Chasing the Mystery of the "G1" Sleeping in the Depths of Camera History!

──Reiwa-era Japan.

In this age where digital cameras have become highly advanced, there were those who dared to take on a challenge.

What they are trying to get their hands on is a certain piece of equipment that appeared 17 years ago.

Its name is

the "G1"

──Yes, the world's first mirrorless camera is it.

Is it truly just an old camera?


Or is it a legendary masterpiece that still shines across the ages?

To solve that mystery, we headed into the depths of Amazon...!

──However,
despite searching Amazon day and night, the item we were looking for was nowhere to be found.

No matter how much we searched, there were only pushy Chinese products unrelated to the G1, labeled as sponsors...

Mysterious products that are always on sale whenever you look...

Obviously fake reviews...

K&... that keep popping up no matter how you change your search terms...

We continued our diligent and earnest search, but

I never thought I would finally encounter it in this place...

Thinking that it was all over...

Just when I was about to give up

I was suddenly led to a paradise in the heavens

That was when it happened—

To my surprise, I discovered the long-awaited G1 there...!

Yes,
I was finally able to get my hands on the legendary camera (by paying with points in full)...!

Effectively free—

Those words brought us peace of mind

And now, regarding this ancient camera that I traveled far and wide to unearth,

I know there isn't much demand for it,

but I don't care about that,

and I've compiled it into an unnecessarily long article of over 13,000 characters.

"The World's Oldest Mirrorless Camera"

This is the story of its excavation.

...
...
...

Hmm...

Big lie (っ･д･)=⊃)ﾟ３ﾟ)'∴:.

Well, I'll end the exaggerated, expedition-style narration here, and move on to the explanation and review of this camera (^_^ ;)

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G1

2008—
The concept of the "mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera" was born into this world for the first time.

The memorable first model is

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G1

..

A bold design that, despite being an interchangeable-lens system, dared to remove the "mirror" that is the symbol of the SLR.

This small camera was a true turning point in history that would later significantly change the trends of the entire industry.

This time, I will delve deeply into the true value of the LUMIX G1—what its arrival meant for the history of cameras and what kind of future it paved the way for.

The history leading up to the birth of mirrorless

"Single-lens" is a term etched with a long history and tradition.

The "SLR" (single-lens reflex), which has continued since the film era, has a structure that delivers light passing through the lens directly to the viewfinder using a mirror and pentaprism.

There is a history of many photographers, from professionals to amateurs, trusting and loving this mechanism.

—However, in the mid-2000s, when digitization began to advance rapidly, the size, weight, and complex operability of SLR cameras began to become a "barrier" for more casual users.


While compact digital cameras continued to evolve, they were a separate world that rarely intersected with SLRs—

The ones that tried to break through that were the

"Micro Four Thirds" standard and the

"mirrorless camera" jointly developed by Panasonic and Olympus.

A new camera system that removes the mirror while based on the conventional Four Thirds standard, achieving a more compact and lightweight design.

The very first camera to adopt this new standard was the LUMIX G1.

I have prepared a separate article on the history of Micro Four Thirds, so please be sure to check that out as well.

Restoration Work

When it comes to the world's oldest cameras, many are in poor condition when unearthed, and it is rare to come across one that is fully intact.

Those who acquire one must first begin with the restoration work.

One unpleasant characteristic of this camera is the "
hydrolysis" of the entire body.

This is a phenomenon where the coating, originally intended to give the plastic body a soft, premium feel, deteriorates over time due to humidity and becomes sticky.

This phenomenon, which is almost like a curse of fate, drains the owner's spirit; some seal it away deep in a storage room, while others are destined to pass it on to someone else (like Map Camera)...

However, there are those who resist this fate.

To confront this destiny that almost certainly befalls this camera, we set out on a journey to a remote region (the drugstore) in search of the legendary weapon, "anhydrous ethanol".

Among the various options for how to fight, anhydrous ethanol is a particularly effective weapon for piercing the defense of this curse (the post-hydrolysis coating).

