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Panasonic G6 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Panasonic G6

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    Main Features

    • 16MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
    • ISO 160 - 25600
    • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
    • 1440k dot Electronic viewfinder
    • 7 fps continuous shooting
    • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video
    • Built-in Wireless
    • 390g. 122 x 85 x 71 mm
    • Replaced Panasonic G5
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Panasonic G6 Overview

    First introduced in April 2013 , Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 is a 16.0MP Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor, Fully articulated touch screen and Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Panasonic replaced the older G5 with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:
    Compare Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 vs Panasonic G5

    Panasonic G6 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Lens Mount and Lenses
    4. Sensor and Photography Features
    5. Physical Specs
    6. LCD and Viewfinder
    7. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    8. Video
    9. Other Features
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Panasonic G6 is a member of Panasonic's G series of cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this series and how their main specs have changed with each new version.

    Panasonic G Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Panasonic G100
    Compare
    2020 20.0MP - Four Thirds 10.0 fps 116 x 83 x 54mm 352g
    Panasonic G95
    Compare
    2019 20.3MP - Four Thirds 9.0 fps 130 x 94 x 77mm 536g
    Panasonic G9
    Compare
    2017 20.0MP - Four Thirds 20.0 fps 137 x 97 x 92mm 658g
    Panasonic G7
    Compare
    2015 16.0MP - Four Thirds 7.0 fps 125 x 86 x 77mm 410g
    Panasonic G6
    2013 16.0MP - Four Thirds 7.0 fps 122 x 85 x 71mm 390g

    Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series:
    Panasonic G100 vs G95 vs G9 vs G7 vs G6

    Panasonic G6 has an Overall Score of 67/100 and ranked #100 out of 214 in Mirrorless cameras (Top 10 Mirrorless), and ranked #194 out of 1223 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.



    Panasonic G6 Physical Specs
    Panasonic G6 weighs 390 g (0.86 lb / 13.76 oz) and has external dimensions of 122 x 85 x 71 mm (4.8 x 3.35 x 2.8″). Considering that the average weight of Mirrorless type cameras is 445g, its weight is about average in its class. With a thickness of 71mm, it is large, 20mm thicker than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Mirrorless Cameras

    Panasonic G6
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Mirrorless Cameras

    Panasonic G6
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Panasonic G6 with the dimensions:

    Panasonic G6 Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Panasonic G6 Camera Body

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Panasonic G6, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Panasonic G6 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Panasonic G6 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

    Now let's compare Panasonic G6 size with the camera that it replaced: Panasonic G5. Panasonic G5 is 2mm narrower and 2mm shorter than Panasonic G6 but they have the same thickness of 71mm.


    Panasonic G6 vs Panasonic G5 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
    Comparison image of Panasonic G6 and Panasonic G5 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Panasonic G6 with its main competitors:

    Panasonic G6 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs G6 Thickness vs G6
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Panasonic G7
    Compare
    410g 20g heavier 77mm 6mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Panasonic G5
    Compare
    396g 6g heavier 71mm equal thickness
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Panasonic GH3
    Compare
    550g 160g heavier 82mm 11mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Panasonic GX7
    Compare
    402g 12g heavier 55mm 16mm thinner
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Olympus E-M10
    Compare
    396g 6g heavier 46mm 25mm thinner
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Panasonic G3
    Compare
    336g 54g lighter 47mm 24mm thinner
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Panasonic GH2
    Compare
    442g 52g heavier 76mm 5mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Olympus E-M10 II
    Compare
    390g equal weight 47mm 24mm thinner

    Weather Sealing

    Panasonic G6 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Panasonic G6 Sensor and Photography Features

    Panasonic G6 has a 16.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. G6 has a native ISO range of 160 - 25600 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Panasonic G6 is not the highest resolution Four Thirds camera. Panasonic G95 with its 20.3MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Panasonic G6 vs Panasonic G95 or take a look at Highest resolution Mirrorless cameras list.

    Panasonic G6 DxOMark Sensor Scores

    DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Panasonic G6 sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 61 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Panasonic G6 here.

    Let's look at how the size of the Panasonic G6's Four Thirds sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Panasonic G6 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Panasonic G6 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

    Panasonic G6 Lens Mount and Lenses

    Panasonic G6 has a Micro Four Thirds lens mount and currently there are 107 native lenses available for this mount. MFT is the most mature and diverse mount in the Mirrorles camera world. Panasonic offers a big selection of MFT lenses with high optical quality. Other main contributor of the system, Olympus also offers similarly well regarded lenses. Third party lens manufacturers keeps on offering more lenses for the system every day as well.

