Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Review: Digital Photography Review

Camera Menus

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 sports a black-themed menu design with superimposed graphics, with a layout that is virtually identical to those found on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3. The GX1's menu system must be navigated via the 4-way controller, as touchscreen capability does not extend to the menu interface. Unlike more recent G-series models - in a nod perhaps to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 - the GX1 eschews a main menu screen. Instead, pressing the Menu button on the rear of the camera takes you directly to the menu settings screen (shown below), from which you move through a page-style interface.

	An initial press of the Menu button brings you directly to the menu settings screen. Using the 4-way controller, pressing the up or down arrows cycle you through the main menu categories. Pressing the right arrow lets you navigate among available selections for the chosen menu category.

Record menu

The Record menu is where you'll find 24 options related to shooting still images. The GX1 features the now familiar Photo Style offerings first seen in the G3. In this table and all those that follow the * indicates a material change over the G3 (we haven't marked all the menu items that have moved).


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
Photo Style	• Standard • Vivid • Natural • Monochrome • Scenery • Portrait • Custom
Aspect Ratio	• 4:3 • 3:2 • 16:9 • 1:1
Picture Size	• Large (16MB) • Medium (8MB) • Small (4MB)
Quality	• Fine • Standard • RAW + Fine • RAW + Standard • RAW	RAW mode stores only the maximum number of pixels of your chosen aspect ratio, not necessarily the entire sensor.
Face Recog.	• Off • On • Memory • Set

Quick AF	• Off • On	Attempts to achieve focus as soon as the camera is pointed at the subject
Metering Mode	• Multiple • Center weighted • Spot
Flash *	• On • On + Red-eye correction • Slow sync • Slow sync + Red-eye correction
Red-eye Removal	• Off • On
Flash Synchro	• 1st • 2nd	Sets the flash to fire either at the start or the end of the exposure

Flash Adjust.	• +/- 2 EV in 1/3 EV steps
I.Resolution	• Off • Low • Standard • High • Extended
I.Dynamic	• Off • Low • Standard • High	Exposure and contrast are adjusted to compensate for scenes requiring a wide dynamic range.
ISO Limit Set	• Off • 200 • 400 • 800 • 1600 • 3200	Sets the maximum ISO value that will be set in Auto ISO mode. 'Off' sets this limit to 1600
ISO Increments	• 1/3 EV • 1 EV

Long Shtr NR	• Off • On	Takes a second, dark-frame to allow subtraction of long exposure noise
Shading Comp.	• Off • On
Ex. Tele Conv.	• Off • On	Only uses part of the sensor, to simulate additional zoom; available in JPEG-only modes.
Digital Zoom	• Off • 2X • 4X	This feature is accessible in JPEG-only modes.
Burst Rate	• SH • H • M • L	Selects 20, 4, 3, or 2fps shooting. Live View is not available in SH and H modes. SH mode only produces JPEGs, even if the camera is set to RAW.

Auto Bracket	• Steps 3, 5 or 7 frames 1/3, 2/3 or 1 EV steps • Sequence: 0/-/+ -/0/+
Self-Timer	• 10 sec. • 10 sec. (3 images) • 2 sec.
Color Space	• sRGB • AdobeRGB
Stabilizer	• Off • Normal • Panning	Normal mode compensates for both up/down and left/right movement. Panning mode corrects for up/down movement only.

Motion picture menu

The Motion Picture menu contains all of the options related to video capture, which include the ability to record video in MP4 format. This menu is also where you'll find the GX1's audio options, which include a wind-cut filter.


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
Photo Style	• Standard • Vivid • Natural • Monochrome • Scenery • Portrait • Custom
Rec Mode	• AVCHD (1080i) • MP4 *
Rec Quality	• Rec Mode: AVCHD (1080i) FSH SH • Rec Mode: MP4 FHD HD VGA
Picture Mode	• Movie • Stills
Continuous AF	• Off • On

Metering Mode	• Multiple • Center weighted • Spot
I.Resolution *	• Off • Low • Standard • High • Extended
I.Dynamic	• Off • Low • Standard • High	Exposure and contrast are adjusted to compensate for scenes requiring a wide dynamic range.
Ex. Tele Conv.	• Off • On	Only uses part of the sensor, to simulate additional zoom.
Digital Zoom	• Off • 2X • 4X	Digital Zoom - crops the image to simulate additional zoom

