Review Date: July 18, 2012
Category: Serious Amateur
Editor’s Note: This is a Hands-on preview of the Lumix G5. Only the Handling & Feel and Photo Gallery sections are currently available. We will complete it with more detail when we get a camera for review.
HANDLING & FEEL
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 is compact and light, with all smooth curves, a body that feels solidly constructed and a professional finish. The molded handgrip is larger than on the G3 for a more comfortable hold, and the Shutter Release Button is now in a more natural angled position. This is easily one of the most beautiful DSLM (Digital Single Lens Mirrorless).
Viewing the camera from the front, the AF Assist Lamp (and Self-timer indicator) is at top left and the Lens Release button is on the right side of the lens. The Lens Mount is of very high quality for a smooth lens mounting and unmounting. The only other thing you may see from the front is the built-in flash when it is popped up.
Viewing the top of the camera (from the back), we see the angled Shutter Release Button on the handgrip and a new Function Lever. The rest of the buttons are practically the same as on the G3: Movie button, iA (Intelligent AUTO) button, Mode Dial, and Power ON/OFF switch around the Mode Dial. On top of the flash, we see the Stereo Microphone and a Hot Shoe. On the left side of the flash, there is the Flash Open Switch and the Speaker.
The new Function Lever is a welcomed addition and functions like a top dial. It can be customized a number of ways: to act as a Zoom Lever when using Power Zoom lenses, thus allowing one handed operation of the G5; to control exposure or aperture in Manual mode; to magnify images in Playback mode; and, to page flip in Menu mode.
Press the Motion Picture Button to immediately start and stop recording movies. Press the iA (Intelligent Auto) button to switch directly to that mode. This is an interesting design and mean that you could set the Shooting Mode to, say, Aperture-Priority (A) mode and use the iA button to quickly toggle between iA and A mode instantly. Anytime, I find a photo opportunity and I don’t have time to figure out exposure settings, I simply press the iA button (a blue ring lights up all around it when iA is ON) and shoot, knowing that the exposure will be right on.
TIP: Can’t find the AUTO setting on the Mode Dial? It’s not there! Instead, simply press the iA button for Intelligent AUTO mode. Press it again to return back to whatever mode you have set on the Mode Dial. Nifty!
The back of the Panasonic G5 is dominated by the large 3.0-inch LCD screen with a high 920k-dot resolution for a bright, clear and impressively sharp display. The LCD is of the rotating type so that you can protect it when not in use or turn it all the way to face the front.
A large, bright 1,440,000-dot equivalent LVF (Live View Finder) integrates an eye sensor to automatically switch the image from the LCD to the LVF when you bring the camera to your eye. Additionally, Eye Sensor AF (Auto Focus) automatically starts focusing when the photographer looks into the LVF. A Diopter Adjustment Dial on the left side of the LVF is easy to set.
The LVF/LCD button can be customized to act as a Function (3) button.
On the right side of the LVF are the very convenient Q.Menu (Quick Menu) button and the AF/AE Lock button. The latter can also be customized to act as a Function (1) button. Further right is the thumb-operated Control Dial, which can be pushed in to change exposure compensation.
WARNING: The Control Dial can be pushed in a bit too easily, so that you may find yourself inadvertently dialing in an exposure compensation. Keep an eye on the Exposure Compensation indicator on the screen.
The other controls are on the right side of the LCD: Playback, DISP. (Display), Control Dial, Cursor Buttons and MENU/SET in the middle, and Erase/Back/Fn2 button. The Cursor Buttons have UP = ISO, RIGHT = WB, DOWN = Drive / Self-timer, and LEFT = AF Area.
One of the DISP. (display) options available is a new Electronic Level Gauge that is one of the easier implementations I’ve used.
The LCD is also a touchscreen so that you can simply touch anywhere on the screen to focus the camera at that point. This is very convenient and faster than moving the CURSOR keys. An innovation here allows the touch AF feature to still work even when you are looking through the LVF. Even when there is no image displayed on the LCD (since the eye sensor has switched it to the LVF), you can move your thumb on the LCD (of course, the LCD would be opened wide as in the picture above) to set the AF point.
The “X” series lenses feature a Power Zoom lever and a Manual Focus lever on the left side of the lens barrel. The Power Zoom lever is pretty handy as it mimics what we instinctively do when we manually rotate a zoom ring. Unfortunately, this also means that you will not be able to zoom while taking a still picture (like you can with a manual zoom ring) for that special zoom effect. As we mentioned earlier, the Function Lever behind the Shutter Release Button can be customized to also act as a Power Zoom Lever, if so desired.
Though the G5 is available in Black, Silver or White in the US, it will only be available in Black in Canada.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 is a compact, elegant and powerful DSLM that targets those serious about their photography but are simply not interested with the bulk and weight of a traditional mirrored DSLR. It’s fast, responsive, and both beginners and advanced photographers will find much to like about its handling since they can access most of the important functions via the control buttons and the Quick MENU.
Editor’s Note: This is a Hands-on preview of the Lumix G5. Only the Handling & Feel and Photo Gallery sections are currently available. We will complete it with more detail when we get a camera for review.
