Boatman
Mu-43 Regular
Registered: April 2011
Location: Home: Windham, New Hampshire Boat: American Yacht Club, Newburyport, Massachusetts
Posts: 165
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Review Date: Thu April 21, 2011
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $1,360.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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size, viewfinder, image quality
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Cons:
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dual function thumb wheel, erratic behaviors
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Stepping up from an A2 to a GH2
Back in 2001 I purchased my first digital camera, a 2MP Olympus 2040Z. It was sort of a “digital toe in the water” but I quickly realized that digital photography had huge advantages over traditional “wet” photography. I used that camera for about three years. In that period the quality of digital cameras rapidly improved, while the prices for the advancing technology dropped just as fast.
By 2004 I was shopping around thinking about diving in for a DSLR. As it happened, I never purchased a DSLR. I wound up with a Konica-Minolta Dimage A2 instead. This camera had a number of unique features, which the DSLRs of the time could not support. It was small and light, had a great lens, did JPEG videos and used a live electronic viewfinder. Also, I had read Michael Reichmann’s article “Hitting One Over the Fence”, http://www.luminous-landscape.com/re...nolta-a2.shtml, a glowing endorsement of the camera. I was sold.
I bought the A2 in 2005 and have been very happy with it. It takes excellent photos, has easy to understand and operate controls and provides complete manual control for creative photography. With its fast, 28-200 (35mm equivalent) lens there is no need for lens interchangeability and a gadget bag full of heavy lenses. And, as I’ve learned since, you never have dust on the imager!
But the A2, as fine as it is, has shortcomings. Notable weaknesses include:
- Poor image quality when using ISO 200 or higher
- Slow, frequently inaccurate, auto focus mechanism
- Awkward manual focus system
- Slow write-to-memory speed when shooting RAW or RAW+JPG
- Auto bracket limitation of three shots with +/-0.55 EV range
After following reviews for the G1, GH1 and GH2, including very positive reviews of the GH2 by Michal Reichmann, this spring I plunked down my $1,500 and bought a GH2 with the 14-140 lens. The similarities of the GH2 to the A2 are striking but the GH2 has six year newer technology and addresses all the major shortcomings of the A2. Areas of similarity include:
- Small size and weight (with the 14-42 lens they are nearly identical in size, the GH2 is slightly shorter vertically)
- Excellent controls with many external physical adjustments
- Good range in the kit 14-140 zoom lens (28-200 vs. 28-280 in 35mm equivalent)
- Electronic viewfinder – I know many people don’t care for these, but I think that once you are used to them, their advantages, such as a live in-screen histogram, preview mode and shot parameter information, outweigh any issues with image quality
- Still and video photography – The A2 was unique in this as no DSLR had video in 2004 but it is primitive compared to the GH2.
So does the GH2 live up to my expectations and the $1,500 cost? I’m still answering that question, but these are the major features that attracted me to the GH2:
- Very fast and reliable auto focus
- Excellent image quality at up to ISO800 with acceptable quality beyond
- Auto bracketing up to seven shots at +/-1.0EV
- Outstanding electronic viewfinder and 3” external touch screen monitor
- 16MP image resolution, up from 8MP in the A2
- Advanced video capability with full HD1080/24P recording
- Ability to shoot essentially endless RAW photos without overloading the memory buffers
- Micro 4/3 mounting system, which allows use of legacy lenses (with adapter and manual control), including my collection of Takumar lenses
- +/-4 diopter viewfinder eyepiece adjustment
So far, these are my impressions:
I like the GH2 for its small size and flexibility. Even with the heavy 14-140 lens it is not too heavy to carry around for long periods of time. Also, like the A2, it fits well in your hand when walking around looking for shots. For the most part I don’t use a neck strap. I use a wrist strap, just in case I get clumsy, and hold the camera in my right hand. The way the camera is shaped, you don’t really need to grip it. It just stays in your partially closed fist.
I love the m4/3 ability to use just about any old lens and fear I may become a lens junkie. My old Takumar 1:1.4/50 gives wonderful depth of field and shoots fast indoors. I have a 1:3.5/135 with a 2x converter that makes a usable long telephoto. I’m watching several Pentax 110 lenses and some Konica lenses on eBay. For a couple hundred dollars, I could have half a dozen good lenses for this camera.
I’m very impressed with the auto focus capability of the camera. I got a chance to use a G1 prior to purchasing the GH2 and I can’t say that the GH2 is much faster than the G1, but it is way faster than the A2. In fact, I’m going to need to re-learn my shooting technique. I’m accustomed to pre-focusing, checking the focused image carefully, and then squeezing off the shot. With the GH2 in focus priority mode (no shot until the focusing is complete) you can pretty much skip the post-focus check. Just push the button and get a focused picture. This is handy with fast moving subjects like children and pets.
