Panasonic Lumix DMC G1

The Panasonic Lumix DMC G1 arrived in 2008 as a mirrorless camera built around the Micro Four Thirds format. Its 360 g weight and compact 124 x 84 x 45 mm body make it easy to carry.

That combination suits everyday, travel and learning photography. An electronic viewfinder and a flip-out LCD make framing comfortable at eye level or from awkward angles, and the Micro 4/3 mount accepts interchangeable lenses.

Owning one today means accepting its era. Video is limited to Standard HD, there is no wireless connectivity, and the battery is rated at 380 shots per charge, so a spare is worth considering for longer outings.

A 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor in the Micro Four Thirds format sits at the heart of the G1, paired with the Venus Engine HD II processor. That resolution suits everyday prints and web sharing, though heavy cropping is more limited.

The ISO range runs from 100 to 3200, covering bright daylight through to dim interiors. The maximum shutter speed is 1/4000s.

Autofocus offers 23 focus points, and the electronic viewfinder displays the scene as you work. The maximum burst rate of 3 fps is modest, so the camera suits deliberate, posed or static subjects better than rapid action sequences.

There is no in-body stabilisation to steady handheld shooting, so sharper results in low light depend on steady technique, faster shutter speeds or a stabilised lens. A tripod or other support also remains an option.

The video specification shows the camera's era. Recording tops out at Standard HD resolution, and the maximum frame rate is 30 fps, enough for casual clips and documentation. That earns a video score of 34 out of 100, a limited result, and the G1 sits in the bottom 5% of our database for video.

Footage saves as Motion JPEG files, so plan card space for longer recording sessions. There is no built-in intervalometer, so timelapse sequences need another approach, such as shooting stills and assembling them later.

Treat the G1 as a stills camera that can also grab the occasional short clip. The limited video score follows from the resolution and frame-rate limits and the absence of a built-in intervalometer.

Handling centres on a 3-inch LCD that flips out from the body, which makes waist-level and overhead framing straightforward. The screen is not a touchscreen, so settings are adjusted through physical controls instead.

Live view and the electronic viewfinder work together: you can check composition on the rear screen or bring the camera to your eye. With 202,000 dots in the finder and 460,000 on the LCD, the displays are serviceable rather than especially sharp.

Flash is well covered for a compact body. A built-in unit handles quick indoor shots, and an external flash can be fitted when you need more power. The features score of 36 out of 100 is limited, largely because the touchscreen, weather sealing and Bluetooth are missing.

Rain and dust call for care, since the body lacks weather sealing. GPS is absent as well.

Storage runs through a single slot that takes SD, SDHC or MMC cards. SDHC support means larger-capacity cards work, but with only one slot you will want spares on hand and a habit of downloading before the card fills.

The DMW-BLB13 battery is rated at 380 shots per charge, a modest figure that rewards planning for heavier use. The storage and battery score of 21 out of 100 is limited, reflecting that battery rating and the single card slot.

There is no USB charging, so the battery cannot be topped up from a laptop or power bank over a USB cable. A spare battery is a sensible purchase for longer shooting days.