However, even with this legendary weapon, it is difficult to break free from this curse, and while plagued by impatience, one must continue to fight the stubborn curse day by day, slowly scraping away the barrier.

Despite its historical value

This camera, the LUMIX G1.

Although it has historical value and is something that should be passed down, there is not much detailed information about it.
Perhaps this is because when this camera was released, camera-related commentary videos were not yet popular on platforms like YouTube. If anything, there are more videos discussing its curse (hydrolysis) than anything else.

Furthermore, it is no longer handled by major camera stores, so you must venture into the online world relying on your own experience, intuition, and knowledge, searching sites like Yahoo! Auctions and Mercari, sometimes getting deceived, sometimes getting ripped off, and finding a treasure you are satisfied with while acquiring the negotiation skills to survive in this harsh world.

And even if you finally discover one, you must face the formidable enemy of hydrolysis, and only after a long battle using the holy sword (anhydrous ethanol) can you finally claim victory.
As such, since it was released some 17 years ago, there are many in poor condition.

However, I have thoroughly researched this camera, which has historical significance, so I hope you will take a look.

What is the LUMIX G1?

The LUMIX G1 may look like a DSLR, but its interior was built with a completely new philosophy.

This camera was the first mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera released by Panasonic, and it was given the name "G1" as the first model in the company's new camera series.

Subsequently, the following derivative models appeared, and "G" became established as the prefix indicating the entire LUMIX Micro Four Thirds series.

G series: Focused on serious photography

GH series: Designed with video recording in mind

GF series: Models omitting the LVF

GX series: High-spec

GM series: Focused on being compact and lightweight

Main Specs

Lens Mount

• Micro Four Thirds Mount

Weight

• 385g

Effective camera pixels: 12.1 million pixels

• Total pixels 13.06 million pixels

• A high-standard level equivalent to the popular APS-C and full-frame cameras of the time

• While Canon's PowerShot and Sony's Cyber-shot had higher pixel counts in compact digital cameras, image quality is a separate issue

Image sensor: 4/3-inch Live MOS sensor

• A CMOS-based image sensor jointly developed by Panasonic and Olympus in 2006

• Combines the low power consumption of CMOS with the high image quality advantages of CCD

• Other advantages include noise reduction, live view functionality, and the ability to record video

• SSWF (Supersonic Wave Filter) equipped for dust protection

Autofocus

• Contrast detection AF, so-called Contrast AF

• Focus mode switching between AFS, AFC, and MF on the dial on the left side of the top deck

• Face detection AF, tracking AF, 23-point multi-AF, 1-point AF, pre-AF, and AF+MF

Shutter system

• Focal-plane shutter only

• 60 to 1/4000, B (Bulb)

• Continuous shooting (H) 3 frames per second, continuous shooting (L) 2 frames per second

• JPEG storage, RAW storage (.RW2)

ISO Sensitivity

• ISO 100-3200

• ISO Auto, Intelligent ISO

Film Mode

Presets similar to the "Photo Style" feature in current LUMIX cameras.

• Standard

• Dynamic

• Smooth

• Nature

• Nostalgic

• Vibrant

There are 6 types, and in addition, there are 3 types of monochrome mode (B&W):

• Standard B&W

• Dynamic B&W

• Smooth B&W

Furthermore, contrast, sharpness, saturation, and noise reduction can be adjusted within a range of ±2 for each item (saturation adjustment is not available for B&W).
If you use the Multi Film Bracket mode, you can shoot with two or three pre-registered presets simultaneously.

Camera Exterior

Top Coat

As far as I have investigated, I could not find details from the manufacturer, but it is likely that this camera has an (acrylic urethane?) top coat applied.

As for the effects of the coating, it could be to give it a presence and dignity equivalent to other SLR cameras, to protect it from scratches, dirt, and ultraviolet rays, or to make fingerprints less noticeable, but this coating is not used on any current cameras. This is because, as mentioned earlier, a characteristic of this specific coating is that it causes whitening and stickiness due to aging.

