subject: Review Panasonic DMC GH1K [print this page] I recently reviewed the E-P1 a couple months ago stating it would be my last camera. Well, I lied. I started getting into video more, so I wanted a camera with full manual control and 24P at an affordable price. That narrowed it down to a 7D, T2i, or GH1. I chose the GH1 mainly due to lens compatability and size. My feelings towards the camera were a bit cold at first. I knew that it was loaded with features, but I guess the E-P1's aesthetics (and my G11) just felt "warmer" when using it. The GH1 is a bit more industrial, but now that I'm used to it, it really doesn't matter much.
The main feature that separates the GH1 from many cameras, not just m43, is the high-bitrate 1080P video (after hacking). I won't get into technicalities, but I will say that most of my footage has been nothing short of amazing. I shot a little movie on backyard bugs (lame, I know) for a couple of days after receiving the camera and the footage really does look like something from National Geographic or Discovery Channel. The only gripes I have about the video is the banding at ISO's past 800. If not properly exposed, the footage is borderline unusable for full-screen viewing. It's not too bad for small-screen web viewing, but if I'm doing something presentable, 500 is probably my limit.
Pictures from the GH1 are pretty nice too, but the JPEGs aren't as good as the PENs. In my opinion, if you're not feeling too inspired to edit each and every photo, and you just want a great out-of-the-box JPEG machine with nice skin-tone, colors and all, get a PEN. You definitely will not be dissapointed. (Who knows? Maybe you'll even find the JPEGs from the GH1 better than the E-Ps.) I've made prints from both the GH1 and the E-P1, and I can honestly say that the E-P1 looks better. If you're shooting RAW, it won't matter. The GH1 has better ISO sensitivity (worse banding control, however), and I wouldn't mind pushing a photo to 1600 or even 2000 since I have Dfine and can easily clean up most of the noise and banding that shows up at high ISOs.
While the GH1 is bigger, uglier (IMO), and less portable than the PENs, it makes up for it with good ergnomics, a swivel LCD, and a nice and bright EVF. The PEN looks better than the GH1 when displaying the two bodies next to each other, but the GH1 feels better in the hand after getting used to it's aesthetics. Although the GH1 really isn't that much bigger than the E-P1, the extra protrusions from the viewfinder, and grip may make it less portable for some who value size over function. It's definitely not as large as my old E-620 or E-510, but it is large enough that I'll consider leaving it at home or in the car if I don't have my messenger bag on me or my girlfriend with me (to use her purse).
Overall, I have to say that I really like the GH-1. Video is amazing, pictures are great, and as of now it's probably the best all-around camera in the m43 range. I honestly can not find a reason to even glance at the GH2 unless if Panasonic can somehow get the AVCHD bitrates remotely close to 35-40MBps. (It won't happen.)
If you're looking for high quality videos at an affordable price, it's hard not to recommend the GH1. If you don't care too much about 1080/24P video and can settle with 720/30P with great JPEGs, then I recommend the E-PL1 or E-P2 (E-P1 has no manual controls for video to stop strobing at high shutter speeds). In the end, I say 4.5 stars, but I'll give it 5 because of Amazon's star rating-system.
