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Are you lost, and looking for that Goldilocks digital camera--the one that's not too big, but not too small? That shoots high resolution photos, but also superb video? With manual fine-tuning controls, but fully automatic point-and-shoot functions, too? With a zoom lens that's not too short or too long? That has high-end features, but not a high-end price? Boys and girls, meet the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Silver).
This mirrorless Micro Four Thirds camera has a large 17.3 x 13.0mm Live MOS sensor that records 16.05MP of high resolution goodness, a 3x zoom lens (28-84mm equivalent in 35mm), 1920 x 1080 60i HD Video with Dolby stereo sound, a multi-function Touch Screen for control of both stills and video, and extremely fast auto focus in a camera 1/3 smaller (4.88 x 3.53 x 2.98"/12.4 x 8.96 x 7.58 cm) and lighter (13.82 oz/392 g) than most DSLRs.
It has MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) to eliminate blurry photos from low shutter speeds/shaky hands, a 3" free-angle LCD with 460,000 dots, high sensitivity up to ISO 12800, and an advanced dust reduction system to protect image quality. RAW capability in still images gives you ultimate control for the best pictures possible.
There's a lot more, of course. Like 3D shooting capability with the Lumix G 12.4mm/F12 interchangeable lens, a built-in flash with 1st and 2nd curtain sync, and iA (Intelligent Auto) mode that makes all settings automatically to give you optimal results without worrying about shutter speeds or exposure. Both stills and video can be customized with Scene and Color modes for a vast range of creative options. A Cinema mode allows you to shoot 1080/24p video with 24Mbps, a Variable Movie mode lets you choose the frame rate, from 80% to 300%, there are a variety of color modes (including 3 different black and white settings), and, you can even shoot a high resolution 14MP photo at the touch of the shutter button, while recording video! A wide range of optional accessories such as an external stereo microphone, a zoom lever for smoother zooms in video recording, external flash, HDMI cable, etc. might make the DMC-GH2 just right for you.
| Imaging | |
|---|---|
| Lens Mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Camera Format | Micro Four Thirds (2x Crop Factor) |
| Pixels | 16.05 Megapixel |
| Sensor Type / Size | MOS, 17.3 x 13.0 mm |
| File Formats |
Still Images: JPEG, RAW Movies: MPEG-4 AVCHD |
| Memory Card Type |
SD SDHC SDXC |
| Image Stabilization | Mechanical |
| AV Recording | |
|---|---|
| Video Recording | Yes, NTSC |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3, 16:9 |
| Video Clip Length | Up to 140 Min |
| Audio Recording | With Video |
| Focus Control | |
|---|---|
| Focus Type | Auto & Manual |
| Viewfinder/Display | |
|---|---|
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% |
| Display Screen | 3" Rear Screen LCD (460,000) |
| Screen Coverage | 100% |
| Live View | Yes |
| Exposure Control | |
|---|---|
| ISO Sensitivity | 160-12800 |
| Shutter | 60 - 1/4000 sec |
| Remote Control | DMW-RSL1 (Optional) |
| Metering Method | Multi-zone metering |
| Exposure Modes |
Modes: Aperture Priority, Auto, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority Compensation: -3 EV to +3 EV (in .33 EV steps) |
| White Balance Modes | Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Flash, Halogen, Kelvin, Shade |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| External Flash Connection | Hot Shoe |
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 40 fps |
| Self Timer | 2 sec, 10 sec |
| Connectivity | 1/8" Microphone, AV Output, HDMI C (Mini), USB 2.0 |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Battery | 1x Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack |
| Operating/Storage Temperature |
Operating 32 to 104°F (0 to 40°C) |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 4.9 x 3.5 x 3.0" / 12.4 x 9.0 x 7.6 cm |
| Weight | 13.82 oz / 392 g Body only |
| Kit Lens | |
|---|---|
| Focal Length |
14 - 42 mm Comparable Four Thirds and Micro 4/3 Focal Length: 28 - 84 mm |
| Aperture |
Maximum: f/3.5 - 5.6 Minimum: f/22 |
| Angle of View | 75° - 29° |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 12" (30.48 cm) |
| Magnification | 0.16x |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | 1:6.25 |
| Groups/Elements | 9/12 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Filter Thread | Front: 52 mm |
| Dimensions (DxL) | Approx. 2.39 x 2.50" (6.07 x 6.35 cm) |
| Weight | 5.82 oz (165 g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
Cons
Best Uses
Most Liked Positive Review
Unbeatable Value!
