhaps the fastest contrast detect autofocus marketed at the time, as well as implementation of a live view electronic viewfinder with DSLR like functionality, but without the penalty of a complex and bulky mirror box and pentaprism. A 23 area or user-selectable single point focusing system and face detection are additional features offered by the increased processing power.
Contrast Detect Auto Focus with Face Recognition
Traditional digital single-lens reflex cameraDigital single-lens reflex camera
Most digital single-lens reflex cameras are digital cameras that use a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera....
s (DSLRs), typified by Canon EOS
Canon EOS
The Canon EOS autofocus 35 mm film and digital SLR camera system was introduced in 1987 with the Canon EOS 650 and is still in production as Canon's current DSLR system...
or Nikon
Nikon
, also known as just Nikon, is a multinational corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in optics and imaging. Its products include cameras, binoculars, microscopes, measurement instruments, and the steppers used in the photolithography steps of semiconductor fabrication, of which...
FX
FX
- Entertainment :* FX , an international cable/satellite television network * F/X, a movie set in the world of special effects* F/X: The Series, a television program based on the movie...
or DX
DX
-In science and medicine:* Diagnosis, medical shorthand symbol generally written as Dx or Dx* The DX molecule or motif, used in DNA nanotechnology* Digital radiography, an abbreviation used in the DICOM standard-In technology and the Internet:...
offerings use Phase Detect Auto Focus (PDAF) systems. PDAF are typically very fast and responsive systems. When used in Live view mode, especially for video, traditional DSLR's must rely on direct output from the main image sensor in order to autofocus. Relying strictly on the sensor output to autofocus is called Contrast Detect Auto Focus(CDAF). CDAF as implemented in traditional DSLR's is so slow as to be almost unusable for all but non-moving objects.
The GH1 lacks a separate PDAF sensor and relies solely on CDAF to autofocus. Designed from ground up as a live view, CDAF camera, and not as an "add on" auto focus system for a primarily PDAF centric camera, the GH1 CDAF system breaks new ground. In combination with the dual processor Venus Engine HD, the GH1 CDAF system is easily as fast any traditional PDAF DSLR in the same price range. In combination with other features, including a 23 area AF, user selectable single AF point anywhere in the frame, subject tracking AF and facial recognition AF, the GH1 offered the fastest and most comprehensive CDAF system available at the time in a consumer camera, on par in most performance areas with similar entry level DSLRs.
When taking still photos, the GH1's Contrast Detect Auto Focus (CDAF) performance is comparable to the phase-detect autofocus systems in similarly priced DSLR systems.
HD video mode also uses this purpose-designed contrast-detect AF system, making the GH1 the only DSLR type camera at the time available to offer continuous autofocusing while shooting video.
Newly introduced for Panasonic MFT cameras was "Face Detection", a facial recognition technology. The GH1 implementation of Face Detection was an improvement of the concept first introduced in 2007 on the high end Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10
The Lumix DMC-L10 is Panasonic's second digital single-lens reflex camera , a follow-up to the previous Lumix DMC-L1 model. It was announced in August 2007, and, like the Lumix DMC-L1, this model uses the Four Thirds System lens mount standard and contains some basic parts provided by Olympus...
Four Thirds (not Micro Four Thirds) DSLR camera. Th GH1 allows the user to memorize two different faces. When a face is recognized, the camera will automatically prioritize focus on that face in both still and video recording modes.
High Resolution Electronic Viewfinder
The GH1 uses a high resolutionOptical resolution
Optical resolution describes the ability of an imaging system to resolve detail in the object that is being imaged.An imaging system may have many individual components including a lens and recording and display components...
(1.44 million dots) electronic viewfinder
Electronic viewfinder
An electronic viewfinder or EVF is a viewfinder where the image captured by the lens is projected electronically onto a miniature display. The image on this display is used to assist in aiming the camera at the scene to be photographed.-Operation:...
(EVF), a sophisticated projection system to achieve a clearer, smoother display than that of compact camera EVFs. The high resolution electronic viewfinder uses a technology known as LCOS, the same technology used in Panasonic's professional high end video cameras, and is supposed to be capable of much higher resolution than either LCD or plasma display
Plasma display
A plasma display panel is a type of flat panel display common to large TV displays or larger. They are called "plasma" displays because the technology utilizes small cells containing electrically charged ionized gases, or what are in essence chambers more commonly known as fluorescent...
technologies. As implemented in the GH1, the effect is 60 frame/s full time live view with no visible pixels for an image as large or larger, and brighter than competing optical viewfinders using a mirror box and pentaprism than most prosumer
Prosumer
Prosumer is a portmanteau formed by contracting either the word professional or less often, producer with the word consumer. For example, a prosumer grade digital camera is a "cross" between consumer grade and professional grade...
