text: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 « Digital Camera Reviews & Photography Tips
  « Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200
  Giottos MT9251 »
  Stuff.tv reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "While the Panasonic G2 doesn't quite offer the level of a performance of the Canon 550D or Sony A55, it's very easy to take great shots with it – whether you're an old hand or a young pretender, you can grab the G2 and will pretty much instantly be able to use it. Designed to cater for all types of photographer, it succeeds brilliantly."
  PCAuthority.au reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "By the end of our testing we were fond of the G2. It's responsive, and although it doesn't trouble the top tier of cameras for image quality, it takes decent pictures. The problem is that for only a touch more money you can buy the Nikon D3100, which takes superb images while offering compatibility with Nikon's formidable stock of lenses."
  Shutterbug reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "I was very impressed with the image stabilization system and metering options. I was less than impressed with the small buttons and possible accidental activation of unwanted functions…."
  ThePhotoblographer reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "Pictures are very sharp, but a relatively narrow dynamic range hampers the camera. It's easy to catch fine details, but vibrant and warm colors look dull without post-processing. For most users, it will be fine. If you're looking for professional results though, look elsewhere."
  LetsGoDigital reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "The speed, with which video and photo are processed in the Panasonic Lumix G2, is excellent. Autofocus performance is fine, for a system camera actually excellent, making photography via Live View even more intuitive."
  PCWorld reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G2 is a camera that's very nearly as competent as a digital SLR, in a much smaller body. Apart from its slightly disappointing kit lens and fat-finger-unfriendly touchscreen icons, it is an impressive product."
  PhotoRadar reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "The low-resolution eyelevel display on the G10 is a liability – making it very hard to check focus accuracy and composition as you shoot. Opting for the Panasonic G2 gives you five times more detail through the EVF – and this alone makes the extra investment worthwhile."
  HardwareZone reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "Do you prefer ease-of-use, lightness and compactness, or do you prefer ultimate image quality over bulk and complexity? If you belong to the former profile, than the Panasonic Lumix G2 is your ideal choice, despite the price."
  MacWorld reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "pictures are consistent and of better quality (with a different, more filmic look) than those usually offered by the entry-level end of the DSLR market. "
  PhotographyBlog reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "…the G10 makes more financial sense whilst delivering otherwise identical functionality and image quality. If your budget allows, though, we'd recommend that that you opt for the more capable, more intuitive and ultimately more fun Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2."
  Photoxels reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "We find the overall image quality of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 at ISO 100 to be excellent with good details in the shadows and highlights. Images up to ISO 400 are also low in noise. ISO 800 to 1600 are usable. Overall, excellent image quality. "
  CNET.asia reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "The good: Interesting touchscreen implementation; 3-inch swivel LCD; more dedicated buttons for specific functions; good image quality. The bad: Not all options can be accessed through touchscreen; stagnant dSLR-like styling. The bottom line: Current point-and-shoot owners who want to upgrade to something more advanced can look to the G2. "
  About.com reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "Pros: Image quality is outstanding, Camera layout is good, important features are accessible by "one touch", Quick autofocus and good response times, LCD can rotate away from the camera, can shoot photos with touch on LCD, EVF is extremely bright and sharp. Cons: Will take some time to learn all of the features, LCD is a little tough to see in direct sunlight, Price seems a little high, Touch-screen LCD is easy to smudge."
  ePhotozine reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "During testing the G2 provided me with plenty images with excellent sharpness across the frame, all without breaking my back die to the small size and light weight… If size (and weight) mean everything to you and the other, less SLR-like Micro Four Thirds cameras don't appeal, this may well be the camera for you."
  DCR reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "The DMC-G2 produces sharp images with excellent white balance and strong, but natural looking color… The DMC-G2 produces fluid, sharp video in AVCHD Lite format, with monaural sound, though stereo is possible with an optional microphone."
  "The perfect solution to the age-old creativity-or-convenience conundrum – for such a small package, this well-though-out camera has everything most would-be serious photographers need."