I most admit this was not my first choice, but after reading the reviews and features it was an easy decision to make.
I use this camera primarily for video, a...Read complete review
I most admit this was not my first choice, but after reading the reviews and features it was an easy decision to make.
I use this camera primarily for video, and it has not let Me down... I'm using my 30 years old Canon 50mm, 1.4f lens with proper adapter and the video quality is superb. When someone looks a one of my videos they know it was not shot with an ordinary camera. Great in low light, amazing shalow Depth of field...
Another good thing are the settings...You can shoot pictures and video in manual or automatic modes and turn off/on the settings you don't need.
As with everything else it is very important to read, read, read! the manual and try different things, specially if You're new to the dslr world, allow yourself time to work this camera.
...and last but not least, the firmware is upgreadable, in other words you can increase the video quality from 24mbps to 44, 88 144, 176mbps..., but I will advise to try the native resolution first...also, if you Hack it, be ready to throw some money for storage and processing...In conclusion, if you're not producing for TV don't bother, this is a great camera as it is...with a 32Gb, Class 10 card You can shoot for 2 hours and won't quit on You or overheat.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Great video, so-so stills
I needed to do a small video project and the GH2 + 14-42mm seemed the best value. I decided to try it because I had good experience in the past with the Panasonic FZ...Read complete review
I needed to do a small video project and the GH2 + 14-42mm seemed the best value. I decided to try it because I had good experience in the past with the Panasonic FZ series. My current camera is a DSLR (Pentax K-5).The good:- video looks is really excellent and it's much easier to use an EVF for this. It's no secret that the GH2 is highly rated amongst indie filmmakers, that's the best camera for that job under $ beating even the Canon 7D and 5D mark II.- the kit lens is surprisingly good.- AF is unreal fast. I didn't expect CD-AF to be that fast, it's at least on par with any PD-AF (DSLR) I tried. It's completely silent and 100% accurate. Face detection is useful. One thing though that slow down things is that even if the lens is already focused it will refocus for the next shot, this is how CD-AF works. A DSLR will not do that and that's why they're also much superiors for tracking moving subjects.- It's lighter and smaller than any DSLR- MF is easier thanks to well defined magnification but alas no focus peaking feature. Focus by wire is actually nicer to use than most modern DSLR lens.- Love the multi aspect concept. This one of the reason I did go with the GH2 instead of the G3.- Stereo mic with very good quality. For family videos I don't feel the need for an external mic (Rode) like I did on my K-5.- Touch screen is cool for quickly shooting something off-center.- The camera general responsiveness, although not exceptional, is very good. Turn on the camera you'll be ready to shoot in less than 1 second. You'll rarely miss a shot. Shutter lag is also not an issue.- Some cool and unique features: The ETC mode (digital zoom that works well with video), the touch shutter (touch a part of the screen and it will focus on that point and take a picture), the 40fps mode at 4 megapixels (works for just one second though) and the multi aspect sensor already mentioned.The bad:- Ergonomics are not great. It makes me appreciate how good my K-5 (and any other Pentax) is in this regard. Just one example: in P mode you can shift with the rear dial but if you want to go back to automatic, the manual tells you that there 2 choices: either you turn on and off the camera (!) or use the rear dial and go to the start of the P-shift range. Pentax does this very simply with the green button which reset settings (auto P, auto ISO, EV, etc) in one push. Menus are slow to traverse, and UI is ugly and confusing. Redeeming feature: the 3 fn customizable buttons.- Just one dial. Their old FZ50 had two dials but somehow Panasonic decided that the second dial was not needed on what is supposed to be their top camera. Maybe they think the click dial is a good substitute for a second dial. It's not.- There is a record movie button but you don't get access to all the video features (ex: 24p). For that you need to use the dial mode to select the Manual movie mode.- Video is great but a bit more difficult to use than it should be. The options are messy and not well labeled. And to get the most of the video performance you need to install a hack (not that difficult but would have been nice to not need it).