I have had some difficulties with the camera. Occasionally the auto focus stops working and it won’t focus until you cycle the focus mode switch or re-boot the camera. Also, when shooting with a manual lens in aperture priority mode, the shutter speed stops compensating and locks in the last shutter speed used. Changing the mode selector from A to P and back seems to clear this, as does re-booting the camera. These behaviors seem to be unique to my camera and I am attempting to exchange it for another unit. I’ve also seen a tendency for the camera to underexpose by about 1 to 1.5EV. This can be compensated for easily, but it is a complaint I have read about in other reviews and confirmed in personal experience.
Although I do make some short videos from time to time, I’m not a videographer. The more advanced film features of the camera are somewhat lost on me. I have taken a few films in 720 motion JPG and the quality is excellent. HD1080 may be better, but I don’t have any software to work with it.
As for still photography image quality, the camera is terrific. I’ll admit that 16MP is way more than you need for snapshots and even 8 x 10 prints. The extra size does become apparent in 11 x 14 prints but not noticeably so compared to the 12MP of the G1. I think where the 16MP really becomes useful is when you want to make a deep crop on an image and make a large print. With the A2, I could make excellent 11 x 14s, but you needed most of the frame to do it. Make a deep crop and you’re limited to an 8 x 10. With the GH2, you can throw away half the image and still print to 11 x14.
Using the GH2 in RAW mode presents a couple of issues. First, the camera generates a file type called RW2. My software of preference is Adobe Photoshop CS4. CS4 does not support this file type. In order to work on the images in Photoshop, I have to go through a conversion process with Adobe DNG Converter, which is available from Adobe for free. This is an extra step that does not take a long time, but is an additional step nonetheless. Also, the RAW files are 16MB. The converted DNG files are about 60MB! This means that each image taken as a full size JPEG + RAW, plus converted DNG, is going to take about 85MB on your hard drive. I know computer storage is cheap, but at this rate, if you keep both the RW2 and the DNG, you will only be able to store about a dozen images per gigabyte. Fortunately, Photoshop does not seem to be bothered by the large size of these files and works well with them, but I forgot to mention; your PSD Photoshop files are going to regularly run in the hundreds of megabytes. You’re going to need to log onto newegg.com and get one of those two terabyte drives!
If you use Picasa, as I do for file management and web presentations, you are going to find that the GH2’s RW2 files do not display correctly. Strangely, the G1’s RW2 files display without issue and the DNG files for both cameras are fine. I suspect that Google will correct this problem in some future release of Picasa. Picasa will also run the MOV, motion JPEG, files without problems.
As for complaints, I have a few. My biggest complaint is with the thumb wheel adjusting dial. I like its position and its features. What I don’t care for is that I inevitably change to the alternate mode while trying to adjust the mode I’m in. I shoot in aperture-priority mode frequently, even with the Panasonic 14-140 lens on; I like to be in control of my depth of field and lens acuteness. When changing the f-stop, the dial will switch to EV adjustment and frequently I’ll change the EV without noticing that I’ve done so. I’m learning to keep my eye on the EV indicator in the viewfinder, but a dial that would change settings without switching modes would be a welcomed fix. (The A2 has two dials, front and back but each one only does one function – a better solution.)
My second complaint is that this camera is just too complicated. I wish the camera companies would come out with some cameras that were designed for experienced photographers who are going to be shooting in RAW mode anyway. Skip all the fancy shooting modes and present a limited number of key tools. It would make the camera easier to use and possibly cheaper to build. I have considered that given my needs, a G1 or a G2 might be a more suitable camera for me. But if I’m investing in new equipment, I think it makes more sense to get the best camera available; especially in light of the fact that the G1 and G2 lack key GH2 specifications and neither can be bought with the 14-140 lens.
Overall, the GH2 is a terrific camera. I doubt it is the best camera on the market, but what is the best camera is a highly subjective question. I do know that the other day I picked up a Canon 40D with the optional battery base. It’s a monster. The lens is huge. I can’t imagine lugging the thing around. Certainly you could not hold it casually in your right hand while walking around for three hours. I don’t think I could shoot it single handed while hanging onto a stay, when shooting from a boat; something I’ve done frequently with the A2 and think I can do with the GH2. (The 14-140 lens is a tad heavy.) And esthetically the full size cameras just shout BIG-D-S-L-R too loudly for my tastes. I like the compact size of the micro 4/3 system cameras; they’re discreet.
