Key features / what's new / technology

The biggest new feature of the G2 is undoubtedly its touch-sensitive screen. The underlying screen is still the same high-resolution 460,000 dot LCD on a tilt and swivel mount that appeared in the G1 but now with a pressure-sensitive layer added. As mentioned earlier in this preview, all the original hard-button functionality of the G1 is still there and can be used without the touch-screen interfering.

Everything the touch-screen brings is an addition and many of them prove to be rather welcome additions, based on our initial use. Users of manual focus lenses are likely to appreciate the ability to just press the area of the screen they want magnified, for instance.

Touch the screen anywhere to focus. Sliding your finger up or down the scale that then appears on the right changes the size of the focus area. The same actions can be performed via the four-way controller and control dial if you prefer.	Two icons that usually appear on the right of the screen give access to a touch-sensitive version of the Q.Menu or engage touch-shutter mode that focuses and takes a picture when you press the screen. Both options can be switched off if you prefer.
The touch-sensitive Q.Menu allows you to press any of the icons along the top or bottom of the screen. Touch-sensitive regions are clearly marked out in dark gray. A description of the selected setting appears for just over three seconds, obscuring half the icons.	The options include a well-implemented exposure compensation scale, though it's rather easier to make large adjustments than it is to make the 0.3EV corrections you're most likely to make. (The control wheel can still be used, though).
Another display option is the interactive display panel as seen in other G series cameras. Only on the G2, pressing on any of the options allows you to change it.	Each option gets its own screen with options arranged on a plain background, except for White Balance, which appears over the preview so you can see its effect.
The exposure 'dial' doesn't work so well. You have to press on the center to activate it (even if exp. comp. is already selected via the control dial), then slide your finger around the circle to change the amount. However, the design is directly adapted from older G series cameras, where it wasn't a problem that touching the edge of the circle means your finger completely obscures the display of how much exposure comp you've applied..	In playback mode you can scroll through the images by swiping your finger across the screen (right-to-left to see the previous image, which seems like the wrong way round, somehow). Alternatively, pressing the screen in a single place zooms into the image, allowing you to roam around the image by moving your finger. The pre-production unit we used couldn't always distinguishing between a single press and a swipe, though.

The introduction of the touch screen seems to have introduced a couple of minor quirks and inconsistencies to the camera, though this is only firmware v0.1 so there's time for some of these to be ironed-out yet.

Firstly, there's a touch-screen Q.Menu that can be operated either by touch or through the use of existing buttons. However, the hard button for Q.Menu brings up essentially the same menu that appeared on the G1 - it looks pretty much the same as the touch-screen version, but can only be operated using buttons. We're hoping this inconsistency is resolved before the cameras hit the shelves.

Secondly we noticed that the on-screen 'buttons' for the Q.Menu and touch shutter also appear in the EVF, where they float, defiantly out-of-reach. Again, we're assuming this is an easy enough thing to correct. Generally, though, we were really impressed with the way the touch-screen implementation adds to the experience of using the camera without impacting on or undermining the more conventional operation methods.

Movie mode

Movies are the big news on the G2, with the addition of 720p HD capability in the AVCHD format. The G2 will output 60 or 50fps files (generated from 30 or 25fps capture, respectively), but can't quite match the GH1's 1080i 60/50 output.

Movies can be recorded from all modes using the direct access button, with the camera choosing the appropriate shutter speed, aperture and gain settings. In scene modes the camera will attempt to tailor those settings to the type of scene specified but there's no manual control available in the P,A,S,M modes.

There is is, however, a Movie P (program) position on the mode dial, in which exposure compensation and aperture can be adjusted (including while the movie is being recorded).

The standard movie screen looks much like the regular shooting modes but with the imposition of black bars denoting the edges of the 16:9 aspect ratio.	The touch-screen Q.Menu is also available, albeit with fewer options. Here you can see the touch-screen exposure compensation scale.
Aperture can be changed by clicking the control dial then either rolling the dial or sliding your finger across the screen.	The settings panel display is also available in movie mode, though it gives little clue of what you're about to shoot.