Secaucus, N.J. — Panasonic today announced pricing for its Micro Four Thirds System camera, the Lumix DMC-G1 — available in mid-November.
The suggested retail will be $799, which includes the Lumix G Vario 14-45mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA OIS kit lens.
Also available in November, the Lumix G VARIO 45-200mm/F4.0-5.6/MEGA OIS telephoto Micro Four Thirds lens has a suggested retail of $349.
The Lumix G1, available in black, blue and red models, is the first interchangeable-lens camera to offer consumers a choice of colors. Weighing about half as much as a standard d-SLR (1.28 pounds), the Lumix G1 has features that both entry-level and more experienced d-SLR users will appreciate, Panasonic said.
“The Lumix G1 provides the power of a d-SLR with many of the easy-to-use features from our point-and-shoot digital cameras,” said David Briganti, Panasonic’s national marketing manager, imaging. “With the Lumix G1, we’re able to provide manual controls and professional-quality images, while also making the camera much more compact and with intuitive features easy for those new to d-SLRs to learn and use.”
The Lumix G1’s electronic Live View Finder, with a high-resolution 1,440,000-dot equivalent, allows the user to shoot the exact image seen while also displaying information about the digital camera’s settings. The Lumix G1 also features a free angle 3-inch LCD, enabling the user to see the adjustments as they are being made, a valuable learning tool for users new to manual controls, as the effects can be confirmed visually before snapping the shot, the company said
Panasonic will expand its Micro Four Thirds System cameras and lenses in 2009, including a new model that builds on the Lumix G1’s portability and style, while incorporating high-definition video capabilities. More details will be released in 2009.