Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Hands-on Preview

this is such an enormous camera for an MFT...
why not just get an APSC mirrorless for a lower price? (ie: NX20) or within the same price range (Sony NEX whatever)

what is the advantage of this camera? video shooting? I suspect that may be the NX20's weakness, if video is important to you.

Jul 25, 2013*permalink

Yes, Panasonic's core strength in this arena is video. That's old news since the GH1, and it's strange that people still act as if shooting video is some minor niche.

At any rate, it's still a rather small camera, and MFT lenses are still significantly smaller than APSC lenses, so...Clearly, the total package of G6+lens is much smaller and lighter than APSC+lens. =/

Aug 27, 2013permalink

Sal Mineo

I would not consider a camera that does not have a fully articulating LCD screen.

Aug 30, 2013permalink

peevee1

"why not just get an APSC mirrorless for a lower price? (ie: NX20)"

NX20 is not any better in image quality, has poor VF, slow AF, slow writing speed, and the lenses are few and large.

Sep 24, 2013permalink

arbuz

and the sun is orbiting earth.

Dec 30, 2013permalink

Reggie Garg

Wonder why Panasonic does not mount the Leica 2.8 on such a camera! If it fits into a $500 FZ 200, cost wise, it would make a great package at < $1000 with a 4/3" or another>1" sensor. That should cure the IQ gripe once and for all.

Jul 21, 2013*permalink

Przemyslaw

I think this would be too easy for us - customers.
They spent too much money for producing so many lens and having just one lens with light 2.8 and range from 25 to 600 is not a good option for having a daily business with consumer world...

Jul 21, 2013permalink

are you kidding? the fz200 has a cheap lousy TINY sensor, that is about 1/4 the size of an MFT sensor, requiring a much smaller lens, that costs way less to manufacture.

another thing, don't forget that you would be losing out on sharpness and contrast in big parts of the zoom range - most likely at longest (tele) and often on wide as well. sure, it would be practical, but soon you'll be wondering why your pictures aren't as good as you'd like them to be.

a superzoom doesn't do justice to the larger sensor, so it would defeat the purpose. not to mention higher costs given the larger lens required.

Jul 25, 2013*permalink

Northgrove

They don't fit that lens onto this one because it would get enormous. The FZ200 has a much smaller and crappier sensor in order to manage such a long zoom with such an aperture.

Sep 28, 2013permalink

EcoPix

Funny to read this written in 2013. Enter the FZ1000 - da da! Someone at Panasonic was listening!

May 30, 2015permalink

MacGyverForPresident

at when the review??

Jul 15, 2013permalink

Luminar

i think this is the one im looking for, question, is it interchangeable-lens??????? ???????????

Jul 3, 2013permalink

inorogNL

it is, and it is the one I am looking for just as well ( just ordered one for my little brother)

Jul 4, 2013permalink

f64manray

Is there a headphone jack ?!! I can't believe there isn't a headphone jack.

Jun 20, 2013permalink

http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

LOL

Jul 25, 2013permalink

Artpt

There are some sample images to review for the G6.....perhaps a useful comparison.

May 24, 2013permalink

for some reason that link isn't resolving...
Main G6 link http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2013/05/24/panasonic-g6-and-gf6-first-shots-posted-pixel-peep-test-images-new-CSCs
Test images http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/panasonic-g6/panasonic-g6A7.HTM

May 28, 2013permalink

Ed Gill

First, my thanks to DP Review for it's service to the photo community. The information is essential to making informed perchase decisions. Still wish Panasonic would address the lame flash systems in the G cameras. Oly has really put effort in advancing their flash capabilities but Panasonic seams to ignore this essential component. Of couse they could always come out with a Leaf shutter portrait lens, 1/500 synch should be easy with the small diameter shutter for 4/3. So much potential, for wildlife, travel, portrait - sigh. No serious long lenses, badly overpriced primes, no real macro, no alternate power sources, oh well.

May 20, 2013permalink

jimkh

I tried asking this in the micro 4 thirds forum but got no answer --Is the G6 battery, BLC-12, compatible with the one used in the G5, GH2, Fz200, the BLB-12?

Jim

May 17, 2013permalink

Image stabilization: "unknown" ??

May 17, 2013permalink

I also want to express my appreciation of the reviewer and of DP reviews. I didn't like much what seemed to be a cavalier attitude towards the G6, but there are also more reasoned things in the review and in other reviews by the same author.