    Panasonic G6 doesn't have a sensor based image stabilization system but 31 of these lenses already comes with Optical Image Stabilization. There are also 33 lenses with weather sealing for G6 but bear in mind that G6 body doesn't have weather sealings.

    Here are some of the most popular Panasonic G6 Lenses on Camera Decision:

    Popular Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for Panasonic G6
    Model Focal Length on G6 Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
    Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS
    24-120mm FourThirds 210gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH.  Power O.I.S Lens Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH. Power O.I.S
    28-280mm FourThirds 265gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f2.8 PRO Lens Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f2.8 PRO
    24-80mm FourThirds 382gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7 ASPH Lens Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7 ASPH
    50mm FourThirds 125gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Olympus 9mm F8 Fish-Eye Body Cap Lens Lens Olympus 9mm F8 Fish-Eye Body Cap Lens
    18mm FourThirds 30gr MF Amazon B&H Photo
    Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm F1.8 Lens Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm F1.8
    50mm FourThirds 136gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH Power OIS
    24-70mm FourThirds 305gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
    Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm F2.8 OIS Lens Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm F2.8 OIS
    70-200mm FourThirds 360gr AF Amazon B&H Photo

    Check our Panasonic G6 Lenses page for more detailed lens search.



    Panasonic G6 LCD and Viewfinder

    Panasonic G6 has a Fully Articulated 3" LCD screen with a resolution of 1,036k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

    LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

    For those of you who loves shooting selfies, self or group photos, Panasonic G6 will make your life easier with its Selfie friendly screen. Another group of users who will take advantage of G6's LCD screen are Vloggers and any video creators who are working in a single-person setup.


    G6 has a built-in Electronic viewfinder, making it easier to shoot in direct sunlight and in other situations where it might be difficult to view the LCD monitor. The viewfinder has a resolution of 1,440kdots and coverage of 100%. 100% coverage ensures that what you see in the viewfinder while shooting matches exactly what you will get later in your image, helping accurate framing your shots and minimizes the need for cropping images later. The magnification ratio of the viewfinder is 0.7x (35mm equivalent).

    Panasonic G6 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    Panasonic G6 features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( with NFC (Near Field Communication) capabilities) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection. With its NFC feature, G6 can communicate with devices such as smartphones which are also equipped with this technology by simply touching each other.

    You can connect G6 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

    Battery

    Panasonic G6 is powered by a proprietary battery which provides a shooting life of 340 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Mirrorless type cameras is 370 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

    Battery Life Comparison in Entry-Level Mirrorless Cameras

    Panasonic G6
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Samsung NX mini with its 650shots is the model with longest battery life among Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras. Check the comparison of Panasonic G6 vs Samsung NX mini or take a look at Longest Battery Life Mirrorless cameras list.

    Panasonic G6 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Panasonic G7
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 350shots Yes No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Panasonic G5
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 320shots No No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Panasonic GH3
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 540shots Yes No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Panasonic GX7
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 350shots Yes No Yes
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Olympus E-M10
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 320shots Yes No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Panasonic G3
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 270shots No No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Panasonic GH2
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 330shots No No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Camera Olympus E-M10 II
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 320shots Yes No No

    Panasonic G6 Video Features

    With Panasonic G6, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60,50,30,25 fps with bit rates up to 28 mbps and save in MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats. Full HD resolution of Panasonic G6 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

    G6 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker. Panasonic G6 also has a port for an external microphone so you can record high quality sound with the help of an external microphone.

    Panasonic G6 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Panasonic G6 can shoot continuously at max speed of 7 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

    Flash

    G6 has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

    Focusing

    Panasonic G6 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 23 points to choose from.

    Panasonic G6 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    Panasonic G6 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Panasonic G6 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)
    NFC Connectivity
    Articulating Screen
    Full HD Video
    Touch Screen
    Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
    Face Detection Focusing
    25.600 Max ISO
    23 Focus Points
    1.036k dots LCD Resolution
    7.0fps Shooting w/ Mechanical Shutter
    390g Light Body
    External Microphone Port
    1440kdot Viewfinder Resolution
    0.7x magnification - Large Viewfinder
    Panorama Shooting
    Flash Sync Port
    Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD Screen
    Dual-axis Electronic Level
    Report a correction

    Buy Panasonic G6 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Image Stabilization
    Low Battery Life: 340 shots
    No Environmental Sealing
    Poor Low Light Performance
    Report a correction
    What type of Photography is Panasonic G6 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Panasonic G6 in 5 different photography areas.

