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Panasonic G6 Comparison Review

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was officially introduced in April 2013 and is equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. It offers a resolution of 15.9 megapixel.

camera

Is the Panasonic G6 a good camera? The G6 has a Camera Elo of 1898. This rating puts the G6 below average of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (Four Thirds cameras), the G6 ranks among the top 50 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 3-star performance rating.

Headline Specifications
Panasonic G6
Mirrorless system camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses
15.9 MP, Four Thirds Sensor
1080/60p Video
ISO 160 - 12 800 (160 - 25 600)
Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1036k dots
Swivel touchscreen
7 shutter flaps per second
340 shots per battery charge
122 x 85 x 71 mm, 390 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.

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Body comparison with a credit card

An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Panasonic G6 vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are presented. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Panasonic G6 vs credit card front
G6 versus credit card top view
G6 and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Panasonic G6 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
#   Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic G6 122 mm 85 mm 71 mm 390 g 340 n Apr 2013 599ebay.com
2.
 
Canon 100D 117 mm 91 mm 69 mm 407 g 380 n Mar 2013 549ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-M10 119 mm 82 mm 46 mm 396 g 320 n Jan 2014 699ebay.com
4.
 
Panasonic GX800 107 mm 65 mm 33 mm 269 g 210 n Jan 2017 549ebay.com
5.
 
Panasonic G7 125 mm 86 mm 77 mm 410 g 350 n May 2015 649ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic GM5 99 mm 60 mm 36 mm 211 g 220 n Sep 2014 749ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic GF6 111 mm 65 mm 38 mm 323 g 340 n Apr 2013 499ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic GM1 99 mm 55 mm 30 mm 204 g 230 n Oct 2013 749ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GX7 123 mm 71 mm 55 mm 402 g 350 n Aug 2013 999ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic G5 120 mm 83 mm 71 mm 396 g 320 n Jul 2012 599ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic G3 115 mm 84 mm 47 mm 336 g 270 n May 2011 599ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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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 G6 was launched in the US market at a price of $599. 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.

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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 generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

The Panasonic G6 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 G6 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.

Panasonic G6 sensor measures

For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of alternative cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
#   Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Panasonic G6 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p21.311.563961
2.
 
Canon 100D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.811.384363
3.
 
Olympus E-M10 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.388472
4.
 
Panasonic GX800 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34484K/30p23.213.358673
5.
 
Panasonic G7 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34484K/30p22.812.490471
6.
 
Panasonic GM5 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p22.111.772166
7.
 
Panasonic GF6 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60i20.710.662254
8.
 
Panasonic GM1 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60i22.311.766066
9.
 
Panasonic GX7 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p22.612.271870
10.
 
Panasonic G5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p21.411.661861
11.
 
Panasonic G3 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60i21.010.666756
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The G6 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the G6 can use is 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the G6 has an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 1440k dots. The viewfinder offers a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.70x. The adjacent tables list some of the other core features of the Panasonic G6 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
#   Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Panasonic G61440 n3.0 / 1036 swivel Y 1/4000s 7.0/s Y n
2.
 
Canon 100Doptical n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.9/s Y n
3.
 
Olympus E-M101440 n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s Y Y
4.
 
Panasonic GX800none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/500s 10.0/s Y n
5.
 
Panasonic G72360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 7.0/s Y n
6.
 
Panasonic GM51166 n3.0 / 921 fixed Y 1/500s 5.8/s n n
7.
 
Panasonic GF6none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
8.
 
Panasonic GM1none n3.0 / 1036 fixed Y 1/500s 5.0/s Y n
9.
 
Panasonic GX72760 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/8000s 5.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Panasonic G51440 n3.0 / 920 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
11.
 
Panasonic G31440 n3.0 / 460 swivel Y 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The LCD screen on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD is hinged on the side and can be flipped out for odd-angle shots in both portrait and landscape orientation. Also, this fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment is often appreciated by videographers for its flexibility. Moreover, v-loggers like the design because the screen can be turned to be front-facing.

articulated screen
Flexible screen on the G6

One convenient feature of the G6 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.

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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-G6 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
#   Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Panasonic G6Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
2.
 
Canon 100DYmono / monoY-mini2.0---
3.
 
Olympus E-M10Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
4.
 
Panasonic GX800-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
5.
 
Panasonic G7Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
6.
 
Panasonic GM5Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
7.
 
Panasonic GF6-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
8.
 
Panasonic GM1-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
9.
 
Panasonic GX7Ystereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
10.
 
Panasonic G5Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
11.
 
Panasonic G3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
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It is notable that the G6 has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Further information on the features and operation of the G6 can be found in the free online Panasonic G6 Manual or on the Panasonic support site.

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Expert reviews

While the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the handling experience and imaging performance when actually working with the G6. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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Review Scores
#    Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic G64/5+ +....5/54.5/5 Apr 2013 599ebay.com
2.
 
Canon 100D4/5+..78/1004/54/5 Mar 2013 549ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-M104/5....80/1005/55/5 Jan 2014 699ebay.com
4.
 
Panasonic GX800..+..76/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2017 549ebay.com
5.
 
Panasonic G74/5+ +3.5/580/1005/54.5/5 May 2015 649ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic GM53.5/5+..77/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2014 749ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic GF6..+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Apr 2013 499ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic GM13/5+..78/1005/54.5/5 Oct 2013 749ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GX74/5+..79/1005/55/5 Aug 2013 999ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic G53/5+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Jul 2012 599ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic G33/5+ +..75/1004.5/55/5 May 2011 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Panasonic G6 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the G6.

What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the Panasonic G6?

The camera features a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.

Which image processing chip is used in the Panasonic G6 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Panasonic equipped the G6 with the Venus image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Panasonic G6?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 12800.

Does the Panasonic G6 have a selfie-friendly screen?

Yes, the LCD-screen of the G6 is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6?

Panasonic does not publish a shutter rating for the G6. 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.

How do I find the shutter count on my Panasonic G6?

Panasonic embeds the number of shutter actuations in hidden menus. You can check the number of shots that your G6 has taken up to now by carefully following the steps described on the Panasonic G6 shutter count page.

Is completely silent shooting possible with the Panasonic G6?

The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.

Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Panasonic G6?

No, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.

Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Panasonic G6?

The G6 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.

Does the Panasonic G6 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 the Panasonic G6 for flash photography?

The G6's flash sync speed is 1/160 sec.

Does the Panasonic G6 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).

Which battery does the Panasonic G6 use?

The camera gets its power from the DMW-BLC12 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Camera to camera comparisons

In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities with other camera models, just use the search menu below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Panasonic G6
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date April 2013
    Launch Price USD 599
    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 15.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4 608 x 3 456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.76 μm
    Pixel Density 7.08 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 160 - 12 800 ISO
    ISO Boost 160 - 25 600 ISO
    Image Processor Venus
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 61
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.3
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 11.5
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 639
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1440k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 1036k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen
    V-logging Friendliness Front-flip possible
    Touch Input Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peaking
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 7 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations
    Silent ShootingElectronic Shutter
    Time Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer Built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in
    Body Specs
    Battery Type DMW-BLC12 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)340 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 122 x 85 x 71 mm
    (4.8 x 3.3 x 2.8 in)
    Camera Weight 390 g (13.8 oz)

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