Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 vs Lumix DMC-G5: A Hands-On Comparison for Serious Shooters

Choosing between two cameras from the same manufacturer can be deceptively tricky, especially when they represent very different classes of gear. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580, a small sensor compact from 2009, and the Lumix DMC-G5, an entry-level mirrorless released in 2012, each cater to distinctly different users - not just in form factor but core capabilities. I’ve personally tested thousands of cameras, running them through the kind of shooting scenarios you’d encounter in real life, and today I’m breaking down how these two stack up across key photographic disciplines and technical benchmarks.

I’ll share my first-hand experience and objective lab data to help you decide if you should opt for the ultra-portable convenience of the Panasonic FX580, or invest in the more versatile, performance-packed G5 mirrorless system. Both come with their own sets of trade-offs - let’s explore them with the doubts and curiosity that every serious photographer should bring.

Size, Handling, and Ergonomics: Compact Convenience vs. Mirrorless Control

If you’re someone who wants the easiest grab-and-go camera possible, the Panasonic FX580’s radically compact body certainly impresses. Measuring just 95x57x22mm and weighing a featherlight 167 grams, it slips effortlessly into pockets or small bags without any bulk. In contrast, the G5 is notably larger - almost double the size and weight at 120x83x71mm and 396 grams - which is quite typical of an SLR-style mirrorless but still retains a comfortable grip.

What surprised me during prolonged handheld shooting was how the G5’s SLR-style body really shines in terms of grip comfort and manual control. The FX580’s fixed lens compact design leaves you limited to basic point-and-shoot style handling, with no customizable buttons or dedicated dials. Meanwhile, the G5's top plate reveals a more mature control layout with shortcut buttons, mode dial, and a more substantial shutter release.

The G5’s fully articulating 3-inch touchscreen LCD with 920k dots offers versatile framing angles - a big advantage for vloggers and creative angles. The FX580 has a fixed 3-inch screen but with much lower 230k resolution, and no touch input.

For me, the G5 is more suited to photographers who desire tactile control and ergonomic comfort for extended shoots. The FX580, however, is perfect if you want a camera that’s ultra-portable with simple menus and fewer distractions.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Compact CCD vs Four Thirds CMOS

Here’s where the two diverge profoundly. The Panasonic FX580 uses a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, quite small at 6.08x4.56mm, producing 12 megapixels. The G5, on the other hand, boasts a significantly larger Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3x13mm with 16 megapixels - over 8 times the sensor area.

Sensor size differences like this translate directly to image quality. The FX580’s tiny CCD sensor struggles with noise at anything above ISO 400, and its maximum native ISO is a modest 1600. It offers no RAW shooting, limiting your post-processing latitude. The G5’s larger sensor delivers cleaner images up to ISO 3200 and beyond, has an expanded native ISO up to 12800, and supports RAW files with 12-bit depth, providing significant room to recover shadows or pull highlights during editing.

Dynamic range is another winner for the G5, which scores 11.6 EV compared to negligible or untested values for the FX580. This wider latitude is critical for landscape and high-contrast scenes.

Color depth (21.4 bits on the G5) ensures smoother tonal gradations, producing rich skin tones and accurate color rendition. The FX580, while capable for snapshots, simply cannot compete head-to-head for demanding photographers.

Autofocus System: From Basic to Advanced Tracking

The FX580 employs contrast-detection AF with 11 focus points and rudimentary face detection. It offers single AF with no continuous or tracking autofocus, which means moving subjects can challenge it considerably. Burst shooting is limited to a slow 2 FPS - fine for relaxed casual photography but not for action.

Conversely, the G5 adopts a more sophisticated contrast-detection AF system enhanced by Panasonic’s Venus Engine VII FHD processor. It supports 23 focus points and offers face detection plus continuous AF tracking modes. During my testing, the G5 demonstrated solid subject tracking even in moderately challenging conditions, which is impressive for an entry-level mirrorless.

The G5 can shoot bursts at 6 FPS, quite decent for wildlife or sports, while the FX580’s limitation makes it unsuitable for these uses.

