Panasonic G10 Comparison Review
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was announced in March 2010 and is equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. It offers a resolution of 12 megapixel.
Is the Panasonic G10 a good camera? The G10 has a Camera Elo of 1418. This rating puts the G10 below average of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (Four Thirds cameras), the G10 also ranks below average. – Well, the Panasonic G10 is more than 10 years old, and there have been many other good digital cameras released since 2010.
| Panasonic G10 |
|---|
| Mirrorless system camera |
| Micro Four Thirds lenses |
| 12 MP, Four Thirds Sensor |
| 720/30p Video |
| ISO 100 - 6 400 |
| Electronic viewfinder (202k dots) |
| 3.0 LCD, 460k dots |
| Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) |
| 2.6 shutter flaps per second |
| 380 shots per battery charge |
| 124 x 84 x 74 mm, 388 g |
Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.
Body comparison with a credit card
An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Panasonic G10 vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Panasonic G10 alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life 1 |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch 2 |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic G10 | 4.9 in | 3.3 in | 2.9 in | 13.7 oz | 380 | n | Mar 2010 | 499 |  | |
| Olympus E-PL2 | 4.5 in | 2.8 in | 1.7 in | 12.8 oz | 280 | n | Jan 2011 | 599 | | |
| Olympus E-PL1 | 4.5 in | 2.8 in | 1.7 in | 11.8 oz | 290 | n | Feb 2010 | 599 | | |
| Panasonic GF5 | 4.3 in | 2.6 in | 1.5 in | 9.4 oz | 360 | n | Apr 2012 | 499 | | |
| Panasonic G3 | 4.5 in | 3.3 in | 1.9 in | 11.9 oz | 270 | n | May 2011 | 599 | | |
| Panasonic GF3 | 4.3 in | 2.6 in | 1.3 in | 9.3 oz | 300 | n | Jun 2011 | 549 | | |
| Panasonic G2 | 4.9 in | 3.3 in | 2.9 in | 15.1 oz | 360 | n | Mar 2010 | 599 | | |
| Panasonic GF2 | 4.4 in | 2.7 in | 1.3 in | 10.9 oz | 300 | n | Nov 2010 | 549 | | |
| Panasonic GH2 | 4.9 in | 3.5 in | 3.0 in | 15.6 oz | 330 | n | Sep 2010 | 899 | | |
| Panasonic GF1 | 4.7 in | 2.8 in | 1.4 in | 13.6 oz | 380 | n | Sep 2009 | 749 | | |
| Panasonic G1 | 4.9 in | 3.3 in | 1.8 in | 12.7 oz | 410 | n | Sep 2008 | 599 | | |
|
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement. |
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Panasonic G10 was launched in the US market at a price of $499. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Check Ebay offers
Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide
The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.
The Panasonic G10 features a Four Thirds sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Panasonic G10 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.
Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.
| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic G10 | Four Thirds | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 720/30p | 21.2 | 10.1 | 411 | 52 | |
| Olympus E-PL2 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 720/30p | 21.4 | 10.2 | 573 | 55 | |
| Olympus E-PL1 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 720/30p | 21.5 | 10.1 | 487 | 54 | |
| Panasonic GF5 | Four Thirds | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 1080/60i | 21.4 | 11.6 | 618 | 61 | |
| Panasonic G3 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 1080/60i | 21.0 | 10.6 | 667 | 56 | |
| Panasonic GF3 | Four Thirds | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 1080/60i | 20.6 | 10.0 | 458 | 49 | |
| Panasonic G2 | Four Thirds | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 720/30p | 21.2 | 10.3 | 493 | 53 | |
| Panasonic GF2 | Four Thirds | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 1080/60i | 21.2 | 10.3 | 506 | 54 | |
| Panasonic GH2 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60i | 21.2 | 11.3 | 655 | 60 | |
| Panasonic GF1 | Four Thirds | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 720/30p | 21.2 | 10.3 | 513 | 54 | |
| Panasonic G1 | Four Thirds | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | none | 21.1 | 10.3 | 463 | 53 |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The G10 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the G10 can use is 720/30p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the G10 has an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 202k dots. The viewfinder offers a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.52x. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Panasonic G10 and comparable cameras.
| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Size (inch) |
LCD Resolution (000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Mech Shutter Speed |
Shutter Flaps (1/sec) | Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic G10 | 202 | n | 3.0 | 460 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 2.6 | Y | n | |
| Olympus E-PL2 | optional | n | 3.0 | 460 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0 | Y | Y | |
| Olympus E-PL1 | optional | n | 2.7 | 230 | fixed | n | 1/2000s | 3.0 | Y | Y | |
| Panasonic GF5 | none | n | 3.0 | 920 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 4.0 | Y | n | |
| Panasonic G3 | 1440 | n | 3.0 | 460 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 4.0 | Y | n | |
| Panasonic GF3 | none | n | 3.0 | 460 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 3.2 | Y | n | |
| Panasonic G2 | 1440 | n | 3.0 | 460 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 2.6 | Y | n | |
| Panasonic GF2 | optional | n | 3.0 | 460 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 2.6 | Y | n | |
| Panasonic GH2 | 1534 | n | 3.0 | 460 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 3.0 | Y | n | |
| Panasonic GF1 | optional | n | 3.0 | 460 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0 | Y | n | |
| Panasonic G1 | 1440 | n | 3.0 | 460 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 3.0 | Y | n |
One convenient feature of the G10 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.