May 16, 2013permalink

Artpt

I appreciate all your DP Reviews. The Full Reviews are comprehensive and a wealth of information to read. However, some of the Preview's don't go forward into Full Reviews for various reasons.

Would there be a possibility of incorporating the ISO test widget for peviewed cameras (that a production ready of course), perhaps sacrificing time from the initial impression paragraphs? The specs are needed, and I think the ISO image quality shots would be welcome by most enthusiasts.

Thank you.

May 13, 2013permalink

Mike C

So, is the 16MP GX1 Sensor based on the GH2 or is it newer technology that could have been used in the G6? Thank you

May 10, 2013permalink

Read the introduction again, and found it even more condescending than I had before. I am interested in just how good the NR is and how improved its RAW output relative to the G5 and both EM5 and GH3. Yes I know the sensors of the latter two are the latest m4/3rds ones, but lets see how the G6 actually performs. This may be an important camera for a lot of people, in spite of the snobism of these reviewers.

May 10, 2013permalink

Vadimka

I generally don't like slr styled cameras, but this one somehow really tickles my fancy. And size is pretty good, cause gh3 was way too large. Lets see what EP5 will look like, not big fan of EM5 style.

May 10, 2013permalink

Vitruvius

Weakest link relative to Oly OM-D E-M5 is the lack if IBIS. Weakest link of the E-M5 relative to the G6 is the video.

May 9, 2013permalink

Fois Giovanni

The PANASONIC / LEICA opted for OIS for allowing a faster response to movements, prospectic correction to the angular change and ability to get closer to the sensor with the lens giving more freedom to the designers of the optical assembly. The disadvantage is that each of OIS lens must have one, thus more expensive, and the rotational motion of the lens axis (Z-axis, perpendicular to the sensor) is not corrected, although this movement is very limited in practice. The IBIS allows cheapen the objective and make the correction of the rotational motion on the axis ("Z") of the lens (including correct the horizon angle) but does not address the prospectic variation due to angular changes in the X and Y axes of the sensor. I believe that the sensor will not move as effective as moving a small block of lenses when it comes to compensate for high frequency instability. I also think that in terms of durability is better shake a small block of lenses than the sensor with its flat cables.

Jul 22, 2013permalink

Apostolos vakirtzis

I am interested in buying this nice camera.does anyone know when it is going to be available?what about a full review of the camera?

May 5, 2013permalink

The Jacal

The end of June, I think. It's on the Panny German website.

May 8, 2013permalink

Jon Ragnarsson

With the raised shoulders, it looks a bit like S2 little brother. I never cared much for the look of the Panasonic G/GH cameras, but I think this is an improvement. Has less "designed by committee" feel to it.

Apr 30, 2013permalink

Hen3ry

I like the earlier Gs, but the G6 shape is growing on me. :)

Cheers, geoff

Apr 30, 2013permalink

flipmac

This or the T5i? I mean, both have articulated touchscreens but this one has WiFi built-in, does 1080p60 and is cheaper. Wonder if IQ is similar.

Apr 30, 2013*permalink

peevee1

It is similar. Almost the same DxOMark scores in every category (if it is the same as G5 as it probably is).
Default Canon JPEGs are probably a little warmer, but it is just a little adjustment away either way. Also, with G6 you can use viewfinder with video (and effects preview etc), it is smaller and lighter, and shoots faster it needed. With the new 14-140 must be a great travel camera.

Apr 30, 2013permalink

chrisnfolsom

It would be interesting to see a size comparison - with lenses. If the size difference isn't a decider I would assume the lens choice would make quite a difference.

I would like to see comparisons of actual "kits" - not just base kits, but the body, and good lenses as a total cost/solution, or a few alternates which would talk about quality and application trade-offs- light, zoom, portrait, sports and such. Great information as always.

May 28, 2013permalink

Kit lens or lenses?

Apr 28, 2013permalink

MacGyverForPresident

In my opinion Lumix G6 was born from the work of Vitaliy Kiselev, hired as partner by panasonic, on the Lumix GH2

Apr 27, 2013permalink

...How can you have a subjective "opinion" on a factual mater? More of a guess or an assessment really.

Also, I doubt Vitaly would have let the stock bitrates be so low if he had any say.

