the panasonic gh-1 (unsung brilliance?)

[gdi]

if i have it right, the big difference between the gh1 and the g1 is video capability?

There are other differences, including better high ISO performance and the new multi-aspect sensor. The later is rally nice in my opinion: change the aspect ratio while keeping the same angle of view and incur no cropping.

The kit price is quite high, but the new lens is very nice and sells for $850 alone - so the price of the GH1 body is about the same as the G1 and a 14-45 lens kit.

 

[gdi]

This is the only digital camera I have ever used so much that I have begun to wear away the rubberized finish.
/T

It is not just use at work, the finish is simply not durable. Same with the strap lugs - they have been know to just snap off.

Still a nice piece of gear, though...

 

[mawz]

As a former press photographer I can say for myself and most that I know that small size and ability to use all variety of lenses doesn't count for that much. All of the new Canikon DSLRs can do video, and better than the GH/GF1. High iso does matter, flash system does matter. High level build does matter, AF matters. serviceability matters, I can still get my EOS-1D serviced years after it was discontinued. A lineup of lenses that will suit any specialty matters. The Canikons have all of this in *****s.
Press and pros may have a small camera like this to play with (I'm looking at the ep-1 with envy), but there is almost always a Canikon DSLR in the bag for when the shot needs to happen

Actually for video the GH1 is significantly better than any of the Canon's aside from high ISO performance (where the larger sensor is an advantage). It's much more resistant to jello when panning, offers silent, stepless aperture changes on the 14-140HD and can do AF-S and AF-C when shooting video. While Canon is currently tops for video in the DSLR world they do have some distinct crippling of their capability compared to a video camera while Panasonic seems to have done a cleaner job of implementing video in the GH1.

Note the GF1 is less capable when it comes to video compared to the GH1.

 

[mawz]

The GH1 just seems expensive. Most of that cost is tied to the lens, which purportedly is very good (and supposedly a good value), but I don't think you can get the camera new without buying the lens.

Unfortunately Panasonic doesn't sell the GH1 kit with the 14-45 OIS outside of Japan, it's significantly cheaper than the 14-140HD kit which is the only option for a GH1 outside of Japan.

 

[akalai]

Anyone have any knowledge of hacks to install English language firmware over the Japanese only menus of the Japan model Panasonic cameras?

The GF-1 and GH-1 are available in Japan as bodies only... but they need some kind of registry reset in order to prevent any firmware update again being Japanese language only.

Anyone?

 

[NDAv]

There are other differences, including better high ISO performance and the new multi-aspect sensor. The later is rally nice in my opinion: change the aspect ratio while keeping the same angle of view and incur no cropping.

I agree, the multi-apsect ratio sensor is an amazing feature. It is sad so few cameras have it. I would get the GH1 just for this feature if it was available seperately from the kit lense.

 

[Emile de Leon]

My film cameras basically have been put on vacation after I bought the GH1. HD Vid with my Noctilux f. 1.0 or 35 Asph 1.4 wide open is very addictive. This is a truly great camera and a powerhouse tool. And for macro I just pop on a manual Nikon AIS lens..amazing!! I shoot 35mm to 16x20 ULF..but the GH1 is getting all the attention for months now..

 

[astralk]

Anyone have any knowledge of hacks to install English language firmware over the Japanese only menus of the Japan model Panasonic cameras?

The GF-1 and GH-1 are available in Japan as bodies only... but they need some kind of registry reset in order to prevent any firmware update again being Japanese language only.

Anyone?

I have the Japanese GH1 body and looked quite a bit for hacks but gave up. It's a good Katakana teacher, though. You can download the english manual from Panny's site. After reading that I don't really have any problems, as 80% of the menu has icons. The quick menu is mostly in English, too.
I got the whole kit though, the lens is really nice for video.

 

[Ronald_H]

EVF's are the future, flipping mirrors is so 20 years ago. Big changes are afoot in digital photography, 5 years fast forward evreything, anyone one is using today is going to be used about as much as much as my fax machine IMO

You should realise that this is a fangefinder forum. You know, a class of camera that has been pretty much out of vogue since the Nikon F came out 50 years ago. People who like RFs are not easily won over by (r)evolutionary concepts.

But I do think you are right. RF and SLR focusing and viewing are obsolete since the G1. The first time I used the EVF and the screen, and saw how smoothly MF worked, it was nothing short of an epiphany. And that was in a rather dimly lit shop. And it will get better that that.

I do not have much interest in video, but the GH1 should do better than the clunky implementation on most, if not all dSLRs.

Ok, let's be so bold as to make a prediction: That mirror box will soon be a thing of the past. Within 5 years Canikon will have introduced professional mirrorless cameras, and 'classic' SLR sales will go into terminal decline.