Nowadays, rubber-like materials, leather-like materials, and magnesium alloys are used for grips and exteriors, so the "texture production through coating" like the G1 feels a bit like a classic technique.

Dimensions

(W)124×(H)83.6×(D)45.2

In terms of size, I think it's about the same as the LUMIX G100 or S9, or the OM SYSTEM OM-5 in today's camera terms.

Grip

Although this camera is compact, it has a deep grip equivalent to an SLR, and is designed to be comfortable even for long periods of shooting.

Weight

The body weight is 385g, and it doesn't feel like the inside is packed tightly against the chassis; it has a resin body and feels lighter than it actually looks.
I think it could have been made more compact even with the technology of that time, but since it was the beginning of mirrorless cameras, perhaps there was a fear that making it too compact would make it look cheap.

Top Deck (Camera Top)

As for the operation of the top deck, I felt that it was not a very difficult design even when I used it for the first time, and it was arranged so that it could be operated intuitively.
Basically, buttons and levers are concentrated on the right side, including the power lever, mode dial, continuous shooting mode switch lever, film mode button, Q.Menu button, and there is a dial on the front of the body to change the shutter speed and aperture value. On the left side, there is an AF switch dial and a flash open switch.

Electronic Viewfinder

After all, what is characteristic of this camera is the adoption of an electronic viewfinder, or so-called EVF. (Panasonic calls it LVF.)

While OLED and IPS LCDs are mainstream now, this TFT LCD was the mainstream at the time for mobile phones and car navigation systems.
It is a mechanism that displays live view as video in real time, rather than an optical viewfinder (OVF). However, at the time, there were evaluations such as "it's too new and doesn't click" or "it's harder to see than an optical viewfinder," and opinions were divided.

While it is excellent in cost and mass production, disadvantages such as narrow viewing angle, low brightness (when used outdoors), unnatural color reproduction, tendency to stutter, lack of touch operation support, and low resolution were cited.
When I actually used it, although it certainly had its characteristic flickering and a strong video-like feel and lacked resolution, the convenience of being able to overlay setting information in the viewfinder and check the reflection of exposure and white balance in real time became a pioneer of the revolutionary functions that would later become "standard" for camera users.

Vari-angle Monitor

Furthermore, the LUMIX G1 is also the world's first interchangeable lens camera to feature a vari-angle LCD monitor.

Although this G1 does not have video functionality, I feel that incorporating a monitor designed for video shooting with an eye toward the future is very characteristic of Panasonic, with its expertise in video technology.
While there are pros and cons compared to a tilt-type monitor, this movable monitor made high-angle and low-angle shooting much easier, and it has since been incorporated into many cameras released to this day.

Micro Four Thirds Mount

Furthermore, the lens mount adopts the new "Micro Four Thirds" standard.

It is an innovative standard that aims for a balance between a smaller, lighter system and high image quality by shortening the flange back by about half compared to conventional systems.

The development background of the G1 was rooted in the strength of the digital imaging technology that Panasonic had cultivated in the field of televisions and AV equipment.

That is likely why they were able to take the step of removing the mirror and creating a camera structure that relies entirely on electronic display.

No Video Functionality

As I mentioned earlier, this LUMIX G1 does not have video recording functionality as a mirrorless camera.

The initial concept for this camera was
"enjoying high-quality still images with a lightweight interchangeable lens camera"
—it was focused on stills.

Given the manufacturer's image, it is thought that they avoided including video functionality in the first model due to concerns that it would create a "camcorder-like impression." I think it was a rare and challenging attempt for Panasonic, a company known for its video technology.

Even though mirrorless cameras are designed to easily accommodate video functions because they are based on electronic viewfinders and live view, mirrorless cameras without video functions are extremely rare. Perhaps this camera and the Sigma SD Quattro (H) are the only ones.

Introduction of Sample Photos

Since the explanation of this camera has been going on for a while, I would like to show you some sample photos I actually took using the LUMIX G1. The lenses used for shooting are listed with each sample.

