Lumix G5 and G6

Frank Palmisano · Apr 7, 2014

I currently have a Lumix G5 which my wife gave to me last year for my 60th bday present. It came with the two kit lenses, the 14-42 and 45-150. I do mainly family and casual picture taking, vacations etc and on occasion I do connect the G5 body to my telescope (only a few pictures of the moon so far.

I had considered purchasing a GH3 body, but decided it is more camera than I need at least for the forseeable future.

It seems the G6 with the 14-42 kit lens is starting to drop a little in price, around $649, and was considering the purchase of one. I have read the reviews and done some searches here on the forum but was curious if anyone had gone from the G5 to the G6 and if so what their opinions were.

Thanks

Frank

Loga · Apr 7, 2014

What do you miss exactly from your G5?

If nothing really, but you feel the need of spending some money, you'd better buy a strong prime lens (45 1.8; 75 1.8; 25 1.4; 12 2.0).

Frank Palmisano said:
I currently have a Lumix G5 which my wife gave to me last year for my 60th bday present. It came with the two kit lenses, the 14-42 and 45-150. I do mainly family and casual picture taking, vacations etc and on occasion I do connect the G5 body to my telescope (only a few pictures of the moon so far.

I had considered purchasing a GH3 body, but decided it is more camera than I need at least for the forseeable future.

It seems the G6 with the 14-42 kit lens is starting to drop a little in price, around $649, and was considering the purchase of one. I have read the reviews and done some searches here on the forum but was curious if anyone had gone from the G5 to the G6 and if so what their opinions were.

Thanks

Frank

Frank Palmisano · Apr 7, 2014

Loga said:
What do you miss exactly from your G5?

If nothing really, but you feel the need of spending some money, you'd better buy a strong prime lens (45 1.8; 75 1.8; 25 1.4; 12 2.0).

Frank Palmisano said:

I currently have a Lumix G5 which my wife gave to me last year for my 60th bday present. It came with the two kit lenses, the 14-42 and 45-150. I do mainly family and casual picture taking, vacations etc and on occasion I do connect the G5 body to my telescope (only a few pictures of the moon so far.

I had considered purchasing a GH3 body, but decided it is more camera than I need at least for the forseeable future.

It seems the G6 with the 14-42 kit lens is starting to drop a little in price, around $649, and was considering the purchase of one. I have read the reviews and done some searches here on the forum but was curious if anyone had gone from the G5 to the G6 and if so what their opinions were.

Thanks

Frank

Click to expand...

I never really gave that much of a thought, but it is probably a good idea. Is there a better quality all purpose lens that may be a good option, like the LUMIX® G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 or Panasonic LUMIX G Vario 12-32mm / F3.5-5.6?

Just thinking I would probably get more use from this type of lens than a strong prime lens.

Aberaeron · Apr 7, 2014

I have not owned a G5 but have two G6.

The advantages of the G6, from memory, are

1. Focus peaking

2. Wi-fi and NFC

3. Better viewfinder

4. Better rear touchscreen

5. More video formats

6. Improved image engine.

The G5 has a slightly higher quality feel and brighter buttons on the back.

Over in the UK prices for the G6 have hardened considerably in the last three months and it is often out of stock. The G5 seems to be much better stocked and available.

A good bright prime lens would go well with these cameras. In your position I would buy the G6 body and either a wide angle or portrait prime, then mix and match with your bodies so you are always ready with the cameras for timely shooting.

Chris Noble · Apr 7, 2014

Frank Palmisano said:
Loga said:

What do you miss exactly from your G5?

If nothing really, but you feel the need of spending some money, you'd better buy a strong prime lens (45 1.8; 75 1.8; 25 1.4; 12 2.0).

Frank Palmisano said:

I currently have a Lumix G5 which my wife gave to me last year for my 60th bday present. It came with the two kit lenses, the 14-42 and 45-150. I do mainly family and casual picture taking, vacations etc and on occasion I do connect the G5 body to my telescope (only a few pictures of the moon so far.

I had considered purchasing a GH3 body, but decided it is more camera than I need at least for the forseeable future.

It seems the G6 with the 14-42 kit lens is starting to drop a little in price, around $649, and was considering the purchase of one. I have read the reviews and done some searches here on the forum but was curious if anyone had gone from the G5 to the G6 and if so what their opinions were.

Thanks

Frank

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I never really gave that much of a thought, but it is probably a good idea. Is there a better quality all purpose lens that may be a good option, like the LUMIX® G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 or Panasonic LUMIX G Vario 12-32mm / F3.5-5.6?

