With its elegant dimensions of 99 x 55 x 30 mm, the Panasonic Lumix GM1 demonstrates for the first time the full compact potential, which is in the Micro Four Thirds standard. In the case of the Lumix GM1, a 16-megapixel sensor in the four-thirds format as well as the signal processing of the “big sister” Panasonic Lumix GX7.
Features
The small yet grippy adjustment ring on the upper right of the magnesium housing of the Panasonic Lumix GM1 reveals that the mini camera has the same extensive exposure program as the Lumix GX7. Only C3 - the third memory location for individually preferred function combinations - is missing. For the Lumix GM1, C1 and C2 must be sufficient.
Exposure, autofocus, series
The Panasonic Lumix GM1 uses the same 16 megapixel CMOS sensor and image processor as the Lumix GX7. What is missing is the image stabilization introduced for the first time with the GX7 with a Lumix by sensor shift in the camera. There was no more space for a seeker and a system flash. After all, a miniblitz to the shadow brightening on room distance in the housing of the GM1 fit. Despite its small size, the Panasonic Lumix GM1 is equipped with a fully-integrated 3-inch (7.5 cm) touch-screen LCD monitor in 3: 2 format.
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If you use all pixels in the 4: 3 format, you only see a monitor with a 7 cm diagonal. With 345 333 RGB pixels, the monitor offers a sharp image, even with an oblique view angle. In a very bright environment, one misses an electronic viewfinder as an alternative. With the display button, the photographer can quickly switch between differently large monitor displays.
Operation
In the exposure measurement, variable multi-field (1728), center-weighted and spot metering are available. Exposure corrections are possible with up to 5 EV, exposure series with a maximum of 3 EV in 7 photos. Also white balance exposure series makes the Panasonic Lumix GM1. A special feature is the combination of electronic and mechanical shutter to save space. With the electronic shutter (the sensor regulates the exposure time) are up to 1 / 16.000 s in it, on request completely silent.
The mechanical slit closure has to deal with the compact design with only one curtain, which stops the exposure. This results in a shortest exposure time of only 1/500 s and a shortest X sync time of 1/50 s. The shutter control can be switched either automatically or manually. The options for the exposure range from 23 scene modes via an automatic program with shift option as well as aperture and time control to the manual time and aperture selection with quasi-analog scale display on the LC monitor
In the Intelligent Auto mode of the Panasonic Lumix GM1 are also thanks to multishot technology free to make night or HDR recordings. HD videos in 1.080 / 50i can be recorded with manual time or aperture setting. At the autofocus, Panasonic continues to rely on a pure contrast AF system. As the results in the laboratory show, it is one of the fastest at the moment, with a response time of 100 lx and 0.33 s at 30 lx, even an idea faster than that in the GX7 (0.23 / 0.39 S). Even an Olympus OM-D EM-1 (test) (0.17 / 0.32 sec) does not work faster.
We liked the fast response of the touch-AF and the facial recognition. MF mode is quickly activated thanks to a direct switch. However, the manual focusing is somewhat hidden in the case of objectives without a focusing ring, for example with the kit lens. The fastest way to focus on the subject is by touching a subject detail on the touch screen. If you want to manually focus, you must press the four-way button's focus mode button before you can use the right / left buttons or the virtual touchscreen slider. Focus peaking and magnifying function are useful tools for precise focusing.
With a maximum of 4.7 B / s, the Panasonic Lumix GM1 is slightly slower than the Lumix GX7, but can then take 40 photos at a time instead of only 10. In the RAW format the Lumix GM1 makes up to 9 photos with 3.9 B / s. Among their special features are the time-lapse and stop-motion film animation, which invite you to experiment.
Due to the compact housing, the Panasonic Lumix GM1 has less and smaller controls than the GX7. The operation is correspondingly more touchscreen-oriented. However, the camera has a dial for focusing options AFs, AFC, and MF at the top of the case. In the middle of it is the first of six function keys, which is activated with WLAN activation. Like the other function buttons, it can also be set up differently.
The focal length can be adjusted quickly and precisely on a manual zoom ring. With the same ring you can zoom in and out. In its touchscreen operation, the GM1 is as comfortable as GX7. The menu items are arranged behind the five side tabs in groups of 5 to scroll through. In practice, the GM1 can recall the last changed menu item as the first one. The operation via the small adjustment ring with a diameter of only 15 mm for the passage of the menus and the setting of, for example, program shift or exposure requires a bit of sharp fingers.
If you want to choose time or aperture, then quickly adjusts the white balance if it is too tight. The fact that the Panasonic Lumix GM1 only has a rotating wheel, requires only a manual push-button and an additional push-button for switching. The GM1 can be connected to an HDTV device via HDMI cable or connected to other devices via WLAN. While image control and capture control are wireless with tablet or smartphone with installed app possible, the GM1 outputs via HDMI via cable images only for playback, but no live-view camera image.
The smallest (not only) Micro Four Thirds camera with its values at eye level not only with the best 4/3 cameras, but also with the APS-C class. With a maximum of 1.681 LP / BH, it is able to withstand the resolving power of the 16 megapixel sensor at ISO 200 almost as far as the Nyquist limit of 1,724 LP / BH and also allows IS0 400 with 1,660 LP / BH as well as with ISO 800 with 1,633 LP / BH hardly ever.
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With the dead-leaves values, it achieves good values of 1,287 at ISO 200 and up to 1,107 at ISO 3,200. However, she draws the contrasts partly over 1 and even over 1.2. Overall, the detail drawing at ISO 200 is good, from ISO 800 losses occur which are more pronounced above ISO 1,600. At low ISO values, the noise is low, becomes visible at ISO 800, and is more pronounced at ISO 1,600, which contributes to detail loss.
Overall, however, it is a rather harsh rushing impression, which is a lot more pleasant than the noise-reducing soft-drawing effects of some competitors. The wage for the Panasonic Lumix GM1 is a pleasant picture impression and a total score of 52 points.
Image quality
The Panasonic Lumix GM1 does not offer a viewfinder, but a convincing performance package in a high-quality, solid miniature housing. Apart from good picture quality, they also include a fast AF, which makes many others look old, and a huge variety of functions, which not only makes it easy for beginners to have an iA mode. For this the GM1 works, if desired, completely silent. The flat, quiet, manual compact zoom from 24 mm wide angle is the ideal complement to the GM1. This makes the Lumix GM1 the clear buying tip not only for its compactness.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
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