  PCAdvisor reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "The best combination here of image quality, camera build and features, we highly recommend the Panasonic Lumix G2's one-touch HD video recording, choice of viewfinders and its tiltable LCD. Buying in to the Micro FourThirds concept in the first place isn't cheap, but if you're up for the investment, this excellent camera is the model to choose."
  Telegraph.uk reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "Panasonic's new Lumix gives you both stunning images and super-easy operation, so as your knowledge of photography grows, all the manual features are there for you to use and explore. "
  DCRP reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "I like the design, the shooting experience, the photo quality, and the ability to record HD movies at the push of a button (literally). If you want a compact interchangeable lens camera, then I can definitely recommend checking out the G2, as well as its cheaper sibling, the DMC-G10. "
  TrustedReviews reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "The touch-screen is, as always, just a gimmick, but the video mode is good. Build quality, performance and image quality are all still of a very high standard, but you can get better results from a full-size DSLR of the same price. "
  CNET reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "Although the photos look a hair noisier and overprocessed compared with many competitors, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 has a lot to recommend about it–including a flip-and-twist touch-screen and speedy performance."
  T3 reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "Resultant pictures are sharp and colour rich – requiring little if any image editing, and indicating that the Panasonic Lumix G2 is more aimed at consumers than photo enthusiasts who want to tinker to the nth degree. Ultimately this camera is a fantastic, lighter alternative to a DSLR, perfect for those who wants to step-up from a compact."
  ImagingResource reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "Overall, the Panasonic G2's images print well up to ISO 800, but start to fall apart at ISO 1,600. This is a good performance, but doesn't rise to excellent when compared to some of the competition. It seems like a two-year-old sensor in this new camera when you see the recent leaps other companies have made. "
  Pocket-Lint reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and writes;
  "Far from novel the G2's new touchscreen capability extends its ease of use and is an ideal next step for the series to take. The 720p video mode is top quality, and although high ISO image quality is seen off by Samsung's NX10, the G2 holds its own on the performance front. A front-running Micro Four Thirds offering for sure"
  Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Sample Photos
  – Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Sample Photos @ ThePhoblographer
  – Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Sample Photos @ LetsGoDigital
  – Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Sample Photos @ PhotoRadar
  – Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Sample Photos @ PhotographyBlog
  – Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Sample Photos @ Photoxels
  – Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Sample Photos @ ImagingResource
  – Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Sample Photos @ DCRP
  – Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Sample Photos @ TrustedReviews
  – Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Sample Photos @ Panasonic
  Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 User Manual (PDF)
  February 7, 2010: Panasonic is pleased to announce the new DMC-G2 from Lumix G Micro System as the world's first interchangeable lens system camera with touch-control shooting*1. The LUMIX G Micro System has been sparking revolutions in the market as its name "New-Generation System Camera" suggests.
  Ever since the release of DMC-G1, the first interchangeable lens system camera based on the Micro Four Thirds System standard with dramatic downsizing of the body adopting the mirrorless structure. The GH1 realized 1920×1080 full HD (High Definition) movie recording and the GF1 brought an innovation even in the viewpoint of design with a flat, slim profile.
  To develop the new DMC-G2, Panasonic focused on the operability and elevated it even higher by adoption of touch-screen that connects the sight and action most intuitively. Just a touch on the subject in the LCD lets you set AF even to release the shutter. Various advanced AF functions taking advantage of high-speed, accurate contrast AF are now as easy and comfortable as it never was with a combination of touch-screen operation. Yet the camera body is compact enough to be the world's smallest and lightest*2.
  The double Live-View function offered by the large and bright 3.0-inch 460,000-dot free-angle Intelligent LCD and 1,440,000-dot 1.4x (0.7x*2) Live View Finder makes it possible to see how settings results in the picture in advance to the shooting. The 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor and the new Venus Engine HD II integrating Intelligent Resolution technology assure high image quality in both photo and movie recording.
  The DMC-G2 records high quality movie in AVCHD Lite in addition to the motion JPEG even with advanced flexibility of cutting out a high quality still image thanks to the Intelligent Resolution technology. The camera has an HDMI output capability so that the dynamic movies and photos can be played back on the large HDTV via the optional HDMI mini cable.
