Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Kit 12.1-megapixel digital camera with 14-45mm image stabilizing lens (Blue)

Features
Battery Information
Supplied Software

Features

Micro Four Thirds: The DMC-G1 uses the Micro Four Thirds System standard, developed as an extended version of the Four Thirds System standard for digital cameras. Using this standard, and developing a camera body that eliminates the mirror box and optical viewfinder (the optical viewfinder is replaced by an LCD viewfinder), Panasonic built an extremely compact digital SLR camera.

LCD Monitor: The DMC-G1 has a 3.0-inch TFT LCD monitor with 460,000 pixels, useful for Live View composition, viewing camera settings, and viewing recorded pictures. The LCD rotates both horizontally (180°) and vertically (270°).

Full Time Live View: Photo subjects can be viewed directly on the 3.0-inch LCD monitor. The DMC-G1's Full-time Live View lets you see in the LCD how adjusting the exposure, white balance, aperture, and even the shutter speed will affect the photo. When the ambient lighting changes, the LCD backlight level automatically changes also.

Eye Sensor: When composing images, the Eye Sensor detects your eye close to the viewfinder and turns the LCD monitor screen off to prevent the LCD monitor's brightness from disturbing the your eye while looking through the viewfinder.

12.1-Megapixel Sensor: The DMC-G1's 4/3-type 17.3mm x 13mm Live MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor with 12.1 megapixels (effective) offers superior image quality and low power consumption. You can record images with a 4:3, 3:2, or 16:9 aspect ratio. Natural color reproduction is obtained with a primary color filter.

Included Lens: The DMC-G1 comes with the H-FS014045 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 lens with an Aspherical lens element, consisting of 12 elements in 9 groups. It features manual zoom and focus rings and has built-in Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer). The image stabilizer can be turned on/off with a switch on the barrel of the lens. The lens' 35mm equivalent focal length is 28-90mm.

Recording Media: The DMC-G1 records JPEG and RAW still images on SD, SDHC, or MMC memory cards. No memory card is supplied with the camera. SD cards from 8 MB to 2 GB are compatible, as are 4 GB, 6 GB, 8 GB, 12 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB SDHC cards.

Image Recording Format: The camera records still images in JPEG and RAW formats. The RAW file format records the image data as captured by the camera's sensor without further processing. RAW images are compressed, but the compression is reversible so that a high-quality image can be obtained from the decompressed file without any loss of image quality. Whenever you use the DMC-G1, you can choose to have it record RAW files or JPEG files alone, or you can record a RAW file and a JPEG file simultaneously.

Image Capacity: A 2 GB SD memory card has the following capacity given these file settings:

Burst Mode: Pictures are taken repeatedly as long as you hold the shutter button down in burst mode; the camera stores approximately 3 images per second. When recording RAW images a maximum of seven pictures are taken. When not recording RAW images, pictures are recorded until the memory card is full.

Self-Timer: The self timer can be used to delay the shutter 10 seconds or 2 seconds. It's also an option to take 3 consecutive pictures after the 10 second delay.

Remote Control: The optional DMW-RSL1 (item number 133RSL1) is a wired remote shutter release button. With the camera on a tripod you can shoot images without touching the camera; this helps reduce camera shake.

Auto Focus Modes: You can change the auto focus mode to suit the subject(s); select from the following options:

• Face Detection: the camera automatically detects faces anywhere in the frame and adjusts focus and exposure accordingly
• AF Tracking: focus and exposure are adjusted for a specific subject; the settings follow that subject even if it moves (also called Dynamic Tracking)
• 23-Area Focusing: up to 23 areas are use for auto focus
• 1-Area Focusing: focus and exposure are adjusted for a specific area in the frame (the focus area can be moved)

Intelligent Auto Mode: Intelligent Auto mode (iA) activates six detection and compensation functions that work automatically, leaving you free to just aim and shoot:

• Scene detection: intelligent scene selector identifies the optimal scene mode (portrait, scenery, etc)
• Face Detection: when the scene is set to Portrait or Night Portrait, the focus and exposure are automatically adjusted to the face(s) in the frame
• Backlight Compensation: the subject's exposure is automatically adjusted when a backlight is present
• Subject detection: AF Tracking follows moving subjects, focus and exposure are adjusted accordingly
• Intelligent ISO Control: helps prevent blur caused by subject motion
• Intelligent Exposure: adjusts the brightness of dark areas in the image

Shooting Modes: In addition to intelligent Auto, the DMC-G1 offers the following recording modes:

