Top of camera controls

The top right of the camera will be very familiar to users of Panasonic's L10 DSLR - the cluster of controls is very similar, and it's nice to see some levers (for the power switch and drive mode) - they give the camera a traditional feel. Aside from the main mode dial there's also two buttons that are used to bring up on-screen menus.

Mode Dial

Position
 
Function
 
Intelligent Auto Mode

Basic 'point and shoot' mode with pretty much every setting fixed on automatic. Activates Panasonic's full arsenal of clever 'Intelligent' features:
 • Auto Scene Detection
 • Digital Red Eye removal
 • Face Detection
 • Intelligent ISO (increases ISO if subject motion detected)
 • Intelligent Exposure (lightens shadows in contrasty situations)
P Programmed Auto (Flexible)

The Program AE on the G1 has 'program shift' functionality. This means that you can select one of a variety of equal exposures by turning the front command dial left or right. Minimum shutter speed is 60 seconds, top speed is 1/4000 second.
Example:

• 1/160 F3.2 (turn CCW a click)
• 1/125 F3.5 (turn CCW a click)
• 1/100 F4.0 (metered)
• 1/80 F5.0 (turn CW a click)
• 1/60 F5.6 (turn CW a click)
A Aperture Priority Auto

In this mode you select the aperture and the camera will calculate the shutter speed for the exposure (depending on metered value; metering mode, ISO). Aperture is displayed on the viewfinder status bar and the LCD monitor, turn the front dial to select different apertures. A half-press of the shutter release causes the cameras exposure system to calculate the shutter speed, if it's outside of the cameras exposure range the shutter speed will blink.

• Range depends on lens max. and min. apertures, in 1/3 EV or 1.0 steps
S Shutter Priority Auto

In this mode you select the shutter speed and the camera will calculate the correct aperture for the exposure (depending on metered value; metering mode, ISO). Shutter speed is displayed in the viewfinder and the LCD monitor, turn the front dial to select different shutter speeds. A half-press of the shutter release causes the cameras exposure system to calculate the aperture.

• 60 seconds - 1/4000 sec (in 1/3 or 1 EV steps)

M Full Manual Exposure

In this mode you select the aperture and the shutter speed from any combination of the above (and additionally Bulb shutter). Turn the front dial to adjust aperture and shutter speed (toggle between the two by pressing the dial). The viewfinder/LCD display will indicate how close you are to the metered exposure (+/- 3 EV).
CUST Custom Mode

You can save up to three sets of custom settings for immediate recall.

Advanced Scene mode : Portrait

Allows the selection of one of four scene modes, each with slightly different parameters (all aim to minimize depth of field and produce flattering skin tones):

  • Normal Portrait
  • Soft Skin (digitally softens skin tones)
  • Outdoor portrait
  • Indoor Portrait (Intelligent ISO active)
  • Creative Portrait (allows user to set aperture)

Advanced Scene mode : Scenery

Allows the selection of one of four scene modes, each with slightly different parameters:

  • Normal Scenery
  • Nature
  • Architecture
  • Creative Scenery (allows user to set shutter speed)

Advanced Scene mode : Sports

Allows the selection of one of four scene modes, each with slightly different parameters:

  • Normal Sports
  • Outdoor Sports
  • Indoor Sports
  • Creative Sports (allows user to set shutter speed)

Advanced Scene mode : Close Up

Allows the selection of one of three scene modes, each with slightly different parameters:

  • Flower
  • Food
  • Objects
  • Creative Close Up (allows user to set aperture)

Advanced Scene mode : Night Portrait

Allows the selection of one of four scene modes, each with slightly different parameters:

  • Night Portrait
  • Night Scenery
  • Illuminations
  • Creative Night Scenery (allows user to set aperture)
SCN

Scene mode

Designed to match the camera settings to several (very) specific shooting scenarios:

  • Sunset
  • Food
  • Baby 1/2 (includes ability to record child's birthday for display of age in playback mode or in supplied software)
  • Pet (also allows you to set the age of your pet...).

My Color Mode

Allows you to experiment with different colors and tonality with 11-step sliders for the following:

  • Color (hue)
  • Brightness
  • Saturation

Buttons / Switches

Button/switch
 
Options / description
 
ON/OFF Main Power Switch

 • On
 • Off
Drive

 Drive mode

 • Single shot
 • Continuous drive
 • Bracketing
 • Self-timer
Q.MENU Quick Menu

Activates the Quick Menu, which allows you to select and change any of the settings shown as on-screen icons.
FILM
MODE

Film Mode

Pressing the Film Mode button allows you to choose from nine preset 'film modes', or to individually set four parameters (contrast, sharpness, saturation* and noise reduction). You can save custom settings into one of two 'My Film' registers. *not in B&W modes

Film modes:
 • Standard (color)
 • Dynamic (color)
 • Nature (color)
 • Smooth (color)
 • Nostalgic (color)
 • Vibrant (color)
 • Standard (B&W)
 • Dynamic (B&W)
 • Smooth (B&W)
 • My Film1
 • My Film2
 • Multi Film (1,2 and 3)
Front dial

Used to change exposure settings and navigate menus. In play mode turning the dial changes magnification and activates the thumbnail views.

Left-hand side

The left shoulder of the camera is home to a slightly pointless focus mode dial (when we saw prototypes of the G1 we begged panasonic to put something more useful - such as ISO or even shutter speeds - on this dial) plus the flash release and a switch for manually flipping between the screen and viewfinder.

Buttons / switches

Button
Operation
AFS
AFC
MF		 Focus mode dial

 • Auto Focus Single-shot
 • Auto Focus Continuous
 • Manual Focus
OPEN Flash up

Press this button to release the pop-up flash.

Lens barrel controls (MEGA O.I.S.)

On the side of the G1's kit lens is the OIS on/off switch. The lens uses the same moving lens element optical stabilization as Panasonic's compact Lumix cameras and offers three modes (changed using the Quick Menu):

  • Mode 1 (IS operates continuously)
  • Mode 2 (IS operates only when the shutter is depressed
  • Mode 3 (vertical correction only: panning mode)