Panasonic DMC-GH2 Review

Preview based on a production GH2 with firmware V 1.0

When Panasonic first released the GH1, its second Small Four Thirds photographic camera, it was commonly seen as simply being a G1 with film capturing and a significantly more costly kit contacts. And, if your concentration was pictures digital camcorders then this wasn't an entirely irrational evaluation. However, its real attraction was not that it had film, but that it provided what was, at the time, some of the most versatile, top excellent film available. Again, the 14-140mm F4.0-5.8 kit zoom capability may not have been inexpensive but it had been created and developed with fast, silent auto-focus and stepless aperture management to allow AF during film capturing and visibility changes without rapid changes in lighting.

Now that the G2 (along with a lot of modern cameras) is able to catch HD film, the variations between just being able to capture HD and to really management it become more obvious. Photos photographers may get some benefits from the new, greater quality indicator but the main variations between the GH2 and G2 are the capability to management the film capturing process (both with regards to shape rate and shutter speed).

In the years since Olympus and Panasonic mutually declared the Small Four Thirds conventional there have been eight designs released up to now, seven of which discuss the same 12MP indicator. The only exemption was the GH1 which, despite its 12MP outcome actually presented a 14MP indicator. The indicator was a little bit bigger than the format's picture quality group, which permitted it to provide pictures in different element percentages while maintaining the same picture angled. And now the GH2 follows the same routine, capturing 16MP pictures using its brand-new, in the same way over-sized 18MP indicator.

This indicator is able of much greater readout rate (120Hz) than its forerunner, providing a coordinator of benefits. Videographers will see an enhancement in the excellent of the finest excellent outcome - the 1080i outcome is resulting from 60p or 50p catch, rather than doubled-up from 24p or 25p on the GH1. The quicker readout also indicates the AF system can more regularly check the precision of its concentrate, which guarantees quicker auto-focus (on contacts that can react easily enough). Lastly, the quicker readout indicates the live perspective is modified 60 times a second (rather than 24fps shown at 60hz), providing a better watching experience with less shredding.

The digital viewfinder has also been a little bit increased - it now reveals 852 x 600 p in contrast to 800 across - which allows it to show 16:9 and 3:2 previews without the need for such comprehensive farming as before.

The G2 alongside one of its current nearest competitors - the Canon EOS 60D. Although it follows conventional DSLR styling, the considerably smaller size and bulk of the GH2 is obvious in this view - one of the advantages of a mirrorless and (comparatively) smaller sensor design.

Compared to GH1 - key differences

The GH2 might look very similar to its predecessor at a casual glance but there are some major differences between the two models. Let's have a look at the main changes:

• New sensor - multi-aspect Live MOS with 18.3 million total pixels
• ISO range 160 - 12800 (vs 100-3200)
• Sensor capable of 1080p video at 60 or 50 fps (rather than 24 or 25 fps), still output as 60i/50i
• Faster sensor read-out promises faster AF and smoother viewfinder image (less tearing)
• Larger EVF coverage to match multi-aspect shooting (852 x 600 rather than 800 x 600 pixels)
• Touch-sensitive LCD screen (same as G2)
• New, more modern looking menu screens
• G2-style combined AF mode/pattern control on top plate
• Direct movie shooting button moved to top plate from rear of camera
• Control dial moved from front of handgrip to rear of camera
• Dedicated metering and 'film mode' buttons replaced by highly customizable Fn buttons
• Q menu button moved from top plate to rear of camera
• New battery (DMW-BLC12E) with fractionally smaller capacity (1200mAh vs 1250mAh)
• Slightly heavier (394g compared to 385g body only)

Key feature comparison (vs G2 vs GH1)

Like the GH1, the GH2 is distinguished from its G-series contemporaries by its video shooting capabilities. The GH2 is a far more serious video shooting tool than the G2, and indeed the majority of its competitors - both mirrorless and DSLR. The GH2 offers a similar video specification to the GH1 but with one important difference - the sensor no longer doubles-up its sensor output in order to create its highest-speed video (the GH1 sensor could capture at 24 or 25 fps, which was then put out as 60i or 50i footage). Instead, the latest sensor can capture progressive (whole frames) at 60 or 50 fps. Its output is still limited to 60i or 50i because there are no common ways to distribute 60p or 50p footage, but this should certainly improve the output quality. In its 'Variable Movie Mode' the GH2 also has the ability to save footage at a different frame rate from the one captured - allowing slow-motion or high-speed effects.
From a still photography point of view the GH2 brings very little that is 'new' to the G-series apart from its increased resolution - up to 16MP from 12.1MP. This makes the GH2 the highest resolution camera in Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds range, and a maximum ISO of 12,800 makes it (at least on paper) the most versatile too. Like the G2, the GH2's LCD screen is touch-sensitive, but also like the G2, it is not 'mandatory'. In other words, GH1 users upgrading to the GH2 with no interest in experimenting with the touch technology can more or less ignore it if they wish. (Unfortunately, though, it doesn't share the GF2's new 'designed for touch' interface.)