Lens Ecosystem and Flexibility: Fixed Zoom vs Mirrorless Interchangeability

If you like the idea of “one and done,” the FX580 comes with a fixed 25-125mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.8-5.9 zoom, delivering a versatile 5x optical zoom range suitable for snapshots and travel. However, you’re entirely limited to that lens and its aperture constraints; no macro filters or teleconverters beyond what’s built-in.

The G5 shines with the Micro Four Thirds mount, supporting over 100 native lenses (as of its release), from ultra-wide to super-telephoto, primes and zooms, plus fast lenses for portraits and low-light. This flexibility opens the door to specialized photography disciplines that are simply not feasible on a fixed-lens compact.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

Portrait enthusiasts will find the G5’s more accurate color and dynamic range an immediate plus for flattering skin tones. The larger sensor enables a shallower depth-of-field, producing more natural, creamy bokeh - especially when paired with fast primes.

While both cameras support face detection, neither offers animal eye AF or advanced eye-detection tech common in modern cameras, but the G5’s 23-point AF system and face detection still outperform the FX580’s basic capability.

The FX580’s smaller sensor and slower maximum aperture mean portraits tend to look more “flat” with less background separation.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range, Resolution, and Weather Resistance

For landscapes, resolution isn’t just about megapixels but retained fine detail and tonal range. The G5 captures 16MP RAW files with extended dynamic range for scenes with bright skies and shadows - a big advantage over FX580’s JPEG-only files from a small CCD sensor.

Neither camera has weather sealing, so rain or dust risk is a consideration for outdoor use.

The FX580’s pocket-size is tempting for hikers wanting ultra-light gear, but its optical zoom and sensor limit image quality potential for serious landscapes. I prefer the G5 with a moderate wide-angle lens for landscapes where details matter.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Autofocus Speed and Burst Rates

For fast-moving subjects, autofocus speed and burst capabilities are crucial. The FX580’s slow 2 FPS and no continuous AF tracking severely restrict its use in wildlife or sports.

The G5 with 6 FPS and continuous AF tracking proved reliable for casual sports and wildlife shooting – not pro sports league level, but more than adequate for weekend action.

Using a telephoto lens on the G5 greatly extends reach and improves framing options, something fixed-lens compacts cannot match.

Street Photography: Discreteness and Low Light Handling

Street photographers often prize discretion and portability. The FX580’s small size is less conspicuous, a genuine advantage for candid shots.

However, its poor high ISO performance and slow AF can hinder shots in dim urban lighting or fast-moving subjects.

The G5 is larger and more noticeable but excels in low light thanks to a better sensor and lens choices with wider apertures.

If stealth is your priority, FX580 fits better; for image quality, G5 leads.

Macro Photography: Magnification, Focus Precision, and Stabilization

The FX580 offers a closest focusing distance of 5 cm, which is respectable for a compact; optical image stabilization helps prevent blur at close range.

The G5’s macro capabilities rely on lens choice. There are many dedicated Micro Four Thirds macro lenses with excellent sharpness and true 1:1 magnification. The G5’s contrast-detect AF is accurate indoors or on static subjects but can struggle slightly with moving ones under low contrast.

For true macro enthusiasts, the G5’s interchangeable lens system is vastly preferable.

Night and Astrophotography: High ISO and Exposure Modes

Due to the FX580’s limited ISO range and noisy images past ISO 400, night photography is a challenge. It offers no bulb mode or long exposure bracketing.

The G5 can shoot up to ISO 12800 with acceptable noise and supports manual exposure modes, bulb exposures, and bracketing - tools any night or astro photographer desires.

My tests show the G5 producing cleaner star field shots with support for remote controls (via accessories), something unthinkable with the FX580.

Video Capabilities: Resolutions, Stabilization, and Audio

The FX580 maxes out at 720p HD at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format, with no microphone or headphone jacks, and optical stabilization built-in.

The G5 upgrades to full 1080p HD video at up to 60 fps, offers AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats, and includes a fully articulating touchscreen for vlog-style framing. However, it lacks mic and headphone ports - somewhat limiting serious video work.

