Panasonic G5
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 160 - 12800
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
- Released July 2012
- Replaced the Panasonic G3
- Updated by Panasonic G6
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Lenses
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
74 Imaging
52 Features
66 Overall
57
Panasonic G5 summary
Panasonic G5 is Panasonic's Entry-Level Mirrorless camera originally introduced on July of 2012. The camera uses a 16MP, CMOS Four Thirds sized sensor and has a full resolution of 4608 x 3456.
Panasonic brought out this camera in an effort to replace the older Panasonic G3 (Read Full Comparison) & subsequently introduced the more recent Panasonic G6 (Read Full Comparison) in order to update this camera.
The G5 is rated #72 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras & over-all #349 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. Please check out our Advanced camera finder to see camera results based on your custom factors.
Below is a diagram of multiple factors used in the rating system.
Panasonic G5 family
The Panasonic G5 has a history of related digital cameras. Underneath, you can see all previous and more recent models as well as important specifications.
Panasonic G5 Gallery
You can check the G5 from different angles in the gallery here.
Panasonic G5 Pros and Cons
Below is a checklist of good and bad points of the Panasonic G5 based on criterias that are typically regarded as essential in a camera.
Panasonic G5 Sensor details
The Panasonic G5 features the Venus Engine VII FHD processor chip. The size of the sensor in the Panasonic G5 is 17.3mm x 13mm (Four Thirds). The 225 mm² sensor can capture 4608 x 3456 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe CMOS sensor has 16 megapixels and supports a native ISO range of 160 - 12800. RAW format is saved so the user has wider margin for error.
The image below shows the G5's sensor dimensions compared to other common sizes. The G5 sensor has a crop factor of 2.1 and is shown in green.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideTo get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.
Panasonic G5 dimensions
Panasonic G5 weighs around 0.87 lbs (396 grams / 13.97 oz) & the volume of the camera is 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8"). The weight of average Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329 grams so the Panasonic G5 is more heavy in comparison with its rivals.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsBelow is a photo of the Panasonic G5 alongside a soft drink to help you to get a sense of its scale.
The top view here will show the button arrangement on the G5.
Panasonic G5 Lens specs
The G5 works with the Micro Four Thirds mount and has 162 lenses available in the market. Below is a few of the lenses we have in our collection which will fit the G5.
Panasonic G5 Connectivity
The G5 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- HDMI Yes
Digital cameras which include NFC or Bluetooth compatibility can easily be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You will be able to transfer photos and usually adjust settings without connecting straight to the camera.
A few applications even stream a Liveview and release the shutter in case you are not near the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI port, it could be connected to an external monitor. Most cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack using the USB socket.
Panasonic G5 Video specs
The highest possible video quality in the Panasonic G5 is 1920 x 1080 and you can shoot in MPEG-4 and AVCHD format. 1080p quality is an excellent balance for quality versus file sizes but 1080p isn't going to give you any room to crop. The camera does not offer a microphone or headphone jack so you have got little control over the sound. It is perhaps best to consider a different camera in case you want good sound for your video clips.
Panasonic G5 Weather Sealing
Panasonic G5 does not include environment sealing so wet conditions could damage the camera.
Panasonic G5 Display and Viewfinder
The Panasonic G5 houses a 3 inch fully articulated screen supporting a resolution of 920 thousand dots.
The display is selfie friendly to take self portraits and even group photos when needed. Additionally the screen is touch friendly so you can shift focus point as well as adjust settings by using your fingertips.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneThe ViewFinder specifications for Panasonic G5 are as follows:
- ViewFinder Electronic
- ViewFinder Resolution 1,440 thousand dots
- ViewFinder Coverage 100%
- ViewFinder Magnification 0.7x
Viewfinders are really useful for bright outdoor conditions which can easily make the camera display washed out and difficult to see.
Panasonic G5 Shutter specs
Panasonic G5 can shoot continuously at 6.0 frames/s. The max shutter speed is 1/4000 seconds.
Panasonic G5 Flash and Hot shoe specs
Panasonic G5 has both built in flash together with external flash support. The highest flash sync speed is 1/160 seconds.
Panasonic G5 Autofocus specs
Panasonic G5 has just Contrast Based Auto Focus & doesn't have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is more snappier & precise in comparison with Contrast Based focusing. The camera boasts Face detect which is handy for people photography.
It boasts 23 focus points to choose from. Panasonic G5 has tap to focus. You can easily use your fingers in order to shift focus. It also features Tracking Auto Focus for subjects that move. Panasonic G5 includes manual focusing when required for low light situations or you want to have more exact focusing control.
Panasonic G5 Battery life
The battery life for the Panasonic G5 is made to last for 320 photos according to the CIPA measurements which is similar to it's competition. The average Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 offers the best (750) battery life for this type of cameras.
Here is a listing of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras that come with the strongest battery life:
Panasonic G5 for specific types of photography
The following bar chart shows a summary of the Panasonic G5 for specific types of photography. To look at more, check out the specific section below.
Panasonic G5 as a Portrait photography camera
The Panasonic G5 has a points tally of 71 which is above average, meaning that it is a respectable pick for portrait images. Shooting portrait images favors heavily to sensor dimension, support for RAW files & flexibility to use external flash.
Panasonic G5 Street photography advice
Having a very good points tally of 66, the Panasonic G5 is a very decent fit for street photography. A good street photography camera features a good balance of picture quality and portability.
Panasonic G5 as a Sports photography camera
A moderate sports photography points total of 51 indicates the Panasonic G5 is somewhat appropriate for taking photos of sports. A camera really should have very good tracking and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.
Panasonic G5 as a Travel photography camera
Size is pretty crucial when choosing a camera for travel. On the whole, the Panasonic G5 gets a nice 66 as a travelling camera which is a very decent pick to take with you on your vacations.
Panasonic G5 Landscape photography information
If you're planning to pick a digital camera for landscape photos, the most vital factor will no doubt be image quality. The Panasonic G5 with it's above average grade of 65 for a landscape camera is a fine choice within the current marketplace.
Panasonic G5 as a Vlogging camera
A camera for vlogging really should posses a moving display screen, microphone input and preferably IBIS. Considering all things, the Panasonic G5 is a respectable pick for vlogging as it delivers a very good rating of 62.
Panasonic G5 Alternatives
If you want alternatives to the G5, below is a range of the highest placed cameras that fall within the family of Entry-Level Mirrorless.
The diagram down below provides you an overview of the G5 versus it's top ranked competitors mentioned above.
Following are several cameras you may look at as alternative options. To read a comprehensive comparison, click the "compare" link.