Connection comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Microphone |
Internal Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support | NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic G10 | Y | mono | - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Olympus E-PL2 | Y | stereo | - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Olympus E-PL1 | Y | stereo | - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Panasonic GF5 | - | stereo | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Panasonic G3 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Panasonic GF3 | - | stereo | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Panasonic G2 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Panasonic GF2 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Panasonic GH2 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Panasonic GF1 | Y | mono | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Panasonic G1 | Y | - | - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - |
Expert reviews
While the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the G10 handle or perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable. This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog).
| Camera Model |
camera labs |
dp review |
ephoto zine |
imaging resource |
photography blog |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic G10 | .. | 70/100 | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | Mar 2010 | 499 | |
|
| Olympus E-PL2 | 83/100 | 71/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2011 | 599 | |
|
| Olympus E-PL1 | 86/100 | 69/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2010 | 599 | |
|
| Panasonic GF5 | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Apr 2012 | 499 | |
|
| Panasonic G3 | + + | 75/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | May 2011 | 599 | |
|
| Panasonic GF3 | 82/100 | 71/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Jun 2011 | 549 | |
|
| Panasonic G2 | .. | 72/100 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Mar 2010 | 599 | |
|
| Panasonic GF2 | 82/100 | 70/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Nov 2010 | 549 | |
|
| Panasonic GH2 | + + | 79/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Sep 2010 | 899 | |
|
| Panasonic GF1 | 85/100 | 69/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2009 | 749 | |
|
| Panasonic G1 | + + | 70/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2008 | 599 | |
|
| Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||
The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.
Panasonic G10 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the G10.
What technology is the imaging sensor in the G10 based on?
The camera is build around a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Panasonic equipped the G10 with the Venus HD II image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the G10?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10?
Panasonic does not publish a shutter rating for the G10. Yet, shutters in comparable cameras from other manufacturers are said to be good for at least 100 000 actuations. It should be noted, though, that this number represents a Mean Time before Failure. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust an expected shutter life of 100 000 shots over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.
Does the Panasonic G10 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with flash?
The G10's flash sync speed is 1/160 sec.
Which battery does the G10 use?
The camera gets its power from the DMW-BLB13 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Camera to camera comparisons
If you would like to see a side-by-side review of this and another camera, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Canon 1D X vs Panasonic G10
- Canon 250D vs Panasonic G10
- Canon M6 vs Panasonic G10
- Fujifilm GFX 50R vs Panasonic G10
- Fujifilm X-M1 vs Panasonic G10
- Leica Digilux 3 vs Panasonic G10
- Leica V-LUX Typ 114 vs Panasonic G10
- Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic G10
- Nikon D4S vs Panasonic G10
- Nikon P7800 vs Panasonic G10
- Panasonic G10 vs Sony NEX-5
- Panasonic G10 vs Sony NEX-5N
| Camera Model | Panasonic G10 | |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
| Camera Lens | Micro Four Thirds lenses | |
| Launch Date | March 2010 | |
| Launch Price | USD 499 | |
| Sensor Specs | ||
| Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
| Sensor Format | Four Thirds Sensor | |
| Sensor Size | 17.3 x 13.0 mm | |
| Sensor Area | 225 mm2 | |
| Sensor Diagonal | 21.6 mm | |
| Crop Factor | 2.0x | |
| Sensor Resolution | 12 Megapixels | |
| Image Resolution | 4 000 x 3 000 pixels | |
| Pixel Pitch | 4.33 μm | |
| Pixel Density | 5.34 MP/cm2 | |
| Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
| Movie Capability | 720/30p Video | |
| ISO Setting | 100 - 6 400 ISO | |
| Image Processor | Venus HD II | |
| DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 52 | |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 21.2 | |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 10.1 | |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 411 | |
| Screen Specs | ||
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.52x | |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 202k dots | |
| LCD Framing | Live View | |
| LCD Size | 460k dots | |
| LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | |
| Shooting Specs | ||
| Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
| Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
| Continuous Shooting | 2.6 shutter flaps/s | |
| Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
| Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
| Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
| Fill Flash | Build-in Flash | |
| Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
| Second Storage Option | Single card slot | |
| UHS card support | no | |
| Connectivity Specs | ||
| External Flash | Hotshoe | |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
| HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
| Wifi Support | no Wifi | |
| Body Specs | ||
| Battery Type | DMW-BLB13 power pack | |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 380 shots per charge | |
| Body Dimensions |
124 x 84 x 74 mm (4.9 x 3.3 x 2.9 in) |
|
| Camera Weight | 388 g (13.7 oz) |
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