New Panasonic GH2 review at Quesabesde (US: Panasonic GH2 in Stock status)
Quesabesde reviewed the Panasonic GH2. The biggest complain they have is the lack of a headphone output that allows to monitor the incoming audio from the camera. But all thre rest of the review is very positive. The Gh2 is the best hybrid video/still camera on the market. And it will become even better once it gets hacked! Click here to follow the official GH2 “Stalin” hack development topic.
And now for US readers: Announced in September 2010 the Panasonic GH2 is finally “constantly” in Stock in US stores by late May 2011 (it took 8 months):
Black GH2 with 14-140mm lens at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
Black GH2 with 14-42mm lens at Adorama (Click here).
Silver GH2 with 14-42mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
P.S: Panasonic Lumix 100-300mm for $540 at Amazon (Click here).
c.d.embrey
2 years ago |And during the looong wait I found another camera. As they say in the US: “You snooze you lose!”
Jeremiah
2 years ago |If you really wanted it, you could have had it. I ordered mine early January and got it 18 days later. Sorry that you missed out! I live in the US, and I am sad to admit that most of my fellow American’s are very impatient. In fact, it is the absurd need for convenience and instant gratification that is the downfall of cultures everywhere.
fta
2 years ago |so true.. I put my order in and 3 weeks later it was ready for pickup. Most people don’t order, they only buy whats on the shelf. And if you “found another camera” then the GH2 just was not for you in the first place.
Mr. Reeee
2 years ago |Exactly. I also get a kick out of complainers who “ordered” from Panasonic Direct and waited for months, expecting a huge discount and still got no camera.
Once I decided to get a GH2, I kept a dozen browser windows open to various online stores’ GH2 pages and refreshed MANY times a day. Luckily our illustrious Admin posted an item on availability from Amazon. I ordered and got one in a week… black with the 14-140mm, just what I wanted. I even managed to find an extra battery but hunting a LOT and got the M4/3 lenses I wanted (20mm and 7-14mm)at decent prices, just before lens prices shot up by almost 30%.
Thom Hogan
2 years ago |You don’t see any problem with the fact that to obtain a camera and extra battery in reasonable time requires a dozen browser windows constantly monitored and “hunting a lot”?
You have a variety of potential customers when you launch a product:
a. Loyal: those who’ll do anything to get one.
b. Interested: those who’ll order it if everything they need is available.
c. Need Selling: might buy it if available and sales person can make a convincing argument.
d. Need Complete Direction: will buy what’s available and what their friend/family member/salesman tells them to.
Panasonic has consistently only managed to sell to (a) for the last two years in the US. They’ve managed to do this in a variety of amusing ways. Wrong colors. No inventory for months at a time. Missing key part. Wrong bundles. You name it, they’ve done it.
The relevant question isn’t whether you (or I) got our GH2, it’s how many GH2s would Panasonic have sold in the US if they had gotten their marketing and distribution right?
Finally, WHEN did you order a GH2? When it was first announced? Doubtful. I’d say if you got one in the US it was likely after the start of the year, because supplies for the first four months in the US probably could be counted with my toes and fingers.
Mr. Reeee
2 years ago |I agree with all your arguments.
Panasonic completely dropped the ball as far as availability and distribution of the GH2 was concerned. The fact that 8 months after it was announced it’s finally readily available (is it?) is ridiculous. They would have sold how many more? We’ll never know. I know at least a half dozen people who were ready to buy after using mine.
I fall into category B. I’d never even heard of a M4/3 or a GH2 until last November! I was going to get a Nikon D7000 and recoiled at the thought of a Panasonic camera. The last Panasonic thing I bought was an answering machine! I looked at all the M4/3 cameras, NEX-5, D7000 (again) and decided just before Xmas after getting a chance to use a GH2 for a bit at B&H. Size and features won. AND I could still use my Nikon AI lenses.
Couldn’t find one and was bummed because I left for Costa Rica (Osa) Xmas Eve with no GH2! Got back to NY mid January, FINALLY got one the 1st week of February.
Getting a battery was a pain… another search… and I remember you mentioning not being able to find an AC power adaptor. Luckily, lenses were easily obtainable (20mm, 7-14mm).
NO it shouldn’t be this hard to give a company your money! I did what I had to do, but WHY? I just wanted a goddam camera and bitching about it wasn’t going to get me one either! Maybe it’s my stoic New England upbringing and just do what you gotta do thing. Amazon overnight delivery is more my style these days.
Hopefully Panasonic has learned a few things from this fiasco. The GF2 situation is much better. We’ll see with the G3.
Mr. Reeee
2 years ago |They also say…
You can get one cheap, or you can actually get one.