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Panasonic G2 vs G10

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public in March 2010. Both the G2 and the G10 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 12 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Panasonic G2
versus
Panasonic G10
Panasonic G2   Panasonic G10
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
12 MP – Four Thirds sensor 12 MP – Four Thirds sensor
720/30p Video 720/30p Video
ISO 100-6,400 ISO 100-6,400
Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots) Electronic viewfinder (202k dots)
3.0" LCD – 460k dots 3.0" LCD – 460k dots
Swivel touchscreen Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
2.6 shutter flaps per second 2.6 shutter flaps per second
360 shots per battery charge380 shots per battery charge
124 x 84 x 74 mm, 428 g 124 x 84 x 74 mm, 388 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Panasonic G2 and the Panasonic G10 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The G2 can be obtained in three different colors (black, blue, red), while the G10 is only available in black.

Size Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic G10
Compare G2 versus G10 top
Comparison G2 or G10 rear

In this particular case, the Panasonic G2 and the Panasonic G10 have exactly the same width and height, and, thus, have identically-sized bodies. However, the G10 is markedly lighter (9 percent) than the G2. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the G2 nor the G10 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic G2 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 428 g 360 n Mar 2010 599ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic G10 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 388 g 380 n Mar 2010 499ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-PL2 114 mm 72 mm 42 mm 362 g 280 n Jan 2011 599ebay.com
4.
 
Panasonic GF5 108 mm 67 mm 37 mm 267 g 360 n Apr 2012 499ebay.com
5.
 
Panasonic G3 115 mm 84 mm 47 mm 336 g 270 n May 2011 599ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic GF3 108 mm 67 mm 32 mm 264 g 300 n Jun 2011 549ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic GF2 113 mm 68 mm 33 mm 310 g 300 n Nov 2010 549ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic GH2 124 mm 90 mm 76 mm 442 g 330 n Sep 2010 899ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GF1 119 mm 71 mm 36 mm 385 g 380 n Sep 2009 749ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GH1 124 mm 90 mm 45 mm 385 g 300 n Mar 2009 899ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic G1 124 mm 84 mm 45 mm 360 g 410 n Sep 2008 599ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The G10 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 17 percent) than the G2, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Panasonic G2 and Panasonic G10 sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 12 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the G2 and the G10 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. Moreover, the two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are from the same technological generation.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

G2 versus G10 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Panasonic G2 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.349353
2.
 
Panasonic G10 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.141152
3.
 
Olympus E-PL2 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.410.257355
4.
 
Panasonic GF5 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i20.510.057350
5.
 
Panasonic G3 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60i21.010.666756
6.
 
Panasonic GF3 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i20.610.145950
7.
 
Panasonic GF2 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i21.210.350654
8.
 
Panasonic GH2 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60i21.211.365560
9.
 
Panasonic GF1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.351354
10.
 
Panasonic GH1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/24p21.611.677264
11.
 
Panasonic G1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000none21.110.346353
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (720/30p).

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the G2 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the G10 (1440k vs 202k dots). The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Panasonic G2, the Panasonic G10, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Panasonic G21440 n3.0 / 460 swivel Y 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
2.
 
Panasonic G10202 n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
3.
 
Olympus E-PL2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
4.
 
Panasonic GF5none n3.0 / 920 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
5.
 
Panasonic G31440 n3.0 / 460 swivel Y 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
6.
 
Panasonic GF3none n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 3.2/s Y n
7.
 
Panasonic GF2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
8.
 
Panasonic GH21534 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
9.
 
Panasonic GF1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
10.
 
Panasonic GH11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Panasonic G11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The G2 has a touchscreen, while the G10 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The G2 has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the G10 does not have a selfie-screen.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the G2 and the G10 write their files to SDXC cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Panasonic G2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
2.
 
Panasonic G10Ymono / ---mini2.0---
3.
 
Olympus E-PL2Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
4.
 
Panasonic GF5-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
5.
 
Panasonic G3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
6.
 
Panasonic GF3-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
7.
 
Panasonic GF2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
8.
 
Panasonic GH2Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
9.
 
Panasonic GF1Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
10.
 
Panasonic GH1Ystereo / -Y-mini2.0---
11.
 
Panasonic G1Y- / ---mini2.0---
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Both the G2 and the G10 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The G2 was replaced by the Panasonic G3, while the G10 was followed by the Panasonic G3. Further information on the features and operation of the G2 and G10 can be found, respectively, in the Panasonic G2 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic G10 Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Panasonic G2 or the Panasonic G10 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.


Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2:

  • More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (1440k vs 202k dots).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.52x).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.


Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10:

  • More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (17 percent cheaper at launch).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the G2 is the clear winner of the match-up (5 : 1 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

G2 05:01 G10

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic G2 and the Panasonic G10 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the G2 or the G10. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic G2......72/1004/54.5/5 Mar 2010 599ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic G103/5....70/1004/54/5 Mar 2010 499ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-PL23/583/100..71/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2011 599ebay.com
4.
 
Panasonic GF53/5......4.5/54.5/5 Apr 2012 499ebay.com
5.
 
Panasonic G33/5+ +..75/1004.5/55/5 May 2011 599ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic GF33/582/100..71/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2011 549ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic GF23/582/100..70/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2010 549ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic GH25/5+ +..79/1004.5/55/5 Sep 2010 899ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GF1..85/100..69/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 749ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GH1..+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 899ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic G1..+ +..70/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2008 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Panasonic G2 vs Panasonic G10

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Panasonic G2 Panasonic G10
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date March 2010 March 2010
    Launch Price USD 599 USD 499
    Sensor Specs Panasonic G2 Panasonic G10
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4000 x 3000 pixels 4000 x 3000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.33 μm 4.33 μm
    Pixel Density 5.34 MP/cm2 5.34 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 720/30p Video 720/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 6,400 ISO 100 - 6,400 ISO
    Image Processor Venus HD II Venus HD II
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 53 52
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.2 21.2
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.3 10.1
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 493 411
    Screen Specs Panasonic G2 Panasonic G10
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x 0.52x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1440k dots 202k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 460k dots 460k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Fixed screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen no Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Panasonic G2 Panasonic G10
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 2.6 shutter flaps/s 2.6 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no no
    Connectivity Specs Panasonic G2 Panasonic G10
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Panasonic G2 Panasonic G10
    Battery Type Panasonic DMW-BLB13 Panasonic DMW-BLB13
    Battery Life (CIPA)360 shots per charge380 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 124 x 84 x 74 mm
    (4.9 x 3.3 x 2.9 in)
    124 x 84 x 74 mm
    (4.9 x 3.3 x 2.9 in)
    Camera Weight 428 g (15.1 oz) 388 g (13.7 oz)
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