I own a Panasonic Lumix LX3 which, at the time of purchase, was one of the best point-and-shoot cameras in the world. But eventually, I knew I needed something more.
I held off on buying a DSLR, and when the first Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera was announced, the Panasonic Lumix G1 in 2008, I finally knew what I was waiting for. But it would be four more years until I finally acquired my first MFT camera, the Olympus OMD EM-5. I’ve had no complaints.
But when I was offered the chance to spend a few weeks with the Panasonic Lumix G6, I immediately jumped on it, eager to experience what the other side of the MFT equation had to offer.
Design
The reason many people choose mirrorless cameras is because they offer a smaller profile closer to point-and-shoots while still offering the flexibility of interchangeable lenses like DSLRs. That said, the G6 isn’t on the slim side of Panasonic’s MFT line, though I shouldn’t complain since it isn’t much bigger than my OMD, and a little lighter.
The contoured hand grip, which is the reason for its chunkiness, also feels very good in the hand. Controls are easy to reach and there are five customizable function buttons.
The G6 has a fully articulated LCD touch panel which I much prefer over the tilting LCD of the OMD. The touch screen is very responsive. And unlike most mirrorless cameras, the G6 also has a built-in Electronic View Finder (EVF) which is very useful under extremely sunny conditions, or for those just not used to composing their shots on an LCD.
Quality and performance
I’m not a pro-photographer. Heck, I wouldn’t even call myself a prosumer. More like an ambitious amateur, which means I don’t really do that much post-processing and prefer getting the look I want on camera. Manual is great when you have the luxury of time. But when you have to fire off a quick shot, the Intelligent Auto mode does a decent job.
The G6 also has quite a number of scene modes that are fun to play with ranging from the familiar (sunset, monochrome, scenery) to the oddly specific (sweet child’s face, soft image of a flower, cute dessert).
The auto-focus is quite fast, aided by face detection and subject tracking options. You can also use the touch screen to specify a focus point which should come naturally for those used to taking photos with their smartphones. Manual focus through the EVF meantime is made easier through magnification of the focus area, which allows you to dial it in.
WiFi and NFC
Wi-Fi on a camera is a brilliant concept. Instead of relying on the camera on your phone, why not use the best camera you have for the best images you upload on the web? Although this could be considered cheating by Instagram purists.
By downloading the Panasonic Image App, you can sync your Android or iOS device to the G6. Once paired, you can use your phone as a remote control, browse through your gallery, and transfer pictures.
If you have an NFC-equipped phone then you’re golden. Just touch the phone to the side of the camera and watch the magic happen. Without NFC, the process is a little more cumbersome, especially at the start when you have to key in the Wi-Fi password for the camera which acts as your hotspot.
Panasonic also has a Lumix Club cloud service. The concept being once you connect your camera to a local Wi-Fi router, you can send images to the service which then posts it to your social networks. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to test this feature.
The Wi-Fi connection can be finicky. There were times when the connection would just drop, or everything would just freeze up while I was using my phone as a remote. But when it works, it’s like sorcery!
There’s also an option for saving photos automatically to your phone as you’re shooting, but better keep the image size manageable since this can slow down the camera.
Video recording
With modern cameras now able to do video as well, the need for dedicated camcorders has virtually disappeared. The G6 seems to be a great option for budding cinematographers. It can record videos in full high definition (1080p), and includes a 24 frames per second option for a more cinematic look.
A dedicated video button is easily accessible on the top panel. It has a mini HDMI port for playing videos straight out of the camera. Aside from a built-in stereo microphone, the G6 also has a microphone jack which is just icing on the cake.
The verdict
I really enjoyed my time with the G6. It was easy to pick up and just start playing around with even without poring through the manual first. I’m still really happy with my Olympus. But if I ever need to buy a second camera, my time with the G6 gives me reason to rekindle the affair. And frankly, the ability to share lenses makes this a viable option.
If you currently have a point-and-shoot and decide to go the MFT route, or you’re a DSLR owner jumping to the dark side, just know that your options for lenses will be limited to what’s available from Panasonic and Olympus here in the Philippines.
Hopefully, this will be remedied as mirrorless cameras continue to gain popularity, and local camera shops finally decide to bring in third party MFT lenses.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
