Panasonic Lumix G5 – Losing the Bulk But Not the Quality #Lumix

When I first got word that a Panasonic Lumix G5 was coming my way, I was a bit puzzled. I really didn’t understand how it was any different from other cameras currently on the market. The Lumix G5 comes complete with a lens, software (which I haven’t used yet), charger, USB cable, strap, and a sun hood. We had to buy a sun hood for our other camera separately so I was pleased to see the Lumix had one included.

After taking the camera out of the box and playing with it a bit, my husband and I immediately noticed how light the camera was. Even with the lens attached, the Lumix G5 weighed much less than some cameras we had in the past. This was such a welcome feature. When I have to go to events, it’s such a pain to lug a heavy camera around the whole time just to get a couple decent photos. The lighter plastic material felt a bit ‘cheapy’ to my husband but, to me, it made the camera seem a lot less fragile.

It’s also super fast. The auto-focus is almost instant and right after you shoot one picture it’s ready for another. No more missing great photo ops because the camera is still processing! I’m a bit bummed that we haven’t had the opportunity to take some nice videos yet. The filming speed can create smooth visuals while the left/right microphones on top would deliver robust sound in stereo.

My daughter likes the LCD touchscreen, in particular, since it allows her to easily change filter options and scroll though settings. While the LCD screen is great for my daughter, I’ve become accustomed to using a traditional viewfinder and am glad the Lumix G5 has one.

Speaking of my daughter, she’s become quite fond of the Lumix G5. The weight and size make it more comfortable for her to handle. As she’s not at the stage of editing photos on the computer, the 14 creative filters have added a whole new dimension of photography for her. Here are a few photos she recently shot. I was very impressed with the one she took of the iPad cases – so clever!

The Lumix G5 is a DSLM (Digital Single Lens Mirrorless). That ‘mirrorless’ part is what’s noteworthy. The mirrorless technology is also used in point-and-shoot cameras to make them smaller and lighter. This, however, is NOT a point-and-shoot camera. The photo quality is much higher, thanks to the large sensor (professional photographers will know what that is as I don’t), and there are a slew of interchangeable lenses that can be used. Photos come out very clear and with true colors. I did notice that the camera has to be extremely still in low light to prevent blurring.

It’s hard to really understand how the absence of a mirror can impact the camera unless you see it. Below are a few comparison shots of the Lumix G5 and a Nikon 5100. We obviously have a larger lens on the Nikon but you can still see clearly that the Lumix is smaller overall and lighter (the lens itself does not weigh a full pound).

I have to admit that we are still getting used to this DSLM and trying to figure out the different settings. There are several ‘scene’ modes from portraits to sports to various landscape options that we haven’t been able to test out yet. More advanced photographers will appreciate the ability to adjust aperture and shutter speed, concepts I’m still struggling to grasp.

We really enjoy the Lumix G5. The speed and weight really score high in my book and, due to the build, I feel more comfortable letting my daughter use it. Plus, the auto features are great for those transitioning from a basic point-and-shoot. For everyday, casual photography this camera is great. To feel confident in making this my primary camera will still take some time as I learn the ins and outs of what the Panasonic Lumix G5 is actually capable of.

For more photos we took with this camera, see here.