  For stimulating the creativity of photo/videography, the popular My Color mode is succeeded from the predecessors to offer 7 color settings and 1 custom setting for both photo and movie recording. In addition, the Movie P mode lets you change the aperture to expand the expressiveness in movie recording. The DMC-G2 is also compatible with the optional external stereo microphone DMW-MS1 for high quality audio recording.
  On the other hand, the iA(Intelligent Auto)mode which is popular in both Lumix system cameras and compact cameras supports easy shooting with automatic optimization according to the scenes in both photo and movie recording. It can be directly activated with the newly added iA button without trouble of setting using dial or menu.
  The DMC-G2 with HD movie recording capability offers an abundance of advanced functions with an unprecedented ease of use realized by a touch control. It brings users from entry level to high amateur and even to professionals, a different surprise and joy of shooting commensurate with their photographic stage. Choose the body color that sound most right to you from three colors – black, red and blue.
  The intuitive touch-control shooting- world's first in an interchangeable lens system camera*1
  To elevate its operability even higher, the DMC-G2 adopts touch-control shooting for the first time in the world as an interchangeable lens system camera. AF is immediately set to the subject by just touching it on the large, 460,000-dot LCD and you can even release the shutter.
  Once you lock on the subject by a touch, the camera tracks the subject even it moves with the AF tracking function. Just a touch on the screen lets you select the part and the size of AF area with the 1-area AF and the 1-area AF in Face Detection even allows you to set finer focus on the eye while capturing human face bright and clear. The Multi-area AF allows to set a group of AF point according to the composition.
  With the Intelligent Scene Selector in the iA mode, the camera automatically switches to the appropriate mode according to the subject touched, for example, a touch on a human face switches to the portrait mode and the a touch on the background or a scenery to the scenery mode while a touch on the subject close to the camera to the close-up mode. In the manual focusing, you can enlarge the part by just a touch to select 1x, 5x or 10x and smoothly move the part by dragging it on the screen. The touch operation dramatically shortcuts the action of setting in the menu, too.
  The touch-screen operation excels not only for shooting but also for playing back images with outstanding visibility. You can play back the image you want out of hundreds of stocks by touching on the one in the thumbnail. To play back images one by one in order, you can drag the image across the screen with a finger to browse the collection of photos as you flip over the pages of the book. Max.16x of enlargement is also easy with touches.
  Despite the incorporation of high-performance LCD, the DMC-G2 is the world's smallest and lightest to offer excellent portability*2.
  With the LUMIX DMC-G1, Panasonic has developed an entirely new concept in digital cameras that comply with the Micro Four Thirds System standard by taking even greater advantage of the compactness and light weight that are made possible by eliminating the mirror box and optical viewfinder unit. By increasing the number of electrical contacts between the camera body and the lens, the camera's expandability is also dramatically increased to maximize future potential.
  The LUMIX G Micro System's large, bright 1,440,000-dot equivalent Live View Finder retains the outstanding viewability of an optical viewfinder and can also display information about camera settings that the user can see without taking his or her eye from the subject.
  A clever built-in eye sensor automatically switches on the viewfinder when the user looks into it, then switches it off and turns on the free-angle 3.0-inch large 460,000-dot high-resolution LCD (which boasts a wide viewing angle) when the user looks away from the viewfinder.
  The 60-frames-per-second Live View is made possible by the Live MOS sensor, which takes signals directly from the image sensor and sends them continuously to the LCD, in real time. Both the Live View Finder and LCD provide approx. 100% field of view. This allows the user, when composing a shot, to check the framing accurately from corner to corner.
  The contrast AF system*4 adopted by the LUMIX DMC-G2 is not only accurate and easy to use, but also very fast. Users can choose from a wide range of AF modes, including AF Tracking, 1-area AF, Face Detection AF/AE and 23-area area.
