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Buyer's Guide Cameras SLRs Under $1,000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Buyer's Guide Cameras SLRs Under $1,000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
 
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2LIST PRICE: $899
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| NEW 16-MEGAPIXEL LIVE MOS SENSOR: The GH2 is the highest-resolution Micro Four Thirds camera as of this writing, with a new 16-megapixel Live MOS sensor (18.31 megapixels gross). High-speed digital processing speeds operation and reduces noise. FULL HD VIDEO: The GH2’s predecessor was the first Micro Four Thirds camera to offer video. The GH2 improves on that, with the ability to record 1920x1080 full HD video at 60i (output as 60p), as well as 1080/24p and 1270x720/60p, all in AVCHD format. The GH2 also can do 1280x720p, 848x480p, 640x480p and 320x240p in Motion JPEG format, all at 30 fps. A built-in stereo microphone records sound via Dolby Digital Stereo Creator, and there’s a jack for an external stereo mic. Autofocusing is available during video recording, and you can focus on a subject just by touching it on the LCD monitor. Press the red button atop the camera to start recording video at anytime; press the shutter button to take a full-res still image at anytime during video recording. TOUCH-SCREEN LCD: Panasonic introduced its 3.0-inch, 360,000-dot touch-screen LCD monitor in the DMC-G2, and the GH2 also has this feature. The touch-screen allows you to focus and adjust camera settings by touching the appropriate subject or icon, and you can play back a desired image just by touching its thumbnail. The LCD rotates 180° and tilts 270° for easy odd-angle and video shooting. 3D SHOOTING: Attach the new Lumix G 12.5mm ƒ/12 3D lens, and you can shoot 3D images, even of moving subjects, then play them back in 3D on Panasonic Viera 3DTVs using 3D eyewear. Note: The DMC-G2 (with Firmware v1.1) is also compatible with the 3D lens. |
Surprisingly, the first G1 model couldn’t shoot video. The next model in the series, the GH1, fixed that. Now we have that camera’s successor, the DMC-GH2, with even better video capabilities, better still image quality and better autofocusing—and these were quite good in the GH1.
A new Venus Engine FHD (along with the new image sensor) accounts for the improved image quality (and ISO settings from 160 to 12,800) and increased operating speed. The GH2 can shoot full-res 16-megapixel images at 5 fps and 4-megapixel images at 40 fps—up to seven RAW images in a burst, while the number of JPEGs possible in a burst is limited only by the memory card being used.
As a Micro Four Thirds System camera, the GH2 can use all Micro Four Thirds System lenses, regardless of manufacturer. It also can use, via adapters, standard Four Thirds System lenses and (with manual focusing only) just about any lens for which an adapter is available.
STANDOUT FEATURE: The GH2’s new advanced contrast-based Light Speed AF system is claimed to be the world’s fastest—even faster than the phase-detection systems in high-end DSLRs. We’re eager to try it.
VERDICT: The GH2 combines excellent still and video capability in a versatile, compact body.
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2The 12.1-megapixel G2 is even more compact, offers the same LCD monitor (with touch-screen capabilities) and LVF, but has AVCHD Lite video and doesn’t have the Light Speed AF. List Price: $799 (with 14-42mm zoom). |
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1If you prefer a flat compact-camera form factor, the GF1 provides similar features to the G2 (less the touch-screen capabilities) in an even more compact body. The GF1 has a built-in flash, but the external EVF is optional. List Price: $749 (with 14-45mm zoom). |
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