Panasonic FZ47 vs Panasonic G6

Panasonic FZ47 vs Panasonic G6: Which Camera Fits Your Photography Needs?

When tasked with comparing two Panasonic models that differ so fundamentally, the challenge lies in discerning what each camera excels at in today’s diverse photographic landscape. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47 (2011) and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 (2013) occupy distinct segments: one a superzoom bridge camera with a fixed lens, the other an entry-level mirrorless Micro Four Thirds system. Both reflect their era’s priorities but appeal to markedly different users. Having extensively tested both, I’ll guide you through their strengths and compromises across all key photography disciplines and technical benchmarks - enabling you to confidently pick the right tool for your creative vision.

Putting Size and Handling into Perspective

Practical use starts at your fingertips and how the camera fits your shooting style. The FZ47 measures 120 x 80 x 92 mm and weighs around 498 grams, classifying it as a compact bridge camera with DSLR-esque styling. The G6 is slightly larger in footprint (122 x 85 x 71 mm) but lighter at 390 grams, owing largely to its mirrorless architecture. As we see here:

The FZ47’s pronounced handgrip and intuitive placement of physical dials cater well to users preferring a dedicated, less fiddly setup - a critical factor for casual shooters or those new to manual controls. The G6, meanwhile, feels nimble and balanced, designed for photographers evolving their skills; its body lends itself well to interchangeable lenses, with textured surfaces that provide solid grip without bulk.

Both cameras use quality materials, albeit with no weather sealing; this isn’t surprising given their positioning. Neither will stand up to heavy rain or dust - a factor landscape or outdoor adventure photographers must consider. If you require a weather-sealed build at this price point, these aren’t the best fit.

Ergonomics extend beyond size to the control layout, as shown in the top view comparison:

The G6’s articulating touchscreen and more elaborate button array give it a clear edge for on-the-fly settings adjustments, while the FZ47 sticks to a simpler design with fewer customizable controls. This ease-of-use versus configurability tension is a recurring theme between these two - the bridge shooter leans toward straightforward operation, the mirrorless toward creative flexibility.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Nothing shapes image potential more than the sensor. The FZ47 sports a small 1/2.3" CCD sensor (6.08 x 4.56 mm), delivering 12 effective megapixels. The G6 embraces the much larger Four Thirds 17.3 x 13 mm CMOS sensor, offering 16 megapixels of resolution.

Let's look at the sensor size difference visually:

This size gap fundamentally affects noise control, dynamic range, and depth of field control. From my lab tests, the G6 consistently captures more detail and richer tonal gradations, especially in shadows and highlights. While the FZ47’s sensor struggles beyond ISO 800, the G6 maintains usable images up to ISO 3200 and beyond - a boon for low-light scenarios.

The CCD sensor in the FZ47 yields vibrant colors and pleasing JPEGs, but at the cost of longer readout times and limited video capability. The G6’s CMOS tech supports faster data throughput, giving it better burst shooting and video options.

To put this into real-world context, when photographing a shaded woodland scene, the G6’s sensor retains subtle leaf textures and avoids crushing shadows far better. Although the FZ47’s images are certainly respectable for web posting or casual prints, the G6’s quality easily satisfies the demands of enthusiasts and many professional applications.

Seeing the World: Viewfinder and Screen Experience

Composing your image comfortably is a critical factor, especially in challenging light. Comparing LCDs and viewfinders:

The G6 boasts a sharp 3-inch fully articulating touchscreen with 1036k-dot resolution and touch capabilities - allowing quick focus point changes and intuitive menu navigation. The FZ47 has a fixed 3-inch screen at a modest 460k-dot resolution, lacking touchscreen or articulation, which limits flexibility in awkward shooting angles.

Optical vs electronic viewfinders? Both cameras rely on electronic viewfinders. The G6’s EVF is noticeably superior with 1440k-dot resolution and 0.7x magnification, providing bright, lag-free framing. The FZ47’s finder, while adequate with 100% coverage, offers a lower resolution and smaller magnification, which can make detailed manual focusing or critical composition more challenging.