  While achieving breakthroughs in advanced functions and compactness of design, Panasonic also refined its comprehensive digital imaging technologies for every cameras of LUMIX G Micro System to raise the level of image quality that rivals or even surpasses D-SLR cameras. The 4/3-type 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor featured in the DMC-G2 offers the best of both worlds — the superior image quality of a CCD sensor, and the lower power consumption of a CMOS sensor. Advanced technology that makes it possible to read 4 channels of data simultaneously also helps the G2 deliver 60 frames-per-second Full-time Live View images, while faithfully reproducing high-resolution images with fine detail and rich gradation.
  The high-speed, high-performance Venus Engine HD has been re-engineered to compile the new image processing technology "Intelligent Resolution". It enables the recording of beautiful photo and high-definition movie with higher quality signal processing. With the Intelligent Resolution technology, 3 areas — outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation areas are automatically detected. The outline parts are enhanced effectively to give edges more clearness while giving a moderate accentuation to the texture areas to look more finely detailed.
  To the soft gradation part, superior noise reduction system of the Venus Engine HD II is applied to make it smoother. Apart from the uniform enhancement of sharpness, the innovative technology Intelligent Resolution precisely performs signal processing pixel by pixel in the most effective way for it. As a result, images are naturally clear and crisp in both photo and movie recording.
  Cameras of LUMIX G Micro System are equipped with highly efficient Dust
  Reduction System. If dust or other foreign matter gets inside the camera when you're changing lenses, it could cling to the image sensor and show up as a spot in your photos. The Dust Reduction System in the G2 helps eliminate this possibility by placing a supersonic wave filter in front of the Live MOS sensor. Vibrating vertically around 50,000 times per second, the filter repels dust and other particles effectively.
  Take motion picture recording to the next-level with new generation AVCHD Lite
  The G2 also provides a My Color mode, Film mode and carries over a variety of scene modes from photo scene modes in movie recording. Motion picture P mode that lets you change the aperture for more creative HD movie recording. You can try professional-like movie recording with these variety of options like you do with photo recording.
  A pallet of options to stimulate photographers' creativity
  The DMC-G2 is artistic not only in form, but also in function. It provides an array of features that let users either capture precisely true-to-life images or create their own beautifully expressive images. The G2 features My Color mode with a total of seven preset effects — Expressive, Retro, Pure, Elegant, Monochrome, Dynamic Art, and Silhouette while inheriting the previous Custom mode, which lets users manually set the color, brightness and saturation levels.
  With the Full-time Live View function, users can see how these settings will affect the images before they shoot, making it easier to capture the exact mood or atmosphere desired. For even more elaborate effects, users can choose from a total of nine Film modes, and set the contrast, sharpness and saturation levels for each. A custom function lets users store their favorite settings in memory. The G2 also provides a total of 26 Scene modes including the Peripheral Defocus mode. Most of these modes can be used when shooting motion images too, letting users create movies with dramatic, theatrical effects without having to edit after they shoot.
  Great photography is not only from a professional photographer — iA (Intelligent Auto) mode
  The DMC-G2 has advanced functions that will satisfy experienced photographers, yet is easy enough for beginners to use comfortably. It's ideal for compact camera owners who want to step up to higher-quality photos — but without having to worry about the need of technique. Panasonic achieved this superb ease of use by continuing to improve iA mode — with its shooting assist functions that have proven extremely popular in LUMIX compact cameras — and adding it to the LUMIX G Micro System's advanced imaging technologies. iA mode is available not only in photo but also movie recording.
  With AF Tracking, the G2 can lock onto any subject and keep it in focus even if it moves — making it easy to get beautiful, clear shots when a great photo opportunity suddenly arises. Simply aim, lock, and shoot. The Face Recognition*5 function remembers registered faces to give an appropriate AF/AE on the people. In playback, you can choose to display only photos that contain a specific registered face using Category Playback.