Aug 9, 2013*permalink

rladd

A Question:

The G6 uses the same sensor as the G5 and the GH2, right? Panasonic's press release says "the new Venus Engine is attains high-performance signal processing with the advanced noise reduction system." I'm wondering to what extent image quality can be enhanced without changing the sensor. Any thoughts?

I love the G5; it handles great and produces great images but at about ISO 1600 noise starts to become an issue. If the G6 produces a one-stop equivalent advantage over the G5 in terms of noise I will definitely buy it.

Apr 26, 2013*permalink

ARTASHES

I think it's mainly about jpeg processing

Apr 27, 2013permalink

RDMPhotos

They do say its the same Sensor as the GH2 but I does not have the true use of the Multi-aspect ratio

Apr 28, 2013permalink

igorek7

Panasonic G5 was already a serious upgrade for the G-series of cameras, GH3 became the true semi-/pro-hybrid camera, but the G6 offers a few new features that even the GH3 doesn't (yet) have:
* Focus Peaking that shows the peak of focus in MF and AF+MF mode
* EV -3 - 18 (ISO100 equivalent) AF Detective Range,
* 1080p@60fps video in Extra Tele Conversion (ETC) mode (the GH3 tops out at 1080@30P in ETC),
* 7 fps @16Mpix&AFSingle, 5 fps @16Mpix&AFTracking and 40fps burst mode (versus 6fps@AFS and 20fps in GH3),
* 1,728-zone multi-pattern light metering system (versus 144-zone in GH3),
* Stop Motion Video, Sweep Panorama
* 1,036K dots TFT LCD screen (versus 614K dots OLED LCD in GH3)
* Adjustable HDR mode. While the Panasonic G5/GH3 have an in-camera HDR mode, there is only an On or Off setting with no scope to tone down the effect.
* NFC +better Wi-Fi: The G6 have wireless recording function with start/stop recording and 30fps video stream feed to tablet/smartphone.

Apr 25, 2013permalink

Hen3ry

I'm not into the video stuff myself, but I know people who will go berserk over it. They'll LOVE it. I am looking at the G6 as a remarkably fully specced stills camera. It looks great. Th only doubt I had was that the E-P5 might eclipse it -- but no, the E-P5 hasn’t got an EVF. Same old add-on but now they have added a lock after years of complaints.

And it STILL obviously hasn’t got anything like the ergonomics of the G6 (or the G1 if it comes to that).

"Outdated sensor"? UPDATED sensor is what I see.

Cheers, geoff

Apr 30, 2013permalink

Ivan Lietaert

I too am very impressed by these specs. The GH3 has a stronger body, but the G6, at this price, is a very powerful tool indeed. Love the video specs, by the way!

May 6, 2013permalink

snapshtr

At first I was skeptical about Panasonic being able to squeeze more out of the outdated sensor. But from the sample photos I've seen at ePhotozine.com, the images look really impressive, clean and sharp, with loads of detail. Unfortunately, they also appear dull and flat. Hopefully that can be fixed with simple adjustments in LR.

Apr 25, 2013permalink

agentul

the new 14-42 lens might have something to do with the sharpness.

Apr 25, 2013permalink

Panasonic has always had poor colors out of camera compared to, say, Olympus. (I've shot both extensively.) The default white balance is "not warm" to say the least, and contrast is not good. But if you work with them a little bit, you get some great images.

Apr 25, 2013permalink

Vlad S

Even better, typically on Panasonics adjustments in the camera are sufficient for very good OOC JPEGs. Set it and forget it.

Apr 25, 2013permalink

Hen3ry

I have to ay I abandoned the G1 for the E-PL3 to get superior JPEG colors OOC. The sample pix I saw from the G5 were close enough to the Oly pix to encourage me to return from the Oly which is an ergonomic disaster area but I wasn't ready to change over.

I'll be in a position to change cameras in the next few months; the G6 is looking very much like the way to go.

Cheers, geoff

Apr 30, 2013permalink

1MPXL

GH2 is a very impressive camera 101% on video and 80% on stills. But this was years ago. The G6 have a beautiful exterior but an aged heart [sensor] yes, you will get great photos from it but it will never come close in the present sensor technology. Panasonic makes great lenses its a given fact that the sensors should evolve not only to compete but to satisfy consumers/users alike. I want it but with the prices of GH2 today - still GH2 is the better choice to get instead of G6. This action not only killed the G5 sales but also push MFT shooters to go jump ship. This is an unfortunate reality.

