Digital Camera - Ken Gilbert
Digital Camera - Ken Gilbert
Digital Camera - Ken Gilbert
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118<br />
kitzone<br />
d-slrreview<br />
tech briefing<br />
Micro Four thirds<br />
microFour Thirds is morethan just a<br />
new lens mount. Pioneered by both<br />
Olympus and Panasonic, it’s as much<br />
adesign ethos as alens system. It’s an<br />
evolution from the Four Thirds system<br />
–using the same 18x13.5mm sensor,<br />
with its 4:3 ratio and 2x crop factor.<br />
The Micro version creates a smaller<br />
camera, with a different lens mount, by<br />
getting rid of the mirror mechanism that<br />
sits between the lens and sensor in a<br />
traditional D-SLR body. Instead of an<br />
optical eye-levelviewfinder,most Micro<br />
Four Thirds cameras use an electronic<br />
viewfinder,which is essentially a<br />
miniature LCD monitor.<br />
Panasonic has so far launched<br />
five Micro Four Thirds cameras, and<br />
Olympus three. Less than adozen<br />
MicroFour Thirds lenses have been<br />
announced – but most SLR lenses can<br />
be fitted using an adapter, albeit with<br />
manual focus operation only.<br />
To help producethis cameraatan<br />
appealing price, one of the noticeable<br />
cutbacksPanasonic has made is to<br />
the bundled kit lens. This now has<br />
marginallyless reach, with asimple<br />
3x zoom 14-42mm range(equivalent<br />
to a28-85mm on afull-frame or film<br />
<strong>Digital</strong><strong>Camera</strong> July2010<br />
Above<br />
The thumbwheel<br />
allows you to adjust<br />
the exposure<br />
compensation<br />
simply by pressing<br />
and turning – useful<br />
in high-contrast light<br />
Left<br />
Despitethe handy<br />
touchscreen, there<br />
arealso loads of<br />
dials and buttons –<br />
although some have<br />
moved around<br />
SLR). Worryingly, the image<br />
stabilisation switch has also gone<br />
–but fortunately the functionality<br />
still remains; to switch the camerashake<br />
defeating mechanism on or off,<br />
youneed to delve intothe camera’s<br />
main menu. We’d recommend leaving<br />
it on because it performs efficiently,<br />
providing at leastatwo-stop<br />
advantage in low-light situations.<br />
ouR ConCLuSion<br />
The G2 is an outstanding buyand will<br />
undoubtedlyhelp to consolidate the<br />
popularity of the fledgling Micro Four<br />
Thirds system. However, costing<br />
around £600 with its kit lens, it’s the<br />
High-Definition video capabilitythat<br />
makes the latest version of this<br />
camerasuch an appealing financial<br />
proposition. It’s priced keenly for a<br />
so-called HD-SLR, but refusesto<br />
skimp in other areas. The overall<br />
design is excellent and the rotating,<br />
touch-control LCD is a luxury feature<br />
other manufacturerswould do well to<br />
look at closely if they’re to compete.<br />
The sticking point with the G2 is<br />
the camerasystem. Lensesfor Micro<br />
Four Thirds mounts are still thin<br />
on the ground, so this isn’t a camera<br />
we would recommend for, say, the<br />
wildlife or sportsenthusiast. Youcan<br />
fit other lensesusing adaptersmade<br />
by Panasonic, Olympus and Novoflex,<br />
but this expensive HeathRobinson<br />
routeisless than ideal. The G2 is a<br />
camera that you can so easily fall in<br />
love with, but before you do, it pays<br />
to know its shortcomings.<br />
FEATuRES<br />
PERFORMAnCE<br />
buILD QuALITy<br />
VALuE<br />
Overall<br />
WE SAy…<br />
Forunder £700 you’re<br />
getting alot of camera<br />
– the innovative G2 is<br />
well worth considering<br />
forits touchscreen AF,<br />
excellent electronic<br />
viewfinder, HD video<br />
and wealth of easyto-use<br />
features.
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