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Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 photo samples

While it produces some solid photos, overall the G2's image quality falls just slightly short of its competitors once you get above ISO 100.

Lori Grunin
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
Lori Grunin
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1 of 14 Matthew Fitzgerald/CNET

Noise

As long as you don't leave your noise reduction up to Panasonic's defaults, you can shoot comfortably up to about ISO 800; beyond that, even the raw photos get muddy and hard to fix.
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2 of 14 Lori Grunin/CNET

JPEG defaults, ISO 200

Panasonic's default combination of noise-reduction and sharpening algorithms tend to produce unsightly pattern artifacts even as low as ISO 200. Though the noise patterns are more pronounced on the Raw vs. JPEG slide, here you can see the issues with edges. (1/100 sec, f5.3, center-weighted metering, AWB, standard film mode, 14-42mm lens at 36mm)
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3 of 14 Lori Grunin/CNET

Default sharpening, ISO 200

Details at middle distances look a bit too crunchy, and almost like they were photographed with a point-and-shoot camera. (1/60 sec, f6.3, center-weighted metering, AWB, standard film mode, 14-42mm lens at 14mm)
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4 of 14 Lori Grunin/CNET

JPEG defaults, ISO 100

At ISO 100, the default settings don't introduce artifacts as they do at higher ISO sensitivities. Note the cleaner edges and lack of noise patterns; the image looks quite natural and not digital. (1/60 sec, f5, center-weighted metering, AWB, standard film mode, 45-200mm lens at 84mm)
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5 of 14 Lori Grunin/CNET

Raw vs. JPEG

While the raw version, processed with Adobe Camera Raw, is slightly less sharp, it lacks the Pointillist artifacts shown here and on previous slides. (1/160 sec, f5.6, ISO 400, spot metering, AWB, standard film mode, 45-200mm lens at 200mm. Raw processed using ACR 5.7.)
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6 of 14 Lori Grunin/CNET

Noise, ISO 3200

At its maximum sensitivity, the G2's photos don't look bad overall--in fact, the color on this one is very good--but up close you can spot definite patterns from the noise reduction. That makes this usable at smaller sizes, which is typical for its class. (1/40 sec, f4, spot metering, AWB, standard film mode, 14-42mm lens at 17mm)
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7 of 14 Lori Grunin/CNET

Distortion, 14-42mm kit lens

While I expect to see some distortion at 14mm, and this looks about as distorted as Olympus' 14mm, Panasonic usually performs distortion correction in-camera and this doesn't look like that's been done. (1/60 sec, f20, ISO 200, spot metering, AWB, standard film mode, 14-42mm lens at 14mm)
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8 of 14 Lori Grunin/CNET

Distortion, 45-200mm lens

There's almost no distortion at 45mm; if Panasonic's performing in-camera control it's doing a very good job. (1/160 sec, f8, ISO 100, center-weighted metering, AWB, standard film mode, 45-200mm lens at45mm)
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9 of 14 Lori Grunin/CNET

Fringing, 14-42mm lens

The Panasonic's 14-42mm kit lens only seems to display fringing in extreme conditions. It also handled this exposure very well, given that it was shot in extremely bright sunlight. Yes, the sky was blue, but it's technology, not magic. (1/60 sec, f11, ISO 200, spot metering, AWB, standard film mode, 14-42mm lens at 14mm)
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10 of 14 Lori Grunin/CNET

Fringing, 45-200mm lens

Though it's not unusual to get fringing on high-contrast edges, this is pretty serious. I thought the camera's intelligent contrast control might help bring back these highlights (and therefore squash the fringing), but it didn't, even at the highest setting. (1/100 sec, f6.3, ISO 100, spot metering, AWB, standard film mode, Intelligent contrast correction on low, 45-200mm lens at 45mm)
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11 of 14 Lori Grunin/CNET

Sharpness, 14-42mm lens

This photo shot with the 14-42mm kit lens looks pretty sharp. Note the minor magenta fringing on the highlights as well. (1/60 sec, f4.7, ISO 200, spot metering, AWB, standard film mode, 14-42mm lens at 26mm)
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12 of 14 Lori Grunin/CNET

Sharpness, 45-200mm lens

The telephoto zoom lens is capable of some pretty sharp shots. (1/125 sec, f9, ISO 100, spot metering, AWB, standard film mode, 45-200 lens at 200mm)
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13 of 14 Lori Grunin/CNET

Color settings

The G2's default settings produce pretty accurate colors. While several of the preset options do induce some color shifts, they're not as egregious as those I've seen on many consumer dSLRs.
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14 of 14 Lori Grunin/CNET

Color

Panasonic manages to produce exceptionally bright, saturated colors without significantly shifting the hues.

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