Wind Cut	• Off • Auto *	Reduces wind noise in motion picture recording
Mic Level Disp.	• Off • On	Live display of sound level being detected by microphones
Mic Level Adj.	Level 1 - 4
Flicker Red	• Off • 1/50 • 1/60 • 1/100 • 1/120	Reduces flicker effect from fluorescent lighting

Custom menu

The GX1's Custom menu is where you can define function button operation, enable onscreen guides and configure use of the touchscreen, including the option to disable Touch AF and the Touch Tab interface.


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
Cust. Set Mem.	• C1 • C2-1 • C2-2 • C2-3	Assigns current settings to one of four custom memories
AF/AE Lock/ Fn2 *	• AFL/AEL • Fn2	Defines operation of AF/AE Lock/Fn2 button
Fn Button Set	• One Push AE * • Preview • Level Gauge * • Focus Area Set • Photo Style • Aspect Ratio • Picture Size * • Quality • Metering Mode • Flash • Flash Adj. • I.Resolution * • I.Dynamic * • Ex. Tele Conv. • Digital Zoom * • Stabilizer * • Motion Pic. Set * • Picture Mode * • Histogram * • Guide Line • Movie/Stills Rec Area • ISO Sensitivity * • White Balance * • AF Mode * • Drive Mode * • Step Zoom* • Zoom Speed*	List of settings that can be assigned to the Fn1/Fn2/Fn3/Fn4 buttons. Each button can be configured from the same set of options.
Histogram	• Off • On
Guide Line	• Off • Thirds • Center • Movable

Highlight	• Off • On
Expo Meter	• Off • On
AF/AE Lock	• AE • AF • AF/AE	Determines which parameters are locked when using the AF/AE lock function
AF/AE Lock Hold	• Off • On
Direct Focus Area	• Off • On	Allows AF point to be manually positioned in single-point AF mode

Focus Priority	• Off • On	Determines if the camera waits for focus before allowing shutter release
Shutter AF	• Off • On
Pinpoint AF Time *	• Long • Mid • Short	Determines how long the magnified view remains active while holding the shutter button in a half-press
AF Assist Lamp	• Off • On
AF+MF	• Off • On	Allows manual fine-tuning of focus once AF lock has been achieved

MF Assist	• Off • On	Zooms in the view to allow high-precision manual focus
MF Guide	• Off • On	Displays a rough focus scale when focusing manually
Power Zoom Lens *	• Disp Focal Length Off On • Step Zoom Off On • Zoom Resume Off On • Zoom Speed Photo H M L Video H M L • Zoom Ring Off On	These options are available only with a compatible power zoom lens. Step Zoom gives you the option to move through the focal length range in predetermined increments. When you power on the camera with Zoom Resume enabled,the zoom position when the camera was powered off is automatically restored. The zoom ring can be disabled to prevent accidental operation.
LVF Disp. Style	• Display Border On • Display Border Off	Screen information on the LVF can be displayed on a border or superimposed over the image area
LCD Disp. Style	• Display Border On • Display Border Off	Screen information on the LCD can be displayed on a border or superimposed over the image area

iA Button Switch	• Single Press • Press and Hold	Defines behavior for switching to iAuto mode
Movie button	• Off • On	Enables/disables the movie button
Rec Area	• Stills • Movies	Changes the previewed aspect ratio between motion picture and still picture recording
Remaining Disp.	• Stills (frames) • Movies (time)	Switches between number of recordable pictures and available recording time
Play on LCD	• Off • On	Sets destination for playback mode when using the optional LVF2

Touch Settings	• Touch Screen Off On • Touch Tab Off On • Touch AF Off On
Touch Scroll	• H • L
Dial Guide	• Off • On	Gives onscreen clues to the thumb dial's functions
Menu Resume	• Off • On	Menu screen returns to last-used position
Pixel Refresh	Start processing Yes No	Checks the sensor for malfunctioning pixels

Sensor cleaning	Start processing Yes No
Shoot W/O Lens	• Off • On	This must be set to 'On' when using lens adapters