Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 Video Sample Movie | Walk in Paris Montmartre from Pier-Yves Menkhoff on Vimeo.
Pier-Yves sent me the following video and text:
“If the overall grip of the DMC- GM1 is nice, it is not easy to film with the Panasonic. The slightest movement of fingers active the wheel, the menu, touch screen, etc. It is very unpleasant. Also, ity is impossible to use a tripod. Except if you have the Panasonic Lens 14 mm or 12-32 mm. During the editing, I am amazed by the resolution of the image. It seems better than the one of the DMC- GH3.“
CameraLabs (Click here) tested the GM1 and writes:
Where the GM1 really shines though is compared to rival enthusiast compacts like the Sony RX100 II. Even if you never remove the GM1’s kit zoom, the combination enjoys a lot of advantages over the Sony, which for me personally make it a more flexible and usable camera.
More GM1 test at Pixelmania, DC.watch and at Itmedia.
GM1 store links:
In US at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
In Europe at Amazon Germany, Wex Germany, Amazon UK, Fotohanskeuzekamp, Cyberphoto Sweden and Wex UK.
41 Responses
I’ve been shooting with the GM1 a lot lately and have never experienced any handling issues so far. I have medium to large hands and haven’t accidentally touched the screen once. I’m totally blown away with the GM1 – I think my wife is tiring of me saying “wow, this little camera is awesome.”
Returned mine a while back. Too many compromises for such a pricey cam.
Cool story, brah… LEMMIE guess, you pick up a E-m1 or E-P5, instead huh??
Yes, because everyone who doesn’t like a Panasonic camera is an Olympus troll.
They are sooooo perfect in every way.
Do you check under the bed at night in case they’re hiding there.
OH PLEASE… AT 4/3 RUMORS THEY ARE!!
Have GH-3 and GM-1, and just added a GX-7. All have different strengths and weaknesses, but that combo covers a lot of ground. Of all of them the GH-3 is my favorite from a handling perspective. The GM-1 wins as a compact replacement, and I can shoot decent video with it. I had a GX-7, got rid of it, now have it again, mostly so my wife can shoot B-roll video a little more easily. She was using her Canon 6D but it is not easy to use for video run and gun. A bit on the big and heavy side, and pulling focus is tricky. I think the GX-7 will work a lot better for her – she can just use the touchscreen to set AF points, and running the 12-35/2.8 makes it usable in dark clubs. The GH3 stays on a tripod with a prime. Instant 2-camera coverage with only one person required.
If you dont remove the kit zoom, i’m not sure where the advantages of the GM1 are, apart from touchscreen.
RX100 is smaller
RX100 lens is sharper
RX100 more detailed
RX100 is f1.8 at 28mm equiv
RX100 is 105mm equiv vs 64mm
Now, take that lens off and stick the 45/1.8 or 75/1.8 and it blows thr Rx100 out of the galaxy.
But with only the kit, no real advantages..
Faster and more accurate AF.
Very true, RX100 is not that shabby though.
I briefly owned an RX100 and didn’t really take to it. I didn’t like the Sony UI, and while the lens was fast at the wide end, it got slow *very* fast through the zoom range. GM1 with the kit isn’t much larger and gives you way more flexibility. But if you like shooting then Sony, then the RX100 is a compelling alternative. These days I’m finding it is less about specs and more about whether or not the camera is comfortable and the UI is good.
I have both here at the moment,
And the RX100 UI is actually more simple.
And has the (all be it clickless) control wheel.
Don’t get me wrong GM1 is a keeper, but I just think the statement that GM1 with only the kit lens is better than RX100 is pretty inaccurate.
GM1 is 24mm at wide
RX100 is smaller
RX100 lens is sharper
RX100 more detailed
RX100 is f1.8 at 28mm equiv
RX100 is 105mm equiv vs 64mm
RX100 is almost the same, body of GM1 is smaller.
RX100 is sharper, I did not experience this, both are good. Check some testresult on the web. This is one of the best kitlens of the moment.
RX100 more detailed – how do you mean this. Because the sensor is two times bigger and outperformes almost every APC-C sensor..
