Panasonic Lumix GX1 First Impressions Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification



The Panasonic Lumix GX1 is designed to fill the gap left by the GF1, as the GF2, and GF3 were announced, more serious photographers were missing the more advanced controls found on the GF1, the GX1 is designed to be Panasonic's answer to this seeming lack. With a larger hand grip, and higher resolution 16 megapixel sensor from the Panasonic Lumix G3, it should meet the needs of advanced photographers. Read our full Panasonic Lumix GX1 review.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Features

Key Features:

• 16mp Live MOS Micro Four Thirds sensor
• 3inch 3:2 Touch screen
• ISO160 to ISO12800
• 4.2fps shooting at full resolution, 9 RAW, unlimited JPEG
• 20fps at 4 megapixels
• Remote socket
• Upto 340 shot battery life with 14mm lens
• Electronic level
• Rubber grip

Panasonic has also announced a new LVF2 Viewfinder with 1.44million pixels, the view through this looks good, and is quite large with a diopter adjustment dial underneath. The viewfinder can be tilted.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Handling

Handling - A large front rubberised hand grip is at the front with a thumb grip on the back. A focus assist lamp is on the right, and the pop up flash can be tilted upwards for bounce flash.



Menus - Not much has changed here, but the menus are now black to match the colour design of the X lens range. Each section is still colour coded, and the menu items are spread over several pages, as you can see in the walkthrough video below.

Battery life - The camera's battery life is rated at between 300 to 340 shots depending on lens used with the camera, with the 14mm Panasonic lens giving the best performance. We used a number of lenses, and took over 190 shots with the battery showing around 50% life left.



Speed - While we didn't put the camera through our usual in house speed tests, we used the camera with a number of lenses and found focusing was very rapid, with the camera's shutter response also very rapid. The continuous shooting at full resolution was around 4fps as expected, and shooting at the 20fps mode reduces the image size to 4 megapixels, as well as switching the camera to an electronic shutter. If you do use long exposures such as a 10 second exposure, the camera will spend another 10 seconds shooting a dark frame to reduce noise from the image, delaying the next shot.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Performance

While these are all pre-production photos, you can still click "Hi-Res" to view the full size sample photos, and there will be more added in the equipment database when we get our hands on a full production version of the camera.

Panasonic Lumix GX1 Other sample images

Sample photos - There is a slight magenta cast on photos of people, particularly when not using flash, but as this is a pre-production model, we can excuse them for this, as the final version should hopefully have resolved this.

Panasonic Lumix GX1 ISO test images

ISO shots - here you can see the full ISO range of the camera, from ISO160 to ISO12800, although please note this is a pre-production model.

Panasonic Lumix GX1 Digital filters

Digital Filters - effects and colour options - the GX1 adds two new digital filters: Lo-Key and Toy Camera bringing the total number of filters up to 9, with a number of colour options also available.

Video: Full HD Sample Video, an example using the power zoom lens to zoom in and out can be viewed on our youtube channel.

Value for Money

The Panasonic Lumix GX1 with the standard kit lens or body only offers quite good value for money as a premium metal bodied camera, and would certainly make quite a tempting upgrade options for owners of older Micro Four Thirds cameras. LUMIX GX1 – Body only will be available from mid December, Panasonic eShop £499.99, LUMIX GX1K – with the H-FS014042 lens, (Standard Kit lens) will be available from mid December, Panasonic eShop £599.99, LUMIX GX1X – with the H-PS14042 lens (compact 14-42mm X lens) will be available from mid January, Panasonic eShop £729.99.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Verdict

The Panasonic Lumix GX1 is designed to satisfy the needs of advanced photographers, and those wanting a premium compact camera with higher resolution sensor and high quality video. The camera looks great with the new compact 14-42mm X lens that compacts to the size of a pancake lens when off. While image quality is not yet final, initial impressions and our time using the camera was enjoyable with the camera providing a responsive experience, making shooting easy. The handling of the camera was very good and we can see this being a popular camera.

Read our full Panasonic Lumix GX1 review.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Pros

Large solid rubberised grip on the front
Solid build quality and stylish design
Quicker continuous shooting 4.2fps
Full HD Video
Fast focus

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Cons

High kit price with X lens

Panasonic Lumix GX1 Specifications

View Full Product Details