Panasonic produces a range of cameras under its LUMIX brand, from point-and-shoots to DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. The company is known for standardizing and developing the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera and lens system in collaboration with Olympus. In 2018, Panasonic also entered into the L-Mount Alliance with Sigma and Leica to begin producing cameras using the latter's L-mount standard. Under this alliance, Panasonic has begun to produce full-frame cameras. However, it continues to offer many MFT, bridge, and compact cameras to suit a variety of budgets and experience levels.
We've bought and tested over 105 cameras in our lab. Below, you can find our picks for the best LUMIX cameras and see how the brand stacks up in today's camera market.
Updates
- 09/26/2024 Panasonic LUMIX GH7 reviewed
- 09/18/2024 Panasonic LUMIX S9 reviewed
- 02/12/2024 Panasonic LUMIX GH6 reviewed
- 01/11/2024 Panasonic LUMIX G9 II reviewed
- 10/26/2023 Panasonic LUMIX S5 updated
Best Panasonic Cameras
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Best Full-Frame Panasonic Camera
Travel Photography8.0Landscape Photography8.7Sport & Wildlife Photography7.7Raw Photo Performance8.9Vlogging7.7Studio Video9.4Action Video5.6The Panasonic LUMIX S5 II is the best Panasonic LUMIX camera we've tested with a full-frame sensor. It's a knockout hybrid camera with outstanding video specs. Features like open gate 6k recording, vectorscope functionality, and built-in heat vents to reduce overheating make it a videography powerhouse. That's not even mentioning its excellent in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system and amazing ergonomics.
It even improves on some of the biggest photography drawbacks of its predecessor, the Panasonic LUMIX S5, with faster burst shooting and a new phase-detection autofocus system that's especially effective in video mode. However, its implementation is less impressive for photography. Additionally, L-mount lenses can be quite expensive compared to lenses offered by competitors. If these aren't dealbreakers, you'll find much to love about the S5 II.
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Best Micro Four Thirds Panasonic Camera
Travel Photography7.7Landscape Photography7.9Sport & Wildlife Photography7.7Raw Photo Performance7.6Vlogging7.6Studio Video9.0Action Video6.9If you've invested in the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system, the Panasonic LUMIX G9 II is the brand's flagship Four Thirds camera. It looks and feels similar to the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II, with excellent ergonomics and a sturdy, weather-sealed build. However, its smaller sensor leaves more room in the body for Panasonic to implement its most effective IBIS. You also get a wide range of compact and relatively affordable lens options within the MFT lens ecosystem.
Beyond that, the G9 II uses Panasonic's new phase-detection AF, which offers various subject detection modes and does a decent job tracking moving subjects. The camera also features very quick burst shooting and has surprisingly advanced video specs for a photography-first camera, on par in many ways with the S5 II above. All in all, this is one of the most capable Micro Four Thirds cameras on the market.
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Best Panasonic Camera For Video
Travel Photography7.5Landscape Photography8.0Sport & Wildlife Photography8.4Raw Photo Performance7.7Vlogging7.2Studio Video9.0Action Video6.7Panasonic's GH series has long been a favorite among videographers and YouTubers, and the Panasonic LUMIX GH6 is one of the best cameras in the company's lineup for video work. It uses the same 25-megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor as the Panasonic LUMIX G9 II, and you can use the camera with any of the wide array of MFT lenses available. That aside, the camera is designed with videography in mind, with built-in heat vents to prevent overheating, a fully-articulated display that tilts out, and smaller touches like two video record buttons and a dedicated audio settings button.
Performance-wise, the GH6 is a powerhouse, offering a dizzying array of recording formats and codec options, including internal ProRes codecs, Panasonic's full V-Log gamma curve, and 4:2:2 10-bit color in most resolutions, not to mention 4k shooting at up to 120 fps without a crop. It uses Panasonic's older contrast-based autofocus, which isn't as quick as phase-detection AF and can sometimes cause pulsing artifacts. That won't be a dealbreaker if you primarily shoot with vintage lenses or prefer manual focus, but those who rely on AF may want to consider one of the hybrid options above, both of which use PDAF. If you're on a tighter budget, the older Panasonic LUMIX GH5 II holds up well, though it uses a lower-res sensor and lacks some more advanced features like internal ProRes codecs.