Apr 25, 2013permalink

agentul

because someone who has invested a few thousand dollars in the system will suddenly abandon it just because this particular camera doesn't have the latest sensor? are you a "financial analyst"?

Apr 25, 2013permalink

Steve_

The G5, whether you fancy it the greatest or worst camera of all time, was consigned to the bargain bin by its unexciting sensor choice - at a time when that decision made a lot more sense than choosing the same sensor now. Panasonic obviously learned nothing from this course of events.

I've used the G5, and although there are many things to like about it there is no way I would settle for its sensor at even half the price of an OMD. Once you grab the highlight slider in LR and bring back a perfectly blue sky out of apparent nothingness you can't go back. Consumers tend to see things from their perspective, not in terms of the easiest or most corporately defensible choice for the manufacturer. They see how affordable the E-PM2 and deduce that its superior sensor carries no particularly pronounced price premium. And they want the same in their new G6, if they were going to spend their hard-earned money on one.

Excuses just don't cut it in a competitive market.

Apr 25, 2013permalink

jim stirling

The difference in reality { as ,opposed to in the heads of some optimistic Olympus users }between the E-M5 and the G5 boils down to .7 of a stop DR and approx 0.3 of a stop ISO .Which while no doubt beneficial in specific scenarios is in most shooting situations pretty insignificant. If you want to get a really substantial gain in sensor output then you really need to move up in sensor size.
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/%28appareil1%29/816|0/%28brand%29/Panasonic/%28appareil2%29/793|0/%28brand2%29/Olympus/%28appareil3%29/814|0/%28brand3%29/Nikon
The E-PM2 as with other Pens is feature limited with poor ergonomics , an expensive external EVF to bring it in-line with a G series camera , nor does it even have an articulating screen and it comes with a stupid clip-on flash. I would take a G6 or G5 for that matter over any Pen model. Even with the E-M5 the only significant advantage is the excellent 5-AXIS IBIS,

Apr 25, 2013permalink

Steve_

Jim,

As I have both a G5 and an OMD in the house, perhaps you'll spare me your definition of what the difference 'actually' is. I've shot the cameras; I know. A lifetime of DXOMark study will not ever illustrate the 'actual' difference. And like most serious m43 shooters, I came from cameras with larger sensors, and having done so have a much better idea of the affect of sensor size than most.

You've also taken my point about the E-PM2 totally out of context. I did not say it is a better or worse camera than the G6, only that the appearance of the Sony sensor in such a budget-conscious product reveals that it could also have appeared in the G6 without breaking the bank. If your D800 had a recycled two-generation old sensor I really doubt you would have invested, and I don't view the G6 any differently.

Apr 25, 2013permalink

The GH3 has a Sony sensor, and it has better DR and ISO performance, but it also has way more moire. I'd prefer less moire, so I'm glad that kept their in-house sensor, as they apparently know how to avoid moire better than Sony does.

Aug 9, 2013*permalink

Xellz

Not that difficult, at least when camera is used regularly. And don't really need to change them all the time too, customize it once to fit your needs, easy to remember this way.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

Mark Schormann

An impressive 5 Fn buttons? Aargh! These things are more a curse than a blessing. Who can honestly remember which function was allocated to which button? And what you changed it to last?
I would be much more impressed with less Fn buttons - just put the things that are needed onto well marked buttons and the rest of the stuff into the menus. An Fn button is effectively just a badly marked button IMHO.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

cnit

Totally agree. Less Fn buttons more dedicated (and as you say well marked) buttons like on the L1 or the XE-1.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

The G6 has all the necessary dedicated buttons, and the four of the the FN buttons on the it do double duty with other actions like WiFi, Trash, QMenu, AE Lock.

Apr 24, 2013*permalink

KenTel

Well I like being able to set a button for changing shutter to silent or back. If you don't appreciate Fn buttons just stay with the default settings.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

Steve_

I think less customization would be needed if a little common sense entered the determination of the default controls for most modern cameras.

To whit - only Pentax can figure out that in the digital age there is no reason to maintain ISO as a secondary function. What I mean here is that although you might be able to assign ISO to any of those 5 buttons, you have the aperture or shutter (and exposure compensation... argh!) as choices for the dials. Why do you always want to have to press a button before adjusting ISO? Why is changing ISO any less likely than changing aperture or shutter speed? Well, it is if you are stuck in film-think...