Please note in advance that the sample data includes many RAW-processed images, so it may not be a good reference for those looking for "straight-out-of-camera" results.

My Camera's Health Status

I'm a bit late with the introduction, but let me tell you a little about the G1 I used for this shoot.

First, the shutter count.
Since it's a used item, I was curious about how much the previous owners had used the shutter.

When I bought this camera, the shutter count information wasn't listed, so I was worried it might have been used for tens of thousands of shots, but...

To my surprise, the
shutter countwas 2,261... (lol)

How little was it used? lol

Even if it's not a high-durability shutter, I think it's designed to withstand 50,000 shots even by the standards of that time, so I can keep using it heavily from here on out.

The exterior felt a bit worn due to hydrolysis, but if there's no corrosion inside, it's basically in good condition. This is a lucky find 🎯


Next, the version.
When I unearthed it, it was Ver. 1.3.
Did the previous owner not use it after June 2009, or did they just forget about it...

The final version is Ver. 1.5. The update includes improvements to autofocus performance, so it would be a waste not to update it.

The method of downloading the update data from a PC to an SD card is simple, so I finished it quickly.

Finally, the exterior.
I have already posted many photos of the exterior, so I have summarized them into one.

Although there are some uneven spots where the hydrolyzed coating was removed and some missing lettering, the sensor is clean and shiny with no mold, the viewfinder and monitor have no scratches, no yellowing, and no dead pixels. Overall, there are no major noticeable scratches, and there is no corrosion on metal parts such as the hot shoe, screws, or joints.

As a 17-year-old used item, I might have encountered one in quite good condition ＼(^o^)／

G1 Usability

After obtaining a G1 in the condition described above, I would like to talk about my experience using it after shooting with it for a while, but

"I would like you to understand that the performance is clearly inferior compared to current models"

.

I am not trying to disparage, belittle, or look down on it. If you trace back the various improvements that have been made to this day, this is the origin and the very first model that leads to them.

I want to convey what kind of performance that "camera that became the base for all mirrorless cameras" had.

Having said that in advance, I dare to say this.

The AF is just slow

Slow...

Slow...

Slo...

S...

(Echo)

AF (Autofocus) Speed

No, I had researched in advance that the AF was slow, and I already own an Olympus PEN Lite E-PL7, which also has a somewhat slow AF, so I prepared myself for the shoot, but it was even slower than the PEN (lol).

There were few examples of wildlife such as wild bird photos among the G1 examples floating around on the internet, but that makes sense because they would run away before the focus locked on.
In fact, I was able to take a few photos of wild birds, but I struggled because the AF wouldn't keep up when they were moving back and forth, so I feel like I understand why there are few examples of wildlife.

The AFC, which is supposed to keep tracking moving subjects, had intense focus hunting back and forth, and I felt like I was going to get motion sickness while looking through the viewfinder.
In fact, the ones I was able to adopt as examples were taken with AFS, not AFC. In the end, none of the AFC ones were in focus, so I discarded them.

The AF is not just one beat, but about two beats slow, but I don't think it was a problem for landscapes, snapshots, or still life photography where you can take your time setting up. (Follow-up)

Probably.

Anyone who says they want to use this to shoot wild birds in flight is either a true master or a total masochist.

Pre-AF

This is a feature where the camera automatically continues to focus even before you half-press the shutter button when an AF lens is attached. This shortens the AF focusing time when you are ready to shoot, but depending on the situation, I didn't feel it was very effective. Furthermore, since the AF is constantly running, it drains the battery quickly.

23-point Multi-AF

It feels like what we call 'all-target' these days, but it doesn't track the AF, and it sometimes focuses on unexpected places, so if you are experienced, I think 1-point AF is more reliable.