Is the GH2 the best of the m4/3 breed? From what I’ve read, I think it is. But, I have not tested all the alternatives and probably won’t ever get to use them. I still have more to learn about this camera and its capabilities, but I have no doubt that it has more features than I need and that I won’t be outgrowing it any time soon.
Follow up on erratic behaviors.
I eventually figured out that the focus locking and shutter setting feezes that I was experiencing were due to accidental bumping of the AF/AE lock button. The menu setting for this was to lock focus and setting, and was in the stay-on mode. Now that I know this all I need to do is hit the AF/AE button again to release the lock. Aternately, you can change the menu setting so that the button only works while it is depressed, which will eliminate the accidental locking completely. There isn't a lot of real estate on the back of this camera and it is easy to hit a button accidentally.
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I really enjoy using old primes on my m4/3 camera. There's something about having to choose your aperture and actually focusing your camera that makes it so much more like... like... PHOTOGRAPHY! http://remononaz.blogspot.com
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Tom Swaman
Mu-43 Veteran
Registered: April 2011
Location: Washington State, USA
Posts: 252
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Review Date: Thu June 30, 2011
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $1,499.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Build quality, Native lens quality, E-Viewfinder, Auto-focusspeed
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Cons:
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Too many modes for a serious photographer
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I am a new owner/user of the GH2. In the last nearly 3 months, this camera never ceases to amaze and please me. For medical reasons, I had to either give up photography or find lighter gear. From November of 2009 until December 2010, I went cameraless. I tried the Nikon P7000 and rapidly sold this at a large loss and with a great smile. I studied every smaller digital camera system I could. I came to the conclusion that, wanting versatility and good image quality, the best current camera choice is the GH2. Now that I own the camera, I am totally convinced that this is true.
There are some specific advantages that the GH2 has relative to other cameras I investigated. Among the most important are:
A) Panasonic supports their hardware and has active and accessible parts and service departments. This is somewhat unique in today's world.
B) The Panasonic cooperation with Leica is a true benefit to the owner.
C) The EVF cannot be beat and the highly rotatable touch screen is above average optically and highly functional.
D) The shutter lag of the camera is highly tolerable for 90+ percent of shooting applications.
E) The bracketing capabilities and the exposure compensation range is truly wonderful.
A major consideration, in my opinion is that the GH2 is not too small for serious use my an adult with adult-size hands. Some digital cameras with serious flexibility are so small that the average adult is not able to rapidly use the controls on the camera with comfort.
The manual that accompanies the GH2 leaves much to be desired, but it is comprehensive and one can post questions by e-mail and by telephone directly to Panasonic and a realistic response is forthcoming in a timely manner.
The 14-140mm f/4-5.8 lens is an incredible lens due to its extended focal length range, quiet focusing and rapid autofocus. True, this is a slow lens, but it is useable for most photography outdoors at low ISO values. The sensor noise level is low enough that reasonable results are achievable with this lens at ISO = 640 to about ISO = 800. I do not have enough experience to comment on higher ISO responses.
I own five other P-L lenses assorted between M4/3rds and 4/3rds. I can honestly state that each of these lenses are excellent and good values and solidly built. I wish these lenses were waterproof, but I take care of my gear so I am not worried.
I am still learning, but I am having fun learning and the GH2 is not limiting my ability to learn or my ability to produce. I would buy this camera again over most of the DSLRs and certainly above other mirrorless cameras and pellicle mirror cameras.
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stratokaster
Mu-43 Top Veteran
Registered: January 2011
Location: Kyiv
Posts: 832
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Review Date: Mon June 4, 2012
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $1,050.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Fast AF, IQ similar to modern APS-C cameras, great ergonomics, best-in-class video
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Cons:
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Limited DR, poor battery life, no wireless TTL flash
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At the moment of its announcement the Panasonic GH2 was the best stills/video hybrid camera money could buy. It is still very good 2 years later.
Positives:
+ Very good noise performance up to ISO 1600, acceptable up to ISO 3200.
+ Dynamic range better than any other Micro 4/3 camera except the new Olympus OM-D E-M5.
+ Fast AF for a contrast-based system.
+ Great viewfinder.
+ Swivel screen is very useful for video and tripod work.
+ Great control layout. Almost every important function has its own button, lever or dial.
+ 3 customizable buttons.
+ 3 custom (user-defined) modes directly on the mode dial.
+ Class-leading video performance and features. Manual exposure control, 1080p at 24 and 25/30 fps, 720p at 50/60 fps, external mic input with manual level control plus the ability to hack the camera to get even better quality and more features.
Negatives:
- Limited DR compared to best APS-C cameras.
- Live view image doesn't reflect true exposure.
