Panasonic Lumix G95 Ergonomic evaluation and score 2 July 2019

The G95 is the  current iteration of a line which began with the first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the G1 of 2008. Along the way the naming system changed from Gx to Gxx but the basic formula has remained true to the original. This is a small (DSLR style) MILC with humptop and handle pitched at the enthusiast user.

The G95 represents the best implementation of this line yet. It is an all-round capable model which can tackle most photographic tasks competently.

Although it lacks the ultimate high speed performance capability of the latest Sony a6xxx models it is a much nicer camera to use than any of the Sonys and is arguably better suited to a wider range of general photographic challenges.

The G95 uses the latest Panasonic menu system with a My Menu, separate video submenu and useful subcategories in the Custom Menu.

The graphical user interface is very nice.

Like all camera makers Panasonic needs to completely revise its menu system from the ground up to make all the subcategories more photographer centric.

Navigation could be improved by adding a “jump-across” function like Sony.

This is managed well with an abundance of user access points by which the camera can be reconfigured to meet changing conditions.

We have the Mode dial with Custom Modes, Drive Mode dial, Focus mode lever and Q Menu.

I think Panasonic needs to update the slightly clumsy configuration of the Q Menu making it more like the Sony Fn button with 12 functions available on screen.

I have also come to the view that for the most streamlined operation cameras benefit from having only one user input module with prescribed function (Prescribed purpose module, PPM) that being the main Mode dial with 3 or 4 Custom modes able to be set up by the user.

The problem with the Drive Mode Dial and Focus Mode lever on Panasonic cameras is that these prevent drive mode and focus mode from being included in a groups of settings which can be allocated to the Custom Modes.

This is not a big deal. The camera works well and scores highly as it is but in future iterations of this line I would like to see the drive mode dial and focus mode lever removed.

I actually gave the otherwise compromised a6500 a higher Prepare Phase score than the G95 because of this issue.

The G95 has a well designed, well shaped handle and  well positioned and shaped thumb support. The only issue one might raise is that the handle is a little shorter than it could be if the top plate had been raised a bit higher.

The G95 has very nice viewing arrangements. The view of the world through the EVF is a pleasure to behold, providing a sharp, natural appearance with very few artefacts and very good preview of the final picture appearance. The new eyecup is comfortable and blocks stray light well.

The monitor likewise provides a clear natural looking view of the world.

Both monitor and EVF are highly adjustable to user preference. Both can be set up for “viewfinder style” or “monitor style” and both with the same appearance.

The only downside is a slightly longer EVF blackout after each frame than some other cameras, particularly those from Sony. Still I prefer the “honest” blackout of the Panasonics to the fake continuous view of current Canons which appears to be created by displaying a review of the previous frame through the period which would otherwise be affected by blackout.

 This is all very nice. The camera can be driven with the right index finger and thumb without having to shift grip or take the eye from the viewfinder to make adjustments to primary and secondary focus and exposure parameters. The triple dial configuration gives considerable flexibility to the user experience. The rear/lower dial provides a quick and convenient point for changing position and size of the active AF area and for switching between face/eye/49 Area and 1-Area AF modes. There is no thumb stick but the rear/lower dial actually has some benefits  which a thumbstick might not.

All the buttons and dials have good haptics.

This camera presents an example of good control layout, configuration and implementation which other makers would do well to consider.

I just wish Panasonic would adopt Sony’s best practice Auto ISO Min.SS. system.
Another thing which I find moderately irritating is that all the camera makers including Panasonic mess about with the location of key controls. For instance the Disp. button on the FZ1000.2 is above the Cursor keys but on the G95 it is two buttons below the cursor dial and on the GHx models it sits incongruously in the middle of the thumb support.

This is managed well as with most modern cameras. The only thing missing is the instant-jump-to-focus-point-at-100% available on some other cameras.

The G95 scores just below the FZ1000.2 on 77.

The camera is a pleasure to use and I have no trouble recommending it to anyone who wants a capable, user friendly mid range ILC.

But it could score even higher with:

* A completely revised menu system designed from the ground up using photographer relevant categories.

* Sony style Auto ISO Min.SS

* Change the Q Menu to Sony style Fn button layout.

* Remove all prescribed purpose modules except the Mode Dial. This is a bit controversial but I have run repeated motion studies and come to the conclusion that this is the way to go for operation requiring the fewest actions each of lowest possible complexity.

* Allow jump to 100% at the focus point in Review.

The G95 is a well evolved model with better handling and user experience than many other cameras. But it still represents a waypoint not an endpoint.

There is more work to be done.