Secaucus, NJ (December 15, 2008) – The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G1, the world’s first Micro Four Thirds digital camera, has been named the 2008 Camera of the Year by Popular Photography & Imaging (Pop Photo), the world’s largest imaging magazine.  According to the editors of Pop Photo, each year they choose a camera that has best refined or redefined photography, and this year they recognized the LUMIX G1 as a forward-thinking product and the forefront of the next “big thing” for the industry. 

Pop Photo’s Camera of the Year report on the LUMIX G1 appears in the January 2009 issue of the magazine and on http://www.popphoto.com/.

The LUMIX G1 is based on the Micro Four Thirds System standard, a system that eliminates the internal mirror structure that defines digital single-lens reflex cameras.  With the mirror-less system, the LUMIX G1’s flange back, which is the distance between the mount and the image sensor, has been reduced from 40 mm – as specified in the Four Thirds System – to approximately 20 mm, meaning the LUMIX G1 is compact in size.  The LUMIX G1 weighs just 580 grams with its kit lens, the LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S.

“We are honored by Pop Photo’s selection of the LUMIX G1 as the 2008 Camera of the Year, as Panasonic’s intention was to change the digital photography space,” said David Briganti, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Panasonic created a new market with the LUMIX G1, putting “DSLR-like” features into a compact body that would still be powerful enough to take professional-quality photos, but easy enough for beginners to use and ultimately help them to improve their photography skills.”

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G1 has a suggested retail price (SRP) of $799.95 and comes in red, blue and black models. Panasonic also offers the LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm/F4.0-5.6/MEGA O.I.S. telephoto Micro Four Thirds lens which has a SRP of $349.95. For more information about the LUMIX G1 and its lenses, please visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.