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Panasonic G2

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 front
 
Portability
72
Imaging
47
Features
60
Overall
52

Panasonic G2 overview

Panasonic G2 is Panasonic's Entry-Level Mirrorless camera initially announced on July of 2010. It features a 12 MegaPixel, CMOS Four Thirds sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 4000 x 3000.

Panasonic launched this camera as a way to upgrade the earlier Panasonic G1 (Read Full Comparison) and subsequently launched the more recent Panasonic G3 (Read Full Comparison) to upgrade this camera.

The G2 places at #92 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and all round #404 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. You can use our Smart camera search to find camera listings based on your custom criteria.

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The following is a graph of specific criteria used in the scoring system.

Panasonic G2 family

The Panasonic G2 is part of a family of products. You can see the detailed range below.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-GH6 front thumbnailPanasonic GH6
G2 vs GH6
25MPFour Thirds14.0 fps2022
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-GH5-II front thumbnailPanasonic GH5 II
G2 vs GH5 II
20MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2021
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Panasonic-Lumix-DC-G100 front thumbnailPanasonic G100
G2 vs G100
20MPFour Thirds10.0 fps2020
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G95 front thumbnailPanasonic G95
G2 vs G95
20.3MPFour Thirds9.0 fps2019
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-GH5S front thumbnailPanasonic GH5S
G2 vs GH5S
10MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2018
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-G9 front thumbnailPanasonic G9
G2 vs G9
20MPFour Thirds20.0 fps2017
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GX850 front thumbnailPanasonic GX850
G2 vs GX850
16MPFour Thirds10.0 fps2017
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH5 front thumbnailPanasonic GH5
G2 vs GH5
20MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2017
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G85 front thumbnailPanasonic G85
G2 vs G85
16MPFour Thirds9.0 fps2016
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF8 front thumbnailPanasonic GF8
G2 vs GF8
16MPFour Thirds5.8 fps2016
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G7 front thumbnailPanasonic G7
G2 vs G7
16MPFour Thirds7.0 fps2015
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF7 front thumbnailPanasonic GF7
G2 vs GF7
16MPFour Thirds5.8 fps2015
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GM5 front thumbnailPanasonic GM5
G2 vs GM5
16MPFour Thirds5.8 fps2014
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH4 front thumbnailPanasonic GH4
G2 vs GH4
16MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2014
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GM1 front thumbnailPanasonic GM1
G2 vs GM1
16MPFour Thirds5.0 fps2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G6 front thumbnailPanasonic G6
G2 vs G6
16MPFour Thirds7.0 fps2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF6 front thumbnailPanasonic GF6
G2 vs GF6
16MPFour Thirds4.0 fps2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH3 front thumbnailPanasonic GH3
G2 vs GH3
16MPFour Thirds20.0 fps2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G5 front thumbnailPanasonic G5
G2 vs G5
16MPFour Thirds6.0 fps2012
Photography Glossary
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF5 front thumbnailPanasonic GF5
G2 vs GF5
12MPFour Thirds4.0 fps2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GX1 front thumbnailPanasonic GX1
G2 vs GX1
16MPFour Thirds4.0 fps2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF3 front thumbnailPanasonic GF3
G2 vs GF3
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G3 front thumbnailPanasonic G3
G2 vs G3
16MPFour Thirds4.0 fps2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH2 front thumbnailPanasonic GH2
G2 vs GH2
16MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF2 front thumbnailPanasonic GF2
G2 vs GF2
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G10 front thumbnailPanasonic G10
G2 vs G10
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G2 front thumbnailPanasonic G212MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF1 front thumbnailPanasonic GF1
G2 vs GF1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2009
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH1 front thumbnailPanasonic GH1
G2 vs GH1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2009
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G1 front thumbnailPanasonic G1
G2 vs G1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2009

Panasonic G2 Pros and Cons

Below is a selection of good and bad points of the Panasonic G2 based on features that are normally seen as essential in a camera.

above average min ISO (100)
built-in touchscreen
comes with external microphone socket
comes with face detection focusing
comes with HDMI socket
comes with tracking autofocus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features focus by touch
has built in flash
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
manual focus
screen articulates
screen is a good size (3 inch)
screen is selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
lack of headphone socket
lack of Timelapse mode
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
low resolution screen (460 k dots)
more heavy than competition in class (428 grams)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
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Panasonic G2 Sensor details

The Panasonic G2 features the Venus Engine HD II chip. The sensor size on the Panasonic G2 is 17.3mm x 13mm (Four Thirds). The 225 mm² sensor is able to resolve 4000 x 3000 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9.