DSLR's.
The EVF has a high enough resolution view that manual focusing is possible. Unlike traditional optical viewfinders which may use a ground glass focusing screen, the GH1 EVF takes a small portion of the scene and magnifies it 10X. This magnified portion may be moved around to any section of the live view. In manual focus mode, touching the lens focus ring will immediately turn on the magnification for manual focusing.
The MFT system standard specifies the lens mount flange to image sensor plane distance (flange focal distance
Flange focal distance
For an interchangeable lens camera, the flange focal distance of a lens mount system is the distance from the mounting flange to the...
) as 20mm, which is less than half that of typical DSLRs. The effect is that the GH1 body is smaller in every critical dimension, especially depth, and is also lighter weight when compared to a typical DSLR. This 20mm flange to image sensor distance prohibits the practical implementation of the traditional mirror box and pentaprism optical viewfinder of the typical DSLR. The Panasonic electronic viewfinder is the solution to that packaging issue.
With an electronic viewfinder, in addition to providing a clear brighter than DSLR view, the user can also select between a variety of image aspect ratios (4:3; 3:2; 16:9 and 1:1) looking through the lens in live view, something impossible with the traditional DSLR optical viewfinder.
The EVF allows additional flexibility is in information and situational awareness. The user may select various overlays so that more than 20 pieces of critical information are available at a glance to the user without removing the eye from the electronic viewfinder. For example, flash setting, optical image stabilization mode (there are 3), drive mode (single, burst, bracket, timer), image aspect ratio, image quality (RAW
Raw
Raw is a term referring to food that has not been cooked.RAW or raw may refer to:-Technology:* Raw audio format, a file type used to represent sound as pulse-code modulation data...
, JPEG
JPEG
In computing, JPEG . The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality....
or both), exposure indicator, ISO speed, shutter speed
Shutter speed
In photography, shutter speed is a common term used to discuss exposure time, the effective length of time a camera's shutter is open....
, aperture
Aperture
In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture of an optical system is the opening that determines the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane. The aperture determines how collimated the admitted rays are,...
, record mode, white balance, composition grid lines, histogram, etc. are just some of the available pieces of information in the EVF, all without ever having to move the eye from the viewfinder.
The EVF live view mode also allows a preview of the actual exposure in manual mode. The user can adjust shutter speed and aperture in manual mode and see the actual effect on the recorded exposure in the EVF. In addition to the usual depth of field preview, the GH1 allows a unique shutter speed effect preview, giving the user a fairly accurate preview of the finished image blurring when using a slow shutter speed.
In low light, the EVF has another advantage, in that it can brighten up the scene, allowing the user to see more detail than might typically be possible with a traditional optical viewfinder, the same way TV broadcasts of sporting events at twilight show much more color and detail than human eye can see.
The EVF has some disadvantages, however. In extremely low light at the sensor limits, image quality degrades into a grainy, and often lagging image. It should be noted that at such low light levels, optical viewfinders become equally difficult to use. With the EVF being an electronic display, the GH1 uses considerably more battery power than the traditional DSLR, requiring more frequent battery changes. In burst mode
Burst mode (photography)
Burst is a mode in a camera mostly in SLRs. In this mode, several images can be captured with one press on the shutter. This is used mainly in mixed-light conditions or when the subject is in successive motion. The photographer can then select the best image of the group or arrange them in a...
, when the main image sensor must pull double duty recording the image and also feeding a live view to the EVF, image lag may become apparent,and it can be difficult to follow a fast moving object in the viewfinder. As a result, the GH1, as are all current EVF centric MFT cameras, is not a strong action sports camera.
Virtually all the functionality of the EVF is available on the articulated 3 inches (76.2 mm) LCD display panel on the back of the camera. The EVF also has an eye sensor, so that the EVF will turn on almost instantaneously, switching off the LCD panel when the eye is brought up the EVF.
LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. LENS
Complimenting the GH1 is a purpose built video optimized "kit" super zoom lens, the HD video-optimized LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. lens. This optical image stabilized (Panasonic brand name "MEGA O.I.S") is video unique because it is near silent in operation, designed with a silent internal direct-drive linear motor for fast and continuous accurate contrast detect auto focusing, and a silent, step-less circular aperture diaphragm. The 14-140mm lens is a 35mm camera equivalent focal length of 28mm wide-angle to a 280mm telephoto with manual zoom controlBody Colors and MSRP
The camera was available in three colors — black (suffix K), red (R) and gold (N). In the United States, initial MSRPMSRP
MSRP may refer to:* Manufacturer's suggested retail price, in business* Message Session Relay Protocol, a protocol used for multimedia communications* MSRP Motorsports, a former name of the HP Racing NASCAR team...
was USD 1500.00 (June 2009) for both the camera body and the 14-140mm kit zoom lens. Later on in the GH1 sales life cycle, the GH1 body only price was USD 700.00 and the 14-140mm zoom lens only price was USD 850.00
Successor Model
The GH1 camera's successor model is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is a digital camera with HD video recording capability that uses the Micro Four Thirds System. Though commonly referred to as a DSLR camera, it has no mirror or optical viewfinder, but has instead both a fold-out LCD screen and a electronic viewfinder...
which was announced in September 2010.
