I have had 2 GH2 cameras ordered directly from Panasonic since mid January and keep getting the same should possibly be here in the next couple weeks. Well its been more than 2 months now and still getting the "next couple weeks story". I was just wondering if anyone else has any information on what kind of time frame we are talking about? I broke down and purchased a Canon 60d yesterday, while I am waiting and deciding if I should cancel my entire order. It blows because I already purchased 4 batteries, 20mm pancake and some lens adapters for my vintage FD and Canon Eos lenses. I am really losing my patience with them.

This is unfortunate, Steve. There is no easy answer. Wait, or not. In your shoes I would be upset as well.

With the Tsunami, I would be concerned even further, though not too many people know if it will affect things or not, as I have spoken directly with Panasonic repair tech about parts and they did not yet know as of Friday if delivery would be affected by this event.

Sincerest condolences. The other option is you can pay too much on ebay. I know two people who have done that. If you have to buy a kit with a lens you don't like, you can easily sell it.

Hi Steve

My buddy Chip has been ordering plenty of GH1 and GH2's and he just told me that Pansonic will be shipping out all orders on 25th March which is this Friday.

You might not have to wait too long it that's true!!

Chris

That's huge, Chris, thanks for the information.

Thanks for the information guys. I do hope that's true, because the wait has been nothing less than excruciating, since I sold one of my HMC150s. I sure wasn't aware I would have to wait so long.

Thanks again.

Chris - good news. Thx! I also sold a camera to pay for a GH2 I ordered. And have been waiting. Hopefully your buddy Chip is in a position to know the real deal and not just rumors. :)

Douglas,

Just FYI, B&H just sent out Pre-order emails for all the Panasonic GH2 cameras, so that means they know they are coming in soon now I hope. It gives even more weight to Chris's statement.

Good luck to you!

If you're going to need a second camera anyway, you can buy a spanking new GH1 for $400, an adapter, and find a $100 Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 lens and have lots of fun, all for under $600. Or you could buy a 20mm f/1.7 lens pancake for $329 and you'd be in business. You'll end up with the 20mm most likely anyway, as it is a favorite of many folks.

I have found the GH1 a great camera, and with the right lens, it's footage is fantastic.

I'm about to order my second GH1 to go with my GH2, and while I would obviously prefer the GH2, the GH1 and it's interchangeable lenses is TONS of fun. I have an 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.2, and a 135mm 2.8, and I'm very happy. I've been taking the GH1 out just as much as the GH2, I just go with the one that has the lens on it that I want.

The faster the lens you use, the less difference you will see in the camera.

They're here. Shops everywhere are showing them in stock. The rumors were apparently true that two big shipments were coming. BH *was* showing them in stock. Not sure about right this moment. I just got tracking numbers on two GH2 bodies. I will be selling one of them, unopened in box since I only need one more, not two more. PM or email me if interested. brian_luce AT hotmail.

If you 'like' Panasonic's Facebook page, they post some great deals from time to time. They have a deal on a GH2 body only right now for $765.

[http://www.facebook.com/#!/Panasonic

@ Steve - great news indeed. Thx!

Everyone is saying they are now available, but "Where's the Beef?", I mean batteries.

For the few who have not seen it yet, this thread seems like a great place to revive this:

YouTube - Hitler is mad at Panasonic for GH2 camera availability issues (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhDoZbWOPQc)

That was so funny Jeff. I heard about it but never watched it. Priceless!

It is soooo funny.

If it makes you feel better, I ordered my GH2 black body via EPP on 1/5/2011. My bank account was showing a pending withdrawal for the past 2 days, and now today the pending withdrawal is gone. How's that for a tease.

Ordered mine on 15 December 2010. It arrived this week.

Trust me: it's worth the wait. (grin)

Ordered mine on 15 December 2010. It arrived this week.

Trust me: it's worth the wait. (grin)

Whoa! THAT is an endorsement. And I agree, these cams, though maybe not everything you could want, are certainly more than you have any right to expect from that price point.

