The Panasonic CM1 project leaders (Image source DC.watch).
If you are curious to learn more about the Panasonic CM1 1 inch smartphone camera check out the review at EosHD part one and part two. And he writes:
Panasonic are in a tricky strategic situation with this kind of device. It has to be high end and it is. But being high end, it has to compete against the best smartphones in the world as a smartphone and the best compacts in the world as a camera. It is neither. Too many compromise to get them in the same body it seems.
A full Japanese interview with the CM1 developers can be read at DC.watch (google translation here).
6 Responses
As much as I want a better 1” sensor camera in my phone, I would never want to scarify the functionality and usability of my iphone.
For me, the CM1 is unattractive mainly because of the camera, not so much the phone, and because the whole thing is just too big and heavy. I do like Android phones for a couple of reasons, but a wide-angle prime fixed-lens camera, even if it was a really good one, could never make me not want to carry a small zoom compact or a small mirrorless system camera, too. I’ve had several phones with not-too-crappy cameras so far, but I’ve hardly used them as such.
I’m using it for a couple of weeks and I don’t find it too big or heavy. I’m not a pro (at all !), but it’s a great tool if one wants a pocketable photographic tool, always ready and easy to use.
Nothing to say about the phone part, as it is a full smartphone with all Android features (which I’m not really fond of, being a long time iPhone user).
One big drawback : in France, it seems that Panasonic doesn’t try to sell this product at all, which is strange considering that CM1 is only available in France and Germany, and considering it’s high price : it won’t sell itself, so why selling it only in very few shops, where it is not even always displayed on the shelves, with poor advertisement ? As the phone come with absolutely nothing to protect him (not even a micro-usb cable !) and no one to promote him, I have the feeling that Panasonic is paving the road to commercial failure. Too bad, as I can say, as a daily user, that it’s a good product.
both reviews: “blah blah blah, it’s not an iPhone, blah blah blah, but it’s no iPhone”
It’s unfortunate that the in-camera JPEGs don’t look nice and the auto-WB is iffy, but I imagine anyone buying this thing would be shooting raw and using some degree of manual controls & burst to get the best possible shot in low light scenarios. I’m looking forward to a review that evaluates it as a pocketable photographic tool (startup time, controls & ergonomics & GUI, AF speed/reliability, lens quality, ISO tests) than a smartphone with an unusual camera module on it.
When are they going to fix the Rumors bug? New posts are appearing on page 2, for me……
Don’t waste your time clicking on that EOSHD review link…its a total load of crap. Some much guff and little real content from a camera review POV. He spent half his time writing how terrible it looked compared to the iphone 6plus and how terrible android is as an OS…..when it came down to the photo comparisons between the phones, he just ignored the clear IQ difference. Possibly the worst camera review ever.