Panasonic Lumix GX1
Announced November 7, 2011
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Panasonic Lumix GX1 is a compact, responsive system camera that offers enthusiast-level customization and solid image quality in a portable body. While it provides excellent ergonomics and fast autofocus, it lacks a built-in viewfinder and relies on a fixed rear screen.
Weighted from 24 reviewer scores
Pros
- Compact, solid, and ergonomic build
- High-quality image output and low-light capability
- Responsive performance and intuitive controls
- Fast and accurate autofocus system
Cons
- Lack of a built-in viewfinder
- High kit price and added costs for accessories
- Limited video features and controls
- Fixed rear screen lacks articulation
- Noise performance issues at higher ISO settings
- Launch price $699 (USD)
- Sensor 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS
What the Reviewers Say
All 24 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 77/100
The GX1 packages external camera control points and a class-leading touchscreen interface in a classically-styled small form factor that produces the best image quality we've yet seen from a Micro Four Thirds camera.
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Easy to carry, yet not too small, the Panasonic GX1 offers a lot to the photography enthusiast who's looking for a compact system camera. It offers compatibility with a growing set of high-quality lenses, and is a lot of fun to use.
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The GX1 is a very well built, stylish, and capable camera. I have to admit, however, that I struggled a bit with the “Value” ranking.
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With its aluminium chassis and rangefinder style, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 is likely to appeal to enthusiast photographers.
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This is how a mirrorless camera should be designed.
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The Panasonic Lumix GX1 with X lens offers an extremely compact and responsive camera with great controls.
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The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 is the natural successor to the popular GF1, taking many of its design cues from that two-year-old camera whilst incorporating virtually all of the recent advances that Panasonic have made in their other G/GF-series cameras.
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The Panasonic Lumix GX1 is an excellent enthusiast-level compact system camera that offers plenty of flexibility and customisation options in a small and stylish package.
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The GX1 leaves a favourable overall impression: we'd certainly recommend adding it to your list of models to try before you buy if you're shopping for a high-quality CSC that delivers results where it matters.
- CNET 9.3/10
A highly configurable camera that will appeal directly to the more ambitious photographer.
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This little Panasonic is a belter of a camera.
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It’s in the same vein of Sony’s excellent NEX line on all fronts.
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It is responsive, compact, with excellent ergonomics, fast and accurate autofocus and very well placed and accessible controls.
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The many dedicated buttons for instant access to shooting parameters, without having to first press a Menu button, make it quicker to use than most compact APS-sized cameras. Enormous attention has been given to rapid ‘usability’.
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The GX1 is one of those excellent tools that just lets you get on with taking pictures.
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If you want the twin benefits of a compact camera body plus the ability to swap lenses and drill down into manual features to achieve more professional looking pictures, the Panasonic GX1 is currently the brand's best option.
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Well as you can see this camera is very fast it's very high quality and I just really really like it and I recommend it to you.
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I should point out that I've now sold my GF1 and adopted the GX1 as its replacement in my camera collection.
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The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 is a fine camera, if unassuming. But that quality might make it something you’d really enjoy using -- it’s a certain stealthy quality. At the very least, you’ll want to give this one a second look.
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Why you’d buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1: ultra small; easy to use in no-brainer mode.
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I'm very satisfied with the GX1. It feels great in the hand, has lots of external controls, an intuitive menu system, and excellent RAW image quality (albeit JPG just so-so).
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[O]verall, the GX1 really nice camera.
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It is a camera that I find to be very balanced. I like it a lot, first for the image quality it offers if we use interesting lenses, as I mentioned, and then because it is truly a compact camera, a camera that will fit comfortably in a jacket pocket, right?
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In the end I don’t have any regrets and I would highly recommend this camera to anyone looking for a great carry every compact camera.