AFS + MF

From my personal experience, I felt that AFC was not suitable for bird photography because the subjects were too fast for the contrast AF to keep up, so I used AFS + MF to handle it. If you have the skill to adjust by turning the focus ring for fast-moving subjects and also use trap focus, I think you can capture shutter opportunities for birds in flight even with this camera. By the way, I was almost completely unsuccessful with flight shots 😇

AF loses focus during continuous shooting

There are two types of continuous shooting speeds for the G1: (H) at 3 frames per second and (L) at 2 frames per second. When using continuous shooting for bird photography, it was honestly unusable because
the blackout time was long and it completely lost focus from the second shot onwards. I think it's more reliable to focus quickly using the aforementioned method and take continuous single shots. Also, be careful because if you shoot wastefully, you will quickly hit the write limit and cause a buffer jam.

ISO and Noise

As expected, the very early MFT sensors are prone to noise and have issues with narrow dynamic range, so those who want to get as clean a resolution as possible need to be quite careful with ISO settings.

Depending on the situation, there were times when the shadows looked suspicious even at ISO 400, so if you have room in your shutter speed, I felt it was better to fix the ISO value between 100 and 200 rather than using ISO Auto.

There is a feature called Intelligent ISO, but I think it is probably a feature for beginners. If you have some camera experience and are particular about image quality, I don't really recommend the ISO Auto on this camera. I think it is more reliable to fix the ISO value in modes like A mode.

Rendering Capability

The speed and accuracy of the AF were indeed as rumored, but I thought the natural way the colors were rendered as a finished work was good. The rendering is smooth, and I felt that the direction of the rendering, or personally, the rendering of 'white,' was different from Olympus, even though it is the same Micro Four Thirds. There was also prior information that the saturation was thin, and I certainly felt that the saturation was thin overall and the contrast was also a bit weak.

The narrow dynamic range and weak noise resistance are part of its charm. You just have to accept it for what it is and enjoy it (laughs).
Nowadays, there are noise reduction features, so you can handle a bit of high ISO.

However, perhaps due to the influence of reflected light, color casts can sometimes become intensely skewed in strange directions, so there were times when it was difficult to correct even in RAW development unless I checked carefully in Live View before shooting.

Recording Quality

There are three types of maximum recording pixel counts for the 4:3 aspect ratio: S, M, and L, with L being the maximum of approximately 12.1 megapixels. M is 5.9 megapixels, and S is 3.1 megapixels. If you select 3:2 or 16:9 aspect ratios, the pixel count for each size drops by about 10-20%.

There are two types of JPEG image compression ratios, Fine and Standard, and it is possible to save simultaneously with RAW or save only in RAW.

Film Mode

One mistake I made was that when I set the data shot with Film Mode presets to "Save RAW only," the preset effects were invalidated.
Since I bought it used, I downloaded the genuine development software online, but the version compatible with the G1 was not supported on my M3 MacBook and could not be used (crying).

If you want to save Film Mode presets, please be sure to save as "RAW+JPEG" or "JPEG"!

(*If there is any way to bring out preset effects with just RAW, please let me know lol)

Multi-Film Bracket

Also, there is a feature called Multi-Film Bracket, which is a mode that switches between two or three pre-set presets every time you press the shutter.
However, please be aware that it does not process multiple types in a single shot, so it may just unnecessarily increase your shutter count.

Image Stabilization

Since in-body image stabilization is not included, image stabilization depends on the lens. A common ailment of MFT cameras from this era up to around 2014 is the "image stabilization error," but since it doesn't have an image stabilization mechanism in the first place, you don't need to worry about that.

However, I tried handheld shooting with a Voigtländer Nokton that lacks lens-side image stabilization, and perhaps thanks to it being lightweight and having a Micro Four Thirds sensor, it surprisingly didn't shake even when I dropped the shutter speed significantly.

However, image stabilization is essential when using super-telephoto lenses. When I was shooting sparrows with a 300mm or 150-400mm lens attached, I tried turning off the image stabilization, and they all ended up severely blurry.

Shooting without a lens

When using "lenses without electronic contacts" like Voigtländer, you cannot use them unless you set "Shoot w/o Lens" to ON in the settings. MF-only lenses cannot use MF assist, and since they don't support touch panel operation, you cannot magnify the screen, making focusing difficult at times.

