Panasonic GM1 Review: The tiny ILC packs powerful performance and image quality into a pocketable size

 

 

We've just taken the wraps off our complete Panasonic GM1 review. This camera was the first of ours to be reviewed in our new multi-stage Shooter's Report installments, so many of you may have perused through the Shooter's Report section, but now with the complete review, we have all the nitty gritty details, including hands-on experience with the Wi-Fi features, the new Handheld Nite Shot mode, and finally our full conclusion on this pocket rocket of a camera. 

The little GM1 really blew us away. The tiny interchangeable lens camera is, for the most part, a Panasonic GX7 crammed into a tiny all-magnesium body. Panasonic has really done some innovative engineering to pack all that power into such a small and pocketable camera. It shares the same 16MP sensor (minus sensor-shift IS), Venus Engine image processor and fast contrast-detect AF capabilities as the GX7, which we gave high praise. The same goes for the little GM1: excellent performance and image quality plus the flexibility of interchange lenses with the full Micro Four Thirds standard all in a camera that can easily fit in your jacket or cargo pocket. However, a camera as small as this one is not without its compromises, and there were a few issues and downsides, although none of them were show-stoppers by any means.

So, does the Panasonic GM1 deserve to join your stable of cameras? Are you a GX7 owner or other Micro Four Thirds shooter looking to add a smaller, compact, go-anywhere camera but want the image quality and flexibility of the Four Thirds system? Or perhaps you're just stepping up to an interchangeable lens camera system, and the GM1 could be an excellent starting point -- small size like a point-and-shoot, but with a vast array of advanced features to take your photography to the next level.

Head on over to our full Panasonic GM1 review for all the details, image quality comparisons and our final conclusion!