It's really frustrating how vital they deem exposure compensation to be. You must burn one of the two dial functions on it, even though there 8 other ways to invoke this function, including the otherwise useless rocker switch by the shutter. Why have all those other methods if you aren't going to let the user re-purpose the dial function?

Apr 25, 2013permalink

Tonio Loewald

Panasonic has simply labeled four buttons as both fixed function and function buttons. I for one find it hard to remember that my AE-lock button is actually something else, so this makes sense.

May 10, 2013permalink

I don't change the functions often...and my memory isn't failing. >_>'

Aug 9, 2013permalink

snegron2

The body style resembles the old Leica R8/R9. I wonder if Panasonic was going for that look intentionally?

Apr 24, 2013permalink

madmaxmedia

I like it! Even if they didn't start with that purpose in mind, I'm sure they realized it at one point and may have deliberately moved in that direction. I think the Leica R8/9 look great.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

agentul

search on the internet for the following: "Panasonic FZ-150 Leica V-LUX 3".

enraged, brethren?

Apr 25, 2013permalink

ssh33

GH2 with better EVF/screen, 60fps and focus peaking? Great deal!

There are better "photo" cameras for the money but this is a very nice piece of equipment for video at a very competitive price.

To all those knocking the form factor - pick any other camera that matches your fancypants. I love the utilitarian ergonomics so do many others.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

zenpmd

So which sensor will the GH2 have? The GH3/OMD one?

Apr 24, 2013permalink

Kim Letkeman

The comment "An advantage of using the GH2's sensor is that the G6 is able to offer more comprehensive video functions than the G5." strikes me as peculiar. The G5 has the same sensor as the GH2 and G6 and the difference in feature sets was a choice Panasonic made, not some inherent difference in the sensor.

Otherwise, the G6 looks terrific. The real GH2 replacement (although the G5 remains a heck of a value and a good replacement for stills and some video.) Also it is the real poor man's GH3. Considering that the practical difference in RAW between all the 16mp m4/3 sensors is minimal, this is looking like a lot of camera for the money.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

I've been using an E-PL5 for the past few week and I have a GH2, and disagree. "The practical difference in RAW between all the 16mp m4/3 sensors" is fairly significant in terms of DR and color depth. The difference is just not as great as DPR has lead people to believe when they wrote "for most people to get better IQ than the OMD they'd have to go to FF". This is simply not true. All you need to do is work with files from the D7000, D7100, D5200 or K5 to get better than files from the Olympus cameras. Richer colors, better DR, DOF control, cleaner at base ISO and high ISO.

But I do agree that sites like DxOMark have confused some into thinking that for general shooting there is a huge difference between the Panasonic and Olympus m43 cameras in terms of overall IQ. There are some differences, but files side by side they are not as dramatic as some would have you believe with all this talk of sensors.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

maxnimo

I absolutely love the idea of "very short-range means of exchanging data". Excellent! No more damn cables to mess with and misplace.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

wkay

afraid to take a picture with it? not looking to buy bells and whistles.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

Zuzullo

Time lapse?

Apr 24, 2013permalink

kaiser soze

With this camera and the other larger MFT cameras that Panasonic makes, it is obvious that the body is large in relation to the lens. It is further obvious that the reason is that for these cameras, the body needs to be larger in order to allow a useful quantity of physical controls. This is all very obvious. There can be no argument on these points. There can be no question that this camera could just as easily take advantage of an APS-C sensor, and not even the lens would be larger, because similar lenses that Sony makes for NEX are not any larger. None of this is in any way deniable. Furthermore, when the various size differences are all considered, it seems apparent that if Sony were to make a mirrorless camera with FF sensor, it would be about the size of this camera, albeit with a somewhat larger lens. (The lens would not be nearly as large as a lens for FF with mirror.)

Apr 24, 2013permalink

DaveMarx

And the point? You want Panasonic to abandon MFT? You'd prefer Sony to make the camera of your dreams?

Alternate hypothesis: Body is larger because market research shows that larger camera bodies are taken more seriously by the target audience (let's face it, Nikon and Canon's FF bodies are a tad bit larger than their FF film bodies ever were).

