The Quick List ↩
1. Best overall
2. Best MFT
3. Best for pro video
4. Best for vlogging
5. Best for enthusiast filmmakers
6. Best for affordable filmmaking
7. Best for features & price
8. Best compact
How to choose
How we test
Panasonic cameras are probably most renowned for their remarkable video capabilities, a well-deserved accolade as Panasonic has consistently elevated its cameras with new cutting-edge video features, and with options for everyone from vloggers to professional filmmakers.
But is not all about video – Panasonic's Lumix camera range embodies a lot of versatility – and are also great stills cameras too. Available in various body and sensor sizes, Panasonic manages to cater to diverse needs whether it's a compact travel companion or a high-performing video device.
Panasonic is one of the pioneers of Micro Four Thirds sensors, with Lumix G cameras resulting in smaller, more portable bodies and lenses, and the open nature of the Micro Four Thirds system allows interchangeability between top lenses from Panasonic and Olympus (and third-parties), creating an extensive and adaptable lens ecosystem.
Panasonic also offers professional full-frame mirrorless cameras in the Lumix S series, delivering a balance of features, performance, and price, and supported by the L-mount alliance, ensuring compatibility with lenses from brands including Leica, Sigma, and Samyang.
Additionally, Panasonic is one of the last camera companies still selling fixed-lens compact cameras, catering to any photographers out there who don't want or need the expense and complexities of interchangeable lenses.
This guide segments all these different camera bodies and sensors to help you decide exactly what camera is right for you!
Best Panasonic Camera: The Quick List
The Panasonic Lumix S5II is the best camera in the lineup for stills and video, while also being very competitively priced
The Lumix G9 II is the latest in Panasonic's Micro Four Third cameras and offers the best experience to date for both stills and video shooters.
The Lumix S5IIX of the best hybrid cameras for professional video that money can buy, with outstanding quality as well as codecs and features for high-end production.
Small and compact, the Lumix G100 is one of my favorite vlogging and travel cameras.
A powerful Micro Four Thirds camera primarily aimed at video, but still capable of 25MP images.
The Panasonic Lumix GH5 Mark II balances affordability with some great video and stills features that still make this a compelling camera today.
The best Panasonic camera in 2024
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Best Panasonic camera overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Panasonic Lumix S5 II builds on the original Lumix S5, with a tough compact frame, class-leading 5-axis in-body image stabilization, and excellent color science. The most significant new addition is a Phase Hybrid autofocus system that combines PDAF with Contrast Detect AF to provide 779-area metering. This means it's better at detecting and tracking subjects, especially in low light and backlit scenarios.
The Lumix S5 II gives you truly unlimited 4K/60p 4:2:2 10-bit recording internally, S&Q 4K/60p (a high-speed 60fps) and FHD/180p, as well as up to 6K, full sensor readout video recording, making it a highly versatile camera for content creators.
Read more: Panasonic Lumix S5 II review
Best Panasonic Micro Four Thirds camera
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The Panasonic Lumix G9 II offers an all-in-one experience, catering to both photographers and videographers. Panasonic solidifies its position with the G9 II's exceptional video capabilities, while its in-body image stabilization and upgraded autofocus system make for stunning video quality that at long last competes neck-and-neck with other top brands.
In still photography, the Micro Four Thirds sensor shines in scenarios needing extended reach, perfect for capturing sports or wildlife, thanks to its 2x crop factor. Coupled with a faster processor, the camera now boasts rapid readout speeds. While it produces sharp, colorful images, the MTF sensor struggles a bit in low-light settings compared to larger sensors.
Overall, the Panasonic G9 II is a commendable successor to the original model, showcasing why Panasonic hasn't abandoned the MFT mount and why users shouldn't either. It's a versatile camera that excels in various shooting scenarios, making it a solid choice for both enthusiasts and professionals.
Read more: Panasonic Lumix G9 II review
Best Panasonic camera for pro video
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There's fierce competition among cameras in this class, and within the $2000/£2000 price range, the Lumix S5II stands out as the top value pick. However, the S5II X introduces some fantastic possibilities for just a slightly higher cost.