- Sharpness is great but the sensor is clearly a notch (at least 1 stop) below some DSLR (in particular the Nikon and Pentax). It also starts at iso 160 which is not helping IQ (Image Quality) at base ISO. Check DXOmark for the hard figures.- build quality too plastic (their old FZ50 was much better IMHO). On the other hand the camera is very light.- Loud shutter. OK the Pentax K-5 is in a class of its own but still... For a mirrorless camera it's a bit disappointing that they didn't implement a least a quiet mode where they would use the electronic shutter instead. It's just a firmware issue because the 40fps mode allows this.- Flash x-sync is only 1/160s. Panasonic needs to find a solution to get rid of the mechanical shutter in an all-electronic camera.- EVF is really good but you need to be perfectly centered otherwise there's a kind of CA appearing. And why put an EVF in the center of the camera? I have a big nose. Sony has a much better design with the Nex-7. Hello Panasonic, and EVF doesn't have to be centered with the lens, I thought that was an advantage of not having to bow to an optical path.- No wireless remote. Come on, even the low-end Pentax have it. There is a cable remote but it's shared with the micro input. A bit disappointing on such an expensive camera.- Battery life quite low but this is kind of expected on a mirrorless camera.Summary: A bit too expensive for what it offers unless you need video for which it has no pair. Ergonomics and build quality are below average. So is the quality of still pictures unless you come from a P&S. Suggested better alternatives for stills: Nikon (D5100, D3200, D7000) or Pentax (K-5, K30) or even some of the Sony SLT. But the GH2 can be an excellent compromise if you value light and small over ultimate image quality.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 93 customers
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Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
This camera is very good for video don't use very much for pictures but still ok. If you want a good video camera for fairly cheap get this.
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Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
Having read many reviews on the outstanding image quality when recording video with the GH2, I can say that it delivers! I'm using this camera for short narrative film production, and I'm very impressed with what this hardware can deliver for the relatively inexpensive price. I'm in Australia and B&H shipped this with arrival much soooner than expected. Very happy, would certainly recommend.
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Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
The best thing about this camera is the quality of the images, no Moire patterns, very high ISO and compression bitrates with hacked firmware, followed by how easy it is to find lens adapters for it. Nikon, Canon, Rainbow this camera can use just about any lens made with the right adapter. We are using it in a High School TV Production class so that the students can get experience using fully manual lenses which makes the GH2 with a Rainbow lens a perfect fit.
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Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
The creative movie mode is best I have seen till now. I have used Canons and Nikons but no camera comes close to Panasonic GH2. Be it LCD tap focus or controlling the color temperature or picture profiles, the camera gives you the best control over how the video can look. The camera is very light, you might not feel "hands full" but what it gives out is just amazing.
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Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
I use this camera for Corporate Media department. We shoot video and photos with it. Does not overheat for video, and the video is stellar. The lens is highly adequate with great auto focus. Mic input is excellent. Have used it out in the field in somewhat harsh environments, no problems. Also, the still images are excellent. I love the versatility of this camera.
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Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
Fast focus, very good image quality. 4/3 format is great for Power Point presentations. Manual focus zoom is most helpful. Tilting display with full time live view is nice.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
Bought this primarily as a video camera for industrial use but brought it out on a family vacation and loved it as a still camera.
