Panasonic Lumix G6 Hands-On Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification



The Panasonic Lumix G6 is Panasonic's update to the Panasonic Lumix G5, and features built in Wi-Fi, NFC, OLED EVF, improved video mode, focus peaking, and is Panasonic's latest "DSLM" which will be available from May with a body only price of £549.

Panasonic Lumix G6 Features

The Panasonic Lumix G6 has a number of improvements and updates over the Panasonic Lumix G5, including a new OLED electronic viewfinder, low-light AF, built in Wi-Fi, as well an a panoramic mode that was not available on the G5.

Key Features

• 16.05 megapixel live MOS sensor, low-light AF
• 1.44million dot OLED EVF
• P/S/A/M manual video control, 50p/24p
• One-touch picture sharing and remote shooting
• NFC/Wi-Fi
• Electronic shutter
• 3inch Touch screen, 1036K dots
• 7fps continuous shooting, 5fps with continuous AF
• Improved video 50p/24fps, stereo mic
• ISO160 - ISO25600
• New Venus engine - Area based noise reduction
• 19 Filter effects
• Sweep / Auto Panoramic feature -  Filter Panoramic
• Focus peaking
• Mic socket

Designed to compete with the Digital SLR market, it's styling is very similar to a compact DSLR. It is introduced with a new, more compact 14-140mm HD zoom lens, with optical IS, and a brighter aperture than the previous version.



The camera has two custom modes on the dial (C1/C2), manual movie options, HDR, stop motion / time lapse movie creation, multi-exposure, and a mic socket, which is a new feature that wasn't on the G5.

Panasonic Lumix G6 Handling

Larger than the G5, the G6 is very much like a compact Digital SLR, with a good rubber hand grip, as well as textured rubber grips at the rear and on the left side of the camera. At the front a rubber cover can be opened and behind you'll find a microphone socket.



A number of function buttons can be found around the camera, with most featuring a default function, which can then be altered to set up the camera to your own personal preferences. The touch screen allows you to swipe through your photos in playback mode, as well as allowing you to focus on any area of the screen, and if you want you can also use the screen to take photos. The camera, does not force you to use the touch screen, and you can quite happily use the camera fully without using the screen if you are not a fan. A walkthrough of the Panasonic Lumix G6 menus can be viewed below.


Menus - The menus are easy to use, as an explanation of the current option is displayed at the top of the screen. The menus can also be controlled with the touch screen making it even more intuitive to use the cameras menus if you are used to using touch screen devices. The camera was quick in use, with particularly impressive focus and shutter response, and we will be putting the camera through our full speed tests when the camera is available.

Panasonic Lumix G6 Hands-On Photos of Equipment

Panasonic Lumix G6 Performance

As this is a pre-production sample, all sample photos have been resized to 5 megapixels at Panasonic's request.

Panasonic Lumix G6 Other sample images

Use of the electronic shutter can result in images being distorted and some images show classic signs of "rolling shutter" however the benefits of the electronic shutter is the ability to shoot silently. 


Panoramic (PP) | 1/320 sec | f/6.3 | 14.0 mm | ISO 160 - The new Panoramic mode does a good job of stitching the photos together automatically as you pan the camera, although movement of subjects, such as people walking, can result in ghosting.

Panasonic Lumix G6 Digital filters

Video: Video is upgraded with options of AVCHD/MP4 compression, 50/24p and full HD, as well as filter effects and full manual controls. The front of the camera features a mic socket, and the camera has stereo microphones built in.

Value for money

The Panasonic Lumix G6 will be available body only for £549 (£50 less than the G5 body only RRP), or £629 with 14-42mm kit lens (£70 less than the G5 kit RRP when introduced), which represents good value for money considering the specifications and features available. There will also be a twin kit lens option, available with the 45-150mm zoom lens for £799, and the G6 will be available with the new 14-140mm telephoto zoom lens, for £949.

Panasonic Lumix G6 Verdict 

Our initial impressions of the Panasonic Lumix G6 are that it's an impressive upgrade from the Panasonic Lumix G5 (which will continue to be available in the UK), and offers improved handling and design, with some useful and appealing upgrades, such as panoramic photos, Wi-Fi, new digital filters, built in mic socket, as well as OLED electronic viewfinder. Other upgrades that will appeal include updated video recording, as well as a mic socket, when combined with quick focus should provide excellent video quality.

The new 14-140mm zoom lens is impressive, with a brighter aperture, and more compact size, as well as extremely quick focus. We will be putting the Panasonic Lumix G6 through a full review when it is available, however even with a pre-production model we were impressed with the image quality and level of detail in photos.

Panasonic Lumix G6 Specifications

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