Panasonic Lumix G1 DSLR Preview

Panasonic were showing the new Panasonic Lumix G1 - based on the micro four thirds system - whilst not as small as I was expecting, it's slightly bigger than Panasonic's ultra zoom cameras. It features Full-time Live View both for LCD and LVF, 12-megapixel Live MOS sensor, new smaller LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm MEGA O.I.S. lens, Dust reduction system and tilting 3" screen. It will also be available in three colours depending on location.

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Top - the camera has a film mode button which lets you choose between various options such as natural, vivid, black and white etc. You can customise these settings.

Pop up flash - the camera is available with two new Panasonic lenses with Mega Optical Image Stabilisation built in - these lenses are more compact than normal four thirds lenses, and are so far available as 14-45mm, and 45-200mm lenses.

Back - the screen updates very smoothly and the shutter response is almost instant. The EVF (electronic viewfinder) features "eye-detectoin" and will automatically switch on when you put your eye up to the viewfinder.

Menus - they appear almost identical to the other Lumix point and shoot cameras, and give you a choice of aspect ratio 4:3 (default), 3:2 and 16:9.

Panasonic sensor exposed - the camera features the same supersonic wave filter sensor cleaning system as the Olympus DSLR cameras.