Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 review

Expert Reviews is proud to bring you this Panasonic GX1 review from Short Sharp Reviews – click through to YouTube for a 1080p HD version

We’re big fans of compact system cameras (CSCs) but we’re yet to see one that hits a home run of image quality, performance, controls and features. The Sony NEX-5N came closest with its exceptionally high image and video quality, but it can be slow to focus and its scarcity of buttons and dials isn’t ideal for photography enthusiasts. That’s the camera the Panasonic GX1 has to beat.

The GX1 takes an early lead with its controls. It’s reminiscent of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1, with a proper mode dial plus dedicated buttons for ISO speed, white balance, drive mode, focus area, focus mode and AE/AF lock. The latter can be reassigned, and there’s a further unlabelled Fn button that can be assigned to one of 25 functions. The metal buttons look smart but their engraved labels are a little tricky to read. The touchscreen is extremely useful for moving the autofocus point and navigating the appropriately named Quick Menu, which gives access to other photographic settings.

The NEX-5N has the advantage for ergonomics, though. The GX1 has a rubber handgrip – a significant improvement on the flat-fronted GF range – but the NEX-5N’s grip is more substantial. The NEX-5N’s tilting screen is extremely useful for video and macro photography, although we prefer the GX1 screen’s 3:2 aspect ratio to the 5N’s 16:9, as photos fill the screen and so are bigger in real terms. The GX1 makes up further ground by including an integrated pop-up flash rather than a clip-on unit. It’s also possible to tilt the flash to bounce light off the ceiling, although its limited power restricts this function’s usefulness. We’re delighted that Panasonic has gone with a standard hotshoe, which is much more versatile than the Sony’s proprietary accessory port.

The kit lens uses a pair of levers rather than rings to control zoom and focus. It took us a while to get used to using them without having to peer around to the front of the camera to remind us of their location. Both offer a two-speed operation, adjusting faster when they’re pressed harder, but neither was as quick or as satisfying to use as a lens ring.

However, if that’s the price that must be paid for this lens’s remarkable compactness, then it’s one worth paying. CSCs’ portability is often compromised by their bulky kit lenses – the NEX-5N may be light but it’s not pocket-sized, measuring 99mm from screen to lens cap. The GX1 is 65mm when powered down, so it’ll fit in a coat pocket much more easily. There are various fixed-zoom pancake lenses available, but fitting a 3x zoom lens into such a small space is a remarkable achievement.

Its superior controls make the GX1 faster than the NEX-5N for adjusting settings, and it’s faster to take photos too. It took just 0.45 seconds between shots in normal use – a new record for a CSC and faster than most SLRs. This is largely thanks to the autofocus, which was incredibly quick in bright light and took less than half a second in low light. Flash photography wasn’t so impressive, though, with the GX1 taking up to 6.5 seconds compared to the NEX-5N’s 2.3 seconds.

Both cameras have a range of continuous shooting options, and on balance, the GX1’s are more impressive. There’s 4.1fps shooting for 23 JPEGs or 10 RAW shots before slowing to the speed of the memory card. Continuous mode with updating autofocus ran at 2.6fps, and there’s a 4-megapixel mode that captured 40 shots at 20fps.

Outdoor image quality is excellent but there’s a slight loss of clarity in the dense texture of these rushes

In our review of the NEX-5N we reported slightly soft focus from its kit lens in wide-angle, wide-aperture shots. In practice, though, the 5N and GX1 were hard to separate for lens sharpness, and the NEX-5N’s JPEG processing handled subtle details a little better. There was slight evidence of noise reduction and even a little chroma noise in the GX1’s output at the slowest ISO 160 setting. This is disappointing but it was only perceptible in heavily cropped photos.

The NEX-5N extended its lead as the ISO speed went up. By ISO 1600, the GX1’s noise levels were still low but details had been softened by noise reduction. However, both cameras produced perfectly usable results up to ISO 3200, so it was only in very low light that the NEX-5N’s cleaner output became significant.

It can’t quite match the Sony NEX-5N for low noise, but passable skin textures at ISO 6400 is extremely good going nonetheless

Comparing their video modes told a similar story. In bright conditions the two cameras were level pegging for picture quality, but in low light the GX1 fell behind, exhibiting more noise and less detail than the 5N. The 5N also benefits from a choice of frame rates up to 50p and full control over manual exposure – features the GX1 lacks. It’s important to note that the GX1 is still an exceptionally good video camera, especially with its smooth, silent autofocusing. It’s just that the NEX-5N is even better.

The GX1 is a compelling upgrade for GF1 owners, with significant improvements to image quality, higher-resolution videos, a small but welcome boost to performance and genuinely useful touchscreen control.

There’s a wide range of lenses available for Panasonic’s G-series now

For those choosing their first CSC, it’s a close-run race between the GX1 and the NEX-5N. Both produce gorgeous photos and videos in bright conditions. While the NEX-5N takes a clear lead for noise levels in low light, its slower autofocus makes it harder to capture moving subjects, especially in low light. As such, the 5N can be superb in low light but the GX1 is dependably good.

The GX1’s superior controls and standard hotshoe will appeal to people who are used to using an SLR, while the NEX-5N’s simpler controls and clever shooting modes are better suited to more casual photographers. The NEX-5N is also around £150 cheaper as we go to press, although swapping the GX1’s collapsible zoom lens for the more conventional 14-42mm lens (as per the Panasonic G3 kit) brings their prices in line with each other. It’s not just a matter of the GX1 being the connoisseur’s choice, though – its lack of control over video exposures mean the NEX-5N is a much better choice for keen videographers.

In short, there’s no clear overall winner. Both cameras are equally deserving of our Best Buy award, and you’ll have to decide for yourself which is best for you.