How are the GX1 preorder sales going? Watch at the hourly updated Amazon ranking (Click here). But still not as good as the main competitor, the [shoplink 26379]Sony NEX-5n[/shoplink].

There is a new short first impression review by Cnet Australia (Click here): “The GX1 should satisfy many current GF1 owners looking at upgrading their camera body. This is a new range within the G series of interchangeable lens cameras from Panasonic, incorporating full manual control in a body that looks a little bit like a souped-up GF1“. The bad news is that the GX1 will not available for Christmas in Australia. That happens because Panaosnic dosn’t want to sell t many camera. You know they don’t really care about sales :)

First look review at Pocket-Lint (Click here): “As we said, this wasn’t a final retail version of the camera, or final firmware, so we can’t judge the quality of the results, but we were impressed. The video is especially good, along with stereo sound, and we like the fact you now get the option to shoot in AVCHD or MPEG4, the latter being more universally supported. Unfortunately there is no conventional external mic input.”

Another first look review at Trustedreviews (Click here): “The Panasonic Lumix GX1 looks like it could well be the best Lumix G-series model to date. The lack of a built-in electronic viewfinder makes it physically smaller than the G3, while the all-metal construction makes it a more robust option with a more premium overall feel. Aside from that it looks to offer the same ease of use and, more importantly, deliver the same consistently high level of image quality“.

Starting from November 12th, Panasonic will be in selected Jacobs’ stores to demonstrate the new GX1 camera and providing consumers with their own opportunity for hands on with the camera, before it will go on general sale from mid December:
New Oxford Street, London: 12th, 19th and 26th November and 3rd December
London Road, Leicester: 19th and 26th November and 3rd December
Edinburgh: 12th, 19th and 26th November and 3rd December
Experts will be on hand to answer your product related queries between 10am-4pm each day. (via Photographyblog).

Preorder are now available on Amazon Uk and Japan too. That is the new preorder link list:
Black GX1 body at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).
Silver GX1 body at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here) and Amazon Japan (Click here).
Black GX1 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here), Amazon France (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).
Silver GX1 with 14-42mm X lens at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here).
Black GX1 with 14-42mm at Amazon (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here).
Silver GX1 with 14-42mm at Amazon (Click here), Amazon Japan (Click here) and Jessops (Click here).

As you have probably read on many forums the new 14-42mm and 45-175mm X lenses had some small issues. Panasonic reaction has been very fast and on November 17 they will release a new firmware update for both lenses.

For the 14-42mm X lens:
Optimized operation when using Touch Zoom with DMC-GX1
Improved the stability of O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer)
Improved AF (Auto Focus) performance in photo / video recording

For the 45-175mm X lens:
Optimized operation when using Touch Zoom with DMC-GX1
Improved AF (Auto Focus) performance in photo / video recording

Source: Panasonic Japan.

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Shop Links:
Panasonic 14-42mm X lens at [shopcountry 25104].
Panasonic 45-175mm X lens at [shopcountry 25103].