Lumix G compact system cameras (CSCs) have an impressive track record in our reviews, but it's mostly been for all-round dependable quality rather than alluring or groundbreaking features. The Panasonic GX7 gave us a taste of something different with its luxurious appearance and feature-packed specs, but it's the GM1 that looks set to really shake things up.
This camera really is tiny. It measures 58mm from its LCD screen to its lens cap, and weighs 279g. That's 2g less than the Sony RX100 II, and a full 236g less than the GX7. It's not quite as slim as the RX100 II, which is 39mm deep. However, considering that the GM1's sensor is significantly larger, and that it has an interchangeable lens mount, the petite design is a phenomenal achievement. Crucially, this is the first CSC with a zoom lens that will fit in most trouser pockets.
It's partly down to the new kit lens, which weighs 70g and extends just 24mm from the lens mount. We were impressed with how small the GX7's kit lens is, and that one is over twice as long. The 2.7x zoom is a little smaller than usual, with a 24-64mm (equivalent) range. However, it's great to see that Panasonic hasn't skimped on including optical stabilisation. It's also nice to have a 24mm wide-angle setting – most kit lenses have a 28mm (equivalent) minimum focal length. The lens must be extended before use, but we're glad that it's a conventional mechanical zoom action, which we find more natural and responsive to use than a motorised zoom. There's no focus ring, so manual focus adjustments are made on the camera.
There's no compromise on style, with a leather-effect finish and metal buttons wrapped around a magnesium alloy body. The all-black model we tested looks seriously smart, but we like the look of the silver-and-black and silver-and-tan finishes even more. There's the same set of Wi-Fi features that impressed us so much in other recent Lumix G cameras, with wireless transfers and comprehensive remote control via iOS and Android apps. There's no NFC for touch-and-go pairing, but it really isn't much of a chore to connect by pressing buttons.
It's extremely quick to take photos, capturing its first shot within a second of switching on, focusing in around 200ms and capturing a shot every half a second for both JPEGs and RAW. Continuous shooting was at 4.8fps with fixed focus, and managed an impressive 4.2fps with continuous autofocus. We noticed an overheating warning symbol appear on the screen during our performance tests, but we had been giving the camera an unusually hard work out.