Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Pro Reviews

We'd argue that the Lumix G6 is not only a step closer in closing the gap between DSLR and CSC cameras’ capabilities, but that - in some respects - it's a step beyond. When it comes to value for money and feature set the G6 is more packed with feature goodness and a more affordable prospect than its G5 predecessor. Good news. But it’s a subtle shimmy of a step forward rather than a giant leap. While some features such as the excellent LCD screen and viewfinder are top notch, big-hitters such as Wi-Fi just aren’t as fleshed out as they could have been. There's no movement in the image quality department compared to the previous generation camera either - but, in saying that, what the G6 delivers is still top quality and comparable to the majority of its competitiors. It's the continuous autofocus department that sees the G6 come up just short and, for us, is the last major pillar that stands in the way of the G6 and near-perfection. Top of the pops? Not quite, but nearly - the G6 is a great all-round performer that'll hold plenty of crowd appeal to a wide audience.

Priced competitively against rival DSLRs such as either Canon's EOS 100D or 700D, Nikon's D5200 and Sony's Alpha 65, the Panasonic Lumix G6 has a lot going for it. Packed with features, there's not a lot missing from the G6 it this price point, especially when you factor in the Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity. The touchscreen interface and host of body-mounted controls make the G6 really easy and quick to use, and while we feel the overall finish has taken a slight step back over the G5, the curved handgrip delivers one of the most satisfying grips out there. Image quality is strong, delivering plenty of detail, and while it might not be quite a match for DSLRs at the higher sensitivities, it's still more than adequate – especially if you shoot Raw – while the video performance will also appeal. That's not forgetting its compact proportions. If you're looking for comparable DSLR performance and images in a smaller body that's complimented by a growing range of compact lenses, then the G6 is the perfect travel companion.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the Panasonic Lumix G6 is one of the most satisfying cameras I've used to date. The image quality may be essentially the same as its predecessor, but the feature set, handling and usability have all received significant improvements which turn it into one of the best cameras in its class, mirrorless or DSLR. Indeed for many, including myself, it's actually more attractive than the flagship Lumix GH3. It may be a mid-range camera, but offers far more controls and customization than most of its peers using either a wealth of physical buttons, dials and levers or one of the most capable touch-screen interfaces that Panasonic has been steadily refining over the years. Composition is also a joy with the OLED viewfinder or articulated 3in screen, both of which look much better than the G5. The movie mode has importantly caught up with rivals thanks to manual exposures and a microphone input, but now joins the best with the addition of focus peaking and time lapse recordings. The focusing which was already fast on previous generations is now even quicker, but crucially works under much lower lighting conditions than most cameras including the GH3 and rival DSLRs at this price point. This alone makes the G6 so much more usable than many cameras I've tested.

The Panasonic Lumix G6 is an excellent camera, with very few issues, although battery life could be better. The Wi-Fi features are excellent for remote control and sending images to your smartphone, but uploading to social networks should be much easier, without having to go through the Lumix logon website, which caused some issues. Value for money is very good, particularly as the introduction price competes very well with similar cameras, and we would expect the price to drop over time making it even better value for money. The Panasonic Lumix G6 delivers excellent image quality even when using the kit lens that comes in the box, and as its part of the Micro Four Thirds system, there are a large number of lenses available for when you want to upgrade, from both Panasonic, Olympus and many other manufacturers. The lenses are generally smaller than most other mirrorless camera lenses, making the camera and lenses a compact and portable system. With this, the latest Micro Four Thirds SLR styled camera from Panasonic, the Lumix G6, Panasonic has introduced an excellent reason to switch from your DSLR.

An accomplished all-rounder that excels for video capture

Expert review of the Panasonic Lumix G6 camera with sample photos, test shots, videos and more... In our view the Lumix G6 is the best overall compact system camera that Panasonic have yet released, offering a great mix of must-have features, intuitive DSLR-like handling and speedy performance, all at a reasonable price. Whether its image quality meets your needs, good as it is for a Micro Four Thirds camera, is perhaps the only reason for looking elsewhere - in all other regards it's very easy for us to strongly recommend the Panasonic Lumix G6 as a fantastic camera in its own right.