Original Link: https://www.anandtech.com/show/2733



Observers knew the pickings would be limited at this year’s PMA. After the rush of announcements at last fall’s Photokina there wasn’t too much left for PMA some 5 months later. However, the actual announcements turned out to be even thinner than anyone expected.

Notable no-shows were the Canon replacement for the $8000 Professional 1Ds Mark III, which Canon says has a sensor outperformed by the sensor in the $2700 5D Mark II, and Sony’s replacement for the A700, rumored to be called the A800. Both were expected at PMA and their absence started their own buzz among show-goers.

These are tough economic times around the world, and even the robust interchangeable lens digital camera market is seeing sales declines in the last few months. This is obviously having an impact on camera sales, and manufacturers are more cautious in the costly development of new models.

The one area where new models were not lacking is in the Olympus/Panasonic four-thirds sensor cameras. The only two new interchangeable lens cameras were both 4/3 sensor – although the Olympus E-620 represents the continuing evolution of the Olympus 4/3 line, and the Panasonic GH1 represents the High Definition Video promise of the micro 4/3 line.



Olympus E-620

In our look at the flag-ship Olympus E-3 in late 2007, the AF performance was a dramatic improvement over anything previously from Olympus. The new module featured 11 double cross-point sensors and claimed the fastest AF on the market with the new SSW lenses.

The fast E-3 11-point AF was quite a step-up from the Olympus 3-point AF. As mentioned in that review, it was our opinion Olympus needed to migrate that AF module down to mid and entry models as soon as possible.

The first example of this migration was the 12.3 Megapixel E-30, which is now in the lab at AT for review. The E-30 is all but the same AF as the E-3, but with claimed improvements which make the AF even speedier. That makes the E-30 AF a joy to work with, but it really doesn’t bring the new AF module to a new price point in the Olympus line.

The E-30 is designed for the upper Prosumer or Advanced Amateur market with a MSRP of $1299. It’s actual selling price today still remains around that $1299. The problem is that is almost exactly the same street price as the pro-oriented E-3 is actually selling for today. That means the new Olympus AF module is just as innovative and desirable as before, but it is still selling for a premium in the Olympus DSLR line.

The introduction of the E-620 is exciting because for the first time it moves much of the technology of the Olympus E-3 AF module to an Olympus entry DSLR model. The E-620 module is based on the same research that went into the E-30/E-3 and it is the same basic point pattern.

 

As you can see in the above diagram from Olympus, the E-30/E-3 AF module places the 11 double cross points where research indicates they are most needed.

In the E-620 viewfinder, you can see the four corner points have been eliminated – reducing AF points from 11 to 7. That is certainly understandable in reducing cost for the move of the AF module to an entry DSLR. However, in a very un-entry move, the 5 center AF points are all double-cross – sensitive to both horizontal and vertical. The entry competition has at best one center cross-point, so the E-620 should be quite the AF competitor in the entry DSLR market.

Those who know Olympus DSLR cameras will also notice Olympus moved the viewfinder info from the right of the VF to below. Olympus also claims the viewfinder is larger and easier to see on the new E-620.

A very pleasant surprise on the E-620 is the swing and tilt 2.7” LCD inherited from the E-30/E-3.Once you have used the articulating LCD for self-portraits, self-timer images, high/low angle shooting, or Live View shooting you will fully appreciate its usefulness. Many will be very happy this feature is now available on an entry E-620 model that combines it with the superb Panasonic 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS sensor and multi-point contrast-detect Live View focusing.

The E-620 is slated to ship in April at a MSRP of $699 for the body alone or $799 for the body with the 14-42mm kit lens. Looking at any entry competitors in today’s market the E-620 stands out as a superb value with useful, unique features. Olympus even introduced an accessory battery grip for the E-620, a first for an Olympus entry DSLR. Those who value small size in cameras, a tilt-and swivel LCD, fast AF, and enhanced creative control should definitely take a look at the new E-620.



