Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 image samples

Though the DMC-GH2 delivers better photo quality than we've seen from previous Panasonic cameras--along with excellent video--images still look noisy and JPEGs need work.

Lori Grunin

Feb. 1, 2011 9:49 a.m. PT

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Noise

The combination of the new sensor in the GH2 and some improved JPEG processing on Panasonic's part has resulted in some of the best image quality we've seen in the company's cameras to date. For example, in most Panasonic cameras--even the good ones, like the LX5--the text in this shot is usually riddled with color noise.

That said, there's still quite a bit of noise in midrange-to-high-ISO JPEG shots; I can't confidently suggest shooting higher than ISO 200 in that case. However, using raw pushes that to about ISO 800, depending upon the scene.

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Noise, ISO 800

This is the typical color noise pattern we see in Panasonic's images--most noticeably, yellow splotches. On one hand, it's a lot subtler than usual in the lighter shadows. But if you look at the deeper shadows on the left of the photo, you'll see it causes wholesale yellow shifts in white balance.

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Noise, ISO 1,600

You can definitely get better results with a fast prime lens, even with the JPEGs. For example, this was shot with an Olympus 17mm F2.8.

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Sharpness, 14-140mm lens

The 14-140mm kit lens is pretty sharp. (1/40 sec, f5.1, ISO 200)

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Noise, ISO 6,400 raw vs. JPEG

You can buy about two stops of usability by processing raw files instead of using the JPEGs. You still lose some dynamic range and detail, but even a quick-and-dirty processing in software delivers far better results than Panasonic's internal algorithms. (1/40 sec, f5, Olympus 14-42mm msc lens at 14mm)

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Distortion, 14-140mm lens

The 14-140mm kit lens' geometry looks very good--there's probably some in-camera correction happening, but I don't see any of the artificial-looking straight lines that the correction usually produces.

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Midrange detail

Despite sufficient light and a low ISO sensitivity setting, you can still see quite a bit of color noise in this photo, which makes the details look mushy. This is another case where the raw version looks great. (1/100, f7.1, ISO 160, 14-140mm lens at 14mm)

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Fringing, 14-140mm lens

One of the drawbacks to the 14-140mm lens is the distortion around the edges, which can result in fringing. It's pretty good away from the edges, though.