Panasonic Announces Lumix G5 – Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Camera With 16 Megapixel Sensor And New Processor

Panasonic has announced a new addition to its Lumix G series cameras, the Lumix DMC-G5. The newest Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera features a 16.05 megapixel Live MOS sensor and redesigned Venus processor to render clear images in both photo and video recording.

Like all cameras in the LUMIX G series, the LUMIX G5 adopts Contrast AF (Auto Focus), so focusing is controlled by the image sensor. To further advance the Contrast AF, the G5 incorporates full-area Touch AF that helps set the focus on any point in the field of view.

According to The Verge, the new Venus processor is claimed to have boosted the camera's general performance up to 18 percent, which, the company said, is an impressive feat given that we've rarely had speed issues with a Micro Four Thirds camera.

Panasonic has added a new function lever located near the shutter release that allows for direct adjustment of zoom, exposure or aperture control. It can also be used to magnify images in playback mode and page flip in menu mode.

The camera features a 1.44-million-dot electronic LVF (Live View Finder), which has been redesigned to integrate an eye sensor. It allows image output between the LVF and LCD screen to be switched automatically on the LVF that features optional sensitivity of high, low and off. In addition, the Eye Sensor AF (Auto Focus) automatically starts focusing when the photographer looks into the EVF to capture spur-of-the-moment shooting opportunities.

The Lumix DMC-G5 features a 921,000-dot LCD that rotates 180 degrees to the side and tilts 270 degrees up and down. It can record 1080p video at 60 frames per second in AVCHD Progressive (MPEG-4) or MP4 format.

The Lumix DMC-G5 will be available in black, white and silver in various kit options. Although pricing and availability details are yet to be announced, The Verge reported that the camera's kit is expected to cost between £599 (around $735) and £879 (around $1079) in the UK.

The Lumix G3 was priced at $699.99 with a kit lens when it launched last year.