Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Opinion: I purchased this camera from amazon for £504 with an additional £30 cashback which represented good value at the time, I am of the general opinion that this camera was more over priced compared to the competition than usual and if it were not for these reductions I would not have purchased this model at this time, by the time you read this prices will have dropped even more no doubt and it should be even better value

The camera is easy and fun to use, and should appeal to point and shoot users as well as those seeking some creative control, image quality is generally very good, but given what is availble on similar priced entry level SLR cameras, is not exceptional. The big selling point is the AVCDHD Lite video and the touch screen. While the HD video is good its not Full HD and no better than that on cheaper Panasonic models.

Images are very detailed and the autofocus and exposure systems are excellent, Images noise is well controlled up to 800 ISO and approaches that of similar priced SLR type cameras that compete for your money. As a stand alone camera with perhaps an additional telephoto lens this is all that most people will need, but it is never going to be as expandable as the Nikon of Canon range, upgrade lenses are far more expensive and there is a much smaller range. While smaller and lighter than an SLR camera it is still quite bulky and those not looking specifically for the benefits of this breed of camera will need to really consider if this is what you want, there are so many great compact and superzooms out there for half the price, and if this is going to be your only camera I would recommend further research.

WHATS GOOD

Excellent intelligent Auto mode
Detailed images with minimum lens distortion (processed out by camera)good for portraits and landscapes
Excellent exposure and autofocus, Images acceptable straight from camera
Good noise control up to ISO 800
Effective Raw mode, for those that can be bothered to edit every picture
Very good viewfinder and good swivel LCD, not dependent on Touch screen, which is useful in some situations, but you can easily survive without it
Generally good build quality with some questions marks ie power switch/kit lens
Good control layout, dedicated movie mode and intelligent auto buttons
Flash performance
good grip and user ergonomics
Reasonable performance, but keep to 2.2 frames per second burst mode or below to avoid screen blank out between shots
Good battery life
Pleasing HD video mode, suitable for spur of the moment videos but not up to the standard of a dedicated HD camcorder
Printed full operating Manual

A very good camera but still not quite as good as most entry level SLRs, that said its a lot smaller and lighter, so if you are looking for a creative lightweight near SLR quality camera that while not pocket sized wont strain your neck and can be carried all day in comfort this camera ticks the box. As a general family camera it may prove over complicated and the need to change lenses to gain any telephoto shots may not suite many. Given that this camera retails at the same price as most basic SLRs, some people may find that route more approprate, while families may find a superzoom like the FZ38 or travel camera such as the TZ10 more practical and fun (and half the price)

Opinion: This camera is good, but flawed. First of all, its handling is excellent. Panasonic's designers must have spent quite a long time studying how people interact with cameras. Every button is in its place, most of them feel very different and are easy to find by touch only. I also love the drive mode lever, it makes it very easy to go from single-shot to continuous drive to self-timer (for tripod pictures). Tilt-and-swivel LCD is great for street photography! I can't imagine going back to a camera without this feature. Panasonic G2 is also very fast for a non-SLR: shutter lag, AF speed and everything else compares to entry-level DSLRs favourably.

What I don't like is its image quality. Panasonic's 12MP sensor is very old and it shows. Images are OK up to ISO 400, at ISO 800 they start to fall apart and ISO 1600 upwards is good for B&W only. Panasonic's JPEG engine is also not very good, you have to shoot RAW to get the best possible IQ. But the worst offender is its extraordinarily tight dynamic range, especially in highlights. To make things worse, the camera doesn't show proper exposure onscreen, you have to set exposure by watching your histogram.

I hope Panasonic G3 will be a better camera.

Opinion: After owning a olympus epl1.a ep2 witch i really like.I decided to buy a G2 and i coulden't be happier the G2
is faster to focus then either of the olys and i can use the oly lenes also.I got the 14-42 with the G2 and it's a nice lens.

Opinion: Good camera in a whole new class of cameras.

Two of the "reviewers" apparently never owned the camera which is why I rated it somewhat higher than I might have otherwise. Don/t trust any review that doesn't say when they got the camera.

DoctorJerry