Panasonic Lumix G5 or G6 What's the difference ?

The Lumix camera lineup  Panasonic Lumix camera buyers now have plenty of choice.

At the top of the range we have the Pro standard GH3, which matches well with the Lumix pro level 12-35mm and 35-100mm f2.8 zooms.

Next comes the newly released GX7, which I would describe as an enthusiast's camera, with many desirable features but lacking the GH3's big battery, large buffer, weather sealing and pro style body shape. I would not be surprised to see a lot of compact, single focal length [prime] lenses finding their way onto this camera.

One step down finds us in the "upper entry" level which is the subject of this comparison report.

And last we have the GF series, currently at GF6 iteration. This is the entry level to the world of Lumix M43. The cameras are remarkably small, lack a viewfinder, and have a streamlined user interface suitable for the snapshooter.

G5/G6  features and target user group  These are fully fledged  proper cameras with a built in EVF, handle, built in flash, good image quality, good ergonomics and good performance. When set to [iA] Mode they are very suitable for the novice or snapshooter. But switch them to one of the P,A,S,M Modes and they become amenable to extensive user configuration, with operating characteristics appealing to the expert/enthusiast/semi professional user who wants to take control of the process of image making. They manage to wrap all this capability in a very compact and reasonably priced package. They arguably represent the best bang for your buck in the Lumix range.

A G6 with new 14-140mm f3.5-5.6 MkII  superzoom lens makes a very appealing family/holiday/travel all-in-one camera kit.

Shape, size, mass  They are almost identical. The table is of measurements of cameras in my posession. You can see there is no significant difference between them although Panasonic has tinkered with the proportions a bit.

Sensor and Image Quality  I believe they both use the same basic sensor as that in the GH2 but without the multi aspect ratio feature. Both have the same DXO Mark RAW score of 61. My tests with actual photographs show that their RAW image quality is the same at all ISO levels.  With JPG files the G6 has smoother, less blotchy rendition of even toned areas in Hi ISO files for a more pleasing result. It would appear the G6 is using a different and slightly improved JPG processing engine.

I should say, however that in either camera Hi ISO JPG's [3200 and up] do not treat human faces kindly, rendering them like an exhibit in Madame Tussaud's waxworks. I get much better results from RAW Hi ISO files processed in Adobe Camera Raw 8.1 or the equivalent Lightroom version.

The G6 allows a maximum of 25,600 ISO, the G5 stops at 12,800 which is a sensible practical limit with either camera.

I rate the G5/G6 Hi ISO RAW files about 2/3 stop better (ie less noisy with more accurate color) than those from the GH2, presumably due to a more advanced  processing engine.

Cosmetics  The G6 has a slightly different shape especially on the top deck, with a matte black finish which looks perhaps more sophisticated than the shiny black/silver of the G5 but picks up dirt and ladies' makeup more readily. The Menus look a bit different. Not better, just slightly different.

Handle shape There are subtle differences between them in the shape of the handle and thumbrest area. I rate the G6 slightly more comfortable to hold.

User Interface  They are very similar, but the G6 has one extra [Fn4] button and the others have been repositioned. Unfortunately that extra Fn4 button is a bit too close to the edge and I bumped it inadvertently several times whicle I was becoming familiar with the camera. The button cannot be disabled so I ended up allocating [Preview = Shttr Spd Effect On] to it. This is an essentially useless function but it auto cancels with half shutter button press so even if I do activate it accidentally the function does not get in the way of my picture taking.

I find the rear dial of the G6 (top right on the rear of the camera) slightly too recessed  and stiff for my liking with rounded (more difficult to operate)  instead of sharp (easier to operate) serrations, very similar to the G5. Panasonic can do dials better, as anyone who uses the GH3 will quickly discover.