• Program AE: general-purpose shooting mode, the camera automatically sets the shutter speed and aperture value to suit the scene's brightness but offers more adjustment freedom than the iA mode
• Aperture-priority AE: set the desired aperture value and the camera sets the shutter speed automatically to suit the subject brightness
• Shutter-priority AE: set the shutter speed and the camera automatically sets the aperture value to suit the brightness of the subject
• Manual Exposure: set both the shutter speed and aperture value as desired
• Custom Mode: three custom exposure settings can be programmed, then recalled easily
• My Color Mode: adjust the color, brightness, and saturation before taking the picture
• Scene Mode: choose the scene that best suits the setting; Sunset, Party (indoors), Baby 1/Baby 2, or Pet
• Advanced Scene Modes:
  • Portrait: person stands out from the background; choose Normal, Soft Skin, Outdoor, Indoor, or Creative (change the amount of background blurring)
  • Scenery: choose Normal, Nature, Architecture, or Creative (adjust shutter speed)
  • Sports: choose Normal, Outdoor, Indoor, or Creative (adjust shutter speed)
  • Close-up: choose Flower, Food, Objects, or Creative (change the amount of background blurring)
  • Night Portrait: choose Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Illuminations, or Creative Night Scenery (adjust aperture)

AF-Assist Beam: Under low-light conditions, the built-in autofocus assist lamp illuminates when you press the shutter button halfway. This is to illuminate the subject and enable easier autofocusing.

Built-In Flash: The camera features a built-in flash for indoor, low light, or backlit conditions. The flash output (Exposure Value) is adjustable from -2 to +2 in 1/3 EV steps.

Red-Eye Reduction: This feature uses the a pre-flash before taking a flash picture to reduce the red-eye effect.

Bulb Exposures: When bulb is set, the shutter is open during the time you keep pressing the shutter button fully (up to approximately 4 minutes). Bulb is useful when a long exposure is necessary for capturing night scenes, fireworks, the night sky, etc.

Accessory Hot Shoe: You can add an external flash, model DMW-FL360 or DMW-FL220 (item numbers 133FL220 and 133FL360), to the Hot Shoe on the DMC-G1.

Metering Modes: You can select from the following metering modes:

• Multiple: measures the brightness over the entire frame automatically
• Center Weighted: the metering is weighted at the center and then averaged for the entire frame
• Spot Metering: for metering a specific part of the subject

Exposure Compensation: Exposure compensation is used to alter the camera's standard exposure setting. You can make the image look lighter (increased exposure) or darker (decreased exposure). The exposure compensation amount can be set up to +/-3 stops in 1/3-stop increments.

Auto Bracket: Up to 7 pictures can be taken with different exposure settings each time the shutter button is pressed using the Auto Bracket function. Select 3, 5, or 7 pictures and 1/3 stop or 2/3 stop exposure differences.

AE Lock: AE lock enables you to lock the exposure at a different place from the point of focus. After locking the exposure, you can recompose the shot while maintaining the desired exposure level. This feature is useful for backlit and spotlighted subjects.

White Balance: You can choose automatic white balance (AWB) or one of the following settings:

• Sunny: outdoors under a clear sky
• Cloudy: outdoors under a cloudy sky
• Shade: outdoors in the shade
• Incandescent: incandescent light only
• Flash: light from flash only
• Custom: program 2 custom presets
• Temperature: set a specific color temperature

Color Space: The color space refers to the range of reproducible colors. With this camera, you can set the color space for captured images to sRGB or AdobeRGB. For normal images, sRGB is recommended, because it serves as a best guess solution for how a personal PC monitor produces color, and how a printer reproduces that color. The sRGB color gamut has become the standard color space for displaying images on the internet, and for home use. AdobeRGB improves on the color gamut of sRGB and is use primarily in commercial printing.

TV Playback: With the included composite video cable you can connect the camera to a TV set and view images on your TV screen. The DMC-G1 will also display high definition pictures on an HDTV when an optional mini-HDMI to HDMI cable is used.

PictBridge Printing Capability: Using the supplied USB cable, you can connect this camera directly to a PictBridge compliant printer. PictBridge is a new standard that allows you to connect a PictBridge compliant camera directly to a PictBridge compliant printer and make prints, regardless of brand.

Exif Print (Exif 2.21): The DMC-G1 conforms to Exif Print, a worldwide standard. Vital camera settings (such as: exposure mode, white balance, exposure time) and scene data are recorded to the image file when it is captured. Printers compatible with Exif Print are able to use this information to produce high quality photographs, exactly the way they were intended at the time of capture. This intelligent communication process also allows the printer to correct for poor lighting or mistakes, resulting in photos that can be even better than the originals.

Battery Information

Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery: The DMC-G1 comes with a Panasonic DMW-BLB13PP Lithium-ion battery. The battery takes approximately 2-1/2 hours to fully charge.

ECO: To save battery power, the camera and/or the LCD monitor can be set to turn off automatically after a period of non-operation; the camera power off time can be set to 1, 2, 5, or 10 minutes and the LCD power off time can be set to 15 or 30 seconds.

Backup Battery: The camera features a built-in secondary battery to backup date and time information.

Supplied Software

Supplied Software:

• PHOTOfunSTUDIO-viewer (Windows): allows you to download and categorize images on your computer; you can then resize pictures, add effects, write to CD-R, and set printing functions
• SILKYPIX Developer Studio (Windows/Macintosh): edit RAW format images
• USB Driver (Windows): driver needed for Windows 98 and 98SE

Minimum System Requirements: