Two companies are actively developing products for two different camera systems: Fujifilm and Panasonic. In the case of Fujifilm, this is the APS-C X series and the medium-format GFX system. For Panasonic, it’s the Micro Four Thirds platform and L-mount system, which includes full-frame mirrorless cameras and lenses. We’ll look at Fujifilm next week, but for now, the focus is on Panasonic and its interesting (and diverse) year of product launches.
Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds was very quiet but not bad
Typically, these recaps are divided into cameras and lenses. However, for Panasonic, it makes more sense to look at the camera system. The first is Micro Four Thirds, and there’s not much to say. That said, until earlier this week, there was even less to say. Panasonic waited until the buzzer sounded.
in early June, Panasonic unveils the Lumix GH7Its latest flagship hybrid micro four thirds camera. The GH7 features a newly developed 25.2-megapixel BSI CMOS image sensor and phase-detect autofocus, a pair of amazing upgrades.
Thanks to a wide range of incredible video features, the only real “downside” to the GH7 in terms of all-round performance is that the relatively small Micro Four Thirds sensor comes with shortcomings. It has its advantages, but image quality is not among them.
petapixelJordan Drake shoots most of our YouTube content using the GH7, which is a strong endorsement of how we feel about the camera anyway. It’s not perfect, but it is a powerful and highly capable camera, especially for hybrid creators.
Then just this week, Panasonic surprised everyone by announcing two new cameras Point-and-shoot ZS99 And the Lumix G97, a slightly improved version of G95 Micro Four Thirds Camera Released in spring 2019.
The G97 isn’t a show-stopper, and it doesn’t have a bunch of new features. However, it has slightly better video recording options, including better slow and quick capabilities, a higher-resolution rear LCD, Bluetooth 5.0, a new “Send Image” button, and a USB-C port instead of the older micro-USB.
Technically, the Lumix G97 won’t be available until the end of February, but it’s on the list because it was announced for 2024.
As far as new Micro Four Thirds lenses go, there weren’t any.
One final note in this section, just because it doesn’t fit well elsewhere, Panasonic has released another camera worth mentioning this year, FZ80DIt is a slightly updated version of the FZ80 superzoom type 1/2.3 camera released in 2017. This camera means little to most petapixelThe audience of. Still, we’d love to see superzoom cameras get some love as they are affordable cameras for birders and wildlife lovers. The camera features a 60x optical zoom lens up to 20-1200 mm equivalent focal length. I loved the original camera, so I was glad to see its updated version on store shelves.
Lumix S: A fun new camera and some great new lenses
Panasonic’s full-frame Lumix S system, which uses the L-mount, was busier in 2024 than the company’s Micro Four Thirds lineup. While there was only one new Lumix S camera, S9it is made a lot of noise with consumers, If there are no reviewers,
The Lumix S9 has many of the S5II’s features in a much smaller and more colorful body. The camera removes the electronic viewfinder (boo!) but adds great in-camera real-time LUT features (neat!). Seeking to win over smartphone users and content creators, the S9 succeeds primarily as a stylish full-frame camera, but falls short in terms of performance and flexibility.
However, the case for the Lumix S9 became significantly stronger a few months after its release when Panasonic released a very compact 18-40mm f/4.5-6.3 lensProbably the perfect optical companion for the S9.
The S9 was initially launched with a very poor new Lumix S 26mm f/8 LensA great $200 camera body cap with a fixed f/8 aperture and manual focus design. It’s an insult to be in the lens petapixelworst lenses of 2024But we wouldn’t hold it too much against Panasonic.
Especially since the company’s other two new lenses, like the 18-40mm f/4.5-6.3, are just as good. in the matter of Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Macro, Very Good. are strong contenders for petapixelThe best prime lens of 2024, the Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Macro is the world’s smallest full-frame macro lens with a focal length of just over 90mm. It also has excellent optical performance. Win-win.
There’s also the Lumix S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 Macro An impressive new lens For full-frame L-mount cameras. A much-needed all-in-one zoom, the lens is affordable, lightweight, and versatile.
While the Lumix 26mm f/8 manual pancake lens is disappointing for a number of reasons, the other three new Lumix S lenses have not only filled significant gaps in Panasonic’s L-mount lineup, but are great products in their own right.
Panasonic grading in 2024
Panasonic didn’t do much with its Micro Four Thirds lineup this year, but the Lumix GH7 is an excellent camera. The Lumix G97 is an exciting end-of-year announcement but a minor update to a fairly old camera. We criticized OM Systems for not doing enough to keep confidence high in Micro Four Thirds as a platform, so Panasonic will suffer the same fate despite the excellence of the GH7 (the OM-1 II is also excellent For what it’s worth).
Panasonic pulls itself out of the slump with its second system, which has received a lot of attention in recent years, the full-frame Lumix S platform. Panasonic hasn’t abandoned Micro Four Thirds, but it’s clear there’s a greater focus on full-frame. The Lumix S9 is a stylish little camera that just got a lot more interesting after a firmware update and the arrival of a new compact 18-40mm zoom lens.
The 100mm f/2.8 macro lens is fantastic, and the 28-200mm all-in-one zoom fills a significant void not only for Panasonic, but for L-mount at large.
If we were to give Panasonic separate grading for its two systems, it would get a D for Micro Four Thirds and a B for the Lumix S. But when considered largely as a photo company, Panasonic earns:
Grade: C
Image Credit: Exclusive image created using assets licensed through gathering photo,