Pros
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Best Uses
Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
The GH2 + EOS to 4/3 adapter + Canon 50mm 1.4 = fantastic
The GH2 + Lumix 25mm 1.4 = fantastic
With these combinations you will not be disappointed !!!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
I have used the camera to shoot videos at home and music videos and the quality is amazing the 24p on it look so much like any $3000 camera the only downside to the camera is that just like any dslr it needs a rig and they are way too expensive.
Pros
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Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
I use the camera for my everyday photography of family and friends. I use it for professional video production as a second or "b" camera.
Lovely small light and super easy to use.
I am not a fan of the lens but it does the job, for better results check the other lenses for micro 4/3 fomat.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
I most admit this was not my first choice, but after reading the reviews and features it was an easy decision to make.
I use this camera primarily for video, and it has not let Me down... I'm using my 30 years old Canon 50mm, 1.4f lens with proper adapter and the video quality is superb. When someone looks a one of my videos they know it was not shot with an ordinary camera. Great in low light, amazing shalow Depth of field...
Another good thing are the settings...You can shoot pictures and video in manual or automatic modes and turn off/on the settings you don't need.
As with everything else it is very important to read, read, read! the manual and try different things, specially if You're new to the dslr world, allow yourself time to work this camera.
...and last but not least, the firmware is upgreadable, in other words you can increase the video quality from 24mbps to 44, 88 144, 176mbps..., but I will advise to try the native resolution first...also, if you Hack it, be ready to throw some money for storage and processing...In conclusion, if you're not producing for TV don't bother, this is a great camera as it is...with a 32Gb, Class 10 card You can shoot for 2 hours and won't quit on You or overheat.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
Picture comparable to the Red at a great price. Have already recommeded to friends and will continue to do so.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
This is our 3rd GH2. We are professionals and shoot, among other things, sports. The light weight and sharp images make this camera a joy to use in every way.
The transition from our Nikon D2x systems was a bit steep, and worth every struggle, After 5 full months of shooting nothing but this camera the only issue that I'm still working out is my tendency to unintentionally touch controls on the camera back. When the gear becomes small (which is awesome) there are bound to be adjustments to be made on how to hold it! That's not a complaint - just an observation.
I did have to send one of my GH2s in for repair. Panasonic is slow and makes no distinction between those who earn their living with their gear and those who use it for pleasure. For me that's a downside.
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Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
I wanted a camera that was equally good at stills and video, and this is about as close as you can get for the price. I'm not an expert, but I've been very satisfied with the quality of the pictures and video. I would say the only downside is that, compared to the Pentax K100D that I had, it feels a little plasticky. Also, if you do a lot of indoor footage, you may want to invest in a fast prime. The included zoom lens is great outside (the autofocus is incredibly quiet), but the maximum aperture of 3.5 is a bit slow. I'm looking forward to purchasing the 20mm 1.7 pancake.
I was on the fence about either getting this camera or upgrading my Pentax to the K-30 rugged DSLR (and keeping my lenses for that system), and I'm still not entirely sure I did the right thing. With that said, I've been very happy with my purchase and I think you will be too.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
Great for video. Especially with the hacks that are going around these days. This small camera can be quite powerful!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
The camera is a delight, pictures come out beautiful whether amateur or pro. Easy to use and versatile
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
The camera is awesome, everything I was expecting, shipping from B&H was fast and the price is still hundreds of dollars cheaper to buy from B&H than from Canada.I'm using this for a video camera, the IQ for photos is not the sharpest (but most folks know this)!
