The $900 Panasonic Lumix GM5 remains still a small but pricey ILC, now with EVF
The small but notable change of swapping a built-in flash for an EVF is welcome, but the price...
Panasonic's most compact interchangeable-lens camera line -- the pint-sized GM series -- gets a refresh with the new Lumix DMC-GM5, which replaces the GM1. In the US it will generally come only in the kit version with the small 12-32mm lens and runs a fairly expensive $900. Other regions will also have different configurations. In Australia, it will come as a single lens kit with the 12-32mm lens for AU$1,099 or a twin lens kit with the 12-32mm and 35-100mm for AU$1,399. (UK pricing was not available at press time, but an approximate conversion would be £550).
What's different
- Exchanged the flash for an EVF. This is the most notable change. Panasonic removed the built-in flash, instead bundling an external flash that fits in the hot shoe -- oh yeah, there's now a hot shoe -- and added a small EVF.
- New feature. Panasonic added a new Snap Movie mode, which records short 2-, 4-, 6-, or 8-second videos suitable for uploading to social media services.
My take
I think I've said before that some miniaturization just isn't worth it. The GM5 may turn out to be a great camera, but it's relatively expensive for what you get. For example, the Sony A6000 is now cheaper than the GM5 will launch at, and it's not really that much bigger -- once you stick a lens on any of these they cease to be truly pocketable. Plus it offers, among other things, a tilting LCD and better battery life. I have a feeling I'll be recommending that people put their Panasonic-intentioned dollars toward the LX100 instead.
Comparative specifications
| Nikon 1 V2 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 | Sony Alpha A6000 | |
| Sensor effective resolution | 14.2MP CMOS | 16MP Live MOS | 16MP Live MOS | 24.3MP Exmor HD CMOS 14-bit |
| Sensor size | 13.2 x 8.8mm | 17.3 x 13mm | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
| Focal-length multiplier | 2.7x | 2.0x | 2.0x | 1.5x |
| OLPF | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 160 - ISO 6400 | ISO 125 (exp)/200 - ISO 25600 | ISO 100 (exp)/ISO 200 - ISO 25600 | ISO 100 - ISO 25600 |
| Burst shooting | 15fps 45 JPEG/n/a | 4fps unlimited JPEG/7 raw (5fps without AF; 40fps with electronic shutter) | 5fps unlimited JPEG/7 raw (40 fps with electronic shutter) | 11fps n/a |
| Viewfinder (mag/ effective mag) | EVF 0.47 in/11.9 mm 1.44m dots 100% coverage n/a | None | EVF n/a 1.17m dots 100% coverage 0.92x/0.46x | OLED EVF 0.4 in/10 mm 1.44 million dots 100% coverage 1.07x/0.71x |
| Hot shoe | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus | 73-point phase detection 135-area contrast AF | 23-area Contrast AF | 23-area Contrast AF | 179-point phase detection, 25-area contrast AF |
| AF sensitivity | n/a | -4 - 18 EV | -4 - 18 EV | 0- 20 EV |
| Shutter speed | 30 - 1/4,000 sec; max 1/16,000 with electronic shutter; 1/60 x-sync, 1/250 sec x-sync with electronic shutter | 60-1/500 sec.; max 1/16,000 sec with electronic shutter ; 1/50 sec x-sync | 60 - n/a sec; max 1/16,000 sec with electronic shutter; 1/50 sec x-sync | 30-1/4000 sec.; bulb; 1/160 x-sync |
| Metering | n/a | 1,728 zone | 1,728 zone | 1,200 zone |
| Metering sensitivity | n/a | 0 - 18 EV | 0 - 18 EV | 0 - 20 EV |
| Best video | H.264 QuickTime MOV 1080/30p; 720/60p | AVCHD, H.264 MP4 1080/30p, 60i @ 24Mbps, 1080/24p @ 24Mbps | AVCHD 1080/60p, 30p, 25p, 24p @ 28Mbps | AVCHD 1080/60p @ 28Mbps |
| Audio | Stereo; mic input | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo; mic (via accessory shoe) |
| Manual aperture and shutter in video | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IS | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical |
| LCD | 3-inch/7.5 cm Fixed 920,000 dots | 3-inch/7.5 cm Fixed touchscreen 1.04 million dots | 3-inch/7.5cm Fixed touchscreen 921,600 dots | 3-inch/7.5cm Flip-up touchscreen 921,600 dots |
| Memory slots | 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC |
| Wireless connection | Optional (via WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter) | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, NFC |
| Flash | Yes | Yes | Bundled optional | Yes |
| Wireless flash | No | No | No | No |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | 310 shots | 230 shots | 220 shots | 420 shots |
| Size (WHD) | 4.2 x 3.2 x 1.8 in 107.8 x 81.6 x 45.9mm | 3.9 x 2.2 x 1.2 in 98.5 x 54.9 x 30.4mm | 3.9 x 2.3 x 1.4 in 98.5 x 59.5 x 36.1mm | 4.8 x 2.9 x 1.8 in 120 x 66.9 x 45.1mm |
| Body operating weight | 9.8 oz (est.) 278 g (est.) | 7.2 oz (est.) 204 g (est.) | 7.4 oz (est.) 211 g (est.) | 11.6 oz 330 g |
| Primary kit | $850 £650 (est.) AU pricing not available (with 10-30mm lens) | $750 £550 (est.) AU$900 (est.) (with 12-32mm lens) | $900 AU$1,099 (with 12-32mm lens) AU$1,399 (with 12-32mm and 35-100mm lenses) UK pricing to be announced | $750 £670 AU$934 (with 15-60mm PZ lens) |
| Release date | November 2012 | November 2013 | November 2014 | April 2014 |