There is a significant change with the AF/AE Lock button. The G6 has a new [AF-On] option like the GH3.  With the G5 you can only start and lock AF. With the G6/GH3 you can start andcontinue AF with CAF. Thus the AF/AEL button can be configured to work with sport/action like the AF start button on a high level DSLR.
There is also a change to the detailed implementation of [Focus Area Set].   With both cameras you can allocate [Focus Area Set] to a Function button.  I have allocated this function to the Fn2 button on the G5 and the Fn3 button on the G6 (they are located in the same place on the bottom of the control panel of the camera).
The procedure with the G5 is:  Activate Focus Area with Fn3> Move focus area with cursor buttons> Return to center with a second press of Fn3.
On the G6 the procedure is: Activate Focus Area with Fn4>Move focus area with cursor buttons> Return to center with Disp button.
Why did they change it ??  They both work, but the procedure on the G5 seems easier to me.  You don't have to find a third control module.
Actually the optimum ergonomic solution would be to use the existing [Playback] button to activate Focus Area Set, as the activity is carried out in the Capture Phase of operation. This requires use of buttons which are an easy reach for the thumb. But Panasonic keeps on putting the [Playback] and [Disp] buttons (which operate Prepare and Review Phase actions so don't need prime camera real estate) above the 4 Way Cursor and makes them fixed, not user selectable in function. Playback and Disp could more effectively go to the bottom row as they are not required in Capture Phase.

Power supply  The GH2, G5 and G6 all use the same BLC21 battery which is handy for anyone upgrading.

Viewing  The G6 has a better EVF than the G5. It provides more accurate colors with less false magenta color. Both EVF's are fully adjustable for brightness, contrast and color balance, but after adjustment to best settings I find the G6 EVF consistently and noticeably better. Both EVF's jitter with camera movement in very low light, but in most conditions manage panning smoothly.

Both monitors look very nice to me. Again both are adjustable for brightness, contrast and color balance.

Someone at Panasonic seems not to have noticed that no known humans have rectangular eye sockets. Both the G5 and G6 have a rectangular shaped rubber eye cup. That on the G6 has even sharper corners than the G5. What on earth were they thinking?

Performance  Panasonic has given the G6 a useful boost in performance, particularly as it affects continuous shooting of moving subjects. With the 14-42mm kit zoom, the G6 in M burst Mode, AFC,  can shoot 10 RAW frames at 3.5 fps before slowdown.   The G5 managed 6 frames at 2 fps with the same settings. With Large Fine JPG capture the G6  ran at 3.1 fps and was still going at 50 frames without slowdown. The G5 with Large Fine JPG capture managed 14 frames in 6 seconds (2.3 fps) before slowdown.  These frame rates are lens dependent. The G6 with the new 14-140mm MkII lens ran at 4 fps in M burst Mode.

So the G6 enables a faster frame rate and has a larger buffer. It also samples the sensor  240 x per second, the same s the GH3 so it's AFC accuracy should be better than the G5 as well.

Low Light AF  The G6 has a low light AF function. In very low light, I mean really low, the G6 will switch to sampling the sensor at 15x per second. It will AF in about 2-3 seconds in this mode. The advantage is increased accuracy even in light so low it is difficult to see anything.

Mode Dial  The Mode Dial of the G6 is larger and has additional settings for Panorama and Creative Video. I tested the Panorama function and to put it kindly would have to say that more R&D is required on that particular feature. It works as advertised but frequently fails to merge the frames properly leading to softness and/or double imaging of details.

Q Menu  Both use the same, very good system. The G6 adds Focus Mode, Flash Mode and Peaking to the options list.

Peaking This works and is useful especially with manual focus or to confirm autofocus with manual touch up. Peaking color is white.

Fn Buttons  I already mentioned the G6 has one extra Fn button. The options list is the same as for the G5 plus Peaking and Flash Mode.

Setup Menu  Same as G5 with the addition of Wi-Fi and Menu Information.

Rec Menu Same as G5 plus Multi Exposure, Time Lapse Shot, Stop Motion Animation, Extended ISO  and Panorama Settings.   ISO Limit Set increases from 3200 to 12800.  

Custom Menu  Same as as G5 plus Peaking, Monitor Info Disp and Self Timer Auto Off.

E-Shutter  Both have E-Shutter which works the same and has the same limitations on both.

Which to buy ?   There are some very tempting deals on new G5's as I write this, so the decision is not easy with a new G6 costing substantially more than a new G5.

For general photography  with autofocus there is not much difference between them.

For Sport/Actionthe G6 is significantly better to the extent I would say the G5 is unsuitable and the G6 is quite capable.

For Manual Focus,  Peaking on the G6 gives it a significant advantage.

Other features  If you want Wi-Fi, Multi Exposure or  Time Lapse then the G6 is your camera.

 I did not test Motion Picture.