The Panasonic Lumix G1 is the first camera on the market to use the Micro Four Thirds format. The format is essentially just a smaller version of the traditional Four Thirds SLR camera format, allowing for manufacturers to create cameras that look and feel like SLRs but are a whole lot smaller so you don't have to carry around as much weight and bulk even if you want quality photos. We got our hands on this new gadget at the Consumer Electronics Show, so check out our first impressions and our guide to the technology after the break!

The Micro Four Thirds camera is that it is not actually an SLR. The term SLR stands for single-lens reflex; SLR cameras use a mirror to reflect whatever's on the front of the lens back to the viewfinder. Instead of traditional SLR technology the G1 uses Live View, which just shows you what's in front of the camera through the viewfinder (similar to the way a camcorder works) to frame shots.

As promised, the G1 is smaller than your traditional SLR. Along those lines, if you're accustomed to using a regular SLR you might find holding it to be a little awkward; the handgrip is small (to go with it's small body) and can be difficult to get used to if you're accustomed to a larger camera. After a little practice it starts to feel natural, though. Even someone with large hands should be able to get over this obstacle.

The G1 can take pictures at a 12.1 megapixel resolution putting it right in with entry-level SLR's. A 14-45mm lens is included. The camera supports RAW as well as JPEG image formats and has HDMI video out, so you can easily connect it to an HDTV.

The G1 has fourteen different modes (including one full automatic mode) that are accessed from a dial on the top right hand side of the camera. While many of the modes are self-explanatory, a few of them might require a little reading in your trusty manual to understand how to operate.

The camera has six different scene modes: Portrait, Scenery, Night Portrait, Close-Up, and Sports. For each one of the pre-set scene modes you can press the DISPLAY button to get an explanation of what the setting will do. For instance, the sports mode gives you a high shutter speed and high ISO. If you're new to manually operating your camera reading the explanations as you use them could be exceptionally helpful later on when you're trying to adjust the controls on your own. Example: "This picture is going to be like a sports picture so I should increase my shutter speed and ISO."

One feature we really liked was the "My Menu" function, which displays the five menu options you've used most recently. If you're someone who always finds yourself going to the same items in your camera menu over and over again then this can take some of the hassle away.

The camera also offers the ability to customize some of the buttons and controls to meet your personal needs. If you like to have a little more control over your pictures, then being able to customize buttons and dials on the camera is a plus. You also have the ability to turn the LCD screen out (even to a point where it faces to the front) making it easy to frame shots with you as the subject, or where it's not feasible for you to be standing directly behind the camera lens.

This is not a camera designed for serious photographers, but rather for amateur photographers and consumers who want to have the ability to change out the lenses while maintaining a compact body size. Panasonic offers the camera in blue and red as well as black. There aren't that many lenses for the G1 at the moment. Novoflex recently made an adapter available for the camera that will allow you to use traditional Leica and Zeiss lenses, but with a price tag around $800 for the G1 (and an additional $200 for the adapter if you want it) you are more than likely better off purchasing a traditional SLR with which you'll have access to a substantial amount of lenses and accessories off the bat.