panasonic got it right from the get-go
Aside from the GF2 and the G10, one think that I've really admired about Panasonic compared to Olympus lately is their ability to push their products forward and not cripple or lag their newer products behind their older ones. The G1 was the first micro-four-thirds camera released, but that doesn't detract from it's overall picture-taking ability at all. I only have 3 minor complaints about the camera--first, there's no video, but the GH1 serves that purpose; second, the image degradation in higher ISOs past 1250; and third, no image-stabilization, but I'm so used to cameras without stabilization that it really doesn't matter. Aside from my minor quibbles, this camera is almost perfect. Panasonic got so much right from the get-go. The swivel-LCD is so much fun to use (coming from an E-620), and the full-time contrast focusing system is also a major boost to the LCD's practicality. Size and ergnomics are near-perfect. The camera with the 20mm is almost the same size and in the same portability class as my G11, but with IQ that's in a totally different league. I also own the GH1, but if I were solely focused on stills and looking for a smaller and direct replacement to an E-620, E-5XX, or E-4XX then I would highly recommend the G1. It deserves 5 stars out of 5.
hermaj10
Conover, NC