Olympus E-620 Press Announcement

OLYMPUS E-620 DIGITAL SLR INSPIRES CONSUMERS TO ‘COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES’
 

Have Fun and Free Yourself with In-Camera Art Filters and Multiple Exposures;

Travel Freely with the Smallest DSLR with Built-In Image Stabilization

 

CENTER VALLEY, Pa.   As children, our imaginations run wild and finger-painted artistic creations are proudly displayed on our family refrigerators. But as we grow older, we learn to color inside the lines, and have less and less time for art. We often lose touch with how satisfying it is to create something uniquely our own. Olympus delivers the new E-620 digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera to bring back that free-style experimenting and the magical feeling of being inspired by our own art.

The new camera’s easy-to-use Art Filters and Multiple Exposures (built right into the camera) are fun for consumers – whether you’ve been shooting for years or picked up your first digital camera today. Enjoy capturing creative images on the go – without being tethered to a computer and editing software! Now it is possible to easily customize your images so they’re worthy of posting on the gallery wall (or at least the family fridge). 

“Experimenting and creating your own unique masterpieces has never been easier or more fun,” said John Knaur, senior marketing manager, Digital SLR, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “Pop Art, Grainy Black & White, and Pin Hole are just a few creative options that can be effortlessly found on the camera’s mode dial. The access is easy, and the results are fun and limitless.” 

The new camera’s freedom of expression is matched by its freedom of mobility. First, the camera travels with you to more places, thanks to its compact size and light 16.76-ounce body. Second, as the world’s smallest DSLR with in-body Image Stabilization, the E-620 adjusts when your body moves to remove blur caused by camera shake (with any lens attached). Finally, add Live View shooting with a swivel 2.7-inch HyperCrystal™ LCD that frees you to cover subjects from a range of angles, and this 12.3-megapixel DSLR seamlessly combines motions with emotions – proof that Olympus lets you capture it all. 

Make Your Vision Come to Life with Art Filters

If you’re hoping to get more out of your camera than simply capturing and documenting a scene, and enjoy enhancing or customizing an image to make it your own, then you will value the camera’s Art Filters. The filters, which are built into the camera, provide incredible individual artistic control over an image, and remove the need to spend time altering images on the computer with editing software. 

This camera was made for free-style shooting, experimenting and engaging with events and subjects.  Enjoy the freedom of Autofocus Live View and dramatic effects to transform your day-to-day shots into compositions that you can be proud of with the following in-camera Art Filters:

Ø  Pop Art:  Enhances colors, making them more saturated and vivid, creating high-impact pictures that express the joyful, lighthearted feeling of the Pop Art style of the 1960s;

Ø  Soft Focus:  Creates an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere that renders subjects in a heavenly light without obscuring details;

Ø  Pale & Light Color:  Encloses the foreground of an image in flat gentle light and pastel colors reminiscent of a flashback scene in a movie;

Ø  Light Tone:  Renders shade and highlight areas softly to lend an elegant air to the subject;

Ø  Grainy Film:  Evokes the feeling of documentary footage shot in monochrome with grainy, high-contrast film; and

Ø  Pin Hole:  Reduces the peripheral brightness of an image as though it were shot through a pin hole, connecting the viewer intimately with the subject at the center of the picture.

Art Filters are easily activated with the mode dial on the right side of the camera body. The effects are viewable right on the new camera’s 100 percent accurate swivel 2.7-inch Live View HyperCrystal™ III LCD when using the E-620 in Live View mode or when reviewing the captured image. 

Express Your Inner Artist’s Multiple Personalities

With the new camera’s Multiple Exposure function you are free to tell a visual story your way, whether in a portrait, a landscape or a combination of both. For instance, capture an image of the spring leaves on a new tree and then overlay an image of your child’s face into the leaves for a stunning image that expresses the newness of the season. The image capture options allow you to shoot one shot, then another, or to capture both shots separately and combine them in the camera later. Or superimpose your own portrait with a starry night sky to create a photo with the impact you desire. Let your imagination lead you to new creative discoveries.