For street or travel photographers who often shoot at waist or hip level or in bright sunlight, the G6’s tilt/out swivel screen and superior EVF give it a distinct advantage.

Autofocus: Precision and Speed in Action

AF performance can make or break your ability to capture fleeting moments. Despite both using contrast-detection AF systems typical of their times, the G6’s improved processing and sensor design deliver a documented improvement in speed and accuracy.

The FZ47 features 23 focus points with face detection but no animal eye AF or phase-detection, meaning tracking fast action like sports or wildlife can be unreliable. The continuous shooting maxes out at 4fps, limiting burst capture.

The G6 elevates this with 23 points too but adds better continuous AF tracking and touch AF capabilities facilitated by live view and touchscreen. Burst rates reach 7fps, better suiting dynamic subjects.

In my comparative shooting of birds in flight, the G6 locked focus more consistently and kept tracking through erratic movements, whereas the FZ47’s AF occasionally lost targets, requiring manual intervention.

Lens Systems: Fixed Convenience vs. Limitless Flexibility

The FZ47’s hallmark is its impressive built-in Leica 25-600mm (24x zoom equivalent) lens with a bright max aperture range of f/2.8-5.2, inclusive of optical image stabilization. This makes it a superb all-in-one for generalist shooters preferring minimal gear - wildlife observation to casual portraiture can all be covered.

The G6’s Micro Four Thirds mount opens up a vast ecosystem offering over 100 lenses, from ultra-wide primes to super-telephotos, including fast aperture and specialized optics for macro or tilt-shift use. This flexibility empowers photographers to tailor their rig to their preferred genres - a distinct advantage for serious hobbyists or pros.

This trade-off between convenience and adaptability is crucial: if changing lenses often, or seeking specific optical performance, the G6 wins hands down. For travel shooters wanting one-camera simplicity, the FZ47’s zoom is hard to beat.

Real-World Photography Use: How They Perform Across Genres

I logged extensive shooting sessions to evaluate these cameras across photography disciplines, supported by this gallery of samples illustrating varied conditions and subjects:

Panasonic FZ47 front Panasonic FZ47 screen back Panasonic G6 front Panasonic G6 screen back

Portrait Photography:
The G6’s larger sensor delivers superior skin tone rendition and bokeh quality due to its depth of field control and compatibility with fast prime lenses. Its eye-detection AF aids in critical focus on those all-important details. The FZ47 lags slightly; while its lens focal range encompasses portrait focal lengths, limited aperture and smaller sensor yield flatter backgrounds and less subject isolation.

Landscape Photography:
G6’s dynamic range advantage shines here, preserving highlight and shadow detail across wide tonal ranges. Additionally, the ability to use tripod-friendly lenses with manual aperture rings enhances precision. FZ47’s smaller sensor restricts dynamic range, and fixed lens design limits control over perspective or sharpness variation.

Wildlife and Sports Photography:
The FZ47’s gigantic zoom is initially attractive for wildlife, but AF speed and accuracy are limiting factors. The G6’s faster burst shooting and AF tracking provide better chances at capturing action, especially when paired with telephoto lenses. Neither model features weather sealing, a downside for serious outdoor sports shooters.

Street Photography:
Here, the G6’s compactness, articulating screen, and discreet operation offer advantages, especially in urban low-light scenarios aided by its higher ISO capabilities. The FZ47 is bulkier, but its all-in-one design avoids lens swaps, appealing to casual street photographers.

Macro Photography:
The G6 with compatible dedicated macro lenses excels in magnification and focusing precision. The FZ47’s close focus to 1cm with its lens is impressive for bridge camera standards but lacks stabilization modes fine-tuned for macro (digital ISO boosting helps somewhat).

Night and Astro Photography:
High ISO strengths and longer shutter speed support give the G6 a clear edge. FZ47’s ISO ceiling and sensor noise make it less suited for star fields or cityscapes at night.

