Panasonic has loaded two brand spanking new Micro Four Thirds warriors into the cannon and lit the fuse, for today the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 blast forth with a few key upgrades. But before we splash into the nitty gritty, let's review Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds history so that we can understand how meaningful these upgrades really are.
A Brief History Lesson
It all began at the end of 2008 with the mighty Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, which brought exceptional image quality and a spectrum of Manual controls to the table. Then, the company pumped 720p into its follow-up model, the Lumix DMC-GH1, to start 2009 off with a high-definition bang. An external microphone and flash were also marketed for the GH1, making the camera a venerable threat to the quivering masses of HD camcorders within the neighboring market.
Last Fall, we saw the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1, which went on a South Beach Diet in order to compete with the Olympus E-P1 PEN camera. So, now here we are with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and Lumix DMC-G10.
Following the tradition of one or two major upgrades per model release, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 features the world's first interchangeable lens system camera with a touch-screen swivel LCD, while the Lumix DMC-G10's "World's First" claim centers around the fact that it's the current lightest digital interchangeable lens system with a viewfinder. That's a stretch, and the G10 looks like the new Olympus E-PL1's direct competition. Let's take a closer look.
Latest and Greatest
Both new G-series releases look identical from the outside, until you take a gander at their backsides. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 (gallery) has a three-inch foldout swivel LCD with touch-screen navigation, while the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 (gallery) is saddled with a fixed LCD. The other primary difference is that the G2 records 720p AVCHD Lite video, while the G10 is stuck with Motion-JPEG.
The G2's touch functionality brings Touch Shutter and Touch Focus to the plate, in addition to a slew of Scene modes that can be applied while shooting video. Both the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 have 12-megapixel Live MOS sensors and shoot RAW, so image quality will be about the same. The G2 also gets the most excellent 1,440,000-dot 1.4x (0.7x) Live View Finder, while the G10 has a 202,000-dot Live View Finder.
Panasonic also released the LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. lens today, which is compatible with all of the company's G-series cameras, and will be part of the kit lens that ships with the Lumix DMC-G2 and Lumix DMC-G10. So, with a MEGA O.I.S. lens arsenal, external mini boom microphone, external flash, and a slew of Manual controls, the Lumix G-series is looking better than ever. If you're on the fence about what new G model would be right for you, the G10 is suited toward beginners who want to step up from their point-and-shoots, while the G2 is for advanced shooters. We really like the microtexture finish on the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2, and can't wait to try out the touch-screen.
Coming to a Retailer Near You
Actually, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 ship dates and pricing have not been announced yet, so stay tuned.
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