I don't quite get why Sony could or would make a FF body of this size, yet no other maker does. Faith that Sony can miniaturize better than anyone else? Physics is physics. Larger sensor requires larger glass. Could they build a really small box to put on the back of that larger lens? Yes, but I think we'd hear a whole lot about bad balance (the heavier the glass, the more leverage is needed to keep it level, hence a larger grip), and, yes, silly appearance.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

kaiser soze

The point is self-evident. A camera this size and with this size lens will be a better camera if it uses a larger sensor. The point is not for Panasonic to abandon MFT. The point is that for this size camera, the MFT sensor is smaller than is ideal. I am only really pointing what is obvious, but it has to be pointed out, because few people are saying it, and some people are trying to argue that it is not true. It obviously is true. For smaller, genuinely compact cameras, the MFT sensor makes perfect sense. But with every camera, the size of the sensor needs to be a good match to the size of the camera. You alternate hypothesis is moot, i.e., if the camera body is larger for reason A rather than reason B (and reason A and reason B being so closely coupled as to be nearly indistinct), the pertinent fact is still that the camera body is large relative to the sensor.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

yabokkie

the 4/3" is okay, not too bad.

what they need is f/1.4 zooms and f/0.x primes that can do the same work as f/2.8 zooms and f/1.x primes on 35mm format.

reasonable f/2.0 zooms and f/1.4 primes for entry level users.

Apr 24, 2013*permalink

kaiser soze

Arrgh. DaveMarx, as to your other point - You say that you don't get why Sony could do that "no other maker does", and talk about "physics is physics", etc. Well, comments of that sort are silly. OBVIOUSLY, the reason would only have to do with the manufacturer's demonstrated capability. You apparently have not bothered to compare the size of Sony's NEX lenses to the MFT lenses. One of the invalid assumptions that some people are evidently making is that a mirrorless FF camera would use the same size lenses as existing FF cameras with mirrors. This is wrong. When the lens moves closer to the sensor, it also gets smaller in diameter. Take the NEX-7, scale the lens diameter up by a factor less than 50%, and ditto for camera height. Why is it so difficult to visualize this being done, and how is it not obvious that the resulting camera body would be no larger than this? The lens itself would be larger in diameter than this lens, but by less than 50%. Not all of the diameter is optics.

Apr 24, 2013*permalink

yabokkie

> because market research shows that larger camera bodies are taken more seriously by the target audience

good point, they have to compete in (large) size because they cannot compete in quality or price performance.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

dbateman

What? You say you compared the size of sony NEX lenses to M43rds lenses. Then you say they are the same size. I am sorry but no!
Fuji has managed to make some really small nice lenses. These I would compare with M43rds. Sony on the hand has large lenses. Even Samsung has some nice small lenses that Sony hasn't been able to produce yet.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

j y g

I agree with kaiser soze. But... putting an APS-C in there would ramp up the prices on MFT cameras even more. This might not be a problem with MFTs if, to generate demand, they could be marketed with more attention to those who generally buy (sub-"enthusiast") point-and-shoot cameras. Look at what Nikon is able to get away with, thanks to those ridiculous Ashton Kutcher commercials and the sub-par "1" series. A few friends have bought Nikon 1's thinking that ILC intrinsically implies higher quality photos. Well, for MFT that is that is the truth. MFT manufacturers need to take advantage of that perception and get these cameras in the hands anyone who wants to pretend they're a pro.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

I think OP may be a little off base.

One of the problems with an increased video spec is overheating. This has long been a topic on the various GH2 hack forums. Cameras of some other manufacturers (not Panasonic) even lock up under extended video use. So when you have a much increased bitrate, etc. your camera needs to be bigger to dissipate heat. This to me is as logical an explanation for the size of the camera as the need for buttons on the exterior. The body could be smaller and still accept a lot of buttons.

Also, having been with m43 since the G1, I switched from Olympus DSLRs to Panasonic m43 BECAUSE of the larger Panasonic body size, which was easier to handle and included a built-in viewfinder. None of the Oly models offered a built-in viewfinder until the OM-5.

So, I'm not sure that all of the assumptions in OP are valid.

Apr 25, 2013*permalink

yabokkie

> compared the size of sony NEX lenses to M43rds lenses.

if they are following the "market research", there will be larger heavier lenses soon, probably bundled with stone.

Apr 25, 2013permalink

Tonio Loewald

Lens diameter goes up in proportion to sensor size. Lens mass (glass) goes up as the CUBE of sensor size. So you'd expect the glass in FF lenses to be roughly 8x heavier. This isn't just physics, it's middle school math.