It would appear that Amazon is still selling them. I think they get it from Onecall. And they have the Panasonic DMW-BLB13 Battery for Panasonic G Series, but I don't remember if that is the right battery.
I think the DMW-BLC12E battery is the correct one.

Jim,

Yes the BLC-12 is the correct battery for them.

Not sure if it makes a difference with the ending letters, but I'm looking right at a Panasonic battery that I've been using with my GH2 for the past month, and it says "Model No. DMW-BLC12PP" (using this in the USA).

I might be mistaken, but the only ones I found on Amazon are generics. Video Direct definitely has them. I looked the other day and they were out, as was everyone else. B&H doesn't even carry the genuine batteries, yet. I've bought from Video Direct once before, seem like an OK outfit...ooops, I can't link to them, they are not a sponsor...

You can try Adorama. I purchased mine when the website says backordered, and I received a shipment email from them the next day. So I purchased 2 more the next day and they shipped too. I don't know if they don't update that often or they are waiting for the GH2's to come in before they announce they have them.

By the way this was about 3 weeks ago.

Steve

Steve, I ordered about a week ago and they did not ship mine yet, so I guess they are out.

Norm

Ahh! Well I knew it must of been too good to last. It was worth a shot though. Thanks for the info!

I've purchased two GH2's (black with kit and silver body) from Unique Photo (http://store.uniquephoto.com/e/). Never dealt with them before the first order but someone posted they had some in stock when no one else seemed to, so I took a chance. Turned out to be very nice people and I got the camera 3-4 days later (New Jersey to Phoenix). Wanted a second one and just saw they have some in stock. Ordered a silver body this time, so I can tell them apart, $735 plus shipping. Ordered right before posting this, just in case someone here types faster than I do. :-)

Just an update... I just finished picking myself off the floor after reading my email. It appears that B&H has shipped me 2 GH2's and I have the tracking number... I can hardly believe it. Maybe when the UPS guy shows up.

Steve

THX!! I just went to the B&H website - silver GH2 w/ 14-42mm lens IN STOCK! So I ordered right away with a 2-day delivery option. Then cancelled my Amazon order. Hope to have camera in hand by Thursday :)

Douglas, just so to make sure you know, the 14-42mm is not a great lens. It might work for you, but a friend of mine has it and he was quite disappointed with it. On a shoot I had to loan him a lens so we could get some decent footage. If you're a hobbyist or doing mostly outdoor it will get you by for sure, but if you need it for indoor shooting in marginal light, not so much.

"To my surprise, I note that the basic kit lens Lumix G 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Mega O.I.S. is sharper than the very expensive Lumix G HD 14-140mm f/4-5.8 Mega O.I.S. at f/4, and even at f/3.5. "

Micro 4/3rds Photography: Comparison @ 14mm (http://m43photo.blogspot.com/2010/12/comparison-14mm.html)

BTW I have both the 14-42 that came with my $375 GH1 combo deal from PD and the 14-45 that is much better.

"The 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 gives decidedly mixed results in our studio tests. It's not terribly sharp at maximum aperture at any focal length, but stop down to F8 and things improve dramatically. Geometric distortion and lateral chromatic aberration are automatically corrected in software (as usual for Micro Four Thirds), giving excellent results in these areas. The wide-open softness means the 14-42mm suffers when compared to either the older Lumix G 14-45mm F3.5-5.6 OIS or Olympus's equivalent M ZD 14-42mm F3.5-5.6, and while it's a match for either once stopped down to more commonly-used apertures, overall it's a slightly disappointing replacement for what was one of the best kit lenses on the market."
Panasonic DMC-G2 Review: 13. Kit lens test: Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/PanasonicDMCG2/page13.asp)

"The Lumix 14-45mm F3.5-5.6 OIS does extremely well in our studio tests. Panasonic has integrated software correction of distortion and lateral chromatic aberration into the system design, and this pays off with near-perfect results for these aspects of our tests; the lens is also unusually sharp for its class. Compared to the Micro Four Thirds Olympus M. Zuiko Digital 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 ED, the Panasonic does better in almost every regard; it even out-performs the best of the kit zooms for conventional DSLRs, the Olympus Zuiko Digital F3.5-5.6 ED. "
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Review: 19. Photographic tests (Kit Lens): Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicGF1/page19.asp)

So would you recommend getting the Lumix 14-45 as well, or something else?

