Ratings: 4/5
Price: $1199 (14-42mm lens); $1599 (12-35mm
lens)
www.panasonic.com
There’s
something reassuringly solid about the GX1
There’s something reassuringly solid about
the GX1. With a metal body, the Panasonic is easily one of the heaviest on test
although, unlike the Pentax, it doesn’t feel overly bulky.
It’s evident from the sheer number of
buttons and dials that the GX1 is targeted at more proficient photographers. In
addition to the Mode dial, the Panasonic includes dedicated buttons for
everything from autofocus lock, white balance and ISO to a dedicated
‘Intelligent Auto’ mode to take the challenge out of getting good shots.
Programmable function buttons offer a level
of customization that most cameras in this class lack. There’s even an in-built
gyroscope which shows a level on the camera’s touchscreen ensure your photos
are all short straight.
The touchscreen itself is intelligent
designed, offering the ability to customize your display and decide what
information you want to see on the LCD. But despite the convenience, it’s
hardly the most elegant of interfaces. The screen itself also pales in
comparison to the stunning displays from Sony and Samsung.
Like the Samsung, Panasonic builds its
image stabilization into the lenses. This means two things: First, getting a
crystal-clear shot in lower light conditions is significantly more challenging.
Secondly, the best lenses are heavier and, given the weight of the body, can
potentially be a turn-off for prospective buyers.
That said, the in-body flash and stereo
microphones for 1080p video recording are nice inclusions and, when coupled
with the robust body and feature set, make the GX1 an attractive camera for
passionate photographers.
Buying advice. A beautiful camera that delivers on many of the promises the
Compact System Camera category offers. With a better screen and improved UI
design, it would be tough to beat.
Pentax K-01
Ratings: 2.5/5
Price: $799 (body); $849 (40mm F2.8 XS
lens); $849 (DAL 18-55mm lens
www.pentax.comv
The
K-01 is chunky, heavy and striking
If the whole idea behind the CSC category
is to shed the bulk and weight of a DSLR, somebody forgot to tell Pentax.
Designed by Aussie Marc Newson, the K-01 is chunky, heavy and striking.
While every other CSC camera on test
requires its own breed of lenses, the K-01 is unique in the fact that it uses
the Pentax K-Mount, immediately opening up a huge collection of lenses for
users. This fact alone will help the K-01 sell some units, especially with
legacy Pentax SLR users.
Despite the bulk, the controls on the K-01
are well laid out, offering simple access to all the main functions of the camera.
The mode dial offers quick access to both a bulb mode and HDR mode in addition
to the standard suite of manual and automatic options. It’s a nice addition for
keen photographers hoping to get the most out of their camera.
Image quality is fantastic thanks to the
16.3 megapixel APS-C sized sensor, although the act of getting there is a
process and a half. The autofocus on the 40mm kit lens is slow, cumbersome and
noisy. In fact, it’s seriously noisy, like grinding your car’s gears without
pressing down the clutch. It gets there in the end, but the process is easily
the slowest on test.
The 3in LCD is bright and vibrant,
accurately representing the taken shot, although disappointingly, like the
Nikon it doesn’t showcase changes to the settings in real time.
On the upside, in-body stabilization helps
keep photos with slower shutter speeds free of blur, although it doesn’t hold a
candle to the performance of the Olympus stabilization.
Buying advice. If you own a large collection of Pentax K-Mount, this is a serious
option. But the bulk, weight and terrible autofocus will turn off most other
potential customers.