Ready, Steady, Go with In-Body Image Stabilization

The E-620 travels with you to more places, thanks to its compact size and light 16.76-ounce body. Capture sharp images on the go with the camera’s in-body Image Stabilization, which virtually eliminates blur with any lens attached. Three IS modes handle any situation. The IS-1 mode is for general shooting and adjusts the sensor on both the horizontal and vertical planes to compensate for movement by the photographer so images stay sharp in low light even at slow shutter speeds. To capture the motion of moving subjects, the E-620 offers two specialized modes: IS-2 mode is ideal for capturing a runner or cyclist traveling by in the horizontal mode, preserving the sense of motion while panning; IS-3 mode achieves the same effect when the camera is held vertically. In either mode, the artistic effects of panning enhance the shot and render the subject in sharp detail with blurred background. Moreover, the E-620 is the world’s smallest DSLR with built-in Image Stabilization, so you’ll feel comfortable taking it on the road with you to capture the action.

Superior Image Quality

The new camera’s high-performance 12.3-megapixel Live MOS image sensor delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate color fidelity, and a state-of-the-art amplifier circuit to reduce noise and capture fine image details in both highlight and shadow areas. 

Its Live MOS image sensor is complemented by Olympus’ TruePic III+ Image Processor, which produces clear and colorful photos using all the pixel information for each image to provide the best digital images possible. The new image processor is noted for accurate natural color, true-to-life flesh tones, brilliant blue skies, and precise tonal expression; it also lowers image noise in photos shot at higher ISO settings, enabling great results in low-light situations.

Swivel Live View LCD: Freedom to Move You

The new camera’s 100 percent accurate 270 degree swivel 2.7-inch Live View HyperCrystal III LCD can be rotated freely so photographers can compose at any angle, including overhead and down low, without getting bent out of shape. This enables an E-620 photographer to compose a subject in the Live View LCD and see the results of the various creative features – live as they’re happening.

When viewing the LCD in Live View, settings like white balance and exposure can also be selected, and their impact is seen instantly on the display. Real-time monitoring offers amazing versatility and creative control. The LCD displays 230,000 pixels in vivid color and includes HyperCrystal technology, which offers many times the contrast of conventional LCD monitors for easier viewing in both preview and playback. It also provides a wide viewing angle of 176 degrees, which ensures images can be composed from even the most obscure angles.

The 2.7-inch LCD makes icons and text on the camera’s menu easy to view. Beyond the camera’s bright viewable LCD, the E-620 is equipped with illuminated buttons on its body that are easily viewable in low light to quickly find the settings you want.

Two Fast Autofocus Systems

Consumers accustomed to composing and focusing using a point-and-shoot camera’s LCD will appreciate that the E-620 offers the same easy, seamless experience (what you see on its LCD is what you get!). The E-620 delivers two fast autofocus options to quickly focus and capture the image in any situation:

Ø  Fast Imager Autofocus in Live View:  When it comes to measuring camera speed, autofocus is a key factor. If a camera’s AF system does not meet photographers’ demands and lock focus accurately and quickly, it’s possible to miss a shot. AF Live View on the E-620 allows you to compose, focus, and capture the shot quickly and easily without ever taking your eye off the large 2.7-inch full color LCD.

Ø  Phase Detection AF:  When using the optical viewfinder, the technology behind the new 7-point twin cross AF system provides world-class fast and accurate focusing based on the speed of the E-3. Super sensitive Twin and Twin Cross AF target points can measure focus both vertically and horizontally, so regardless of the subject, focusing is super-simple and fast. With a dedicated Phase Detection AF sensor in the camera body, shooting moving subjects, like a runner crossing the finish line, is lightning fast. In low-light situations, this is the AF option of choice to quickly lock focus, so that a loved one’s face illuminated only by candlelight is in sharp focus.

Multi-Aspect Shooting

Since photography is a form of expression that is essentially based on clipping a scene, framing is an important component of style. The E-620 provides four aspect ratios that serve as masks to frame your image to the desired proportions, including: the standard 4:3 aspect ratio that is perfectly suited for an 8 x 10-inch enlargement; the 16:9 aspect ratio that will display your images beautifully on a widescreen television; and other popular aspect ratios such as 3:2 and 6:6. By enabling you to select the aspect ratio before shooting and easily viewing it on the LCD throughout the shoot, the Multi-Aspect function offers a new way to control your photography and express yourself.

