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Panasonic GH2 Comparison Review

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was announced in September 2010 and is equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. It offers a resolution of 15.9 megapixel.

Body comparison with a credit card

An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Panasonic GH2 vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are presented. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Panasonic GH2 vs credit card front
GH2 versus credit card top view
GH2 and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Panasonic GH2 alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

Camera Body Specifications
  Camera
Model		 Camera
Width		 Camera
Height		 Camera
Depth		 Camera
Weight		 Battery
Life
(CIPA)		 Weather
Sealing
(yes/no)		 Camera
Launch
(announced)		 Launch
Price
(USD)		 Street
Price
(USD)		 Used
Price
(USD)		 Camera
Model
 
 Panasonic GH2 4.9 in 3.5 in 3.0 in 15.6 oz 330 n Sep 2010 1,499- i Panasonic GH2
 
 Panasonic GM5« » 3.9 in 2.4 in 1.4 in 7.4 oz 220 n Sep 2014 749- i Panasonic GM5
 
 Panasonic G6« » 4.8 in 3.3 in 2.8 in 13.8 oz 340 n Apr 2013 599- i Panasonic G6
 
 Panasonic GM1« » 3.9 in 2.2 in 1.2 in 7.2 oz 230 n Oct 2013 749- i Panasonic GM1
 
 Panasonic GH3« » 5.2 in 3.7 in 3.2 in 19.4 oz 540 Y Sep 2012 1,299- i Panasonic GH3
 
 Panasonic G3« » 4.5 in 3.3 in 1.9 in 11.9 oz 270 n May 2011 599- i Panasonic G3
 
 Panasonic GX1« » 4.6 in 2.7 in 1.5 in 11.2 oz 320 n Nov 2011 949- i Panasonic GX1
 
 Panasonic G2« » 4.9 in 3.3 in 2.9 in 15.1 oz 360 n Mar 2010 599- i Panasonic G2
 
 Panasonic G10« » 4.9 in 3.3 in 2.9 in 13.7 oz 380 n Mar 2010 499- i Panasonic G10
 
 Panasonic GF1« » 4.7 in 2.8 in 1.4 in 13.6 oz 380 n Sep 2009 749- i Panasonic GF1
 
 Panasonic GH1« » 4.9 in 3.5 in 1.8 in 13.6 oz 300 n Mar 2009 1,499- i Panasonic GH1

The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Panasonic GH2 was launched in the US market at a price of $1,499. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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 with a 35mm slide

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

The Panasonic GH2 features a Four Thirds sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Panasonic GH2 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.

Panasonic GH2 sensor measures

For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics
  Camera
Model		 Sensor
Class		 Resolution
(MP)		 Horiz.
Pixels		 Vert.
Pixels		 Video
Format		 DXO
Portrait		 DXO
Landscape		 DXO
Sports		 DXO
Overall		 Camera
Model
 
 Panasonic GH2 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60i21.211.365560Panasonic GH2
 
 Panasonic GM5« » Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p22.111.772166Panasonic GM5
 
 Panasonic G6« » Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p21.311.563961Panasonic G6
 
 Panasonic GM1« » Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60i22.311.766066Panasonic GM1
 
 Panasonic GH3« » Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p22.712.481271Panasonic GH3
 
 Panasonic G3« » Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60i21.010.666756Panasonic G3
 
 Panasonic GX1« » Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p20.810.670355Panasonic GX1
 
 Panasonic G2« » Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.349353Panasonic G2
 
 Panasonic G10« » Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.141152Panasonic G10
 
 Panasonic GF1« » Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.351354Panasonic GF1
 
 Panasonic GH1« » Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/24p21.611.677264Panasonic GH1

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Panasonic GH2 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras. If needed, the dpreview camera hub, for example, contains further detail on the cameras' specs.

