panasonic G1 - micro fours thirds

panasonic announced the first micro four thirds camera, the Lumix DMC-G1, along with two micro four thirds lenses, 14-45 and 45-200 that include image stabilization. (the photo is from the panasonic press release)

here are some links to read more:

• imaging resource with hands-on preview
  
• dpreview hands-on preview
  
• dcviews.com (press release)
  
• divephotoguide.com (press release)

Panasonic also announced that we should expect a couple more (micro four thirds) lenses early 2009 (one of them is a 14-140). the new panasonic g1 is smaller than the olympus E420 in every dimension (the imagingresource.com site has a good photo comparing the two cameras). 

 

some good things:

• 23 area auto focus, 
  
• very fast contrast detect auto focus (according to the dpreview preview), 
  
• electronic viewfinder (optical viewfinders with pentaprisms mirrors and all that, are sooo last century)
  
• depth of field preview
  
• shutter speed effect preview (camera changes the refrsh rate of live view to mimic the shutter speed effect)
  
• 3 inch swivel lcd monitor
  

other things:

• video/movie mode? why no video?
  
• and where are the underwater housings?
  

pricing is expected in early october according to the press release. but this site mentions an estimate of 840USD (inc lens). the camera should be available mid november.