Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories?
X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 photo samples

The GF5 is capable of delivering some excellent photos.

35182242_SIC1_620.jpg
1 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Noise and JPEG processing

The GF5 shows some improvement in its noise profile and JPEG processing over the GF3, especially at low ISO sensitivities. It seems to primarily be attributable to a less noisy image coming off the sensor, an expected advancement from one generation to the next. While there's a noticeable jump in noise-reduction artifacts between ISO 400 and ISO 800 in the JPEGs -- most notably smearing -- Panasonic has improved the processing of high-contrast areas. For instance, the gorilla's fur and the rose become quite smeary by ISO 800, but the text doesn't suffer too much. The lens you use makes a big difference as well: while I wouldn't suggest shooting JPEGs past ISO 400 with the 14-42mm PZ kit lens (used for shooting these test samples), for a good prime lens I think I'd bump that to ISO 800.
35182242_SIC9_620-160.jpg
2 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

ISO 160 JPEG

While the camera is fast, it's not really optimal for shooting random, speedy subjects like this. However, it's capable of delivering sharp images.

(1/125 sec, f4, spot metering, AWB, ISO 160, Olympus 45mm lens)
35182242_SIC12_620-400.jpg
3 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

ISO 400 JPEG

Though it's a little soft and you can see some artifacts (look at the flat surface of the building in the upper right corner and the edges of the illuminated elements of the clock face), the GF5 can resolve detail pretty well with the right lens.

(1/60 sec, f1.8, spot metering, AWB, ISO 400, Olympus 45mm lens)
35182242_SIC13_620-800.jpg
4 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

ISO 800 JPEG

This isn't bad for ISO 800, but it's a good example of the artifacts on edges.

(1/125 sec, f2, spot metering, AWB, ISO 800, Olympus 45mm lens)
35182242_SIC13_620-1600rj_1.jpg
5 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

ISO 1600, raw vs. JPEG

You can see how smeary the GF5 gets in the off-focus, shadow areas of JPEGs in high ISO sensitivity images. The brighter, in-focus areas are handled pretty well.

(1/100 sec, f4.5, spot metering, AWB, ISO 1600, Olympus 45mm lens)
35182242_SIC11_620-color.jpg
6 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Color

The GF5 renders bright, saturated colors with pretty good accuracy.
35182242_SIC10_620-style.jpg
7 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Photo Styles

The camera's default color handling (standard) pushes the contrast and saturation a bit, but doesn't introduce serious hue shifts or loss of shadow detail.

(1/125 sec, f7.1, spot metering, AWB, ISO 160, Olympus 45mm lens)
35182242_SIC5_620-flash.jpg
8 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Flash

The ability to tilt the flash back to bounce the light (top) makes a huge difference in the quality of some flash shots. It doesn't have enough power to illuminate distance shots, such as group photos, but it's great for close-ups.

(1/100 sec, f1.8, spot metering, AWB, ISO 160, Olympus 45mm lens)
35182242_SIC2_620-fx1.jpg
9 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Filters

Panasonic lets you dial in the intensity of most of the filters as well as adjust some contextual options. Overall it has the typical set of filters (I don't have examples of the miniature or one-point-color filters).
35182242_SIC3_620-fx2.jpg
10 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Filters

More filters.
35182242_SIC4_620-fx3.jpg
11 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Filters

And more filters.

More Galleries

3-Row VW ID Buzz Electric Microbus Is Headed to the States in 2024
Volkswagen ID Buzz three-row EV

3-Row VW ID Buzz Electric Microbus Is Headed to the States in 2024

47 Photos
Yamaha motorcycle and instrument designers trade jobs (pictures)
yamaha01.jpg

Yamaha motorcycle and instrument designers trade jobs (pictures)

16 Photos
CNET's 'Day of the Dead Devices' altar (pictures)
dia-de-los-muertos-3318-001.jpg

CNET's 'Day of the Dead Devices' altar (pictures)

9 Photos
2007 Los Angeles Auto Show: concept cars
conceptss01_440.jpg

2007 Los Angeles Auto Show: concept cars

14 Photos
Best sound bars under $300
polk-magnifi-mini-15.jpg

Best sound bars under $300

18 Photos
2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke reports for diesel duty
2018 Ford F-150 diesel

2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke reports for diesel duty

22 Photos
Music-friendly cell phone accessories

Music-friendly cell phone accessories

11 Photos