What's really remarkable about the S5II X is that it doesn't compromise the S5II's existing features to incorporate additional video capabilities. In fact, it comes equipped with some features right out of the box, like improved autofocus and the Live View Composite mode, previously available on the S5II only through a firmware update.
For creators or filmmakers seeking a high-end hybrid camera that's both compact and capable of seamlessly integrating into professional workflows without sacrificing image quality, the Lumix S5II X presents a strong argument for itself. Even if RAW video capabilities aren't an immediate priority, features like ALL-I compression, direct shooting to SSDs, and streaming functionality alone would be enough to tip the scales in its favor over its counterpart and competitors priced similarly.
Read more: Panasonic Lumix S5IIX review
Best Panasonic camera for vlogging
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Vloggers and creatives more broadly will enjoy the simplicity of the Lumix G100. It makes it easy to capture high-quality video and stills with its approachable button layout. Even people uninterested in the technicalities of capturing great-looking videos will be able to get results with this camera.
There’s an inherent risk of dumbing things down too much when creating a camera for social media creatives, but Panasonic has avoided that pitfall with the Lumix G100, as we discovered to our delight when we gave it a full review. By giving it a decent viewfinder and “proper camera” ergonomics, Panasonic has given the G100 an edge in a highly competitive market. This is a great camera to start with if you're more interested in vlogging than regular photography – or both!
Read more: Panasonic Lumix G100 review
Best Panasonic camera for enthusiast filmmakers
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With every iteration of its Lumix GH series, Panasonic has been inching closer to creating the perfect filmmaker's mirrorless camera, and the Lumix GH6 makes a damn good case for having cracked it. We recently handed it over to a professional filmmaker for their take on it, and the verdict was that the GH6 offers: "a compelling set of features that simply can’t be rivaled at its price point."
With internal Apple ProRes 422 and ProRes 422 HQ, internal Cinema 4K 4:2:0 10-Bit, and many more class-leading options, the Lumix GH6 is simply a beast when it comes to video. It copes with its intense data demands by adding in a CFExpress Type B card slot, as well as a UHS-II SD card slot. Its design is also filmmaker-focused, with a vari-angle LCD screen, and physical controls including a dedicated audio management button.
Plus, it's a hybrid camera that's no slouch on stills! You don't put 75fps burst shooting in a camera if you don't think anyone's going to want to take pictures with it, after all. While the Lumix GH6 is primarily a filmmaker's camera, its impressive stills credentials mean it's one of the best buys around right now for content creators who can meet its price tag.
Read more: Panasonic Lumix GH6 review for more details
Best Panasonic camera for affordable filmmaking
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The original Panasonic Lumix GH5 was pretty widely regarded as one of the best consumer video cameras you could buy, so it makes sense that the Panasonic Lumix GH5 Mark II wouldn't mess too much with that formula. In fact, this is a very minor refresh all around, but the video features it does add make it definitely worth considering for those who produce video content, even with the newer Lumix GH6 also on the shelves.
The stabilization system provides up to 6.5EV steps of compensation, which is hugely handy (while not everyone likes the smaller Four-Thirds sensors, they are easier to stabilize). It also has live-streaming capabilities, and the video autofocus functions very well. Those who already own a Lumix GH5 or GH5S probably don't need to upgrade, but if you're looking for a new mirrorless filmmaking camera, this is a fantastic buy that's cheaper than the Lumix GH6. It's also no slouch with stills either!
Read more: Panasonic Lumix GH5 II review
Best Panasonic camera for features and price
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The Panasonic Lumix G90 (G95 in the US) is a great stills and video camera for enthusiasts and vloggers. The handling and control layout are great, and the autofocus feels very snappy indeed. The only issue is the price. It's a good camera for stills photographers, video, and vlogging, and Panasonic's underrated 4K Photo modes offer capabilities other cameras don't have.
The Lumix G90/G95 isn't cheap, however, though it does have Panasonic's V-Log mode as standard rather than a paid-for extra. It also has some strong competition from other Lumix models, so keep reading to see other Panasonic Lumix alternatives.