From the front, the main difference between the GH2 and G2 is that the former is slightly taller, and more of a 'classic' SLR shape. The G2 is a noticeably squatter when viewed in direct comparison, but the family resemblance is unmistakable.

From the top, the GH2 is very similar to the G2. The most obvious difference is the stereo microphone which dominates the top of the flash housing of the GH2 (the G2 makes do with a single, tiny mic aperture just forward of the AF mode switch). Both cameras have a button for direct movie shooting, but whereas the G2 has a dedicated iA mode button, in its place the GH2 has a customizable 'Fn' button.

Compared to: G2 and GH1

	Panasonic GH2	Panasonic GH1	Panasonic G2
Sensor	• 4/3 type MOS ('Live MOS sensor') • 18.3 million total pixels • 16.0 million effective pixels • RGB (Primary) color filter array	• 4/3 type MOS ('Live MOS sensor') • 14.0 million total pixels • 12.1 million effective pixels • RGB (Primary) color filter array	• 4/3 type MOS ('Live MOS sensor') • 13.1 million total pixels • 12.1 million effective pixels • RGB (Primary) color filter array
Sensitivity	ISO 160-12800 in 1/3EV steps	ISO 100-3200 in 1/3 EV steps	ISO 100-6400 in 1/3 EV steps
Movie mode	• AVCHD : 1920 x 1080p 24fps (Approx 23 or 17 Mbps) 1920 x 1080i 60fps (Approx 17 or 13 Mbps) 1280 x 720p 60fps (Approx 17 or 13 Mbps) • Motion JPEG: 1280 x 720, 30fps 848 x 480, 30fps 640 x 480, 30fps 320 x 240, 30fps	• AVCHD : 1920 x 1080, 24fps (24 fps encapsulated in a 60i format) 1280 x 720 (60 fps) • Motion JPEG: 1280 x 720, 30fps 848 x 480, 30fps 640 x 480, 30fps 320 x 240, 30fps	• AVCHD Lite: 1280 x 720, 60p (from 30fps sensor output) 1280 x 720, 50p (from 25 fps sensor output) • Motion JPEG: 1280 x 720 (30fps) 848 x 480 (30fps) 640 x 480 (30fps) 320 x 240 (30fps)
LCD monitor	• Touch sensitive 3.0" TFT LCD monitor • Multi-angle swing and tilt (180° swing, 270° swivel) • 460,000 dots • Approx 100% frame coverage	• 3.0" TFT LCD monitor • Multi-angle swing and tilt (180° swing, 270° swivel) • 460,000 dots • Approx 100% frame coverage	• Touch sensitive 3.0" TFT LCD monitor • Multi-angle swing and tilt (180° swing, 270° swivel) • 460,000 dots • Approx 100% frame coverage
Microphone	• Built-in stereo • Socket for external mic	• Built-in stereo • Socket for external mic	• Built-in monoaural • Socket for external mic
Dimensions	124 x 90 x 76 mm (4.9 x 3.5 x 3 in)	124 x 90 x 76 mm (4.9 x 3.5 x 3 in)	124 x 84 x 74 mm (4.9 x 3.3 x 2.9 in )
Weight (body only, no card/battery)	394 g (13.9 oz.)	385 g (13.6 oz.)	370 g (13 oz.)

Multi-Aspect Sensor

Like the Panasonic LX5 and the GH1 before it, the GH2 uses a multi-aspect ratio sensor. It's slightly larger than usual for Four Thirds, and at any given aspect ratio (even at 4:3) the camera only uses a crop from the total available sensor area.

4:3	3:2	16:9	1:1

At first sight this may seem strange but the result is that the lens offers the same diagonal angle of view regardless of selected aspect ratio, making it much easier to get a feel for the behavior of the lens. It also means you make the most of the sensor area, getting similar pixel counts in all modes.
Original Article:www.dpreview.com

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