DMC-GH1 | PRODUCTS | LUMIX | Digital Camera

Register the Faces of Special People and Capture Them Beautifully Any Time You Wish

If you've resisted buying a digital SLR camera because you think they're hard to use, your wait is over. The DMC-GH1 features the same iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode as the LUMIX compact models. It's so easy to operate*. You just choose iA Mode, aim at your subject, and shoot. 7 detection and correction functions are simultaneously activated to optimize the settings, so you get stunning photos every time. In addition, the Face Detection function of the DMC-GH1 has evolved with the new Face Recognition feature, which memorizes a specific person's face and automatically focuses on it, for even greater shooting convenience.
The DMC-GH1, hybrid still/motion image model, also lets you take beautiful full-HD movies in iA Mode.

* Some functions in iA Mode will not be available depending on the lens that is mounted.

Learn more about iA Mode

When your subject is in the back... When your subject is in a group... When your subject moves...

Conventional face detection system captures a face with focus and appropriate exposure but sometimes it falls not on the face you want to capture most beautifully when there are several faces in a frame. The new Face Recognition prioritize focus and exposure right on the face of your special person.

The DMC-GH1 features Face Recognition, a function that "remembers" faces. Register the person from the menu by taking his/her full-face portrait with his/her name. Once complete, if the familiar face appears into your frame again, the camera will display the name you specified for that person and prioritize focus and exposure so that the registered face is bright and in sharp focus*.
This advanced Face Detection also features Digital Red-eye Correction. The camera takes care of the red-eye effect that often happens when shooting with a flash, to ensure attractive facial expression always. The Face Detection function detects up to 15 faces at a time, making it extremely convenient for group photos. Once the camera detects a face, Face Tracking follows it even when the subject moves around. Plus, the system keeps on detection if a face turns sideways to the camera.

From the menu, register the person by taking a full-face portrait to appropriately fit in the guide line.

The name, priority, and birth date can be registered.

A maximum of 6 persons can be registered.

The registered person is automatically focused on, and the name is displayed.

If the person is supposed to be three years or younger according to the registered birth date, the Baby Mode is activated when the camera recognizes him/her.

Take a clear, full-face portrait with eyes open looking straight at the camera*. Adding a variation of angles and facial expressions may increase the accuracy of recognition.

* Turn Face Recognition item ON and register the person with full-face portrait on the shooting menu in advance.
* Recognition performance varies greatly depending on shooting conditions, i.e., according to factors such as angles, facial expression and lighting, so operation under all conditions cannot be guaranteed. Because the camera searches for faces that are similar to registered faces, there are cases where the faces are not correctly recognized when the registered image and the shooting image varies much. When facial characteristics are similar, particularly between parents and their children or brothers and sisters, the camera may not distinguish the faces.

A person’s face can be detected to set focus automatically. * Up to 15 persons' face can be detected at the same time.

Control the exposure to adjust the brightness of the face properly.

Once detecting the face, even if the subject moves, camera can track the subject accordingly.

After detecting exposure of face's part, the amount of the flash lighting is automatically adjusted.

Flash is forced on against backlight condition if back light compensation is not enough. * The flash should be popped up in advance.

The occurrence of red-eye is automatically reduced by a pre-flash in iA Mode and corrected by the Digital Red-eye Correction function.

The MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) that's built into the LUMIX G lens detects and compensates for blurring caused by hand-shake*. So, you get sharp, clear shots every time you shoot. It also works for zoom shots and macro shots, which are especially susceptible to hand-shake, and lets you shoot in dimly lit rooms or evening illumination, without a flash, to preserve the mood.
With the DMC-GH1, you can select whichever of three stabilization modes suits your needs. By choosing the setting that best match the situation, you get beautiful, blur-free shots with ease.

* When using a lens equipped with MEGA O.I.S. Turn the lens's O.I.S. switch on before using.

Learn more about the LUMIX G lens

MODE 1 Image is corrected continually, so you can see the image clearly on the LVF(Live View Finder) or the LCD monitor.

MODE 2 Correction occurs at the instant you press the shutter button, so the corrective effect is greater.

MODE 3 Corrects for up / down camera movements continually. This mode is ideal for panning action shots.

A 3-Minute Guide Seeing Is Believing!