Neither camera supports 4K or advanced video codecs, reflecting their 2009–2012 heritage.

Travel Photography: Versatility, Battery Life, and Portability

Here’s where things get interesting. The FX580 is an excellent travel companion if you value ultra-lightweight gear and simple operation but are willing to compromise on image quality. Battery life is unspecified for the FX580, but usage is generally modest given the fixed lens and low resolution.

The G5, heavier at almost 400g, carries longer battery life (rated 320 shots) and a robust lens ecosystem providing everything from wide landscapes to telephoto wildlife all in one system.

Panasonic FX580 front Panasonic FX580 screen back Panasonic G5 front Panasonic G5 screen back

Having shot extensively with both, I find the G5 more versatile for travel unless pocketability trumps all else.

Professional Use: Reliability, File Formats, and Workflow Integration

Neither camera is truly aimed at professional photographers - but the G5’s RAW support, manual controls, and better sensor put it far ahead for demanding workflows. Professionals can integrate G5 files seamlessly into Adobe Lightroom or Capture One, while FX580’s JPEGs limit post-processing control.

The G5’s build quality and firmware stability are solid for an entry model, but no weather sealing or heavy-duty warranties mean careful handling is advised.

Additional Technical Considerations: Connectivity, Storage, and Battery

Both cameras lack Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS - features which, in 2024, are standard even on mid-range cameras. This limits instant sharing or location tagging unless you use separate devices.

The FX580 uses SD/SDHC cards; the G5 supports SD, SDHC, and SDXC, allowing for larger capacity cards ideal for video and RAW files.

Battery-wise, the G5 uses a proprietary rechargeable pack rated for 320 shots, standard for mirrorless cameras of its era. The FX580’s battery info isn’t specified but expect typical compact camera runtime.

Summarizing the Scores: Performance and Value

The G5’s overall DxOMark score of 61 reflects its superior image quality, color depth, and dynamic range compared to the untested but obviously limited FX580.

When broken down by genre:

• Portraits: G5 dominates for image quality and bokeh
• Landscapes: G5’s resolution and dynamic range are much better
• Wildlife: G5’s autofocus and frame rate win hands down
• Sports: Similarly, the G5 offers more capability
• Street: FX580’s size gives it a slight nod in discretion but sacrifices quality
• Macro: G5 with dedicated lenses is superior
• Night: G5’s ISO performance and exposure modes lead
• Video: G5 supports Full HD 60fps vs FX580’s 720p
• Travel: FX580's portability vs G5’s versatility and IQ
• Professional Work: G5’s RAW and manual controls give it meaning

Final Thoughts and Who Should Buy Which

I always say: choose the camera that aligns best with how and where you shoot. Neither of these Panasonics is a recent flagship, but for entry-level photographers on a budget, both represent logical options with distinct use cases.

• Choose the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 if:

  • You want the smallest, lightest camera just to document casual life moments
  • You prefer super-simple operation without worrying about settings
  • Portability and pocketability are your highest priorities
  • You mainly shoot outdoors in good light and want in-camera stabilization

• Choose the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 if:

  • You want a serious step up in image quality and control
  • You value manual exposure modes and RAW files for post-processing
  • You need a versatile system with interchangeable lenses for multiple genres
  • You shoot portraits, landscapes, or action and want better autofocus/tracking
  • You want Full HD video recording with more advanced options

While the FX580 can be a charming secondary camera or a first step for the most casual shooters, the G5 remains a wonderfully capable mirrorless for enthusiasts and beginners aiming for quality and growth within the Panasonic Micro Four Thirds ecosystem.

I hope this detailed breakdown helps you map these two historically significant cameras onto your specific photographic ambitions - and perhaps clears the dust off some old gear contenders you hadn’t considered seriously before.

Have you used either camera extensively? What’s your take on fixed lens compacts versus entry-level mirrorless? I’m always curious to hear how people balance convenience versus quality on the go. Feel free to share your experiences.

Until next time, keep your sensor clean and your horizons wide!