Panasonic has finally announced the pricing of its new Micro Four Thirds digital camera, the LUMIX DMC-GH1, where it will hit retail stores sometime early this June for a rather expensive $1,499.95. Well, at that price point, you not only get full High Definition video recording capability, you will also benefit from the inclusion of the LUMIX G VARIO 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. lens as part of the kit. This new lens will boast a silent motor and continuous auto focusing (AF) capability, making it fundamentally different from standard DSLRs.

For folks residing in the US, they will be able to pick up the LUMIX GH1 in the very same color that Henry Ford allowed the Model T to be available – black. Well, as mom always says, never judge a book by its cover, so let us put aside thoughts about black being the only color choice and concentrate on what else the LUMIX DMC-GH1 has to offer – the ability to record AVCHD 1080p/24p High Definition video, Panasonic’s iA (Intelligent Auto) mode, shutter speed adjustment during motion recording, aperture control that makes it convenient whenever there are several subjects at varying distances, letting one shoot both videos and photos that focus on the foreground and blur the background or vice versa in a jiffy.

According to David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company, “Since redefining the traditional DSLR category last year with the LUMIX G1 — which eliminated the internal mirror and thus dramatically reduced size of the camera body and lenses — Panasonic has been working to expand its award-winning LUMIX G Micro Four Thirds System line. Panasonic wants to offer increasingly innovative products and features that make photography fun and easy. The introduction of the LUMIX GH1 allows photographers of all levels to take superior quality photos and shoot HD video with a more compact, easy-to-use camera that provides increased creative capabilities.”

Press Release