The new Micro Four Thirds Panasonic GH1, announced today, offers HD video. The new Lumix G Vario HD 14-140mm kit lens supports continuous contrast detection autofocus in an optically stabilized lens, nicely suited to the the video capabilities of the GH1. A 7-14mm Micro 4/3 lens was also announced, while the 20mm f/1.7 pancake, awaited by many, has not surfaced in the announcements.

Buried in the massive amount of GH1 coverage is the fact that unlike the first Micro 4/3 camera, the Panasonic G1,the GH1 makes good on one of the original specifications of the m4/3, the multi-aspect ratio sensor. Like the sensor in the Panasonic LX3, the 12MP sensor in the GH1 allows users to take photos in 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 aspect ratios with the same angle of view as depicted below.



For full coverage of the GH1 announcement, see 1001 Noisy Cameras.