RX100 f1.8 – true but don’t forget the much bigger sensor. Above ISO800 the RX100 is pretty done. DOF is only better with the 1.8. But for this you can put on the 20mm f1.7 as the same size of the kitlens.
RX 100 has 105mm. True, but you crop easy to 105mm with the GM1.
So I see a lot of advantages above the RX100 🙂
I think in this size there isnt anything comparable. But don’t get me wrong I think the RX100’s are amazing camera’s, but if you want to have good quality in low light, speed and the use of different lenses in a real compact size this is a winner!
The more I read about this GM1 , the more eager I want to have it . But I have owed a GX7 & GX1 as well , Maybe get it as Christmas gift for my sister .
I really want a GH3 vs GX7 vs GM1 video comparison.
I just find it weird that apparently the GX7 and GM1 have the same sensor and engine but people didn’t talk so much about the GX7’s video when it was launched, so I wonder what are the differences in terms of quality.
Yup. I’ve been wondering the same…
That video does look nice. But those shrill bird sounds made me turn the sound off.
Boy, if that’s not graded, that’s some beautiful video. Once the GM1 gets into the closeout/cheap used bin at the end of the model life, I’d seriously consider one to augment my E-M5 as both a compact and small video camera for vacation needs (not that the video out of the E-M5 is bad, and the stabilization is fantastic, but it’s nowhere near that nice).
I like this little camera. I just hope they didn’t make too many of them, or people are always going to be waiting for the firesale prices. This is a niche camera, in my opinion.
Yeah, there’s always the balance between reasonable pricing and glutting the market.
In any case, I’ve spent my camera budget for a while on other gear, and have lenses I want, so there’s no way I’m getting one unless it’s down in the firesale range anyway, so I’m not really a “customer” in the business sense until it gets past the range where Panasonic would care about me.
Because people should pay more for toys, it’s only fair.
My GM1 is on the way, got it for 595€ from German Amazon store. It will replace my GH1 which I didn’t quite use it anymore as it was too big. It will also replace the GX1 as the GM1 is still much smaller. I am not sure though how it will handle with bigger lenses. But most of the time I have the Leica 25 screwed on. Although I would be interested in the SLR magic 25/0.95 and this is quite a bit heavier an bigger.
Two random questions (well, sort of random) that are making me wonder…
1) Is it safe to assume the GX7 would have identical results as the GM1 for video?
2) I know Panasonic has the 12-35mm 2.8 lens which sounds great. Sony’s a7 kit lens is a 24-70mm 3.5-5.6 … so for a micro four thirds camera to get the same focal length and sensitivity, would one essentially need a 12-35mm 1.8-2.8 lens?
That’s all.
Yes, the Sony 28-70 is equivalent to a 14-35 f/1.8-2.8 on micro four thirds, and the upcoming 24-70 is equivalent to a 12-35 f/2.
However, you have to consider that a lens is more than just focal length and aperture. There is sharpness, rendering and bokeh. Either way I’m betting that Sony’s f/4 Zeiss zoom will be the best deal across all mirrorless zooms. Compare its size to the equivalent Olympus 12-35 f/2…
“2) I know Panasonic has the 12-35mm 2.8 lens which sounds great. Sony’s a7 kit lens is a 24-70mm 3.5-5.6 … so for a micro four thirds camera to get the same focal length and sensitivity, would one essentially need a 12-35mm 1.8-2.8 lens?”
The Sony 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS is a little less wide. You mention “sensitivity”, I assume you mean the amount of light let through? In this case, the Panasonic is a faster lens. The Sony would need to be a constant f2.8 to match it. This means you will need a higher ISO in the Sony, all other settings being equal. Light sensitivity is not the same thing as DOF equivalence.
As far as DOF equivalence goes, it’s worth looking at what both will do in actual use. Panasonic will give you a similar DOF at the long end, which is where you would be using it for portraits mainly:
DOF=2.08 feet for the Sony at 70mm, F5.6, 10 feet to focus point
DOF=2.11 feet for the Panasonic at 35mm, F2.8, 10 feet to focus point
In other words, for a portrait, the head will be in good focus using either lens/camera combo, but not much else. And there is very little between them if only used with those lenses: but the Panasonic will be able to freeze motion better, because it is a “faster” lens.