Just thinking I would probably get more use from this type of lens than a strong prime lens.

There's a new body every year. As soon as you got the G6 you'd be tempted by the G7... G8...

Invest in lenses instead. I suggest the Lumix 12-35 f2.8. Expensive but extremely versatile, sharp, bright. When you find frequent situations that this lens does not cover, start considering a second lens purchase, but quality over quantity. And by all means take a look at the G7, G8, G9 when they come out. Your G5 is a fine camera.

misolo · Apr 7, 2014

Frank Palmisano said:
I currently have a Lumix G5 which my wife gave to me last year for my 60th bday present. It came with the two kit lenses, the 14-42 and 45-150. I do mainly family and casual picture taking, vacations etc and on occasion I do connect the G5 body to my telescope (only a few pictures of the moon so far.

I had considered purchasing a GH3 body, but decided it is more camera than I need at least for the forseeable future.

It seems the G6 with the 14-42 kit lens is starting to drop a little in price, around $649, and was considering the purchase of one. I have read the reviews and done some searches here on the forum but was curious if anyone had gone from the G5 to the G6 and if so what their opinions were.

Thanks

Frank

Some lens options you may want to consider:
9-18 for some ultra-wide angle fun in your vacation shots
17/1.8, 20/1.7, or 25/1.4 for better indoor images without flash
45/1.8 for better family portraits (with more background blur)
12-35/2.8 for a better all purpose zoom (especially better in lower light)
14-140 if you like to mix wide and tele shots and find you often don't because it's too much trouble to change lenses
7.5 samyang/rokinon/bower fisheye, for something different
Any of these would probably do more for you than going from the G5 to the G6.

Frank Palmisano · Apr 7, 2014

Thanks to everyone, lots of information to digest. The Lumix 12-35 f2.8 looks like a great lens, but it is a little pricey.

Aberaeron · Apr 7, 2014

Frank Palmisano said:
Thanks to everyone, lots of information to digest. The Lumix 12-35 f2.8 looks like a great lens, but it is a little pricey.

Consider that is doesn't cover much of a different focal length than you already have and is not that much faster. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure its a great lens, but is the extra brightness worth that much money? It might be if it is what you want. Same goes for the extra body. Either or both are worth it if the money is not of huge consequence and it is what you want, in which case what others think is not important.

davidedric · Apr 7, 2014

Frank Palmisano said:
I currently have a Lumix G5 which my wife gave to me last year for my 60th bday present. It came with the two kit lenses, the 14-42 and 45-150. I do mainly family and casual picture taking, vacations etc and on occasion I do connect the G5 body to my telescope (only a few pictures of the moon so far.

I had considered purchasing a GH3 body, but decided it is more camera than I need at least for the forseeable future.

It seems the G6 with the 14-42 kit lens is starting to drop a little in price, around $649, and was considering the purchase of one. I have read the reviews and done some searches here on the forum but was curious if anyone had gone from the G5 to the G6 and if so what their opinions were.

Thanks

Frank

If you have the second version of the 14-42 it is a good lens, much better than the first version, in my opinion. The 14-140 is a little pricey, but loses nothing in speed or quality to the 14-42, and obviously is a lot more versatile, though of course somewhat heavier.

Loga · Apr 7, 2014

Frank Palmisano said:
I never really gave that much of a thought, but it is probably a good idea. Is there a better quality all purpose lens that may be a good option, like the LUMIX® G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 or Panasonic LUMIX G Vario 12-32mm / F3.5-5.6?

Just thinking I would probably get more use from this type of lens than a strong prime lens.

AFAIK, the Lumix X 14-42 power zoom is one of the weakest lens regarding to image quality. You'd really better buy the 20mm f1.7 Pana, which is the same size, has outstanding image quality, and about 2,5 stops advantage for good low light shots. You also gain some capability to blur the background at f1.7. Prime lenses also help you to learn more about composition, if it is something you want to / should.

Richard Weisgrau · Apr 7, 2014

If you are looking for a way to spend money, lenses are a good choice. If the lenses you have meet your needs, why buy others unless you want to start experimenting with other focal lengths or prime lenses. If that is the case you can spend anywhere from $250 to $1300 for a single lens. It's a value equation that only you can do the math on.

I entered µ4/3 with a G5. The reviews of the G6 proved to me that there was reason to buy it, so I did, and then when the price dropped I bought another one. I have to have a back up. The G6 is simply a better camera for me, a pro, who needs the slight advantages the G6 offers. You can see the camera features compared here.

