On the inside of course it is indeed radically different to every SLR on the market; the mirror and pentaprism/pentamirror viewfinder is gone, replaced by a live view-only system using either the newly-developed high resolution electronic viewfinder or the large articulated rear screen (which, interestingly, has a 3:2 aspect ratio - not the 4:3 ratio of the sensor).
And our initial tests would suggest that they have solved at least one of the technological problems mentioned earlier (the contrast-detect autofocus is easily as fast as any other entry-level DSLR). The viewfinder on the sample we've been playing with is also very impressive, and we're told that the final version will be even better (even at this early stage it compares very favorably with a standard Four Thirds optical finder).
Where the G1 - and Micro Four Thirds - has the edge is that there has never been a wider gap between the image quality offered by compact cameras and SLRs. By offering a camera that works and handles like a compact (Panasonic FZ users will feel right at home) but produces output a lot more like an SLR, Micro Four Thirds has carved out a potentially lucrative niche for itself in a market crying out for innovation. It may seem like a relatively low-key product to herald a minor revolution in the digital SLR market, but have no doubt, the G1 is one of the most exciting products we've had under this roof for quite some years.
para mim, utilizador normal de uma dSLR, não me atrai minimamente um corpo mais pequeno e leve, nem a troca de um viewfinder óptico por um electrónico e por live-view. para quem quer uma "compacta" com uma excelente qualidade de imagem e a flexibilidade de poder mudar de objectiva conforme o que quiser fotografar, é a única opção do mercado..
Sinceramente continuo mais ou menos convencido (e cada vez mais) que o formato quatro terços é já de si uma asneirada. Quanto mais este sub formato.D40: 126 x 94 x 64
G1: 123 x 86 x 66
pfff... não chega a 1cm em altura, a diferença entre elas e se considerarmos que precisa de um anel adaptador para poder usar toda a gama de lentes... cheira-me a asneira da Panasonic, tal como noutro âmbito, a tentativa da Sony, a R1.
D40: 126 x 94 x 64
G1: 123 x 86 x 66