Always Find a Face in the Crowd

The new camera’s Face Detection reduces the chance of blurred subjects in photography by distinguishing between people’s faces and the background. It tracks up to eight faces within the image area, even if people are moving, and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures (ideal for large family or party group photos).

In Sunshine or the Shadows, Never Miss a Detail

Shooting scenes with both highlights and shadows can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark and bright areas. The E-620 addresses this challenge with Shadow Adjustment Technology that adjusts for extreme light variations and maintains visible detail in both the shadow and highlight areas of the scene. Now users can see and preview the gradation on the Live View LCD and capture images showing the shadow detail they saw. This feature is also accessible in the Edit menu after the shot has been taken.

Preview a Multitude of Possibilities

Perfect Shot Preview enables users to easily preview and select from a variety of thumbnail previews of the photographic effects of white balance and exposure compensation adjustments live on the LCD before taking the photograph. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, visually, without having to scroll through menu options. With 28 preset scene-select modes for every imaginable shooting scenario, automatic modes and full manual controls, the E-620 offers a world of possibilities to photographers.

Wireless Flash Capability

Wireless flashes help you cast the best light on your subjects and capture great images. For this reason, the E-620 is compatible with the Olympus FL-36R and FL-50R wireless electronic flashes that are designed exclusively for digital photography. When these flashes are used in combination with the E-620, multiple-wireless flash photography is both easy and reliable. The E-620 can control up to three wireless flash groups independently, with multiple flash units in each group for dramatic flash effects.

Dust Reduction System for Spot-Free Images

Life moves too fast to spend time worrying about dust ruining the perfect image. Olympus’ proven Dust Reduction System produces spot-free photos with the exclusive Supersonic Wave Filter™. The patented ultrasonic technology vibrates to remove dust and other particles from the front of the image sensor and captures it on a special adhesive membrane every time the camera is turned on. These spot-free photos liberate users from hours spent retouching photographs at the computer or sending their cameras back to the manufacturer to remove dust trapped inside. With Dust Reduction and the new creative features, Olympus continues to liberate users from the computer and editing software, and enables them to have fun capturing it all while on the go.

Accessories for Shooting on Land and in the Water

The new HLD-5 Power Battery Holder can hold up to two Lithium Ion BLS-1 batteries to extend the performance life of the E-620 and its existing BLS-1 battery. It also enables effortless vertical shooting with its own separate shutter button and control dial. Olympus will also offer the PT-E06 optional underwater housing for the E-620. Capable of reaching depths of 130 feet underwater, the housing will ensure that divers will not miss an image during their journeys to the abyss.

Availability

The Olympus E-620 DSLR will be available in May 2009. It includes E-620 Body, USB Cable, Video Cable, Li-Ion Battery Pack (BLS-1), Li-Ion Battery Charger (BCS-1), Shoulder Strap, OLYMPUS Master 2 Software CD-ROM, Manuals and Registration card.

U.S. Pricing / Product Configurations

E-620 Body Estimated Street Price: $699.99

E-620 Body with ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens Estimated Street Price: $799.99



Panasonic GH1

When the Panasonic G1 was first announced it created a great deal of excitement for its potential to reduce interchangeable lens digital camera size by eliminating the mirror box of the Digital SLR. The actual G1 was indeed small, but not as small as many hoped. The performance and feature set, however, were outstanding, as we discussed in some detail in Digital Cameras for the Holidays. There was also the clear promise that future Micro 4/3 cameras could be even smaller and even more pocketable.

One of the most intriguing possibilities for Micro 4/3 was the promise of future video recording capabilities. Panasonic was clear that the new standard was definitely designed with video in mind and that it would be coming in the near future.

The tiny interchangeable lens Micro 4/3 cameras did not arrive at PMA 2009. Exhibitors said they were coming but it was just too soon. However, the HD video version of the G1 was announced with most of the bells and whistles promised by Panansonic.

