Panasonic cameras is a serious contender in the camera market. However, it seems that a lot of people don’t take a look at this outstanding camera, and give credit where credit is due.

Let’s take a look at how Panasonic got into the camera business:

Lumix is Panasonic‘s brand of digital cameras, ranging from pocket point-and-shoot models to digital SLRs.

Compact digital cameras DMC-LC5^[1] and DMC-F7^[2] were the first products of the Lumix series, released in 2001.

Most Lumix cameras use differing releases of the Panasonic Venus Engine for digital image processing; the original version (2002) was followed by II (2004), Plus (2005), III (2006), IV (2008), HD, V (2009) and VI, HD II, FHD (2010).

Some Lumix models are branded with Leica lenses (e.g. Nocticron or Elmarit lenses), although Leica does not manufacture the lenses. Others are rebranded as Leica cameras with different cosmetic stylings.

Panasonic showed a prototype of a planned 3D Lumix camera in September 2011,^[3] saying that it would have twin 4x zoom lenses with folding optics and optical image stabilization for both video and still images.^[3]

Panasonic collaborated with Sigma and Leica to form the L-mount Alliance on 25 September 2018, and licence the L-mount system for their own lines of lenses and cameras.^[4] in 2019 Panasonic announced the release of its new S-series line of mirrorless cameras.^[5]

Despite shifting focus to full frame cameras, Panasonic continues to release and support micro four thirds (MFT) cameras.

The best Panasonic cameras fall into three categories. The company is perhaps best known for its compact mirrorless Lumix G cameras, which use the Micro Four Thirds mount and offer advanced 4K video features as well as regular stills photography. This range has just been boosted by the exciting new Lumix G100, which is pitched squarely at novice vloggers with some clever features and a very competitive price. 

Panasonic has also branched out into professional full frame mirrorless cameras with its Lumix S1 and Lumix S1R models, and its high-end Lumix S1H cinema camera, now joined by perhaps the best combination of features, value and performance yet – the Panasonic Lumix S5.

Panasonic cameras are amongst the best mirrorless cameras you can buy right now, but Panasonic also makes some of the best compact cameras too, including long-zoom travel cameras, bridge cameras and high-end compact cameras for enthusiasts.

Panasonic’s G-series cameras use Micro Four Thirds sensors slightly smaller than the APS-C sensors in rival mirrorless cameras, but they make up for this with smaller and more compact cameras and lenses, and with Panasonic’s speciality – 4K video features. Many of Panasonic’s cameras are designed to be equally good at video as stills photography and some, like the Lumix GH5S, are out and out video specialists. The G-series cameras use Micro Four Thirds lenses, which will also work on the best Olympus cameras too (and vice versa).

I like to find an actual video prepared by the manufacture that tells all about their product. Watch this so you can see what a great camera system this is:

Also, I love those videos that show a professional photographer, using this equipment. Check it out:

Panasonic Lumix cameras are definitely another camera choice for photographers, and especially for videographers.

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