Panasonic launch the Lumix DMC G1: The world's smallest DSLR?

Panasonic are trying to help bridge the gap between those who use digital compact cameras and those who are DSLR devotees. They're addressing the needs of people who'd like to take better pictures yet are put off by the size and effort involved in lugging the notoriously heavy cameras around. Well the Lumix G1 may solve this issue as it's a palm sized piece of kit with seriously high specs, and uses the Micro Four Thirds System to take high quality images. This system allows you to use interchangeable lenses but on an amazingly decreased body size (compared to previous models).

They've included a Full Time Live View finder to let you get really close to your subject matter. They also have a rather attractive 3 inch LCD which twists out to 270 degrees to allow you to shoot from any angle. The LCD screen has a sensitive backlight which changes depending on the surrounding light, so you'll be able to view pics whatever the conditions and you can even rotate it to snap portraits of yourself!

The camera also boasts a wide selection of modes, including iA (intelligent Auto) mode which users of the Lumix compact may be familiar with. This means the camera automatically selects the right setting for your image, judging the light, focus and style and will switch from macro to landscape automatically. It combines AF tracking, Face Detection, Intelligent ISO and more, and basically turns a complex piece of equipment into nothing more than an easy to use point and shoot.

Should you want to get more involved and artistic you can move between manual modes, and shutter speed, adjust aperture and light settings and attach lenses. It comes bundled with a zoom lens, and more will be available at a later date

The camera also comes in three colours, red, blue and black, not striking in itself but something that's pretty new in the DSLR market. Thankfully there's no pink in sight! Woop.

So what else do we have here? Well there's shake detection, motion detection, light detection, face, scene and subject detection for crystal clear shots, and a 12.1 megapixel live MOS sensor. The MOS sensor will give you similar images to that of a CCD processor whilst using the power of a CMOS sensor, so you get the best of both worlds. It can take 60fps live view images and uses the Venus engine HD for ultra quick processing.

I'm pretty impressed, and I imagine a camera this size is really going to shake up the digital market, you've been warned...

£599.99 including the zoom lens from the beginning of November at Panasonic, with the telephoto lens at £329.99.

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