It is true that Nikon introduced video on the D90, but it was lacking any auto-focusing capabilities at all. Canon improved the video to full HD on the $2700 5D Mark II, with incredible image quality results. However, the 5D Mark II is still limited to a contrast-detect AF system that is so slow that it can severly limit video recording capabilities.

The Panasonic GH1 featured only contrast-detect focusing, which had been dramatically improved to be as fast as competitor DSLRs traditional phase-detect AF. With that in mind it should come as no surprise that the Panasonic GH1 actually delivers very usable HD video recording with fast AF and real-time fact detection. In fact the best HD video of the interchangeable lens digital still cameras, and the first to actually deliver a video recording system on a “DSLR” without severe limitations.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 is even bundled with a kit lens designed for video, with a super silent AF motor and continuous AF. The LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S comes with the camera or it is also available as a separate purchase).

Body design is nearly unchanged from the G1 model. The changes include a stereo microphone housed on the top of the popup flash and a new movie record button on the rear panel that can be easility operated with the thumb to start and stop video recording. The rest of the exterior changes are just cosmetic, like the red "HD" under the AF assist light on the front panel. The G1 came in black, rd, and blue, while the GH1 will be available in black, red and gold body colors.

The high-definition video capabilities of the GH1 continuous autofocusing capability with the new 12.1 Live MOS sensor while videos are being recorded. Movies can be recorded at 1080i (1920 x 1080) or 720p (1280 x 720 pixels. 1080i videos are actually captured at 24 fps with progressive-scan (25fps PAL), and then converted and written in the camera as 60fps interlaced (50fps PAL). 720p is captured and written as 60 fls progressive scan (50fps PAL).

the GH1 can also offer an impressive 60 frames-per-second (NTSC; 50 frames per second for PAL). Note though that 1080i videos are actually captured at 24 fps progressive-scan (NTSC; 25fps PAL), and then converted in-camera to be written as 60fps interlaced (NTSC; 50fps PAL).

With the LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 MEGA OIS lens keeps AF noise very low to not interfere with audio recording. In addition the GH1 can use Face Detection Intelligent Exposure, Optical Image Stabilization, and even an Intelligent Scene Selection all while recording videos.

The Panasonic GH1 specifies the same 12.1 megapixel resolution as the G1, but Panasonic says the GH1 sensor is a new design. The sensor is actually 14 megaixels in a 4/3 size (2:1 lens ratio) that allows 12.1 Megapixels in a number of aspect ratios like 4:3, 3:2, or 16:9. The extra pixels allow the same angle of view over the range of ratios available in the GH1.

The availability and price of the GH1 were not announced at PMA, but details should be announced very soon. If you have been looking for a truly capable video camera with interchangeable lenses you should check out the new GH1 when it finally ships. As a bonus it will capture 12.1 Megapixel still images over a wide ISO range.



Panasonic GH1 Press Release

 

PANASONIC CONTINUES ITS DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY REVOLUTION WITH THE ADDITION OF THE LUMIX GH1 – ITS NEW MICRO FOUR THIRDS DIGITAL CAMERA WITH HD RECORDING CAPABILITY 

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GH1, a Creative HD Hybrid, Offers Professional-Level Still Photos and HD Video Performance Yet is Easy Enough for Entry-Level DSLR Consumers
 

Las Vegas, NV (March 3, 2009)  Panasonic today introduced the DMC-GH1, the newest member of the company’s revolutionary LUMIX G Micro System – a new digital interchangeable lens camera system that delivers professional-level features and performance in a compact and easy-to-use camera body. 

Compatible with the Micro Four Thirds System standard, the new LUMIX GH1 features advanced video photography functions, such as the ability to record High Definition (HD) AVCHD 1080p/24p video.*  In addition, the new LUMIX GH1 comes with a newly developed long-zoom interchangeable lens – the LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S.  This lens was specifically designed to support HD movie recording and features a silent motor and continuous auto focusing (AF) capability; two features which distinguish the LUMIX GH1 from DSLRs that offer HD video recording capabilities.

