Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Review at Photoradar!!!
UPDATE: Because of the recent Daylight saving time change most websites did publish their articles one hour earlier than expected.
http://www.photoradar.com/reviews/product/panasonic-lumix-dmc-gf2-review?t=1288805788
It has Touch AF system, and image quality is impressive: “Images taken at ISO 400 look comparable with those I have taken at ISO 200 on the G1
Price:
GF2-KEB = £599.99 (14-42mm zoom lens kit)
GF2-CEB = £629.99 (14mm pancake lens kit)
GF2-WEB = £729.99 (14-42mm & 14mm twin lens kit)
New Panasonic GH2 (with 1.0 firmware), 14mm lens and Voigtländer image samples.
[/shoplink]
Let’s start with a bad news. Not only the Panasonic GH2 Body Only is impossible to find also the SIlver GH2 kit has been removed from many online stores. Neither AmazonUS
The popular Hong Kong forum OMuser (Click here) just posted the first image samples of the [shoplink 16254]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink] with firmware 1.0 (those are the very first image samples we found that are taken with the final firmware). They posted samples from ISO 200 until ISO 12.800. Images are pretty clean up to ISO 800!
A set of image samples taken with on the GF1 with the new [shoplink 16258]Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 lens[/shoplink] lens has been posted on Flickr.
Again on Flickr you can find image smaples of the new Voigtländer 25mm f/0.95 lens. There is also a first hour report on dpreview written by a new lens owner. [shoplink 15659]You can get the Voigtländer lens on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 preorders:
Amazon US
The need for speed: The Voigtländer 75mm f/1.8
[/shoplink]
We are all missing some nice fast lenses for the Micro Four Thirds system and that’s why we created the “Need for speed” article collection to see how well third party lenses do perform when used on our MFT cameras. A high-quality option could be the new [shoplink 17253]Voigtländer 75mm f/1.8 (Click here to check current eBay auctions and price)[/shoplink].
Soundimageplus posted a very detailed two part review (part1 – part2) of the Voigtländer 75mm f/1.8. He tested the lens on the Panasonic GH1 and after a very long analysis they concluded that: “The Cosina Voigtlander Heliar 75mm f/1.8 Classic is a fine well-made lens that performs very well. There is some CA and fringing wide open and in keeping with many lenses of this type is sharpest in the mid-range, f/5.6 and f/8 being especially good. The results on my GH1 echo the results on my Leica M9, and its a very useful lens for both systems.”
P.S.: They also posted some image samples on Flickr.
eBay link: [shoplink 17253]Voigtländer 75mm f/1.8[/shoplink]
Read the most recent the need for speed articles:
– C-mount zooms test by Seb Farges
– Canon 25-100mm f/1.8 (a cheap zoom lens for the GH2 and AG-AF100)
– Taylor Hobson Vidital 30mm f/1.3 for M4/3
– Zoomatar 75mm, 180mm and 250mm….all f/1.3
– The Voigtländer 35mm and 40mm f/1.4 lenses
– Canon 50mm f/0.95 (Leica M-mount) and the Canon 50mm f/1.2 (Canon FD mount)
– The extremely rare Zeika Nominar C-mount M25 f/0.95
(FT5) Panasonic GF2 to be announced this week!
What a surprise! Panasonic had the great idea to launch a new camera after Photokina to get all the attention from the media! We heard from our sources that the new [shoplink 14828]Panasonic GF1[/shoplink] successor (the GF2) will be announced…. THIS WEEK!!! If you want proof that the GF2 really exists, take a look at the screenshot above. Panasonic registered the new camera at the Korean radio research agency. What will the GF2 look like? We have no picture yet but two of our sources have already seen the camera. The GF2 is incredibly tiny! De facto it will become the smallest mirrorless camera ever (bye bye [shoplink 17230]Sony NEX[/shoplink]!). And it will use the same [shoplink 14834]Panasonic G2[/shoplink] 12 Megapixel sensor
Stay tuned!
P.S: One source said it’s an incredibly sexy looking camera ;)
P.P.S.: Panasonic really did everything to keep that announcement secret. Only a very few people knew about that announcement!
P.P.P.S: A few days ago we told you that the camera will be available by early 2011. It looks like the announcement will be made this week but the camera will be available by early 2011.
