Panasonic woos prosumer videographers with the GH2
A nice set of video format options plus an articulated touch screen should prove attractive to the current crop of dSLR-video experimenters, and potentially faster autofocus coupled with presumably better noise reduction may pique the interest of traditional still shooters.
Owners of the video-optimized Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 have been hacking away at it for months, trying to get higher bit rates out of the poor thing--the latest hack claims 86 megabits per second. (To recap, the higher the data bit rate is at a given resolution and frame rate, the better the video quality; it's a measure of compression.) Now they get to start all over again for the GH2, which doesn't offer astronomical bit rates, a limitation of its AVCHD format, but does offer video and still shooters a few other sought-after enhancements.
Most important, the GH2 incorporates a new sensor, which drives at a higher frame rate--it can natively output 60p vs. 24p. That, and a bump to the AVCHD maximum bit rate of 24 megabits per second, are almost guaranteed to deliver improved results over the GH1; that's equivalent to current AVCHD-based prosumer camcorders. While the GH1 had a flip-and-twist LCD, the GH2's is a touch screen, which has the potential to make rack focus doable for the nonvideographer, and theoretically offers improved color rendering, especially in the reds and blues. The camera now provides a microphone levels meter and a much-demanded HDMI connector. Panasonic also claims to have improved wobble suppression during full-time autofocus, and added the capability to record specifically for slower or faster playback. And for the consumer, Intelligent Auto mode now works in video capture.
For still shooters, Panasonic claims it has the best image quality of the G series; it uses the new noise reduction algorithms as the
Here's the current field:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 | |||||
Sensor (effective resolution) | 12.1-megapixel Live MOS | 12.1-megapixel Live MOS | 16.1-megapixel Live MOS | 14.2-megapixel Exmor HD CMOS | 16.2-megapixel Exmor HD CMOS |
17.3 x 13.0mm | 17.3 x 13.0mm | 17.3 x 13.0mm | 23.5 mm x 15.6mm | 23.5 mm x 15.6mm | |
Focal-length multiplier | 2.0x | 2.0x | 2.0x | 1.5x | 1.5x |
Sensitivity range | ISO 100 - ISO 6400 | ISO 100 - ISO 3200 | ISO 160 - ISO 12,800 | ISO 100 - ISO 1600/ 12,800 (expanded) | ISO 100 - ISO 1600/ 12,800 (expanded) |
Continuous shooting | 3.2 fps unlimited JPEG/ 7 raw | 3.0 fps unlimited JPEG/ 7 raw | 5.0 fps unlimited JPEG/ 7 raw | 6 fps (7fps without AF) 20 raw/35 JPEG | 6 fps (10fps without AF) 20 raw/35 JPEG |
Viewfinder magnification/ effective magnification | Electronic n/a/1.4 million dots 100% coverage 1.4x/0.7x magnification | Electronic n/a/1.4 million dots 100% coverage 1.4x/0.7x magnification | Electronic n/a/1.5 million dots 100% coverage 1.42x/0.71x magnification | Electronic 0.46 inches/1.2 million dots 100% coverage 1.1x/0.73x | Electronic 0.46 inches/1.2 million dots 100% coverage 1.1x/0.73x |
Autofocus | 23-area contrast AF | 23-area contrast AF | 23-area contrast AF | 15-pt phase-detection AF 3 cross-type | 15-pt phase-detection AF 3 cross-type |
Shutter speed | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb up to 4 minutes; 1/160 x-sync | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb up to 4 minutes; 1/160 x-sync | 1/4000 to 60 secs; bulb up to 2 minutes; 1/160 x-sync | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/100 x-sync | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/100 x-sync |
Metering | 144 zone | 144 zone | 144 zone | 1200 zone | 1200 zone |
Image stabilization | Optical | Optical | Optical | Sensor shift | Sensor shift |
Video | AVCHD Lite 720/30p or Motion JPEG MOV | AVCHD 1080/60i (24p sensor output) @ 17Mbps; 720/60p/50p @ 17, 13, 9 Mbps | AVCHD 1080/60i/50i/24p (60p sensor output) @ 24, 17, 13Mbps; 720/60p @ 17, 13Mbps QuickTime MOV Motion JPEG 720/30p | AVCHD 1080/60i @ 17Mbps; H.264 MPEG-4 1440x1080/30p @ 12Mbps | AVCHD 1080/60i @ 17Mbps; H.264 MPEG-4 1440x1080/30p @ 12Mbps |
Audio | Mono; mic input | Stereo, mic input | Stereo, mic input | Stereo; mic input | Stereo; mic input |
LCD size | 3 inches articulated 460,000 dots | 3 inches articulated 460,000 dots | 3 inches articulated 460,000 dots | 3 inches articulated 921,600 dots | 3 inches articulated 921,600 dots |
Wireless flash | No | No | No | No | No |
Battery life (CIPA rating) | 390 shots | 320 shots | 340 shots | 330 shots | 330 shots |
Dimensions (inches, WHD) | 4.9 x 3.3 x 2.9 | 4.9 x 3.3 x 3.0 | 4.9 x 3.5 x 3.0 | 4.9 x 3.6 x 3.3 | 4.9 x 3.6 x 3.3 |
Body operating weight (ounces) | 13.1 | 15.2 | 15.2 (est) | 17.4 (est) | 17.4 (est) |
Mfr. price | n/a | n/a | $899.95 (body only) | $649.99 (body only) | $749.99 (body only) |
$720.00 (with 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 lens) | $1499.95(with 14-140mm lens) | $999.95 (with 14-42mm lens) | $749.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | $849.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | |
n/a | n/a | $1499.95 (with 14-140mm lens) | n/a | n/a | |
Ship date | May 2010 | June 2009 | December 2010 | August 2010 | September 2010 |
To my mind, the Sony SLT-55 poses the biggest competition to the GH2. For video pros and rabid hobbyists, Sony pretty much surrendered the field by not including a 1080 progressive recording and maximum AVCHD bit rate options, and the GH2's relative wealth of choices will look mighty attractive. (Last I spoke with a company spokesperson they were still trying to decide whether to keep the GH1 on the market in a body-only version.) Consumers who plan to use autofocus should note that Panasonic has been developing quieter lenses specifically for movie recording with its Micro Four Thirds cameras, while Sony has been concentrating that work on the NEX E-mount models rather than the standard Alpha (A) mount used by the SLT series. However the in-body image stabilization used by Sony is a good perk, and though the sensors are the same resolution, Sony's is a larger APS-C model. And I can't wait to match their autofocus systems against each other. But all the ILC manufacturers need to improve the generally lame battery life of all these cameras.
Because it's Panasonic, there's also the requisite related 3D announcement as well. In this case, it's a $250 MFT-compatible 3D lens with a 65mm (equivalent) focal length and fixed f12 aperture (you need very sharp depth-of-field to shoot 3D). On the bright side, when using it the camera will create a JPEG as well as 3D image, so you're not totally locked in, and it's relatively inexpensive. Panasonic will be releasing a firmware upgrade for the G2 to support the lens; the G2 is the only older G series camera that will.