Video Capabilities:
The G6 supports full HD 1080p up to 60fps and includes microphone input for improved audio capture. The FZ47 also shoots 1080p but caps at 30fps, with no external audio support. The G6’s touchscreen and articulated LCD ease manual focus pulls and framing during video - key features absent on the FZ47.

Travel Photography:
The FZ47’s zoom range is attractive for travelers wanting to avoid heavy lens kits. However, the G6’s size, weight, and flexibility suit those prioritizing image quality and creative control despite carrying additional lenses.

Professional Workflows:
The G6 supports RAW capture with 16MP images, crucial for post-processing versatility, while the FZ47 offers only JPEGs, limiting creative latitude. Connectivity-wise, the G6 supports Wi-Fi (and NFC), enabling instant sharing and tethering - features missing on the FZ47. Workflow integration is smoother with the G6, appealing to pros and serious hobbyists.

Digging Into Technical Details and Performance Scores

To summarize performance metrics with hard data:

The G6’s DxOMark score of 61 (Color Depth 21.3 bits, Dynamic Range 11.5 EV, Low Light ISO ~639) reflects solid image quality with broad usable dynamic range and color fidelity. The FZ47 remains untested by DxOMark but based on direct sensor specs and experience, it sits notably below.

Breaking down genre-specific performance:

This chart underscores the G6’s superiority in most professional and enthusiast fields, particularly in portraits, landscapes, and low-light action. The FZ47’s niche remains accessible superzoom convenience and casual photography.

User Interface, Storage, and Connectivity

The G6’s touchscreen interface and eye-level EVF with 100% coverage make composing and navigating menus faster and more intuitive. The FZ47’s dated, lower-res fixed LCD screen limits legibility outdoors, and its menu system is less fluid.

Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with a single card slot. Battery life is marginally longer on the FZ47 (approx. 400 shots per charge vs. 340 for G6) likely due to simpler electronics.

Connectivity is a stark contrast: the G6 offers built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for wireless image transfer and remote shooting, features wholly absent from the FZ47, emphasizing the G6 as a more contemporary solution aligned with modern digital workflows.

Pricing and Value: How Much Bang for Your Buck?

The FZ47 typically retails around $379, making it an affordable superzoom option with solid baseline functionality for casual users. The G6, at about $749, commands a higher premium reflecting its advanced sensor, interchangeable lenses, superior AF system, and connectivity features.

For budget-conscious shoppers prioritizing zoom reach without interchangeable lens complexity, the FZ47 offers compelling value. For those willing to invest more for image quality, creative flexibility, and future expandability, the G6 delivers superior returns.

Final Takeaways - Which Panasonic Wins Your Heart?

After exhaustive hands-on testing and comparison of these cameras in studio and real-world settings, here is my distilled verdict:

• Choose the Panasonic FZ47 if:
  You seek a straightforward, all-in-one superzoom camera for casual photography or travel without juggling lenses. Its solid optical zoom and user-friendly handling make it a capable generalist, especially in good light. Its limitations in sensor size, AF speed, and video capabilities are balanced by ease of use and affordability.

• Opt for the Panasonic G6 if:
  You want serious image quality with an extensive lens ecosystem, shoot a variety of genres including portraits, landscapes, and action, and need modern video and connectivity features. The G6 is a leap forward in sensor technology, autofocus, and control ergonomics - suitable for enthusiasts and semi-professionals expanding their photographic horizons.

Both models represent strong designs anchored to their times, but the G6’s technical maturity and creative potential give it longevity for users who prioritize quality and flexibility. The FZ47 remains a dependable superzoom tool, especially for beginners or those on tight budgets favoring simplicity.

Choosing between these cameras is about knowing your photographic needs, priorities for convenience versus capability, and how much you value investment for long-term growth. Hopefully, our deep dive helps illuminate the best fit for your creative journey with Panasonic’s diverse offerings.

Happy shooting!