Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
The G1 is the most unusual and exciting digital camera we've seen for a while.
It's made from a mixture of SLR and compact camera technology, and promises the quality of an SLR without the bulk. As such, it could be the ideal camera for discerning photographers on the go.
It uses a new interchangeable lens system called Micro Four Thirds. These lenses are a little smaller than equivalent SLR lenses, but the most significant size reduction is in the camera body. The G1 lacks an SLR's optical viewfinder and associated optics and, as a result, isn't much bigger than an ultra-zoom camera such as Panasonic's FZ28. However, the 17.3x13mm sensor is four times the size of the FZ28's, which has a huge impact on image quality. The sensors in most entry-level SLR cameras are 30 per cent bigger again, but the G1's is still in SLR rather than compact territory.