However, as I wrote about lenses above, if you are getting what you need from the G5, why switch? If you are not, then what are you missing and will the G6 address those things?

I work with six lenses: 14-42 II, 45-150, 7-14, 100-300, 20/1.7, and 14/2.5. I have no reason to buy another lens and I have not missed a shot in six months of professional use. I need (not want) all those lenses because I cannot tell a client I do not have the gear to do the job I solicited. If i were not a pro, I would likely only own the 14-42 and 45-150.

Trevor Carpenter · Apr 7, 2014

I have both and still use both, The G5 is great, the G6 is a much better user experience and probably has the edge in IQ

Allan Brown · Apr 7, 2014

Aberaeron said:
I have not owned a G5 but have two G6.

The advantages of the G6, from memory, are

3. Better viewfinder

I am not convinced that the G6 has a better viewfinder. I wear glasses and with the G5 I can see the entire EVF at the same time. With the G6, I can not.

The resolution and magnification of the finders is the same but the optics are different.

Allan

Aberaeron · Apr 7, 2014

Allan Brown said:
Aberaeron said:

I have not owned a G5 but have two G6.

The advantages of the G6, from memory, are

3. Better viewfinder

Click to expand...

I am not convinced that the G6 has a better viewfinder. I wear glasses and with the G5 I can see the entire EVF at the same time. With the G6, I can not.

The resolution and magnification of the finders is the same but the optics are different.

Allan

I can't compare it to the G5 but OLED is meant to be better. I don't have your issue with the G6 viewfinder and I wear glasses, although I shoot maybe half and half with glasses on and off and prefer off.

What I can say is that the OLED evf on the G6 is not quite as good as the non-OLED one on my Sony. Its a matter of degrees though and as such, not a deal breaker. If it was a big deal I would certainly not have bought a second G6.

I love them all.

Frank Palmisano · Apr 7, 2014

Aberaeron said:
I have not owned a G5 but have two G6.

The advantages of the G6, from memory, are

1. Focus peaking

2. Wi-fi and NFC

3. Better viewfinder

4. Better rear touchscreen

5. More video formats

6. Improved image engine.

The G5 has a slightly higher quality feel and brighter buttons on the back.

Over in the UK prices for the G6 have hardened considerably in the last three months and it is often out of stock. The G5 seems to be much better stocked and available.

A good bright prime lens would go well with these cameras. In your position I would buy the G6 body and either a wide angle or portrait prime, then mix and match with your bodies so you are always ready with the cameras for timely shooting.

Right now it looks like the kit with the 14-42mm lens is only a couple of dollars more than just the body alone. So I think I may go with the G6 with the lens and also pick up a Lumix 20mm F/1.7 II lens to go with it.

Frank Palmisano · Apr 10, 2014

Just curious, before I go for a G6. Is the $647 price pretty much the going rate with the 14-42 lens?

BrianC · Apr 10, 2014

It was $100 more at Amazon just yesterday..........it's really jumping around in price. I was set to buy it at $579 last week until it jumped to $747. today I saw it at $647 and bought it........who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Frank Palmisano · Apr 10, 2014

BrianC said:
It was $100 more at Amazon just yesterday..........it's really jumping around in price. I was set to buy it at $579 last week until it jumped to $747. today I saw it at $647 and bought it........who knows what tomorrow will bring.

axlotl · Apr 10, 2014

http://cameraergonomics.blogspot.co...-max=2014-01-01T00:00:00+11:00&max-results=50

They are both nice. Image quality and single shot capability are very similar.

Good luck

Hen3ry · Apr 11, 2014

You will be amazed that a different feel it gives to the camera and how handy it makes it!

I do this with my G6 and it is putting my GM1 out of business as my walk around camera!

Cheers, geoff

Loga said:
What do you miss exactly from your G5?

If nothing really, but you feel the need of spending some money, you'd better buy a strong prime lens (45 1.8; 75 1.8; 25 1.4; 12 2.0).

Frank Palmisano said:

I currently have a Lumix G5 which my wife gave to me last year for my 60th bday present. It came with the two kit lenses, the 14-42 and 45-150. I do mainly family and casual picture taking, vacations etc and on occasion I do connect the G5 body to my telescope (only a few pictures of the moon so far.

I had considered purchasing a GH3 body, but decided it is more camera than I need at least for the forseeable future.

It seems the G6 with the 14-42 kit lens is starting to drop a little in price, around $649, and was considering the purchase of one. I have read the reviews and done some searches here on the forum but was curious if anyone had gone from the G5 to the G6 and if so what their opinions were.

Thanks

Frank

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