Follow us every minute! Spread the word! Nobody should miss the next hours on 43rumors!!! We will update this website with all last minute rumors, leaks and camera reviews! Be sure not to miss any news. Join us on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe our RSS feed. Thanks!
Reminder -> Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct
New Panasonic GH2 and lens test
Mike Zawadzki from Uniquefoto tested the Panasonic GH2: “In regards to the GH2 I was humbly impressed. I expected it to be “just another” mirrorless camera. It still has it’s quirks, but overall I would recommend it to anyone, beginner or seasoned pro.”
Diwa-awards posted two new test graph Lumix G Vario 100-300mm f/4-5.6 Mega O.I.S and the Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 Asph. The Vario has a very good resolution at 100mm. The 14mm lens a little bit worser corner resolution than the 20mm f/1.7 lens but center resolution is slightly better.
Lenstip tested the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 lens. But we all already know that this lens is awesome. And for $332.27 ([shoplink 14796]Amazon[/shoplink]) it also also very cheap!
HOT! Luminous Landscape tests the GH2 (and new lenses) and says it’s a winner!
Luminous Landscape wrote a very detailled “Panasonic Lumix GH2 First Look”.
I like how they started the article: “At Photokina in 2006 I had dinner with a senior executive in the photographic industry. We were talking about the historical market battle between Nikon and Canon. At one point he paused and said, ->You know – the future doesn’t belong to either of those two. The future of the photographic industry belongs to Sony and Panasonic. They get it. As for as I can tell, neither Canon nor Nikon do. They’re simply putting higher resolution and cleaner sensors in the same old boring cameras. That’s not just what the future of this industry is about. Wait – you’ll see<-. ”
Those are the most interesting news:
– Even ISO 3200 is usable with just a bit of NR in post processing. This represents a good two stop increase in usable ISO sensitivity with comparable noise characteristics.
– The new sensor’s faster read-out allows the autofocus of the [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink] to apparently equal that of mid-level DSLRs. While I haven’t done any lab tests (I’m sure that the technical review sites will do so as soon as production cameras become available), my sense is that Panasonic has licked the AF speed issue on non-DSLRs.
– I did not have an opportunity to do much more than some basic video tests during the week that I have the pre-production GH2 for testing, but I can report that at first glance, every aspect of image quality seems very fine, with none of the mud that marred the [shoplink 14826]GH1[/shoplink].
– The GH2 comes with an excellent 200 page printed manual. Panasonic is to be applauded for this
– Which brings us to the Panasonic GH2 specifically, and the G series in particular. Unlike some of its competitors, Panasonic “gets” user interface from a photographer’s perspective. Though the camera is small, its very comfortable in hand for someone with “normal” sized hands. If you have large hands, you may find the grip area somewhat tight for your fingers and so should test for yourself before purchase.
– At the risk of repeating myself, this is a photographer’s camera.
– About the [shoplink 16261]Panasonic 100-300mm[/shoplink] lens: How good is it? Very good, though again I have not done any lab tests, simply a few hundred real-world frames during a one week period. A little bit of vignetting, focusing is very fast, and silent.
– About the [shoplink 16258]Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 lens[/shoplink] lens: This lens requited itself exceptionally well during my casual testing, producing sharp contrasty images at all apertures with very speedy AF. There’s a bit of vignetting at wider apertures, but nothing problematic.
– When it comes to video the GH2 has it all over the [shoplink 14908]NEX 5[/shoplink]. Full manual video control, 1080 /24P, 24 Mbps AVCHD vs a highly feature constrained video offering on the NEX, and no EVF. No contest.
– After a week of testing I’ve decided to buy a GH2 and both of these new lenses to add to my Micro Four Thirds arsenal. These have been my go-to cameras for the past few years for light weight travel and hiking, and now the GH2 looks to significantly enhance the outfit. As for video, I’ve already mention that Chris has ordered one as well, and with his 30 years of film and video production experience I trust his eye when it comes to evaluating video quality as much as anyone.
What do you think folks? I have no doubt the Panasonic GH2 is an awesome camera and I can’t wait to see the upcoming GF2 camera and new Panasonic lenses! Well done Panasonic!!!
You can preorder the new camera and lenses using the links below. If you purchase a product using those links I will earn a small commission that helps me to keep thiw website running. Thanks!
Panasonic GH2 preorders (Click on store name to visit the product page):
Amazon US
Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 preorders:
Amazon US
Panasonic 100-300mm preorders:
Amazon US
