Best Digital Camera Overall Under $800 with Manual Controls: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 (with 14-42mm OIS Lens), by picturemaker

Expert Recommendation

Best Digital Camera Overall Under $800 with Manual Controls

By picturemaker

Expert (53 Recommendations and 31 Compliments)

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May 28, 2010 Updated: June 3, 2010

Overview

For those who want versatility, portability, style and smarts in their personal camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 will more than fill the bill. Built sturdy and lightweight, the G2 has the ability to swap lenses, compose with either the Swivel LCD screen or the digital viewfinder and has a processor fast enough to handle all of these functions and more.

My Best In Class Pick

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 (with 14-42mm OIS Lens)

With a dramatic move into the future of photography, Panasonic has developed the worlds first Micro Four Thirds camera that will satisfy the needs of all photographers at any level of expertise.

Starting with a lightweight body and a wide variety of external controls, Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-G2 can go anywhere you want to go and is ready to capture your important moments with a touch of the finger. Featuring a touch sensitive, rotating 3.0” LCD with live view, framing and previewing your images and videos is easy and fun. If you prefer to use a viewfinder, the G2 has a bright live view digital viewfinder that displays your settings and is activated by an eye-sensor to shut off the LCD screen to prevent glare.

For shooting video, with a simple, one-button command located just behind the exposure button, you can be shooting HD video in a snap, utilizing the IA feature as well as Panasonic’s own Mega OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer) to hold things steady. In fact, when in video mode, all of your still settings are applied until you make adjustments according to what you see on the viewfinder or LCD screen. You can even apply some of the seven My Color mode settings and preview them before taking video.

Whether you are a seasoned expert or a point and shoot photographer, the DMC-G2 has a wide variety of choices that ensure you are getting just the right exposure at just the right time. Using the Intelligent Scene Selector in the iA mode, you can choose your settings by simply touching the screen. Touch a distant subject and get landscape mode, touch a face and get portrait mode or touch a close object to get macro mode. Of course, there are the Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Program modes for even more decision making and creativity. And for every level of photographer, let the new Venus Engine HD II do the work of making your images look their best, even at low ISO’s.

For quick shooting and all inclusive focusing, choose from one of these AF modes. There is AF Tracking, 1-area AF, Face Detection AF/AE and 23-area focusing. The 45-200mm lens is recommended also for a wider range of shooting possibilities.

Nice choices when you have them, and you have them with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2, a smart choice for the future of photography.

Comparison with Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 (with 20mm Lens)

Except for it’s more compact size, no Mega OIS and requiring an optional viewfinder, the GF1 has many of the same attributes as the G2. The G2 also has a touch screen on its swivel LCD, items that keep it from being as compact as the GF1.

Comparison with Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

No comparison. If you want an interchangeable lens camera with a tilt swivel LCD and a viewfinder, the G2 is the one for you. But if you want a camera with a lot of the great amenities you will find in the G2 but wrapped up in a smaller body with less bells and whistles, consider the ZS7.

Pros

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Micro Four Thirds
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HD Video
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Tilt LCD
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Viewfinder
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Touch Screen Control

Where to buy

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 (with 14-42mm OIS Lens)

Best Price: $699
See It »

Recommended with

Panasonic 45-200mm f/4.0-5.6 Lumix G Vario MEGA OIS Zoom Micro Four Thirds Lens for Panasonic and Olympus Micro Four Thirds Cameras

$254.19 @ Amazon.com
Panasonic DMW-BLB13 Battery for Panasonic G Series Micro Four Thirds Cameras

$43.72 @ Amazon.com

Specifications

Zoom: 3.0x
Wide-Angle Lens: 28mm (25% wider)
Resolution: 12.1MP
Aperture Priority Mode Available: Yes

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Customer Reviews

Comparing My Best In Class Pick with Other Good Choices

Product	Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 (with 14-42mm OIS Lens)	2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 (with 20mm Lens)	3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
Customer Rating
Price	$699.99	$999.99	$449.99
Weight (with batteries)	15.1 oz	11.1 oz	7.7 oz
Colors	Black, Red, Blue	Black	Silver, Black, Blue, Red
? Close Sensor Size Most digital cameras, even most digital SLRs, have sensors that are smaller than a standard frame of 35 mm film (36 x 24 mm). These smaller sensors have a number of effects on the captured image and the use of the camera, including an increased depth of field, decreased light sensitivity, increased pixel noise, and increased degree of enlargement. Sensor Size	18.0 x 13.5 mm	17.3 x 13.0 mm	6.0 x 4.4 mm
HD Video Available	Yes	Yes	Yes
Video Zoom Available (while recording)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization Type	Optical (lens shift)	No	Optical (lens shift)
Interchangeable Lenses Available	Yes	Yes	No
Max Shutter Speed	1/4000 sec	1/4000 sec	1/2000 sec
Max ISO Setting	6400	3200	1600
? Close Viewfinder Available A viewfinder is a window that you look through to compose the picture. Some cameras do not have a viewfinder and instead use the LCD display. The LCD display may be difficult to see in bright light and may make it more difficult to capture fast-moving subjects because of the time required to update the display. Viewfinder Available	Yes	No	No
? Close LCD Screen Size The LCD Screen Size is the length of the miniature LCD monitor measured diagonally. LCD Screen Size	3.0 in.	3.0 in.	3.0 in.
Battery Type	Proprietary Lithium Ion Rechargeable	Proprietary Lithium Ion Rechargeable	Proprietary Lithium Ion Rechargeable

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 (with 20mm Lens)

Offering superior image quality and a lightweight body, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 continues to break ground with it’s Micro Four Thirds system design and compact styling.

Featuring a 12.1mp imaging sensor, HD recording in AVCHD Lite format, both IA and Mega OIS and a variety of manual settings to help you realize your creative potential, the GF1 is an excellent camera that is revolutionizing picture taking. With new advances changing how we take and view still and video images, the GF1 stands out as an innovator in interchangeable lens system design, giving you a compact camera that is chock full of the kind of tools photographers will be using for years to come.

With a dedicated movie mode button located right next to the exposure button, a dial for manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, program and 16 different scene modes within easy reach and a pop up flash, operating the GF1 is both easy and fun, giving you the controls right where you want them for quick and creative image management without having to scroll through an endless array of menu’s.

For live view, the optional external viewfinder is a must have. Just slide it into the hot shoe and you will be able to compose your images live for perfect capture everytime.

And when you’ve successfully taken your images, enjoy the Included PHOTOfunSTUDIO 4.0 HD Edition Software for image management and video editing. This program makes the tedious and time-consuming task of managing your output a fun part of the whole picture taking experience.

Pros

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Lightweight
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Compact
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PHOTOfunSTUDIO 4.0 HD Edition Software
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Lots of lenses available

Cons

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Optional viewfinder only