  In addition to the advanced functions mentioned above, the iA mode inherits fundamental functions users need in a good digital still camera. These include MEGA O.I.S., which helps prevent blurring from hand-shake, and Intelligent ISO Control, which reduces motion blur by adjusting the ISO sensitivity if the subject moves as the shot is taken. Intelligent Exposure optimizes the exposure for each part of an image, preventing blocked shadows and blown highlights and helping ensure that gradation and details are reproduced beautifully. It also features an automatic backlight compensation function that activates whenever the camera detects the subject is in backlight. Intelligent Scene Selector automatically detects the most common shooting situations — Portrait, Night Portrait, Scenery, Night Scenery, Close-up and Sunset — and switches to the appropriate Scene mode. The user can activate all of these useful, convenient shooting-assist functions by simply selecting iA mode.
  Enjoy watching high quality photos and movies on large HDTV – VIERA Link networking
  Both still images and motion images in AVCHD Lite recorded on SD Memory Cards are easy to view on a Panasonic VIERA TV with dynamic HD resolution. The user simply inserts the card into the VIERA Image Viewer (SD Memory Card slot) on a VIERA TV or DIGA Blu-ray Disc Player*6 to play the content. Alternatively, an optional mini HDMI cable can be used to output still and motion images recorded with the DMC-G2 directly to the TV for easy VIERA Link operation. This makes it possible to take maximum advantage of the camera's playback functions, including slideshows in which both still and motion images are played sequentially, or calendar displays and so on. All control is possible using only the TV's remote control.
  With the LUMIX G Micro System and the growing assortment of lenses becoming available, the expressive possibilities are unlimited. The LUMIX DMC-G2 system camera offers a wide variety of options to choose from to match every shooting situation and shooting style. Some accessories are not available in some countries.
  * Mount Adaptor: DMW-MA1, DMW-MA2M, DMW-MA3R
  * External Flash: DMW-FL220 (GN22) / DMW-FL360 (GN36) / DMW-FL500 (GN50)
  * Stereo Microphone: DMW-MS1
  * Soft Case: DMW-CG2
  * Soft Bag: DMW-BAG1, DMW-CZ18
  * Leather Bag: DMW-BAL1
  * Shoulder Strap (Stylish): DMW-SSTG1-A/C/R/K
  * Shoulder Strap (Woven): DMW-SSTG2-W
  * Shoulder Strap (Leather): DMW-SSTG3-T
  * Shoulder Strap (Leather): DMW-SSTL1
  * HDMI mini Cable:RP-CDHM15/RP-CDHM30
  With the DMC-G2, PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.0 HD Edition for easy organization of photos and movies and the SILKYPIX® Developer Studio 3.1 SE for RAW file development come bundled.
  The PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.0 HD Edition makes it possible to sort and organize photos not only of those newly taken but also of those stored in your PC with quick start-up and fast read-in of images. The Face Recognition function that recognizes the faces in the picture to automatically sort the photos by the registered faces without picking out each photo one by one when you only want pictures of a specific person.
  You can also enjoy slideshows with a variety of effects and use your iTunes music library as background music and burn it onto a DVD disc in MPEG2. Motion pictures can be uploaded directly to YouTube using the built-in YouTube uploader even in HD quality. It also lets you create a 360-degree rotation panorama file in MOV, which is especially easy if Panorama Assist mode in the camera is used. The software is of course compatible with the Windows 7.
  The original image data in RAW file format recorded with the G2 allows images to be developed according to your intention using highly advanced functions of the SILKYPIX® Developer Studio 3.1 SE software utility. It features unique combination of high resolution and extraordinary color separation performance.
  *1 For an interchangeable lens system camera with movable LCD as of March 7, 2010
  *2 For an interchangeable lens system camera with movable LCD as of March 7, 2010. There are some limitations to other functions depending on the lens to attach.
  *3 35mm camera equivalent.
  *4 Lenses that are not compatible with the contrast AF function can be used with manual focusing.There are some limitations to other functions depending on the lens to attach.
  *5 Turn Face Recognition item ON and register the person with full-face portrait on the shooting menu in advance. Some functions in iA mode may not be available depending on the lens that is mounted.
  Listed below are some of the rivals of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 that competitive to sell photos online.
  This entry was posted on Sunday, June 16th, 2013 at 2:25 am and is filed under Compact System Cameras, Digital Camera, Panasonic.	You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.