Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 – Best of Both Worlds?

What’s not a full DSLR but not a standard point ‘n’ shoot camera?

Not sure?

Check out Panasonic‘s first Micro ‘Four Thirds-standard camera’, the Lumix DMC-G1.

It has the bragging rights to being the world’s smallest and lightest camera that takes interchangeable lenses.

The 12.1-megapixel camera uses a format that ditches the internal mirror and prism while maintaining a DSLR-sized sensor.  

It has a flip-out, 3-inch, high res (1.44 million pixels!) Live viewfinder and a 12.1 megapixel Live MOS Sensor. All that jargo means that this snapper weighs in at 385-grams (0.85-pounds) and just 20-mm thick.

Rounding out the specs are optical image stabilization (MEGA OIS), intelligent ISO, AF tracking, face detection, HDMI output, and intelligent scene selector with Venus Engine HD image processing and a Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction system.  I hope all that makes sense! 

The Japanese will get the G1 on October 31st.

The body alone is expected to cost ¥80,000 (about $750 tax inclusive) on up to ¥120,000 (about $1,200 tax inclusive) with bundled LUMIX G Vario 45-200mm F4-5.6 MEGA OIS lens.