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The CMOS sensor boasts 12MP and includes a native ISO range of 100 to 6400. RAW files are supported so you have wider margin for error.

The graphic below illustrates the G2's sensor dimensions when compared to other common sizes. The G2 sensor comes with a crop factor of 2.1 and is presented in green.

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To get an understanding of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic G2 dimensions

Panasonic G2 weighs around 0.94 pounds (428 gr or 15.10 oz) and features external measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 74mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.9"). The weight of general Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329 gr and the Panasonic G2 is weightier in comparison with other competitors.

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The following is a pic of the Panasonic G2 beside a soft drink so you can have a feel for its scale.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 dimensions scale

The top view here will illustrate the button layout on the G2.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 topview buttons dials

Panasonic G2 Lens specs

The G2 works with the Micro Four Thirds mount and has 162 lenses to select from. Below is some of the lenses we have in our database which will work with the G2.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Olympus-M.Zuiko-Digital-ED-40-150mm-f4-5.6-R lensOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f4-5.6 R40-150mmf/4.0-5.6 190g
Lensbaby-Sol-22-Micro-Four-Thirds lensLensbaby Sol 2222mmf/3.5144g
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Venus-Laowa-4mm-F2.8-Fisheye-MFT lensVenus Laowa 4mm F2.8 Fisheye MFT4mmf/2.8135g
Tokina-Reflex-300mm-F6.3-MF-Macro-Micro-Four-Thirds lensTokina Reflex 300mm F6.3 MF Macro300mmf/6.3 298g
Lensbaby-Velvet-56-Micro-Four-Thirds lensLensbaby Velvet 5656mmf/1.6 400g
Samyang-50mm-F1.2-AS-UMC-CS--Rokinon-50mm-F1.2-ED-AS-UMC-Micro-Four-Thirds lensSamyang 50mm F1.2 AS UMC CS50mmf/1.2375g
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Olympus-Zuiko-Digital-11-22mm-f2.8-3.5 lensOlympus Zuiko Digital 11-22mm f2.8-3.511-22mmf/2.8-3.5 485g
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Panasonic G2 Connectivity

The G2 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that include NFC or Bluetooth compatibility can easily be used wirelessly by smartphones. You are able to send pictures and oftentimes adjust camera settings without the hassle of connecting directly to the camera.

Certain applications even enable a Liveview and press the shutter when you aren't close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI out, it could be attached to an external monitor. Most cameras will allow you to charge the battery with the USB socket.

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Panasonic G2 Video specs

The highest video resolution on the Panasonic G2 is 1280 x 720 and it can shoot in AVCHD Lite and Motion JPEG format. 720p is awful by today's standards. You really should go for a minimum FUll HD resolution for good video. Even though the camera comes with a microphone port, it is sadly lacking a headphone port so you will not have the ability to check your sound levels.

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Panasonic G2 Weather Sealing

Panasonic G2 doesn't include weather proofing so rainy conditions may affect the camera.

Panasonic G2 Display and Viewfinder

The Panasonic G2 features a 3" fully articulated display screen supporting a resolution of 460k dots.

It possesses a selfie friendly display to shoot self portraits and group photos if required. Additionally the display screen is touch friendly so you can easily set focus point and adjust settings with your finger.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 screen and viewfinder Photography Glossary

The View Finder details regarding Panasonic G2 are below:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • Resolution 1,440k dots
  • Coverage 100 percent
  • Magnification 0.55x

Viewfinders are quite handy for bright outdoor situations which may make the camera display washed out and hard to view.