Core Features
  Camera
Model		 Viewfinder
(Type or
'000 dots)		 Control
Panel
(yes/no)		 LCD
Size
(inch)		 LCD
Resolution
('000 dots)		 LCD
Attach-
ment		 Touch
Screen
(yes/no)		 Shutter
speed
(1/sec)		 Shutter
flaps
(1/sec))		 Build-in
Flash
(yes/no)		 Build-in
Image
Stab		 Camera
Model
 
 Panasonic GH21534 n 3.0 460 swivel n 4000 3.0 Y n Panasonic GH2
 
 Panasonic GM5« »1166 n 3.0 921 fixed Y 500 5.8 n n Panasonic GM5
 
 Panasonic G6« »1440 n 3.0 1036 swivel Y 4000 7.0 Y n Panasonic G6
 
 Panasonic GM1« »- n 3.0 1036 fixed Y 500 5.0 Y n Panasonic GM1
 
 Panasonic GH3« »1746 n 3.0 614 swivel Y 4000 6.0 Y n Panasonic GH3
 
 Panasonic G3« »1440 n 3.0 460 swivel Y 4000 4.0 Y n Panasonic G3
 
 Panasonic GX1« »- n 3.0 460 fixed Y 4000 4.2 Y n Panasonic GX1
 
 Panasonic G2« »1440 n 3.0 460 swivel Y 4000 2.6 Y n Panasonic G2
 
 Panasonic G10« »202 n 3.0 460 fixed n 4000 2.6 Y n Panasonic G10
 
 Panasonic GF1« »- n 3.0 460 fixed n 4000 3.0 Y n Panasonic GF1
 
 Panasonic GH1« »1440 n 3.0 460 swivel n 4000 3.0 Y n Panasonic GH1
 

Expert reviews

While the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the handling experience and imaging performance when actually working with the GH2. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). The full reviews are available by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

Review Scores
  Camera
Model		 cameralabs dpreview ephotozine imaging-resource photographyblog Camera
Launch
(announced)		 Launch
Price
(USD)		 Street
Price
(USD)		 Used
Price
(USD)		 Camera
Model
 
 Panasonic GH2HiRec79/1004.5/54.5/55/5 Sep 2010 1,499- i Panasonic GH2
 
 Panasonic GM5« »Rec77/1005/55/54.5/5 Sep 2014 749- i Panasonic GM5
 
 Panasonic G6« »HiRec-5/5-4.5/5 Apr 2013 599- i Panasonic G6
 
 Panasonic GM1« »Rec78/1005/54.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 749- i Panasonic GM1
 
 Panasonic GH3« »HiRec79/1004.5/55/54.5/5 Sep 2012 1,299- i Panasonic GH3
 
 Panasonic G3« »HiRec75/1004.5/54.5/55/5 May 2011 599- i Panasonic G3
 
 Panasonic GX1« »Rec77/1004.5/54.5/54.5/5 Nov 2011 949- i Panasonic GX1
 
 Panasonic G2« »-72/1004/54/54.5/5 Mar 2010 599- i Panasonic G2
 
 Panasonic G10« »-70/1004/5-4/5 Mar 2010 499- i Panasonic G10
 
 Panasonic GF1« »85/10069/1004.5/54.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 749- i Panasonic GF1
 
 Panasonic GH1« »HiRec72/1004.5/55/54.5/5 Mar 2009 1,499- i Panasonic GH1

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when refering to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Panasonic GH2 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the GH2.

What technology is the imaging sensor in the GH2 based on?

The camera is build around a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.

Which image processing chip is used to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Panasonic equipped the GH2 with the Venus Engine FHD image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the GH2?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 12800.

Does the camera have a selfie-friendly screen?

Yes, the LCD-screen of the GH2 is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.

Does the Panasonic GH2 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp build-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with flash?

The GH2's flash sync speed is 1/160 sec.

Which battery does the GH2 use?

The camera gets its power from the DMW-BLC12, which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

 

Camera to camera comparisons

If you would like to see a side-by-side review of this and another camera, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool. If you cannot find the camera you are interested in, kindly get in touch, and I will try to update the database with the necessary infos.

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