Panasonic Lumix G2 is it worth it

[Boxter]

Hi, i am looking to buy my first dslr and have seen the lumix g2 for £450 and was wondering if it was worth buying and if not can you suggest something else.

[ianpinion]

Hi Boxster,

The G2 is a good camera, with lots of well thought out features, but it does have it's limitations. The biggest one being the small range of Micro Four Thirds lenses currently available. Have you read any or indeed many reviews on it? If not read this one and another first.

[amk1977]

The lens availability would be the biggest concern for me, together with the x2 crop factor. The 14-42mm lens is essentially the same as a 28-85mm, on the 35mm film format. While the x2 crop factor may be a bonus for telephoto zoom lenses, for wide angle its not that great.

I had an Olympus E-510 with the 14-42mm lens and at the widest angle, you don't get much landscape for your money lol.

For similar money you could get the Nikon D3100 body only, or with 18-55mm kit lens for around £550, which looks to be a little belter of a camera for the money.

[ianpinion]

Originally Posted by amk1977

The lens availability would be the biggest concern for me, together with the x2 crop factor. The 14-42mm lens is essentially the same as a 28-85mm, on the 35mm film format. While the x2 crop factor may be a bonus for telephoto zoom lenses, for wide angle its not that great.

I had an Olympus E-510 with the 14-42mm lens and at the widest angle, you don't get much landscape for your money lol.

For similar money you could get the Nikon D3100 body only, or with 18-55mm kit lens for around £550, which looks to be a little belter of a camera for the money.

Yes the advantage of buying an established system is you will get more choice of everything, particularly lenses! The G2 has it's niche, but it is a niche buy rather than a mainstream pruchase. Just depends on what you want to photograph with it, as to whether it's your best choice. We all have different wants and needs, so you have to decide for yourself what your requirments are and then find the model that best meets them. You can rest assured that if you buy any of the entry level dslrs from any of the leading manufacturers, you will get a camera that is capable of producing fabulous quality images once you know how to get the best from it.

[amk1977]

I'm glad you posted Ian. I just remembered that earlier I saw that they have the Nikon D3100 + 18-55mm VR kit lens for £499 at Jessops. So far that's the cheapest I've seen it listed for.

[6ozDave]

As a novice who has had Panasonic cameras in the past I bought a G2 last month.
Have to say I don't regret it, but then again as a novice I don't have anything CaNikon to compare it with.
Its easy to use, compact and light in the hand, and my results so far (IMHO) are pretty satisfying.
I have the 14-42mm kit lens, bought the 45-200mm last week, and would like soon to buy the 20mm f1.8.
Hope that helps.