Panasonic G2

UPDATE 17 November 2010: with a new generation of cameras with large-format sensors now on the market, we've had to revise the scores previously given to some older models. The Panasonic G2 therefore now has four stars rather than five, as its poor handling of digital noise has been marked more severely, in line with current market standards.

After conquering ticket machines in train stations, MP3 players and mobile phones, touchscreen interfaces' next target is the humble digital camera.  Whether or not they're actually any use is up for debate, but it's a huge trend and just about every manufacturer has its own touchscreen digital camera.

They're even found on very advanced cameras like this Panasonic Lumix G2, part of the the manufacturer's Micro Four-Thirds range.  Along with the addition of a video mode, the new screen is this camera's biggest innovation.  But will these two developments will be enough to win over photographers?

Recap

Micro Four-Thirds cameras are midway between SLRs and point-and-shoot cameras, whose compact bodies and easy user interface they borrow.  But like the former, Micro Four-Thirds cameras can also be used with different lenses, and have a much bigger sensor than fixed-lens compacts.  Users benefit from better quality photos and more responsive equipment, but still need to choose the right lens for the job.


Handling

At first sight, the new G2 doesn't seem to look that much different from the first member of the family, the G1.  Both cameras share the same fake leather styling we're used to from SLRs, a comfortable handle, a large viewfinder and an LCD screen that flips out.  There's not much new here.

To work out what's changed, you need to pick the camera up and start using it.  When you do, you'll realise that Panasonic has made a few adjustments here and there.  The scroll wheel, for instance, which used to be at the front of the handle, has now moved to the back.  The difference between controlling it with your index finger and your thumb isn't huge, and is above all a question of taste, although I personally prefer to find the wheel at the front.  Amongst the other small changes, the Q.Menu button is now more visible on the back of the camera, with a button for starting video recording taking is place on the top.  The Film Mode button, which was rather confusing because the G1 couldn't actually film, has made way for a button controlling the 'intelligent automatic' iA mode, which is both useful and responsive.

If you don't use iA, then the G2 has plenty of controls giving direct access to the key settings like AF mode, AF zones, burst mode, exposure bracketing, sensitivity and white balance.  In short, for a camera aimed at the general public, there's a lot that could put beginners off.




The handle gives you a good grip on the camera, and although the finish feels pleasant to the touch, it could be a little less slippy.  All of the controls are easy to reach.  The real development is the arrival of the touchscreen (see inset).  As well as making it touch-sensitive, Panasonic has left it on a rotating hinge and with a resolution of 460 000 pixels, which already offers great viewing angles and a very fluid display, even in bright daylight.  Indoors, it becomes jerkier, but is still usable.

Like the G1, the G2 has a built-in electronic viewfinder with a top-quality SVGA display of 480 000 pixels that easily beats the competition.  Using it to line up your shots provides more detail, a more fluid display and more contrast than most of its competitors, even if the dynamic range isn't perfect.  The viewfinder is very comfortable, even for following moving subjects, and autofocus doesn't make it hang.

The G2 does pretty well for connectivity, including support for the latest version of the SD card standard, SDXC, and has a type C mini HDMI output and a USB A/V output that's only available in playback mode.  For shooting video, there's a 2.5 mm mini-jack mic input.

Responsiveness

Overall, the G2 is very responsive: it takes one second to switch on, which is just a touch more than the majority of SLRs and the autofocus works incredibly well both at wide-angle and when light levels are low.  It begins to show its limits when you zoom in with low light, but the G2 can rely on its AF assistance lamp.  The burst mode is pretty traditional, reaching three frames per second across about seven shots.  Another strength is that the motor on the 12-42 mm zoom is very quiet and hardly audible at all on the soundtrack of your videos.

Image Quality

The Panasonic G2 comes with a new 14-42 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, which is a cheaper option than the 14-45 mm kit lens that came with the G1.  This new lens, which has a plastic mount, no longer includes a switch for optical image stabilisation, meaning you have to use the menus on the camera itself to control this.  During our lab tests, the G2 produced decent photos but nothing exceptional.  There's a reasonable amount of detail in wide-angle shots, but the Olympus Pen E-PL1 produces more lively JPEGs with better contrast that are ultimately more attractive.  Colours are reproduced accurately and the 144 zone light metering system works pretty well.



Electronic noise handling is also pretty decent, with plenty of detail in photos up to 1600 ISO and even at 3200 ISO: it's only at the top of the dial at 6400 ISO that things really go wrong.

The optical image stabilisation on the 14-42 mm lens is great, and our portrait test shot of Barbie came out sharp at 1/6 s without a tripod.


Video

Although we were expecting it on the G1, we missed out on the video mode that finally arrived on the G2, which films in AVCHD Lite (1280 x 720 pixels with a progressive scan).  There's no stereo sound, as the G2 only has a single mic at the front, but you can plug in an external mic using a 2.5 mm mini jack.  You can snap individual 1920 x 1080 pixel photos while filming without pausing your video.  Whoever said the video mode on the G2 was no good?