Digital Home Thoughts: Panasonic G2 Reviewed; Micro Four Thirds Continues Its Advance

"The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 is a new Micro Four Thirds camera boasting a 3 inch articulated touchscreen LCD that provides touch-based functions like Touch AF/AE and Touch Shutter. Other key features of the G2 include a 12.1-megapixel CMOS image sensor, upgraded Venus Engine HD II processor, sensitivity range of ISO 100-6400, 720p HD video recording in AVCHD Lite format, a port for an optional stereo microphone and an electronic viewfinder."

Well, it looks like Panasonic has another winner on its hands. If you did read the post on BCNRankings for interchangeable lens cameras sold in Japan, sales of Micro Four Thirds cameras are on the rise. I do like some of the changes Panasonic has wrought on this release, like moving the command dial to the rear of the camera, but at the same time, it's all so incremental. Yea, there's video now compared to the G1, but there's not much on the still camera side. I wish more companies would be like Nikon, where usually a new camera really brings about change.

Oh, and if you are interested in this camera, I suggest looking for the dual-lens version that comes with the 45-200mm lens as well. I believe it is quite competitively priced (unless Panasonic decides to screw over consumers in some parts of the world).