Finder (LVF), Monitor

I will omit parts that overlap with what I mentioned earlier, but the poor resolution when magnifying shooting data and the lack of screen brightness were very troublesome when shooting.
Also, the lack of a level display is quite inconvenient, and the histogram display is inaccurate, and the variety of grid lines is limited, but I suppose that's to be expected for the first model.

The Impact of the G1 on the Industry

Although there were various challenges such as operability, the arrival of the G1 had a major impact on the camera industry that followed.

When the LUMIX G1 appeared in 2008, the main players in the DSLR market were models like the Canon EOS Kiss X2, Nikon D60, and Sony α350. All of these were equipped with APS-C sensors and, like the LUMIX G1, were models targeted more toward entry-level to mid-range users.
However, these cameras all had large bodies and heavy lenses, and it seems that for beginners in particular, many still felt that DSLRs were “authentic but unapproachable.”

Coloring with a Clear Target

As far as I have researched past sales lineups, while the mainstream colors in the DSLR era were almost exclusively “black” and “silver,” colorful bodies at that time were a trend seen only in compact cameras.
In the case of SLR cameras, it seems that red and blue existed rarely as corporate tie-ups or commemorative models, but there were almost no examples sold widely through retail channels.

In such an era, the LUMIX G1 was the first mass-produced interchangeable lens camera to offer red, blue, and black color variations as an official product lineup.

At the time of its 2008 release, it can be seen that there was a clear marketing strategy aimed at women and beginners, and in fact, it is said that female users and people in their 20s accounted for more than 30% of the G series' customer base at the time.

The G1 can be said to be a very symbolic camera in that it broke the stereotype that “interchangeable lens cameras are black and bulky.”

In other words, the G1 was a camera that fundamentally rethought camera usability, aiming to allow women and beginners to enjoy the image quality of a single-lens camera more casually while differentiating itself from other companies.

G1 Sales Volume

Since the monthly production volume at the time of the G1's introduction was about 6,000 to 8,000 units, I estimate that over 200,000 units were likely sold in total. While the Canon EOS Kiss X2 and Nikon D90, which were released in the same year, sold over 1 million units each with video functions, the G1's figure of 200,000 units does not seem to have been a massive hit, but I think it was a success as a “launch model.” As a result, it has led to the overall popularity of the current LUMIX series.

The Seeds Sown Begin to Sprout

The year after the G1's debut, the GH1 was released, which supported video recording. This opened up the potential for Micro Four Thirds as a camera for video production.

Before long, Olympus developed stylish mirrorless cameras with the PEN series, cultivating many female users.

Furthermore, in 2010, Sony launched the NEX series, establishing a new field of compact mirrorless cameras equipped with APS-C sensors.

Fujifilm's X-Pro1, as well as Canon's EOS M and the Nikon 1 series—
the seeds sown by the G1 spread to the lineups of various companies within a few years.

Today, professional full-frame mirrorless cameras have become the mainstream, and DSLR cameras are almost disappearing from the market.
The catalyst that created this major turning point was precisely the G1.

The Meaning and Value of the G1's Arrival

Products that open up a new era always start as “heretical.”

The LUMIX G1 was also an existence that looked like an “oddity” from the common sense of that time.

However, it is a truly fascinating phenomenon that this eccentric device
has become the norm 17 years later,

or rather, it has become the "standard."

The G1 is not a camera that competes on the latest specs or speed.

However, its concept, philosophy, and structure are connected to every mirrorless camera today.


A small revolution eventually changes the world—

the camera that actually proved this is

the world's first mirrorless camera, the LUMIX G1.

Its birth was not only a story of technological innovation,

but also

the dawn of an era where "everyone can enjoy cameras more easily."

It was the beginning of that era.

The seeds of revolution packed into this small body are certainly still alive in the latest cameras we hold in our hands today.

　It is not a camera that pursued functional beauty

　　It does not have performance that could be called legendary

　　　　It is not just an old camera either

There is a view that only those who are ahead of their time can see—

The LUMIX G1 was that very first step.

✄--------------------------------------------------------

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