Panasonic Lumix GX1 Micro Four Thirds camera and LVF2 EVF announced: new 16MP sensor, December release date (specs, pictures, video)

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  • November 7, 2011 at 5:20 am

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Panasonic Lumix GX1 MFT digital camera silver

The Panasonic Lumix GX1 Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (MILC) has been officially announced. We first saw the true successor of the venerable GF1 in October, while yesterday we managed to catch a good look of the high-end compact GX1 in Panasonic’s presentation video. Specifications are exactly as we had initially reported.

The Lumix GX1 has a 16-megapixel Live MOS sensor, the same that can be found in the Panasonic G3. This would mean more detail but less high ISO noise than the 12-megapixel sensor found in the GF3 (and of course the much older GF1). On the back ,you’ll find a 3-inch 460k dot touchscreen LCD; similar to other Panasonic offerings, you can touch-focus using the screen. You can also control the Lumix X Power Zoom lenses with the touchscreen. The camera uses contrast autofocus, with Panasonic claiming its as fast as 0.09 seconds. The GX1 can shoot up to ISO 12,800 and supports 1080p video in MP4 (20Mbps) and 1080i60 in AVCHD (17Mbps). We’re glad to see that it includes a stereo microphone and an accessory shoe which can host an electronic viewfinder or external flash.

Together with the camera, Panasonic announced the DMW-LVF2, a new 1,440k dot, 90 degree tilting, electronic viewfinder (EVF). The LVF2 offers more than seven times the effective pixels of the older LVF1 (with 202k dots). Unfortunately the LVF2 will not be compatible with any of the current GF-line cameras, (GF3, GF2, GF1); the LVF2 has a different set of connector which are essential in order to support the higher data transfer rate necessary for its higher resolution.

The GX1 is housed in an aluminium body, similar to the GF1, has metal buttons and a substantial textured handgrip. In terms of controls you have a typical Panasonic arrangement with two physical customizable function buttons, a mode dial, while it’s only missing the drive mode selector from the GF1. Though, remember, you can control aspects of the camera using the touchscreen as well, if you so choose. Panasonic has, for the first time, included a horizontal and vertical angle level gauge which will be displayed both in portrait and vertical use.
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Panasonic Lumix GX1 Micro Four Thirds camera teased in official videos

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  • November 6, 2011 at 3:29 am

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Panasonic Lumix GX1 MFT camera in hand

Panasonic has just released a number of teaser videos for its upcoming GF1 successor, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Micro Four Thirds digital camera. We first broke the news of the GX1 in October and the company’s, now official promotional video, confirms our initial specifications.

The Panasonic GX1 will have a 16-megapixel sensor, probably the same as the Panasonic G3, and a new Venus engine. It will offer a super fast 0.09 second contrast auto-focus. The main screen is a 3-inch LCD with a 460k pixel resolution, and as we guessed, it will be a touchscreen for touch autofocus, similar to other recent Panasonic offerings.

There will be a new external electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 1,440k dots (against a paltry 202k of the original LVF1) and it will be offered in silver and black. While we weren’t too excited when we first saw the all black boxy design of the GX1, it looks way sexier in the official video with the silver metal body and oversized black handgrip.

In the video, which you’ll find after the break, the GX1 is paired with the new X series lens, the collapsible power zoom LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm. There is also another video after the break showing a movie shot using the GX1 with a new miniature / time lapse effect, similar to the Panasonic LX5‘s miniature effect.
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Panasonic GX1 Micro Four Thirds camera spotted in the wild (pictures)

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  • October 29, 2011 at 2:58 am

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Panasonic GX1 MFT digital camera and LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens

Ever since the introduction of the Panasonic GF2, camera fans have been clamoring for a true successor for the venerable GF1 Micro Four Thirds shooter. The Panasonic GF1 was the camera that introduced a lot of people to compact mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (MILCs), over three years ago. Well, the GX1 has been rumored to be that successor, offering better image quality but also advanced handling options.

Well, we now have photos, and loads of them, of the GX1 which had surfaced at Taiwan’s Mobile01 forum. From the images, which you can find after the break, we can see that the GX1 looks a lot like the original GF1, though a bit smaller, with a boxy case strikingly different from the more curvy look of the GF2 and GF3 cameras. In terms of looks, we actually wish Panasonic would have done something more striking and original, but it’s the innards that really count. The GX1 is seen here with the premium X-series 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 collapsible zoom lens. Controls have been moved around but are typical Panasonic, though missing the drive mode selector. The camera has prominent stereo mics on the top and an AVHCD logo at the back pointing to some advance video capabilities.

The Panasonic GX1 is expected to be announced on Novermber 8th in Japan. The camera is rumored to have a 16-megapixel sensor and new image processing engine, going up to ISO 12,800. The non-tiltable LCD screen that you can see here, would be a 3-inch 460k dot one, though we haven’t heard if it will have touch capabilities. The camera will be capable of full HD shooting and Panasonic will also release an updated LVF2 external electronic viewfinder with 1,440k dots.

The GX1 will be going against some serious competition from the likes of Sony’s NEX-7 and the Fujifilm X100, and it was about time that Panasonic would get back into the game with a serious rangefinder-style body.
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