Anyway, all of the latest cameras will serve you well, unless you want to print to the size of a bus. There are very few “wrong” choices on the market now. Try printing one of your best shots large before upgrading, you may be surprised: I have been. I think it is better to choose on feature set and price than worrying about IQ at the moment. Personally, I wouldn’t like to go beyond 16MP right now, because my computer setup will be too slow with the raw files!
I agree with what you’ve said with the addition of that you should be able to shoot around two stops higher ISO on the Sony and get similar results to the Panasonic in terms of noise.
Which is why the ‘equivalence’ people always compare m43 lenses with FF lenses with two stops smaller max aperture when they are comparing systems.
Another way to put it is that to get the advantage of the bigger sensor you need to have less DOF in your pictures when shooting in low light and are shutter speed limited.
If you wish to use the GM1 with anything other than 14mm or stock zoom on a tripod, Panasonic sells an adapter –
http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/DMW-TA1
It´s possible to use the iphone/an android-device as a remote control. So it´s not necessary to touch the camera while recording.
Yes, but between shooting video and wifi, you’ll be swapping batteries like crazy… The GM1 battery’s capacity is pretty meager.
I hope that Pany releases a new grip for GM series with only a little more depth to make room for 4 no. AA rechargeable batteries. They probably would release that with the next GM2 with more features? Alternatively they could go for 2 AA rechargeable batteries and a larger heat sink for video in same grip design. Reportedly the GM1 sensor is already 4K enabled for video so maybe that is why the video is higher IQ than GH3 even without the higher processing needed just as older TVs produced better pictures once HD was broadcast but HD TV sets not yet readily available?
…do you try it sometime?
If you record a video, your phone is “blocked” for control. YOu must set in preferences time for lenght of movie and when you press video record button on phone, you have to wait a whole set time. Without a live view on smartphone. This is not same like on GoPro Hero (for example).
> Also, it is impossible to use a tripod.
It shouldn’t be particularly hard to make an “adapter” to accommodate for the GM1’s size: male screw and female screw weld together.
Panasonic has a $35 tripod adaptor that’s been available since the GF1 was released.
Panasonic DMW-TA1 Tripod Adaptor
Overpriced for a simple funny screw, but I gather it is peanuts for people who care about better video IQ.
Also. Googling for “Tripod Adapter” I found about a gazzilion of adapters of all forms and shapes and colors.
It’s a bargain compared to what Arca compatible tripod plates cost!
But the Panasonic adapter serves an entirely different purpose than Arca compatible plates. If you want the latter, you still have to buy it even if you have the Panasonic adapter already.
BTW I have the GF1 and for none of my lenses I need the mentioned adapter, because I use a Kirk L-bracket (Arca compatible) which fits perfectly. Much better than a two-adapter solution.
And it’s not just a screw like your design. It’s two screws, one of them rotates, has an handle and doesn’t come off, and the surface is probably rubberized.
Still, my tripod is a $10 crap, so not sure I want an adapter priced 3 times the tripod, but it’s not as simple as you put it.
I have a GM1 for a few weeks and I like it very much. Off course, my GH3 is better for mor buttons etc, but I can go with GM1 in a bigger pocket every day, without a bag.
Some pictures I have here:
http://sdrv.ms/1bxwRnG
And for example, this video is with GM1 too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb_lD5Bs_Rc
It is my wife’s camera (resp. will be, as christmas gift), but I probably will buy next one for me too… 🙂
My girlfriend is itching to get a GM1… well, for ME to get one so she can “borrow” it. 😉
Does anyone know any of the nitty gritty details of video recording with the GM1? Like clip length limits and battery life? It’s so tiny I’m thinking it could possibly serve as a gopro replacement that has manual controls and swappable lenses.
@Mr. Reese According to Panasonic owners manual, actual battery life in video mode is around 40 minutes. When I picked mine up in HK, the salesman threw in an extra battery for me.