Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Word of a touchscreen-operated interchangeable lens camera has been out for a while, but it's surprising that such a snapper wasn't developed by a major dSLR maker such as Canon or Nikon. Instead, it is Panasonic with the Lumix DMC-G2 Micro Four Thirds shooter.

The G2 succeeds the first Micro Four Thirds camera, the G1, which was announced almost two years ago. Other than a touchscreen and HD video-recording function, there aren't much other notable upgrades to speak of. That said, we see the G2 as a benchmark for future mirrorless interchangeable lens system cameras which use a touch-sensitive display.

Design

The G2's aesthetics doesn't deviate much from the G1, and in this case, the shooter retains the dSLR-like look which is pretty boring. We've seen what the Micro Four Thirds standard can do to make interchangeable lens system cameras smaller, such as the E-P1 and GF1. This makes us wonder why Panasonic didn't shrink the G2 to that proportion, which is seemingly more popular with consumers. To that, the company explained to us that its research revealed that some users still prefer the more traditional look of a dSLR, which was why the G2 was styled after that.


The front of the G2 resembles a dSLR with the faux prism hump that houses the electronic viewfinder (EVF). The handgrip has a comfortable grip and a silver strip running down it. On the opposite side is the AF illuminator.


The back of the Lumix houses the button for operating the camera. The 3-inch widescreen LCD is able to swivel, so it can be folded against the shooter when you're using the EVF or don't want to scratch it while transporting around in a bag. Beside the display is a four-way navigation pad with functions such as ISO and white balance mapped to them. The command dial, which used to be on the handgrip on the G1, is now strategically situated near the thumbrest for easy access.


Panasonic made some adjustments to the button placement on top of the G2. For example, you can choose the metering mode via the knob on the left, while underneath is a switch to adjust the focusing method. In the G1, the Q.menu and film mode button were beside the command dial, but in their places now are the dedicated video-recording and intelligent Auto (iA) keys.


The card slot, which on the G1 was at the side of the handgrip, has been moved to the same compartment as the battery slot at the bottom of the G2. While such an implementation may not affect most users, we think shutterbugs who mount the new Lumix on a tripod may have difficulty changing SD cards as the mounting plate could obstruct the hinges of the battery slot.

Features

The touchscreen is the G2's greatest asset, but take note that the camera's operation isn't entirely dependent on the display. If not there won't be all those buttons. As with most touchscreen cameras, you can tap on the LCD to focus on the subject. Shutterbugs can also activate the touch shutter function, which triggers the shutter and takes a picture when you tap on the display. When recording videos, you can touch the screen to change the lens' focus point, and we think that is a great idea. Finally, in playback mode, you can swipe your finger across the LCD to navigate through the shots or enlarge them. One thing you cannot do with the touchscreen is to explore the shooting menu, which has to be done via the physical keys.

As of now, there are no other interchangeable lens system cameras employing a touchscreen, so we think the G2's closest competitors are the Olympus E-P2, Sony NEX-5 and Samsung NX10. Here's a quick rundown of their features.

Model/Specifications	Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2	Olympus E-P2	Sony Alpha NEX-5	Samsung NX10
Sensor resolution	12 megapixels	12 megapixels	14.6 megapixels	14.6 megapixels
Dimension/weight	124 x 83.6 x 74mm/371g	120.5 x 70 x 35mm/335g	110.8 x 58.8 x 38.2mm/229g	123 x 87 x 39.8mm/353g
LCD size	3-inch, 460k-dot swivel display	3-inch, 230k-dot fixed display	3-inch, 920k-dot tiltable display	3-inch 920k-dot fixed AMOLED
Viewfinder	1,440k-dot EVF	Optional 1,440k-dot resolution	Optional optical viewfinder for 16mm lens	921k-dot EVF
Max. video resolution	1,280 x 720 pixels at 30fps	1,280 x 720 pixels at 30fps	1,280 x 720 pixels at 30fps	1,920 x 1,080 pixels at 30fps
Audio	Mono	Stereo	Stereo	Mono
Burst mode	3.2fps	3fps	7fps	Up to 7fps for 30 frames at reduced image resolution
Flash (built in)	Yes, with hotshoe	No, with hotshoe	No, uses proprietary accessory port	Yes, with hotshoe
ISO Range	ISO 100 to 6,400	ISO 100 to 6,400	ISO 200 to 12,800	ISO 100 to 3,200
Image stabilizer	Optical (via lens)	Sensor-shift	Optical (via lens)	Optical (via lens)
Still image format	RAW and JPEG	RAW and JPEG	RAW and JPEG	RAW and JPEG
Memory media	SD, SDHC and SDXC	SD/SDHC	SD, SDHC and SDXC	SD/SDHC
Related link		Review	Hands-on	Review

Like the G1, the G2 uses a 1,440k-dot EVF and it can be activated either manually by pressing a button beside it or via the sensor adjacent to the eyepiece when you hold the camera to your face. However, we are guessing most users will probably want to make use of the 3-inch widescreen for framing their shots.

The G2 has a feature called Intelligent Resolution (IR), which automatically sharpens the picture while retaining details. IR may sound familiar because the same name is used in recent Lumix compacts and is an improved version of digital zoom. However, for the G2, IR doesn't increase the zoom, but rather, it enhances the image. This feature also works for movie recording and has three levels (low, standard and high) of settings, depending on your preference. We'll take a look later to see if this function dramatically alters the photo.

Performance

The G2's startup was almost instantaneous, much like a dSLR. Shutter lag with prefocusing measured around 0.1 second, but bordered around 0.3 to 0.5 second without prefocusing. Time-to-first-shot clocked a speedy 0.2 second.

The Lumix employs contrast-based autofocus system, which was always seen as less superior to phase-detection AF used in dSLRs. However, we found the AF speed for the G2 to be very satisfactory and most consumers probably won't be able to tell the performance difference between this Micro Four Thirds and a dSLR.

Continuous shooting speed has been bumped up to 3.2fps on the G2, from 3fps on its predecessor. Although this may seem like an insignificant upgrade, it indicates that cameras of this caliber are capable of going faster.

Image Quality

The image quality of the G2 remains pretty similar to the G1's. The shooter has an ISO range of 100 to 6,400. But as with other Micro Four Thirds camera, we advise users not to tread beyond ISO 1,600. Images captured at ISO 100 to ISO 400 are relatively clean of digital artifacts and retain plenty of details in highlight and shadow regions. Noise starts to creep in and be more visible from ISO 800, though it won't show up unless you are printing a large photograph or inspecting it at 100 percent on a computer.


Earlier, we talked about the Intelligent Resolution function and how it is supposed to improve picture quality. We took two similar shots at ISO 200 and compared them. We found out that the image with IR (High) applied looked sharper and shadow areas were brightened slightly to show more details. We didn't detect any visible loss of details when IR was activated.


The color reproduction of the G2 was satisfactory in our tests. Tones packed a slight punch without looking oversaturated and shades were accurate. The sensor's dynamic range performance was also commendable, being able to render more details in highlight and shadow areas.

Conclusion

Is the G2 a game-changer in the realm of interchangeable lens system cameras? Except for the touchscreen, the Lumix's specifications are just about on par with most of its rivals, so it is really targeted at consumers currently using a touchscreen compact or who want to upgrade to something similar. We think the touch-sensitive implementation could have worked better in a camera that has a form factor like the GF1. That said, Panasonic has taken a step forward in employing a touchscreen for interchangeable lens shooters, and it's only a matter of time before other brands catch up.