Features & Controls

Micro 4/3 Lens Mount

Above you can see the GH1's Micro 4/3 lens mount. Panasonic and Olympus have worked side by side on this mirror-less mount system, by reducing the distance between the mount and the image sensor by 50%; from 40mm with the standard 4/3 system to approx. 20mm with the newer Micro 4/3 specification. This has allowed them to reduce the size of these cameras considerably compared to a typical 4/3 dSLR.

One concern many have posted is the fact that dust can now fall directly on to the image sensor. To combat this, Panasonic has included a Supersonic Wave Filter Dust Reduction System. This system is designed to prevent dust from adhering to the image sensor by vibrating it at 50,000 times per second, helping the filter repel dust and other particles.

On top is the focus control switch with options for AFS (Single), AFC (Continuous), and MF (Manual). You can also see the flash pop-up release to the right.

To use some of your existing 4/3 system lenses, Panasonic does offer the DMW-MA1 mount adapter. However, continuous autofocus can not be used as well as some other functions. Hopefully, more Micro 4/3 lenses will be released in the near future.

The DMC-GH1 is sold as a body/lens outfit only, and Panasonic has paired it with an all new LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./ MEGA O.I.S. lens. They claim this new unit  boasts an equivalent focal range of approx. 28-280mm, and supports continuous autofocus in both still and video modes. This kit lens also incorporates Panasonic's legendary MEGA O.I.S. image stabilization system that will help you better capture blur free photos as wel as steady hand-held video. 



Flash

On top you'll find the hot shoe for using external speedlites, like the Panasonic's DMW-FL500 (shown below). Located in front of the hot shoe are the Left and Right stereo microphones. 

The DMW-FL500 offers a motorized zoom head and powerful AF-assist beam. This dedicated flash unit has a guide number of 50, with a angle zoom function which covers a lens range of 24-85mm (35mm camera equivalent). Using the built-in wide panel further extends coverage to a viewing angle of 18mm. The firing angle can also be automatically changed to create a bounce lighting effect.

Viewfinder

The GH1 offers the same electronic viewfinder or 'LVF' (Live View Finder) that we saw on the G1. This viewfinder is simply a a tiny LCD in a magnified eye piece (1.4x) that offers 1.4 million dots. Unlike optical viewfinders, this unit provides 100% field of view coverage, a 17.5mm eye point, comfortable rubber eye cup, and -4.0 ~ +4.0 diopter adjustment. To the right of the LVF is a sensor that turns this display on when you put your eye up to it.

To the left you can see the LVF/LCD button to switch between monitors, and on the right is the Play and AF/AE Lock buttons.

1 - Flash mode
2 - Film mode
3 - Optical Image Stabilizer/Jitter alert
4 - Drive mode (Only displayed in the LCD recording information window)
5 - Video Rec mode/Rec quality
6 - Picture size
7 - Quality
8 - LCD mode (Only displayed in the LCD monitor)
9 - Intelligent exposure
10 - Battery indication
11 - Card
12 - Recording state/Focus
13 - AF area
14 - Dial operation guide/Elapsed recording time
15 - Number of recordable pictures
16 - White balance
17 - ISO sensitivity
18 - Exposure comp. value
19 - Shutter speed
20 - Aperture
21 - Recording mode
22 - Metering mode
23 - AF mode