Photographers of all levels – professionals, amateurs and beginners – will be stunned by the range of creative possibilities that the LUMIX GH1 creates in the world of high-quality photography and HD video. Users will be equally amazed by the camera’s easy-to-use design and small size,” said David Briganti, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company.  “Beyond its creative potential, the LUMIX GH1, a sister product to the award-winning LUMIX G1, is also innovative and differentiates itself from the pack by recording High Definition video with continuous AF, an indispensable feature for practical video recording.”

In late 2008, Panasonic redefined the traditional DSLR category with its launch of the Panasonic LUMIX G1 – a digital, interchangeable lens camera system that takes the radical step of eliminating the large, internal mirror structure that is currently contained in all traditional DSLR cameras.  This innovation allows for dramatically smaller camera body and lens sizes and permits many new, advanced consumer features such as LUMIX G1 “Live View Finder”.  With its 2008 launch, the LUMIX G1 achieved several honors, including:

- World’s first entry into the Micro Four Thirds Standard system camera segment

- World’s first interchangeable lens camera to offer colored body options to consumers

- Winner, 2008 Camera of the Year (Popular Photography & Imaging magazine)

The new LUMIX GH1 provides cutting-edge video recording features, including the ability to record high-resolution full HD (1920 x 1080) video at 24 fps or smooth HD video (1280 x 720) movie at 60 fps using an AVCHD format (MPEG-4/H.264). The AVCHD format provides the important benefit of doubling the HD quality recording time compared with Motion JPEG. The LUMIX GH1 hosts a dedicated video record button on the back of the camera which lets users instantly start recording videos, even while shooting still photos – removing the fear of potentially missing a must-see video moment.   The LUMIX GH1 also records video in high-quality stereo sound via Dolby Digital Stereo Creator, the global standard of audio recording.  An optional stereo microphone (DMW-MS1) is also available to achieve a more intensive sound recording experience. Finally, a convenient Wind Cut function is provided to help to block out distracting video background noise.

Like the LUMIX G1, the LUMIX GH1 features the Live View Finder system which enables something that simply is not possible with conventional DSLR cameras – the ability to preview the effects of camera settings (e.g., exposure, aperture, shutter speed) before taking the photo.  This helps take the guesswork out of the camera setting process and helps users ensure that every photo they capture comes out exactly as they envisioned.

The brilliant 1,440,000-dot equivalent Live View Finder system can also display information settings that a user can see without removing their eyes from the subject.  Furthermore, a built-in eye sensor automatically switches on the viewfinder when the user looks into it, then switches it off and turns on the swivel 3.0-inch large 460,000-dot high-resolution LCD when the user looks away from the viewfinder. The 60-frames-per-second Live View is made possible by the Live MOS sensor, which takes real-time signals directly from the image sensor and sends them continuously to the LCD.  Both the Live View Finder and LCD provide a 100% field of view  allowing the user to accurately frame and compose a shot from most any position.

The LUMIX GH1 kit lens – the LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. –provides a broad focal length range of 28-280mm (35mm camera equivalent) and supports continuous AF using the contrast AF system for both photo and movie capture. The low-noise lens design also seamlessly supports video recording by minimizing the mechanical sound generated by AF/AE actions.

At the core of the LUMIX GH1 lies a newly developed 12.1-megapixel high speed Live MOS sensor and Venus Engine HD, which features twin CPUs for outstanding processing capabilities.  The Live MOS sensor is capable of high-speed readout over four channels to be compatible with full-HD movie recording. This sensor is also advantageous for photo recording with a high signal-to-noise ratio thanks to the new circuit structure that is unaffected by the noise generated in each of the circuits. This results in crisp photos – even those taken at high ISO levels. The multi-aspect type sensor allows users to take photos in 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 aspect ratios with the same angle of view.  The Venus Engine HD is also energy efficient, supporting long periods of AVCHD video recording on a single battery charge.

In addition to the digital camera’s HD video recording capability, the DMC-GH1 features the LUMIX Creative Movie mode which lets the user manually set the shutter speed and aperture, making their videos more creative and representative of their own personal video style preference.  Changing the shutter speed gives the videos a special look, particularly suitable for shooting fast-moving subjects. Controlling the aperture is convenient when there are several subjects at varying distances, so the user can focus on the foreground and blur the background – or vice versa.

