Secaucus, NJ—Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-G5 single-lens mirrorless camera employs a 16.05 megapixel Live MOS sensor and redesigned Venus Engine within a compact, lightweight body that provides a built-in flash.
The G5’s high-grade lens and autofocus system is said to achieve “high resolution, optimal balance of resolution and noise reduction to produce lifelike image rendering and high-precision autoexposure and white balance for faithful color reproduction.” Like all G-series cameras, it adopts contrast AF, with focusing controlled by the sensor for higher accuracy, especially when shooting with a bright lens and small F values. The G5 also incorporates full-area touch AF, making it possible to set the focus on any point in the field of view, and ultra “Light Speed AF,” said to even lock onto fast-moving subjects. It also offers 6-fps high-speed burst shooting at 16.05MP resolution.
There are simple operation controls, so users can concentrate on shooting; a new function lever near the shutter release allows for direct adjustment of zoom, exposure or aperture control and can be used to magnify images in playback mode and page flip in menu mode.
The G5’s 1,440,000-dot equivalent LVF (live viewfinder) has an approximate 100% field of view, and an integrated eye sensor allows image output between the LVF and LCD to be switched automatically. Additionally, eye sensor AF automatically starts focusing when the photographer looks into the viewfinder to capture spur-of-the-moment shots.
Complementing the LVF is a 920,000-dot LCD that rotates 180º to the side, tilts 270º up and down and offers a 100% field of view. Its touch-screen operation enables shooting or playback of images, and a touch pad function enables the use of both LVF and LCD simultaneously. A level gauge gives the camera the ability to automatically detect the horizontal or vertical angle of view so photos shot in a portrait aspect will automatically be displayed vertically.
A creative control mode has been upgraded with an increase of filter options from five to 14, adding soft focus, dynamic monochrome, impressive art, one-point color, cross process, low key, toy effect and star filter, in addition to the conventional expressive, retro, high key, sepia, hi dynamic, miniature effect modes. With the new GUI menu tab, switching filter effects is seamless. A preview of effects can be seen on the LCD screen in live view, and the camera intuitively recommends filters depending on the scene it detects in iA (intelligent auto) or iA Plus mode. Furthermore, iA Plus mode lets users adjust the defocused area in the background, exposure compensation and white balance for more control while activating automatic shoot-assist functions such as AF tracking, intelligent ISO control, intelligent D-range control, face recognition and intelligent scene selector.
For newbies, the G5 offers a scene guide with 23 sample pictures shot by professional photographers. Users can choose the photo closest to the situation they are shooting and optimal parameters for shooting the scene will be set automatically. Additionally, procedures, technical advice and recommended interchangeable-lens options for the scene can be shown so users get a better understanding of photography.
The camera also records Full HD 1,920×1,080 60p videos in AVCHD Progressive (MPEG-4) or MP4 format with Dolby Digital Stereo Creator. In addition to full-time AF, the touch AF in video recording lets the user enjoy selective focusing, which allows the focus to be shifted while shooting video, and AF tracking locks onto a subject to focus, even when it moves. Photos can also be taken while recording video live by hitting the shutter button.
The Lumix DMC-G5 will be available in black, white and silver in various kit options. Pricing and availability will be announced 30 days prior to shipping. panasonic.com
