Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Review: 8. Operation & Controls: Digital Photography Review

Rear of camera controls

The rear controls are similar to the L10, with a bit of the FZ series thrown in for good measure. Top left is the EVF/LCD button to toggle between framing with the viewfinder and the LCD screen. To the right of the viewfinder we have the AE/AF lock and play mode buttons, and below the thumb grip DISPLAY (for changing the amount and type of information overlaid on the live view and playback displays). Below this is the standard four-way controller. Each of the directional keys has a dedicated function in record mode, giving direct access to ISO speed, focus pattern and white balance, plus a customizable function button (Fn). Bottom right of the back is the depth-of-field preview button (which doubles up as a Delete button in playback mode).

On screen settings adjustment

Buttons such as white balance and ISO display a dedicated mini menu on the LCD monitor/EVF which allow you to see all the options available, use the command dial or arrow keys to change. Of course there are plenty of other ways to change settings using the various display options (see here for more detail).

It's worth noting that we haven't really seen Live view done 'right' before. It's either appeared a little bit bolted-on (in the case of digital SLRs) or the more integrated systems have come at the expense of traditional DSLR capabilities, such as the viewfinder. By contrast, the G1 behaves exactly like a DSLR despite being built around Live view.

Setting AF mode example	Setting ISO example

Quick Menu (Q.Menu)

The G1 offers direct access to most of the most common settings using the Quick Menu (found on most modern Lumix compacts). Pressing the Q.Menu button lets you select a setting from the icons arranged around the live view screen and change it. The exact appearance of the quick menu settings depends on which display mode you are in.


	Changing image size in the three different display modes (the operation is identical in each case; it's just the display that's different).

Buttons / controls

Button	Function
EVF/LCD	EVF/LCD toggle button Used to switch between the viewfinder and screen if the auto switching function is turned off. Can also be customized to switch between current exposure setting and AE compensation when turning the dial (reproducing the effect of pressing the dial itself).
AFS AFC MF	Focus mode dial • Auto Focus Single-shot • Auto Focus Continuous • Manual Focus
AF/AE LOCK	Auto Focus / Auto Exposure Lock The AFL / AEL button is used to measure exposure and auto focus and lock them, this can either be momentary (while the button is held) or optionally locked where you simply tap the button and it remains locked until the AFL / AEL button is pressed again. The Custom menu allows you to define whether the button operates as an AF, AE or AF/AE lock.
	Four-way controller In shooting mode the four arrow keys each have a dedicated function (listed below). The directional keys are also used to navigate menus and change settings. In playback mode the left and right keys are used to scroll through saved images.
WB	White Balance (right arrow) • Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Shade • Halogen • Flash • Custom 1 • Custom 2 • Kelvin temp (2500 - 10000 K, 100K steps)
ISO	ISO Sensitivity (up arrow) • Auto (not in M mode) • Intelligent ISO (not in M mode) • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600
	Focus Mode • 1-area (press SET to use cursor keys to set AF point) • 23 area (auto select) • Subject Tracking AF • Face Detect AF
Fn	Fn (down arrow) The FUNC button can be customized to offer direct access to any of the following controls: • Aspect ratio • Quality • Metering Mode • i.Exposure • Guide lines
	Play mode Enters or leaves play mode, the G1 is a shooting priority camera which means you can always return to play mode by half-pressing the shutter release button.
DISPLAY	Display mode In record mode toggles between three different display options on the main screen (screen off, status panel display, normal live view) In play mode cycles through the various information display modes.
	Erase / Depth of field preview In Record mode pressing this button closes down the lens aperture to the selected value allowing depth of field to be previewed. Offers option to view 'Shutter Speed Effect' preview. In Play mode displays a 'Yes / No' confirmation dialog to delete the current image, press the Erase button again to switch to All/Multi mode; Multi allowing you to select images on a 6 image thumbnail index, All erasing all images on the storage card (except for Protected images).
MENU/ SET	Menu / Set Press to enter the Menu in any mode, also used to confirm menu settings.

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