Panasonic G2 Shutter specs

Panasonic G2 continuous shooting speed is 3.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/4000 sec.

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Panasonic G2 Flash and Hot shoe specs

Panasonic G2 has got both built-in flash and external flash ability. The max flash sync speed is 1/160 sec.

Panasonic G2 Autofocusing specs

Panasonic G2 has got just Contrast Based Autofocus and doesn't have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot snappier and exact in comparison with Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera features Face detect which can be handy for taking photos of people.

Panasonic G2 has touch to focus. You can use your fingers to adjust focus points. It also includes Tracking Autofocus for things on the move. Panasonic G2 has manual focusing in case it is required for low light situations or you want more accurate control on focusing.

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Panasonic G2 Battery life

The battery power on the Panasonic G2 is fashioned to last for 360 photographs according to the CIPA measurements making it about average when compared to its rivals. The typical Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 features the highest (750) battery life for this kind of cameras.

Listed below is a listing of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras that have the strongest battery life:

Panasonic G2 for varying kinds of photography

The following bar chart indicates a analysis of the Panasonic G2 for varying kinds of photography. To look at more, go to the specific paragraph below.

Panasonic G2 as a Portrait photography camera

The Panasonic G2 has a points tally of 60 which is average, meaning that it is relatively acceptable to use for portrait images. Taking portraits favors heavily to sensor size, RAW support together with the potential to utilize external lighting.

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focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
saves RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)

Panasonic G2 Street photography details

Coming in at a nice score of 65, the Panasonic G2 is a good fit to buy for street photography. A decent street photography camera comes with a perfect balance of image quality and portability.

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fully articulated screen
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports focus via touch
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (428 grams)

Panasonic G2 Sports photography info

A awful sports photography score of 40 indicates the Panasonic G2 is not really appropriate for shooting sports. A camera needs great focusing and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
lack of phase detect auto focus

Panasonic G2 Travel photography highlights

Weight is very important in getting a camera for travel. In general, the Panasonic G2 gets a average 58 for a travelling camera which makes it somewhat suitable to take with you on your vacations.

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features touch to focus
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than others (428 grams)
low MP (12MP)

Panasonic G2 Landscape photography information

For anybody planning to buy a digital camera for landscape photography, the most essential factor will no doubt be image quality. The Panasonic G2 with it's average rating of 57 as a landscape camera is somewhat suitable within the current marketplace.

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manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode

Vlogging with Panasonic G2

A camera for vlogging ought to offer a articulating display, microphone input and ideally IBIS. Considering everything, the Panasonic G2 is a fine option for vlogging as it gets a nice score of 61.

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display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
has face detect focus
has mic socket
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
heavier than others in class (428 grams)

Panasonic G2 Alternatives

If you want alternatives to the G2, below is a list of the top placed cameras that fall in to the class of Entry-Level Mirrorless.

The line graph underneath gives you a bird's eye view of the G2 versus it's top scoring competitors listed above.

These are some more cameras you may view as alternative options. To review a comprehensive comparison, click the "compare" link.

Photography Glossary

Specifications

General Information
Make
Panasonic
Model type
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
Class
Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched
2010-07-12
Physical type
SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Powered by
Venus Engine HD II
Sensor size
Four Thirds
Sensor measurements
17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area
224.9mm²
Sensor resolution
12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW pictures
Maximum native ISO
6400
Minimum native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Lens
Lens mount type
Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses
107
Focal length multiplier
2.1
Screen
Type of display
Fully Articulated
Display sizing
3 inch
Display resolution
460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech
TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage
100 percent
Viewfinder magnification
0.55x
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
53
DXO Color Depth rating
21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating
10.3
DXO Low light rating
493
Features
Lowest shutter speed
60 secs
Highest shutter speed
1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate
3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
11.00 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize
1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution
1280x720
Video file format
AVCHD Lite, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
428 grams (0.94 lb)
Dimensions
124 x 84 x 74mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.9")
Other
Battery life
360 shots
Form of battery
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots
Single
Retail cost
$1,000