How Micro Four Thirds has managed to make DSLRs look big and bulky

[DPNow]

Here is a summary or excerpt from an article that has just been published on DPNow:

Panasonic Lumix's first Micro Four Thirds alternative to the 'traditional' DSLR, the DMC-G1, is now on sale. We explain why the ditching of core DSLR components has enabled Panasonic to make the G1 so much smaller than a DSLR and yet retain DSLR advantages like a interchangeable lenses and a relatively large sensor.

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[Bob Ross]

Re: How Micro Four Thirds has managed to make DSLRs look big and bulky

Hi Ian,
Nicely explained and illustrated. Another size feature is that while they have shrunk the camera and lenses, the size of the image that you see in the viewfinder has grown, although the nature of that image has changed.
Do you have a unit to test yet?
Bob

[Ian]

Re: How Micro Four Thirds has managed to make DSLRs look big and bulky

Hi Ian,
Nicely explained and illustrated. Another size feature is that while they have shrunk the camera and lenses, the size of the image that you see in the viewfinder has grown, although the nature of that image has changed.
Do you have a unit to test yet?
Bob

A G1 is scheduled to be with me tomorrow (Wednesday).

Ian

[Guest]

Re: How Micro Four Thirds has managed to make DSLRs look big and bulky

Ian - As one who has expressed previous interest in this camera since it was announced, I am looking forward to reading your views on it and possibly seeing some samples from it produced by you.

[Ian]

Re: How Micro Four Thirds has managed to make DSLRs look big and bulky

Ian - As one who has expressed previous interest in this camera since it was announced, I am looking forward to reading your views on it and possibly seeing some samples from it produced by you.

Hi Dennis,

The review camera arrives tomorrow. I don't think the weather is going to be very cooperatiev, but some test pictures will be forthcoming from me as soon as possible

Thanks for your interest!

Ian

[Bob Ross]

Re: How Micro Four Thirds has managed to make DSLRs look big and bulky

A G1 is scheduled to be with me tomorrow (Wednesday).

Ian

Sounds good....you get a new camera to test and I get a new president to....
Bob

[Stephen]

Re: How Micro Four Thirds has managed to make DSLRs look big and bulky

The December issue of Digital Photo magazine has a review of the new camera................................for what its worth Seems like a pretty week review if I'm honest, but hey what do I know, you should decide for yourselves.

[Ian]

Re: How Micro Four Thirds has managed to make DSLRs look big and bulky

The December issue of Digital Photo magazine has a review of the new camera................................for what its worth Seems like a pretty week review if I'm honest, but hey what do I know, you should decide for yourselves.

Is that, um - a badly written/produced review, or - a poor verdict on the camera?

Ian

[Stephen]

Re: How Micro Four Thirds has managed to make DSLRs look big and bulky

Is that, um - a badly written/produced review, or - a poor verdict on the camera?

Ian

It all seemed somewhat subjective.

A little about its features and build, a similar amount describing the writers opinion on its handling, then a verdict which was as long as the other two short sections. There are a few small images dealing with image quality along with a short paragraph describing IQ test results. In short, a two page spread with 2/3 of a page of rather subjective text lacking in any great detail.

Maybe its just early days and too soon for an in depth test report

[Ian]

Re: How Micro Four Thirds has managed to make DSLRs look big and bulky

It all seemed somewhat subjective.

A little about its features and build, a similar amount describing the writers opinion on its handling, then a verdict which was as long as the other two short sections. There are a few small images dealing with image quality along with a short paragraph describing IQ test results. In short, a two page spread with 2/3 of a page of rather subjective text lacking in any great detail.

Maybe its just early days and too soon for an in depth test report

Production samples have only been available for a few days so I doubt that this magazine properly tested the G1.

Ian

[Stephen]

Re: How Micro Four Thirds has managed to make DSLRs look big and bulky

Production samples have only been available for a few days so I doubt that this magazine properly tested the G1.

Ian

Bearing in mind how much in advance these mags work, it seems unlikely then that they used a production model. In which case this should be more like a preview report without ratings, much the same as DPR did back in Sept.

[Guest]

Re: How Micro Four Thirds has managed to make DSLRs look big and bulky

Hi Ian - I don't know if your review G1 arrived today, but I have just been into town to see if our Jessops branch had received any and lo and behold - they had. The manager said that he had not had time to put them (two) on display yet and he was not sure whether to put it amongst the dslr-s or the pro-sumers as it was not a reflex camera.!! Anyhow I managed to persuade him to let me handle it. My first impressions after 10 minutes handling were :-
1) Very small and not very good for someone with large ,fat hands.( Which I am not!)
2) The little finger of the right hand has nothing to rest on.
3) The LCD is excellent and to be able to rotate it in two axes is very useful.
4) The EVF is very good with only a slight flicker. It focuses very well and has a good field of view. Also even with spectacles I could easily see the whole field and read the camera settings at the bottom of the window.
5) For spectacle wearers like me there is a small wheel at the side of the EVF which when rotated sharpens the view to suit the users eyesight. (Very well thought out)
6) The various focusing points are clearly outlined in the viewfinder when the shutter button is half pressed.
7) Shutter noise level is barely audible due to not having to flip a mirror out of the way, and even on continuous shooting noise does not increase.

I am sorely tempted to purchase as it is so light in weight compared to my Pentax K10D that I feel I could use it as a general 'carry everywhere' camera for every day use.

[Ian]

Re: How Micro Four Thirds has managed to make DSLRs look big and bulky

Hi Ian - I don't know if your review G1 arrived today, but I have just been into town to see if our Jessops branch had received any and lo and behold - they had. The manager said that he had not had time to put them (two) on display yet and he was not sure whether to put it amongst the dslr-s or the pro-sumers as it was not a reflex camera.!! Anyhow I managed to persuade him to let me handle it. My first impressions after 10 minutes handling were :-
1) Very small and not very good for someone with large ,fat hands.( Which I am not!)
2) The little finger of the right hand has nothing to rest on.
3) The LCD is excellent and to be able to rotate it in two axes is very useful.
4) The EVF is very good with only a slight flicker. It focuses very well and has a good field of view. Also even with spectacles I could easily see the whole field and read the camera settings at the bottom of the window.
5) For spectacle wearers like me there is a small wheel at the side of the EVF which when rotated sharpens the view to suit the users eyesight. (Very well thought out)
6) The various focusing points are clearly outlined in the viewfinder when the shutter button is half pressed.
7) Shutter noise level is barely audible due to not having to flip a mirror out of the way, and even on continuous shooting noise does not increase.

I am sorely tempted to purchase as it is so light in weight compared to my Pentax K10D that I feel I could use it as a general 'carry everywhere' camera for every day use.

Dennis, you have beaten me to it! No, my review camera has been delayed by one day. I'm hoping they will include the Four Thirds adapert extender tube.

Thanks for the mini review!

Ian