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Best Panasonic Vlogging Camera
Travel Photography7.0Landscape Photography7.6Sport & Wildlife Photography5.8Raw Photo Performance7.3Vlogging8.5Studio Video7.7Action Video5.2If all the talk of codecs and gamma curves went over your head, but you're still interested in shooting videos or vlogs, fear not! The Panasonic LUMIX G100 is a great little vlogging camera that's more accessible to newcomers. It's much more portable and affordable than the Panasonic LUMIX GH6, which is most definitely overkill for many content creators who just need a simple setup to get started.
To that end, the G100 is very easy to use, with simple and intuitive controls. For instance, when you flip its screen around to face you, the camera automatically goes into 'Self Shot' mode, enabling face/eye detection, audio tracking, and a three-second recording start timer to make vlogging easier. The unique directional mic is better than most internal camera mics, but you also get a microphone input to attach a dedicated mic if you want better audio. Just be aware that the 2x crop factor plus an additional crop in 4k can bring the frame pretty tight on your face unless you use an extension pole. Still, this is a very solid vlogging camera if you want something lightweight and portable that won't break the bank.
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Best Panasonic Bridge Camera
Travel Photography7.0Landscape Photography6.9Sport & Wildlife Photography7.2Raw Photo Performance6.4Vlogging6.9Studio Video7.6Action Video2.8A bridge camera can be a solid option if you like the convenience of a built-in lens but still want the shooting experience and ergonomics of a DSLR. Thankfully, Panasonic has you covered with the LUMIX FZ1000 II. It's a solid all-in-one camera for casual or family photographers, with a versatile zoom lens and a wide full-frame equivalent focal range of 25–400mm. That gives you a lot of room to shoot everything from far-off birds and wildlife to your daughter's soccer game.
Naturally, you won't get the same image quality out of this camera as you would with one of the larger-sensor options mentioned above. However, the camera features a 1-inch type sensor that puts it above the pack among bridge cameras. It also has a ton of extra features, including a '4k PHOTO' mode that lets you pull stills out of 30 fps video clips and focus bracketing to give you some flexibility to adjust the focus point after the fact. If you're on a tight budget, the Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 is a budget bridge camera with a lot of value and a longer zoom range. However, it has a much cheaper build and uses a smaller sensor, resulting in worse overall image quality. It may also be harder to find new now that the manufacturer has discontinued it.
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Best Panasonic Point-And-Shoot Camera
Travel Photography7.1Landscape Photography7.2Sport & Wildlife Photography6.8Raw Photo Performance7.1Vlogging4.8Studio Video6.8Action Video3.9While a bridge camera like the Panasonic LUMIX FZ1000 II gives you the convenience of a built-in lens, it isn't especially portable. If you want something you can easily carry around for street photography or travel, the Panasonic LUMIX LX100 II is an excellent choice. Unfortunately, it's discontinued, so you'll have to find one on the used market, but it's still one of the best point-and-shoots Panasonic has produced. It's a premium option aimed more at enthusiasts, with dedicated exposure dials that give you more hands-on control over settings.
The camera also stands out among point-and-shoots for its multi-aspect sensor. It uses a Micro Four Thirds sensor that's larger than the lens's imaging circle, which lets you adjust the aspect ratio of your photos without affecting the camera's diagonal field of view. That basically means it's making more effective use of the sensor's resolution when using different aspect ratios. And it still captures high-quality photos, especially for a compact camera. The built-in lens also has a fairly wide max aperture, so it performs well in low light, and you get a bit of zoom range for flexible framing.
Compared To Other Brands
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Advanced video features.
Panasonic has been an industry leader in bringing advanced video features to consumer cameras. -
Micro Four Thirds system.
Panasonic and Olympus standardized the Micro Four Thirds system, featuring 4/3 sensors and MFT-mount lenses. MFT cameras have some advantages, like more portable camera bodies and lenses and more effective IBIS implementation. -
Excellent ergonomics
Many Panasonic cameras have outstanding ergonomics, well-laid-out controls, and fairly intuitive user interfaces.
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Autofocus lags behind some of its competitors.
While Panasonic has continued to improve the autofocus performance of its cameras, it isn't quite as effective or reliable as some competitors, like Sony. -
Fewer full-frame options.
Panasonic is a relative newcomer to the full-frame camera market, so the company has fewer full-frame models to choose from. -
Cameras tend to have slower burst shooting speeds.
Some of Panasonic's higher-end cameras have slower continuous shooting speeds than cameras from competing brands.