The Lumix G90/95 can be quite hard to find, especially outside the US. For whatever reason, it seems to have been pulled from shelves in territories like the UK even before the Lumix G80/85, which preceded it. However, if you can find one, the Lumix G90/G95 is a great buy.
Read more: Panasonic Lumix G90/G95 review for more details
Best Panasonic compact camera
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
There are currently two ‘LX’ cameras in Panasonic’s premium range of compact cameras. Both are very attractive propositions; the LX100 Mark II combines a Micro Four Thirds format image sensor with a Leica zoom lens. For value, however, we prefer the Panasonic Lumix LX15. This camera has a smaller 1.0-type image sensor and a Leica Summilux zoom lens with an ‘effective’ 24-72mm focal length range, in full-frame terms. The camera is wonderfully compact yet packs some seriously powerful features, including Light Speed AF, hybrid stabilization, and 4K definition for both video and bursts of stills at 30fps.
Read more: Panasonic Lumix LX15 review
How to choose the best Panasonic camera
Finding the perfect Panasonic camera involves considering your specific needs. To begin, ask yourself, what am I going to use my camera for? – Whether it's photography, videography, vlogging, or a mix of these. This is a great first step to narrowing down the body and sensor size that will work best for you.
If you are primarily a stills photographer then focus on image quality imagery, starting with resolution (measured in megapixels) and sensor size. Larger sensors often offer better image quality, particularly in low-light conditions, and higher megapixels mean bigger photos and more room to crop images without losing quality.
Smaller sensors however offer more optical reach. A Micro Four Thirds sensor has a 2x crop rate, which means that a 100mm lens is really a 200mm lens, which is great if you shoot a lot of sports or wildlife where you want to get close to the action.
If video is a priority, features like 4K recording, frame rates, and supported video formats are key. Built-in image stabilization is invaluable for smoother video, particularly when shooting handheld. Additionally, a reliable and swift autofocus system is essential that can keep up with tracking moving subjects.
Budget also plays a crucial role. Panasonic offers a range of cameras across different price points. There will be some compromise on features, with more expensive cameras having newer and more powerful specs. It is good to begin with what you can afford, and then, if you feel constrained by that camera you can work out if you need a more expensive or different model down the line.
Finally, consider lenses. If you choose an interchangeable lens camera – L lenses, and MTF lenses are not interchangeable, so if you are thinking of buying into both full frame and MFT systems, then be aware you will need to buy two sets of unique lenses. If you prefer to not deal with changing lenses, then a compact camera with a fixed lens is the way to go.
Before making a decision, dive into the reviews featured in this guide which offer some expert recommendations and real-world insights into the performance and reliability of all the cameras on this list.
Which Panasonic camera is best for photography?
This depends on if you are looking for a full frame or a Micro Four Thirds camera. The current best full frame camera from Panasonic for stills is the Panasonic Lumic S5II, while the best Micro Four Thirds camera in Panasonic's lineup is the Panasonic Lumix G9 II.
Are Panasonic cameras the same as Leica cameras?
An interesting question. There is not a clear answer to this – however, the two companies have a good working relationship, partnering on many technologies including Micro Four Thirds and the L-Mount Alliance. So it would be unsurprising if other technologies were shared in both systems that have not been publically disclosed.
How we test Panasonic cameras
We put Panasonic cameras through rigorous evaluations encompassing real-world shooting conditions as well as meticulously controlled laboratory settings. Our comprehensive tests delve into key aspects such as resolution, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio, vital in gauging camera performance.
To evaluate resolution, we employ ISO resolution charts, meticulously assessing the camera's ability to capture fine details. The dynamic range, a pivotal metric, is determined using specialized DxO Analyzer test equipment. Additionally, our analysis includes a meticulous examination of noise levels across the camera's ISO range, performed using DxO Analyzer.
These in-depth real-world assessments and lab-generated data serve as the cornerstone for our insights and recommendations featured in our buying guides. For a deeper understanding of our testing and reviewing methodologies, explore the detailed breakdown of how we test cameras at Digital Camera World.