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Best Uses
Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
I purchased this MFT camera to supplement my Nikon D90 with zoom lens. The latter is a fine camera, but a bit large and heavy for all situations. The GH2 is light, compact, and versatile. The kit lens is adequate, but I will supplement with greater zoom ability.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
Buy this camera. It's functionality and capabilities are unparalleled in its price range.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera W/14-42mm Lens (Black):
I needed to do a small video project and the GH2 + 14-42mm seemed the best value. I decided to try it because I had good experience in the past with the Panasonic FZ series. My current camera is a DSLR (Pentax K-5).The good:- video looks is really excellent and it's much easier to use an EVF for this. It's no secret that the GH2 is highly rated amongst indie filmmakers, that's the best camera for that job under $ beating even the Canon 7D and 5D mark II.- the kit lens is surprisingly good.- AF is unreal fast. I didn't expect CD-AF to be that fast, it's at least on par with any PD-AF (DSLR) I tried. It's completely silent and 100% accurate. Face detection is useful. One thing though that slow down things is that even if the lens is already focused it will refocus for the next shot, this is how CD-AF works. A DSLR will not do that and that's why they're also much superiors for tracking moving subjects.- It's lighter and smaller than any DSLR- MF is easier thanks to well defined magnification but alas no focus peaking feature. Focus by wire is actually nicer to use than most modern DSLR lens.- Love the multi aspect concept. This one of the reason I did go with the GH2 instead of the G3.- Stereo mic with very good quality. For family videos I don't feel the need for an external mic (Rode) like I did on my K-5.- Touch screen is cool for quickly shooting something off-center.- The camera general responsiveness, although not exceptional, is very good. Turn on the camera you'll be ready to shoot in less than 1 second. You'll rarely miss a shot. Shutter lag is also not an issue.- Some cool and unique features: The ETC mode (digital zoom that works well with video), the touch shutter (touch a part of the screen and it will focus on that point and take a picture), the 40fps mode at 4 megapixels (works for just one second though) and the multi aspect sensor already mentioned.The bad:- Ergonomics are not great. It makes me appreciate how good my K-5 (and any other Pentax) is in this regard. Just one example: in P mode you can shift with the rear dial but if you want to go back to automatic, the manual tells you that there 2 choices: either you turn on and off the camera (!) or use the rear dial and go to the start of the P-shift range. Pentax does this very simply with the green button which reset settings (auto P, auto ISO, EV, etc) in one push. Menus are slow to traverse, and UI is ugly and confusing. Redeeming feature: the 3 fn customizable buttons.- Just one dial. Their old FZ50 had two dials but somehow Panasonic decided that the second dial was not needed on what is supposed to be their top camera. Maybe they think the click dial is a good substitute for a second dial. It's not.- There is a record movie button but you don't get access to all the video features (ex: 24p). For that you need to use the dial mode to select the Manual movie mode.- Video is great but a bit more difficult to use than it should be. The options are messy and not well labeled. And to get the most of the video performance you need to install a hack (not that difficult but would have been nice to not need it).- Sharpness is great but the sensor is clearly a notch (at least 1 stop) below some DSLR (in particular the Nikon and Pentax). It also starts at iso 160 which is not helping IQ (Image Quality) at base ISO. Check DXOmark for the hard figures.- build quality too plastic (their old FZ50 was much better IMHO). On the other hand the camera is very light.- Loud shutter. OK the Pentax K-5 is in a class of its own but still... For a mirrorless camera it's a bit disappointing that they didn't implement a least a quiet mode where they would use the electronic shutter instead. It's just a firmware issue because the 40fps mode allows this.- Flash x-sync is only 1/160s. Panasonic needs to find a solution to get rid of the mechanical shutter in an all-electronic camera.- EVF is really good but you need to be perfectly centered otherwise there's a kind of CA appearing. And why put an EVF in the center of the camera? I have a big nose. Sony has a much better design with the Nex-7. Hello Panasonic, and EVF doesn't have to be centered with the lens, I thought that was an advantage of not having to bow to an optical path.- No wireless remote. Come on, even the low-end Pentax have it. There is a cable remote but it's shared with the micro input. A bit disappointing on such an expensive camera.- Battery life quite low but this is kind of expected on a mirrorless camera.Summary: A bit too expensive for what it offers unless you need video for which it has no pair. Ergonomics and build quality are below average. So is the quality of still pictures unless you come from a P&S. Suggested better alternatives for stills: Nikon (D5100, D3200, D7000) or Pentax (K-5, K30) or even some of the Sony SLT. But the GH2 can be an excellent compromise if you value light and small over ultimate image quality.