While the LUMIX DMC-GH1 has cutting-edge still image and video capture features, the LUMIX GH1 is also incredibly easy-to-use, thanks to Panasonic’s iA (Intelligent Auto) mode** – a user-friendly setting made popular in the LUMIX line of digital point-and-shoot camera products.   Panasonic’s iA mode is a suite of technologies which engage automatically (no settings needed).  The latest addition to the iA suite of features is Face Recognition, a feature that directs the camera to prioritize focus and exposure on a specific face that that the user had previously registered in the camera.***   This invaluable function makes it especially easy to take sharp and beautifully exposed images of things the user values most in their photos – the user’s friends and family.

Panasonic’s iA mode offers other innovative features which help deliver consistently outstanding photos: O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) to help reduce blurring from hand-shake; Intelligent ISO Control to help limit motion blur by adjusting the ISO sensitivity if the subject moves as the shot is taken; AF Tracking that lets the camera lock onto any subject and keep it in focus even if it moves; Intelligent Exposure which optimizes the exposure for each part of an image, preventing blocked shadows and blown highlights, and helps ensure that gradation and details are reproduced beautifully; and Intelligent Scene Selector which automatically detects the five most common shooting situations - Portrait, Night Portrait, Scenery, Night Scenery and Close-up - and switches to the appropriate Scene mode.

Best of all, the benefits of Panasonic’s iA mode extend to motion image recording on the DMC-GH1. For example, the LUMIX GH1 motion iA includes O.I.S. and Face Detection, which automatically detects a face in the frame and adjusts focus, exposure, contrast, and skin complexion. Intelligent Exposure continually checks the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure setting as conditions change to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows.  Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Close-up, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the environment. 

The Contrast AF system adopted by the LUMIX GH1 is accurate, easy-to-use and fast. Users can choose from a wide range of AF modes, including multiple-area AF with up to 23 focus areas, 1-area AF with a selectable focus area, Face Detection, and AF Tracking.   To help keep the images free of spots from dust and particles, the Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction system helps prevent foreign contaminants from adhering to the image sensor.

After users capture their images using the LUMIX GH1, it’s easy for them to enjoy their photos or HD videos immediately on a large-screen Panasonic VIERA® high-definition television.  All that is required is to remove the SD Memory Card from the LUMIX GH1 and insert it into the VIERA Image Viewer (SDHC/SD Memory Card slot) located in the VIERA HDTV or in the Panasonic Blu-ray disc player.  Alternatively, an optional mini HDMI™ cable is available to output the images from the LUMIX GH1 directly to the Panasonic HDTV via VIERA Link™. Then, using the VIERA HDTV’s remote control, users can take advantage of the LUMIX GH1’s advanced playback and slideshow features. 

In addition to the new LUMIX G lenses, the DMC-GH1 and LUMIX G Micro System is compatible with any interchangeable lens that complies with the Four Thirds standard.**** This gives users access to the entire range of Four Thirds lenses. Additional Micro Four Thirds lenses will be announced in the future, giving users a large, diverse line of high-performance lenses to add to their photographic toolboxes. With the LUMIX G Micro System and the growing assortment of lenses becoming available, the creative possibilities are endless.

*Full-HD (1920 × 1080) movies are output by the image sensor at 24p (NTSC)/25p (PAL), and recorded at 60i (NTSC)/50i (PAL). HD (1280 × 720) video is output and recorded by the image sensor at 60p (NTSC)/50p (PAL).

** Some functions in iA mode will not be available depending on the lens to attach.

***Turn Face Recognition item ON and register the person with full-face portrait on the shooting menu in advance.  Recognition performance varies greatly depending on shooting conditions, i.e., according to factors such as angles, facial expression and lighting, so operation under all conditions cannot be guaranteed. Because the camera searches for faces that are similar to registered faces, there are cases where the faces are not correctly recognized when the registered image and the shooting image varies greatly. When facial characteristics are similar, particularly between parents and their children or brothers and sisters, the camera may not distinguish the faces.

****Some functions on DMC-GH1 are not available depending on the lens that is attached

Log in

Don't have an account? Sign up now