BTW - B&H just sent me an email saying my GH2 shipped - will have it on Thursday :)

You DO NOT need both, they are too similar in focal length. The 14-45 is a decent lens, the 14-42 not so much.

Ideally you would call b and h and tell them you made a mistake, and see if they have in stock and would hold for you a kit with a 14-45 in it until you return this package. I have no idea, you never know until you ask if they would do it. If you're going to return it DO NOT open it.

Or you would sell your 14-42 and buy a 14-45 separately.

Or you would open the box, find out if you can work with the 14-42, and if you can everything would be fine.

I don't know you, or what you're going to use the lens for. Under the right conditions, with the proper use of the camera, the lens can be fine. It just depends what you want it for.

I personally like the best I can afford, and the 14-42 would be a disappointment to me. I'm also unskilled with these cameras, and I need every advantage I can get.

Yeah, the only reason I got the ones with the 14-42 is that I got the lenses for free when compared to my original order which included taxes for the bodys only. B&H had the same total price (shipped) with lenses included and in-stock, so I canceled my order directly.

Jeff,

I have a 20mm pancake and 2 adapters on 50mm Canon FD 1.8 lenses, also an EOS Kipon adapter, are there any other items you suggest? I was considering the canon fd 1.4 but I already had the 1.8's.

Thanks!

Your 50mm f/1.8 will be fine unless you need faster, but that is your call. For wedding work f/1.4 is certainly very helpful, but with the GH2 you can really crank the ISO and get pretty darn good results. F/1.8 should work for most anything within reason.

As far as other lenses, it just depends on what your needs are.

That's where you start in your lens shopping, knowing what you are going to do and figuring out what is required.

Keep in mind the following when you read my posts about lenses:

1. I work in dark churches, so I require fast lenses. I'm also using two GH1s, so I need faster then I would need with a GH2.

2. I'm going to run three cameras so I can use primes on at least one, two cameras.

3. I have basically NO experience using this equipment! Pretty scary, eh?

I'm really feeling my way around and trying to be outfitted for a busy wedding season while I really don't know how I'm going to pull it off with these cameras. I'm going to have 6 lenses or so for 3 cameras. Why so many? Cause I don't know what I need, and I want to be covered.

I'm trying to guess what I need, but guessing is the best I can do.

the big hole in my lens lineup is a fast wide angle zoom for under $600, which I need desperately.

I really like the looks of the Pansonic 7-14mm f/4.0, but I can't use that for most of my work. If you are going to work in decent lighting, that is one nice lens.

My favorite lens is my Canon 85mm FD f/1.2, just because it's a KILLER lens, but how useful it will be remains to be seen. Until I shoot a few weddings I won't really know what works and what won't.

Thanx for the info!

I do primarily multiple camera video work, with middle and high school age students. Right now I have Canon XH-A1 camcorders, but wanted to experiment with the DSLR route (yes, the GH2 isn't a DSLR, but from what I've read, should be even better). I'll play with it awhile, and if I'm not happy with the 14-42, might get another. I also have a bunch of old Olympus OM-4 lenses (primes and etc), so got an adapter as well.

I think you will simply need to crank up the ISO and you'll be fine. As a second camera, the GH2 with the 14-42 will be a good size, just slow (poor in low light). I'd bet you'll use the GH2 as a wide camera from the rear and use your Canon for medium and tight shots. Should work very well.

If you spend $400 on a GH1, you can use your faster lenses, like the 50mm f/1.8 as a constant medium shot, maybe, and you'd have three cams.

Adorama has the GH2 in stock