Panasonic vs Olympus
Panasonic and Olympus are both leading producers of Micro Four Thirds cameras. Panasonic has a wider range of camera offerings and more video-centric options. Olympus cameras are more rugged and portable, making them great travel cameras.
Panasonic vs Sony
Sony is one of Panasonic's biggest competitors regarding video-centric cameras. Sony offers more full-frame options and generally has a leg up in autofocus performance, but, setting aside each manufacturer's higher-end cinema cameras, LUMIX cameras tend to have more features aimed at advanced videography, like built-in heat vents, open gate recording, and vectorscope monitoring.
While Panasonic has a shorter history of making cameras than some of its competitors, it's still managed to produce a variety of innovative cameras that are sometimes ahead of the curve, particularly in video specs, offering models with advanced videography features at prices that are hard to beat. Panasonic has also started introducing phase-detection autofocus systems on its cameras, but its AF system implementation generally falls a bit behind that of competitors like Sony or Canon. However, the company is a mainstay in the realm of Micro Four Thirds cameras, which are a good fit for those who want a more portable camera system.
Lineup
Panasonic offers a range of mirrorless, MFT, bridge, and compact cameras, with most models beginning with the prefix DMC and its newer line of full-frame mirrorless cameras beginning with the prefix DC. The following are some but not all of the most popular series in Panasonic's full lineup.
Full-Frame Interchangeable Lens Cameras
- S series: Full-frame mirrorless cameras with L-mount lenses. Smaller numbers (S1) indicate higher-end cameras, while larger numbers (Panasonic LUMIX S5) sit lower in the lineup. Additional letters indicate higher-end, video-oriented variants, like the Panasonic LUMIX S1H or the Panasonic LUMIX S5 IIX.
Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Cameras
- G series: Mid-range SLR-style mirrorless cameras, with some models, like the G9, falling towards high-end. Higher single-digit model numbers typically indicate higher-end cameras, while the newer triple-digit G(xxx) model is the brand's entry-level vlogging camera.
- GH series: High-end SLR-style mirrorless cameras with advanced video features. Higher model numbers indicate the latest models in the series.
- GX series: A newer lineup of rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras that sit between entry-level and mid-level. These generally have smaller bodies but offer higher-end features that you might find on G or GH series cameras.
- GF series: Entry-level rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras.
Bridge/Compact/Point-and-Shoot Cameras
- FZ series: DSLR-style bridge cameras with small sensors and fixed long-zoom lenses. Smaller model numbers, like the FZ80, are more budget-friendly, while larger model numbers, like the FZ1000 II, are higher-end models with larger 1-inch sensors.
- LX series: Premium compact cameras with manual controls. The latest triple-digit models in the series utilize Micro Four Thirds sensors but use a smaller lens opening, allowing the camera to shoot at various aspect ratios natively without reducing the field of view.
- TZ/ZS series: 'Travel Zoom' compact point-and-shoot cameras.
Recent Updates
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Sep 04, 2024: We added mention of the Panasonic LUMIX GH5 II as a cheaper alternative to the Panasonic LUMIX GH6.
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Jun 11, 2024: We updated the article's 'Compared To Other Brands' section, adding a direct comparison to Sony and adjusting some of the pros and cons.
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Feb 14, 2024: Added the Panasonic LUMIX G9 II as the 'Best Micro Four Thirds Panasonic Camera' and renamed the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II to 'Best Full-Frame Panasonic Camera.' Replaced the Panasonic LUMIX GH5 II with the Panasonic LUMIX GH6 as the 'Best Panasonic Camera For Video.'
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Oct 17, 2023: Replaced the Panasonic LUMIX S5 with the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II as the 'Best Panasonic Camera'.
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Jun 15, 2023: Added mention of the Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 as a cheaper alternative to the Panasonic LUMIX FZ1000 II.
Conclusion
Panasonic cameras are some of the best consumer options for advanced video and filmmaking features. While the brand is relatively new to the full-frame camera market, it's already become a viable competitor to brands like Sony and Fujifilm in the mirrorless market. If you're looking to invest in the Micro Four Thirds system, Panasonic is still one of the few brands to look at. Its collaboration with Olympus in the MFT arena and its entry into the L-Mount Alliance also means that investing in one of these systems opens up your lens options, making Panasonic a cost-effective camera brand to invest in.