    Panasonic G6 for Portrait Photography

    Panasonic G6 has a score of 51 for Portrait Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Portrait Photography list.
    Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
    Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
    Good Ergonomics&Handling
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
    No Image Stabilization

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic G6 for Portrait Photography

    Panasonic G6 for Street Photography

    Panasonic G6 has a score of 65 for Street Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Street Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Street Photography list.
    Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Fully Articulated LCD Screen
    Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
    Medium sized Body
    No Image Stabilization

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic G6 for Street Photography

    Panasonic G6 for Sports Photography

    Panasonic G6 has a score of 65 for Sports Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Sports Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Sports Photography list.
    Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
    Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
    23 Focus Points
    Wireless Connection
    Good Ergonomics&Handling
    Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
    Environmental Sealings
    No Image Stabilization

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic G6 for Sports Photography

    Panasonic G6 for Daily Photography

    Panasonic G6 has a score of 60 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
    Medium size Body
    390g
    Body Thickness 71mm

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic G6 for Daily Photography

    Panasonic G6 for Landscape Photography

    Panasonic G6 has a score of 39 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theG6.
    Live-view
    Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
    No Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic G6 for Landscape Photography
    Panasonic G6 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Panasonic G6 compares with other Mirrorless cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Panasonic G6 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Panasonic G6

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Panasonic G6 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Panasonic G7
    Panasonic G7
    Compare
    Panasonic G5
    Panasonic G5
    Compare
    Panasonic GH3
    Panasonic GH3
    Compare
    Panasonic GX7
    Panasonic GX7
    Compare
    Olympus E-M10
    Olympus E-M10
    Compare
    Panasonic G3
    Panasonic G3
    Compare
    Panasonic GH2
    Panasonic GH2
    Compare
    Olympus E-M10 II
    Olympus E-M10 II
    Compare

    Panasonic G6 Alternatives in DSLR Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Panasonic G6 with DSLR Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked DSLR cameras in Panasonic G6's price range.

    Pentax K-3
    Pentax K-3
    Compare
    Nikon D610
    Nikon D610
    Compare
    Pentax K-S2
    Pentax K-S2
    Compare
    Nikon D5500
    Nikon D5500
    Compare
    Nikon D5600
    Nikon D5600
    Compare
    Nikon D7100
    Nikon D7100
    Compare
    Nikon D5300
    Nikon D5300
    Compare
    Pentax K-5 IIs
    Pentax K-5 IIs
    Compare
    Frequently Asked Questions about Panasonic G6
    Does the Panasonic G6 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Panasonic G6 have RAW support?
    Does the Panasonic G6 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Panasonic G6 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Panasonic G6?
    What is the Sensor Size of Panasonic G6?
    is the Panasonic G6 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Panasonic G6 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Panasonic G6 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Panasonic G6?
    What is the Weight of Panasonic G6?
    What are the Dimensions of Panasonic G6?
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Panasonic
    Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6
    Announced 2013-04-24
    Body Type SLR-style mirrorless
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount Micro Four Thirds
    Number of Lenses 107
    Focal Length Multiplier 2×
    Macro Focus Range n/a
    Screen
    Screen Type Fully Articulated
    Screen Technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
    Screen Size 3"
    Screen Resolution 1,036k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder Electronic
    Viewfinder Resolution 1,440k dots
    Viewfinder Coverage 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.7x
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 60s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 10.50 m
    Max Flash Sync 1/160s
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score 61
    DxO Color Depth 21.3
    DxO Dynamic Range 11.5
    DxO Low Light ISO 639
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CMOS
    Sensor Size Four Thirds
    Sensor Dimensions 17.3 x 13 mm
    Sensor Area 224.90mm2
    Sensor Resolution 16 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4608 x 3456
    Max Native ISO 25,600
    Min Native ISO 160
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points 23
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps
    Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
    Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity Built-In
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 390g
    Physical Dimensions 122 x 85 x 71mm
    Battery Life 340 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC
    Storage Slots 1


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