Also in common with the previous GH1, the Panasonic Lumix GH2 offers full PASM exposure control while recording video, a feature shared by surprisingly few video-capable SLRs. Unlike some of its competition, the Panasonic GH2 also provides a stereo microphone jack for connecting to an external microphone; either Panasonic's own DMW-MS1 model or a third-party unit with compatible signal levels. Alone among the G-series models, the Panasonic GH2 can also shoot at full 1080i HD resolution. (Other the the GH1 which it replaces, Panasonic's other G-series models topped out at 720p resolution.) In another nod to high-end video enthusiasts, the Lumix GH2 now offers full AVCHD recording at the maximum 24 Mbps the standard supports. (The GH1 maxed-out at 17 Mbps.)
The above 1:1 crops were all taken from Motion JPEG frames captured at 720p resolution (1,280 x 720 pixels) to give a clearer image than would have been the case with the interlaced 1080i signal. As you can see, while the camera didn't do a 100% perfect job of tracking the action, it stayed very close most of the time, and caught up very quickly any time it lagged behind or overshot: It's possible that some dedicated camcorders might do better, but we felt that this was well within acceptable limits for casual video snapshots and family memory-recording. (And pro video types are more likely to pull focus manually than rely on an autofocus system, anyway.) The camera obviously lagged the action a bit at the end of the clip, when Charlotte was so close to the camera. It also had a little trouble when she first started running away from the camera, but that's quite to be expected with a bounding, furry subject like this, particularly starting and ending so close to the camera: We expect that a human subject with clear patterns in their clothing and less up-and-down motion would pose little problem for the GH2's AF system. All in all, a pretty impressive performance for live contrast-detect autofocus.
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The one exception to the GH2's excellent rolling shutter performance was in its 24P Cinema recording modes. These modes record at 1,920 x 1,080 resolution at 24 frames/second with progressive scanning. The high-resolution progressive scanning apparently slowed the sensor readout a fair bit, so rolling shutter became more of an issue. While quite a bit worse than the 720p recording modes, the 24p rolling shutter artifacts are about on par with what we've seen from a number of other camera systems.
Overall, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is a great camera for consumers or enthusiasts looking for a capable interchangeable-lens camera that can record video without the hassles of the largely-manual focus found on many other models. While not perfect, its live autofocus tracking during video recording is significantly better than that of most SLRs and several competing CSC (mirrorless interchangeable lens) models we've tested. (Really, only Sony's SLT translucent-mirror models equal it.) The 14-140mm kit lens was designed specifically for video recording, and it does an excellent job, offering fast focus, a continuously-variable aperture and virtually silent operation. The Panasonic GH2 also offers full manual control of aperture, shutter speed and ISO setting, a key feature for video enthusiasts seeking full creative control. Video quality is very good, and both 1080i and 720p recording is offered, as well as 24 fps 1,080p, at a bit rate of 24 Mbps; higher than on any other AVCHD-capable still camera we're aware of. The icing on the cake is stereo recording with manual level control, via either the built-in stereo microphone or an external mic connected via a 2.5mm plug. Combine this rich feature set with the GH2's compact size (particularly including the 10x 14-140mm zoom lens), and you have a phenomenal platform for HD video recording. (And it's no slouch as a still camera, either.)
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