Apr 26, 2013permalink

AndyGM

The lens as seen in the photo does look a little too small compared with the body. However, this is the Panasonic 2013 standard kit lens, and was designed so that the GF6 is a more compact package (the old kitlens looked way too big on the GF series... almost NEX like). They are going to use the same kitlens on every camera... its just that on the more block fronted G6 its a bit swamped.

Put another zoom lens on this G6 and it will look much better proportioned. Go to four-thirds.org, choose the matching simulator and try it out. The bigger grip will work well if you use the 100-300mm supertele zoom.

May 4, 2013permalink

juliovideo

You are concerned about the G6K Lumix sensor with 16 MP, I wonder if anyone can beat the Sony PMW-F55 with 8.9MP CineAlta 4K.

Jul 20, 2013permalink

Hagane

"An advantage of using the GH2's sensor is that the G6 is able to offer more comprehensive video functions than the G5. "

WTF?! The G5 uses the exact same sensor.... and how exactly are video functions bound to the sensor?!

Apr 24, 2013permalink

"The Extra Tele Conversion function virtually extends the zoom range Max.4.8x without deterioration of image quality".

ETC is directly from the GH2 and would not be possible with the G5 sensor.

The above quote is from the G6 Press Release under "Highest Level in Class – Stunning Video..." on the front page of DPR.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

Hagane

Again: The G5 uses the GH2 sensor.... they only disabled the Multi-Aspect-Ratio system and changed the readout method. And the lossless Tele Conversion is also found in the G5 although it is a 2.4 conversion. (which is the same as the G6, see text above, no idea where you picked up 4.8?)

Apr 24, 2013permalink

@marike6

I'm pretty sure my G2 also had ETC, unless I'm misremembering.

Edit: I also remember it being MORE than 2.4x on the G2, something like 2.9x or thereabouts. I may be wrong.

Apr 24, 2013*permalink

@Hagane Then I don't know. I was just trying to help you figure out what they were talking about regarding the sensor and "more comprehensive video functions".

Apr 24, 2013permalink

@Hagane,

I think the 4.8x must take the crop factor into account.

A 50mm lens is 100mm equivalent on m43. Then you times that by 2.4x, and you get 240mm equivalent for a 50mm lens, which is 4.8x.

It really is an amazing feature for video. I have a Nikon manual focus 180mm f2.8, which on this camera using the extended tele feature would be 864mm f2.8 equivalent. It is useful for video of birds, the moon, etc. With some lenses that already have a semi-macro feature, like the Olympus 70-300mm, you can use the ETC for extreme closeups. You can fill the video frame with a butterfly's head, that kind of thing.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

FoolyCooly

Is it too early to request a shootout?

Panasonic G6 VERSUS Blackmagic Pocket Cinema *FIGHT*

Interested in seeing if Panasonic squeezed any more DR out of the 16MP Live MOS.

BlackMagic shoots RAW Video but it is limited to 30fps.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

http://vimeo.com/49875510

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera supports 1080HD resolution capture in 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97 and 30 fps.

The GH2 has very good quality video. The BMCC camera has awesome video quality with huge DR. If the Pocket Cinema is anything like the BMCC, it will not be a fair fight.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

Michael_13

Just watch the comparison between 5d and Blackmagic (available on the web) and you'll see that G6 will not have much of a chance.

The Blackmagic's sensor is purpose built, while that of G6 is an all-rounder.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

FoolyCooly

WOW! The 5D MKIII gets slaughtered by the BlackMagic Cinema Camera. I hope the pocket cinema camera is that good!

Apr 25, 2013*permalink

dpreview--

Is this a 2.4x "digital" teleconverter option, as described in the introduction?

I know on the G2 and the GH2 it was what I (at least) would call an "optical" teleconverter option, i.e., there is no up-rezzing involved, simply a crop of the sensor so that a smaller part of the sensor was sampled (enough for 1080 resolution, much smaller than the full sensor resolution, rather than downsizing the full sensor resolution to 1080 without teleconverter).

If this is the same as the GH2 and G2 teleconverters (and it may not be!), I don't think it makes sense to call it a "digital" teleconverter option; in that case, sampling a DX-sized piece of an FX sensor, at lower resolution and without up-rezzing, would also be a "digital" teleconversion, and I don't think most people would agree with that terminology.

Apr 24, 2013*permalink