Simply focus on your subject, then press the shutter button to activate AF Tracking. Even when you remove your finger from the shutter button, the camera continues to automatically keep your moving subject in focus. This keeps the focus sharp and blur-free when shooting active children or pets, as well as when capturing sports scenes or subjects in a moving object. It minimizes the shutter time lag so you won't miss those spur-of-the-moment shots, and helps to give you truly beautiful photos always.

Point the camera at your subject and press the shutter button to activate AF Lock.

AF Tracking begins and continues even when you remove your finger from the shutter button.

The shutter time lag is suppressed to help you catch sudden photo opportunities.

The DMC-GH1 features Quick AF*¹. Ordinary AF is activated when the shutter button is pressed half-way, while Quick AF starts operating as soon as the camera is pointed toward a subject. This dramatically reduces the shutter delay time and lets you take pictures quickly*². Its super-fast focus is ideal for capturing quick photos of active children and pets. By setting the camera to Quick AF, pictures of sudden shooting opportunities won't be out of focus or blurry.

*1 Quick AF is automatically turned on in iA Mode and can be turned on or off in P/A/S/M Mode. It can also be switched to Continuous AF in P/A/S/M Mode if desired. Quick AF does not work together with AF Tracking.
*2 The focus speed may be slower in dark surroundings

The Intelligent ISO Control function* in the DMC-GH1 made possible by the Venus Engine HD, detects subject movement and automatically adjusts the ISO setting and shutter speed to best suit the movement and light conditions. When it detects subject motion, it automatically raises the ISO setting and increases the shutter speed to prevent motion blur. On the other hand, when the subject is still and no movement is detected, it takes beautifully natural photos with a low ISO setting. Intelligent ISO Control gives you stunning images with ease because there's no need for complicated settings.

* The Intelligent ISO Control function is automatically turned on in iA Mode, and can be turned on or off in P/A Mode to enable a maximum sensitivity setting.

The subject is clear even though it moves, thanks to I.ISO function.

The picture of the still subject is very clear because the I.ISO function keeps the ISO setting low.

A 3-Minute Guide Seeing Is Believing!

When the camera's in iA Mode, the Intelligent Scene Selector automatically sets the Scene Mode to either Scenery, Portrait, Macro*¹, Night Portrait or Night Scenery*². The camera judges it from the various detection results such as focusing distance, inclusion of human face and brightness level of the circumstance*³. You are free from annoying settings every time scene changes when taking pictures with these most frequently used Scene Modes to get beautiful results even before you know it.

*1 The focal range varies depending on the lens.
*2 In iA Mode, Night Portrait is not identified when the flash is turned off, and Night Scenery is not identified when the flash is set to Auto.
*3 With some subject and shooting conditions, it is just not possible to judge the best shooting details. When this happens, it is recommended that you shoot with the Scene Mode that best suits your purpose.

Unlike a conventional normal mode, Scene Modes automatically activate the compensation effects that are best suited to particular shooting situations. They give you images that are more beautiful and closer to your original intention. Whereas you ordinarily have to select a mode for each situation, the Intelligent Scene Selector in iA Mode makes the selection automatically.

A 3-Minute Guide Seeing Is Believing!

The Intelligent Exposure function increases the exposure only in under-exposed areas by detecting the brightness level part-by-part in the picture. If the background includes the sky, which tends to be easily washed out, the camera automatically adjusts the aperture and shutter speed to keep the setting slightly under-exposed to prevent wash-out while brightening the darkened area by increasing the ISO only in that area. If the background of an indoor portrait receives insufficient lighting from a flash and becomes dark, the ISO sensitivity is raised in only the low-lit area to make it brighter without causing graininess in the subject's face.
The setting automatically switches to standard in iA Mode. Also, in P/A/S/M Mode you can adjust the intended effect in three levels — high, standard or low. When Intelligent Exposure is turned on, the icon changes from white to yellow.

When there is strong backlighting, the background appears nice and bright, but the subject is dark. This function detects backlight condition and compensates it automatically in iA Mode.

A 3-Minute Guide Seeing Is Believing!

* Availability of models and colors may differ depending on the country.
* Check the website of the Panasonic sales company in your country or region for details on the LUMIX models, colors, and optional accessories that are available in your market.