- Primitive flash system compared to Olympus cameras (no wireless TTL flash).
- Poor JPEG quality (not important for me because I shoot RAW).
- Clumsy resistive touchscreen.
- Not very comfortable to hold with heavier lenses.
Overall, this is an excellent camera. Despite being 2 years old, it's still better than the Olympus OM-D E-M5 in some respects. I'd still buy it today despite all its flaws and limitations.
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As a truly great man, I hate people with delusions of grandeur.
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Boatman
Mu-43 Regular
Registered: April 2011
Location: Home: Windham, New Hampshire Boat: American Yacht Club, Newburyport, Massachusetts
Posts: 165
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Review Date: Wed April 24, 2013
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $1,350.00
| Rating: 9
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Panasonic GH2 Impressions Review – Two Years On
I purchased my GH2 in April of 2011. I have now been using it for two years and am still very excited about this camera. It’s a wonderful machine. Here’s a quick summary of my likes and dislikes:
Like
- Small size and light weight
- Does not look like a big DSLR – does not shout ‘camera nerd’
- Excellent image quality
- Exceptionally flexible controls, which allow me to change frame format, shutter drive and focus controls on the fly (like, without even taking my eye from the viewfinder!)
- Using 3rd party, manual lenses
- EVF with in-view settings display and 4 diopter vision adjustment (I need 3.5)
Do Not Like
- Ergonomics – the fit for my right hand is a bit small; I bump buttons on the back with my thumb regularly (bet I’d LOVE the GH3)
- Complexity of controls – having total freedom means a lot of settings; I still carry the manual and use it occasionally
- I could do without all the special scene settings; I shoot RAW - always
With two years of use I’ve had a chance to use this camera in a broad range of situations. One area that I find the camera excels at is shooting shows such as plays and band performances. This is a bit counter-intuitive as the general thinking is that full-frame DSLRs are the best way to go in these situations. I have been fast prime lenses ( f2.0 or faster), all in manual mode. I regularly set the ISO to 1600, which is about the limit with the GH2. I use a Lightroom 4 preset I have developed that makes the final images sharp and noise free. Using manual focus essentially eliminates any shutter delay. The camera is very quiet and its small size makes my photography less intrusive to the audience.
I’ve also had good success with indoor shooting using an Olympus FL-36 flash. This would be for family parties and weddings (if you shoot them). I usually bump the ISO up to 320 and use a 45-degree bounce flash, if the ceiling is low enough. With the Panasonic 1.7/20 on the camera, I set the flash to Auto mode (as opposed to TTL-Auto), which results in an instant shutter (TTL has a significant delay) and much faster flash cycling times. With the manual lenses, I have to use TTL-Auto mode. With either lens type, I put the camera in manual mode with a shutter speed around 1/125 and the lens set at roughly f2.8. The flash handles the exposure and does so surprisingly well.
Recently, I’ve been shooting more HDR and panoramic shots. Having the drive controls right by the shutter enable me to very quickly set up the camera to do this work. Of course you also need to check the exposure priority modes, but again the controls are right there and easy to use. Alternatively, the 14-140 lens set at 14mm, plus the 16:9 frame format yields beautiful wide angle photos without any messing around with panoramic stitching.
An important addition to the camera is good software to handle the post-processing. As noted, I always shoot in RAW mode and fully expect to have to rework my images before they are ready for monitor display or printing. I know that many people do not have the post-processing skills that I have developed and may depend more heavily on the camera’s inbuilt settings to get a JPG image right in the camera. I can’t really speak to the GH2’s ability to do this. I can say the migrating to Lightroom 4 was a huge step for me. I made this move about 18 months ago and have never regretted it. Purchasing Lightroom was easily the best photography investment I have ever made. I now have a pretty good sense of what my images are going to need, and though I don’t import them and make corrections using one batch setting, I can quickly go through a few hundred shots. Often I will find a particular range of Lr settings and save them as a pre-set and apply them to ten or twenty shots at a crack. This has nothing to do with the GH2, really, but doing a full post-processing work up on the GH2’s images takes them from good to exceptional.
So, two years on, I’m still very happy with the GH2. I’ve added several old primes including a Takumar 1.4/50, Hexanon 2.0/40 and a Nikon 2.0/85 and I use them regularly. I have the Panasonic 1.7/20 and 14-140 lenses as well. With the flash and a few other items, it’s a solid kit.
My photos are posted at http://homershannon.zenfolio.com
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I really enjoy using old primes on my m4/3 camera. There's something about having to choose your aperture and actually focusing your camera that makes it so much more like... like... PHOTOGRAPHY! http://remononaz.blogspot.com
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Micro Four Thirds User Forum
