Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Handling (8.25)

The Micro Four Thirds format certainly offers a more compact design than many traditional SLRs, but it is far from the compact shooting experience you might expect from a true compact camera. The most significant difference between an SLR and a Micro Four Thirds camera is in the depth. Removing the SLR mirror mechanism cuts the depth of the G2 nearly in half, compared to many SLRs currently on the market. Of course, if you choose to attach a large lens to the front of the camera, and inch or so of depth doesn’t make much of a difference. So, in this case, size doesn’t really matter.

What is good on the G2 is the overall balance and comfort. The form factor is very similar to that of the GH1 and G1. It feels substantial in your hands, with enough weight to sit comfortably. If you have larger hands, you might be disappointed in the depth of the grip; wrapping your fingers all the way around the grip causes your index finger to be out of alignment with the shutter button. We also wouldn’t have minded some extra texture on the grip. The surface of the camera is highly resilient to greasy fingerprinting and scratches, but it can get a bit sweaty on long, hot photoshoots.

Perhaps the greatest advantage to the G2 is its pivoting LCD panel, which lets you shoot easily from a number of different angles.

Buttons & Dials (9.50)

Shooting with the original G1, we found the control dial was too sensitive, leading us to click it accidentally and change the exposure compensation settings. In the new model, there seems to be more resistance, which has resulted in the problem being erased entirely. We were also relieved to find that the video record button remains on the top of the camera, out of harm’s way, where it was directly above the thumb rest on last year’s GH1. We strongly prefer this design.

Display(s) (6.30)

The LCD on the Panasonic G2 is the same as the 3-inch, 460,000-pixel screen that appeared on last year’s GF1. The big improvement this year is that the LCD is articulated, allowing the user to turn it around for safe storage (or when you’re using the LCD) or bring it out from the camera body and rotate it for more viewing angles. This is extremely useful if you’re doing any self-recording or trying to grab a high or low vantage point for shooting.

The image on the LCD looked fine when shooting in most lighting conditions, but the refresh rate did slow down in lower lighting. In those cases, or when glare on the LCD becomes a problem, it might be easier to use the built-in viewfinder.

There are two optional modes for adjusting screen brightness to fit the shooting environment: Auto Power LCD and Power LCD. The former reacts to detected light levels, while the latter turns brightness to full blast—very handy when shooting in bright outdoor lighting.

Secondary Display

The small monochrome LCD often found on the top of higher-end traditional SLRs to display camera settings is not present on the G2—as is to be expected. The compact body doesn’t offer enough real estate for this feature.

Viewfinder (7.00)

Unlike last year’s Micro Four Thirds cameras from Panasonic, the G2 is equipped with a viewfinder. The Gf1 was compatible with on optional EVF, but that meant dropping $200 on yet another accessory for your camera—an unnecessary expense, even though the detachable viewfinder was pretty awesome.

The color LCD viewfinder on the G2 has a resolution of approximately 1,440,000 dots with a field ratio of approximately 100%. On the side of the viewfinder is a diopter adjuster with a range of -4 to +4. To the right is a sensor, which automatically turns off the LCD when you put your eye up to the viewfinder.

Image Stabilization (0.95)

Image stabilization on the Panasonic G2 was very poor, boasting only minor improvements at a couple of shutter speeds and having a negative impact on sharpness under most conditions. Both the GF1 and the GH1 turned in superior performance in this test—as did every other Micro Four Thirds camera we’ve tested. More on how we test image stabilization.

The G2, like the other Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras before it, uses lens-based stabilization. The 14–42mm kit lens we used offers OIS, but there are other lenses in the G-series that do not. If you do opt to use a lens with a built-in stabilizer, you can choose from three image stabilization modes. Mode 1 employs the stabilization system at all times when the camera in in Record mode. Mode 2 only uses the system when the shutter button is pressed. Mode 3 only impacts up and down movements—allowing you to to enact a smooth horizontal pan without the stabilization system trying to interfere. While shooting video, Mode 1 is the only option available.

Our high shake test gave the camera considerable problems: sharpness was worse with the stabilization system turned on no matter which stabilization mode we used. Of course, we don’t expect most people to shoot photos under ‘high shake’ situations, so this only constitutes a small part of our final stabilization score.

Image Stabilization Comparison Table			Expand
	Low Shake IS Off	Low Shake IS On	High Shake IS Off	High Shake IS On
1/500
1/250
1/125
1/60
1/30
1/15
1/8

During the low shake test, the G2 fared better, with the stabilization improving sharpness at 1/60, 1/30, and 1/15 shutter speeds. This is exactly the performance we’ve come to expect from most DSLR stabilization systems. Unfortunately, the improvement at these thre shutter speeds was minor compared to most cameras. The Olympus E-P1, in particular, showed phenomenal improvement at lower shutter speeds. In that case, it seems that in-camera stabilization is more effective than lens-based systems.