Panasonic Releases
Panasonic has released the following firmware updates| Version | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0 |
2010-09-10 2009-09-17 2009-06-24 Original |
1. Improved operation menu for image stabilizer ([OFF] will be added under [STABILIZER] only when LUMIX G VARIO 14-42 mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS014042) is attached). 2. Availability of AF performance in FHD (full HD) movie recording mode with Four Thirds lenses that are compatible with contrast AF. 3. Improved AF performance in movie recording with LEICA DG MACRO-ELMARIT 45mm / F2.8 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. (H-ES045). 4. Improved modulation accuracy of flash. 5. Improved AF (auto focus) performance with lenses of other manufacturer. 1. Improved Auto Focus performance for the subject in low contrast. 2. Decreased the operation noise of Auto Focus in Motion Picture recording for H-H020 lens. (In order to minimize the operation noise of Auto Focus, the Auto Focus operation speed is reduced in Motion Picture recording.) 3. Improved the stability of AE(Auto Exposure) control for H-ES045 lens(to be introduced in Oct., 2009). 1. Burst speed has become faster. Only when the [BURST RATE] in the [REC] mode menu is set to [H], Burst speed was increased from 3 pictures/second to 3.5 pictures/second. 2. Shutter speed slower than 1/30 sec. (up to 1/2 sec.) has now become available in the Creative Motion Picture mode. Only when the [EXPOSURE MODE] in the [MOTION PICTURE] mode menu is set to [M], and the focus mode dial is set to [MF]. Please note that the shutter speed slower than 1/30 sec. can not be set, when the [REC MODE] in the [MOTION PICTURE] mode menu is set to [AVCHD], and [REC QUALITY] is set to [FHD] 3. Improved the stability of AF(Auto Focus) in Motion Picture recording. 4. Improved the stability of [AFC] operation in Focus mode. 5. Improved the performance of AWB (Auto White Balance). 6. Improved the S/N figure for the pictures taken with slow shutter speed. 7. Fixed the instability of operation when the lens is retracted into its barrel, using Olympus Imaging Corporation's M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 lens. 8. Fixed the instability of operation, using Olympus Imaging Corporation's M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm f2.8 lens. 9. Improved the battery identification to assure the safety standards Panasonic uses for our customer's safety. [ Warning ] After this firmware update your Panasonic Digital Camera cannot be operated by unauthorised 3rd party batteries. Original |
Hacks
Non-Panasonic authored hacks have been developed and posted on the Internet. The unauthorized hacks primarily enhance video capabilities of the GH1, enabling faster bit rates and more flexibility for the independent film maker. Reportedly, the hacks do not enhance the stills side of the camera, although the hacker has said there is always the possibility that a future hack could work on stills capability.Panasonic has not endorsed the hacks, and certain firmware releases from Panasonic, notably 1.3, made the camera unhackable, that is, until about May 2011, when another hack was developed to get around the Panasonic version 1.3x.
The hacks are not for the faint of heart. An incorrect application of the hack can "brick" the camera, rendering the camera totally inoperative. There have been anecdotal reports from Panasonic of hacked cameras being returned with "fried" CPU's.
| Version | Release Date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
GH17 GH13 |
Ptool 3.56d Latest version |
||
Still Photography Formats
{| class="wikitable plainlinks" border="1"! Recording File Format
! Image Quality
! Aspect Ratio
! Image Size
|-
|
JPEG
JPEG
In computing, JPEG . The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality....
(DCF, Exif 2.3)
RAW
RAW image format
A camera raw image file contains minimally processed data from the image sensor of either a digital camera, image scanner, or motion picture film scanner. Raw files are so named because they are not yet processed and therefore are not ready to be printed or edited with a bitmap graphics editor...
DPOF
DPOF
DPOF is a format which allows the user of a digital camera or other device such as a mobile phone or PDA to define which captured images on the storage card are to be printed, together with information on the number of copies or other image information such as paper size, image title text, image...
compatible
|
RAW
RAW+Fine
RAW+Standard
Fine
Standard
|