Panasonic Lumix DC-G100

Panasonic Lumix DC-G100 Mirrorless Camera with 12-32mm Lens DC-G100KGN-K review

With some tweaks this could have been the perfect vlogging partner, but as it is it’s a flawed but decent effort

Panasonic Lumix G100 review

Panasonic has brought in some very vlogger-friendly features here, like the directional microphone system, auto-detect Video Selfie mode and the handle/tripod accessory, but with a bit more thought could have made the G100 even more appealing. Removing the viewfinder would have made the camera even smaller and lighter, for instance, but the real sticking point for us is the heavily cropped 4K mode, which makes 12mm scarcely wide enough to fit the user’s face comfortably in frame when self-shooting. As it stands, there are superior alternatives out there: the Sony ZX-1 compact springs to mind, but any mirrorless camera with uncropped 4K video, in-body stabilisation and a front-facing screen is likely to work better for on-the-move self-shooting.

Panasonic Lumix G100 review review

Panasonic Lumix DC-G100 Mirrorless Camera with 12-32mm Lens DC-G100KGN-K review

Despite being designed as the "perfect vloggers" camera, we were more impressed by the camera's still photo ability. It consistently produced images that look great, with good detail, accurate focus, and great colour.

Panasonic Lumix DC-G100 Mirrorless Camera with 12-32mm Lens DC-G100KGN-K review

I’m usually wary of cameras targeting vloggers. Cameras in this class are often dumbed down and made by cutting as many corners as possible to keep the price low. The results are typically disappointing.

Panasonic Lumix G100 Review

I’m usually wary of cameras targeting vloggers. Cameras in this class are often dumbed down and made by cutting as many corners as possible to keep the price low. The results are typically disappointing. But Panasonic has shown social media creatives due respect with the Lumix G100 by giving it great ergonomics, decent manual controls, a viewfinder and attractive specs. There are still a couple of let downs that I feel could have been easily avoided though. For example: opting for a dated USB 2.0 Type-A instead of a USB-C port and no 4K/60p video. Overall however, the Lumix G100 is a great first camera option and a significant step up from a smartphone.

Panasonic Lumix DC-G100/G110 review

The G100 is designed to be a camera for vloggers and content creators but its severe crop in video (especially if you want stabilization) and its inconsistent AF undermine it for that task. It's a capable enough small interchangeable lens camera but one whose special features aren't particularly usable.

Panasonic Lumix DC-G100 Mirrorless Camera with 12-32mm Lens DC-G100KGN-K review

The Lumix G100 is one of the most compact mirrorless cameras around, but packs a decent feature-set with a built-in viewfinder, fully-articulated side-hinged screen, external mic input and a clever built-in three-mic system.

Panasonic Lumix DC-G100 Mirrorless Camera with 12-32mm Lens DC-G100KGN-K review

The Panasonic Lumix G100 is designed as an entry-level vlogging camera and it fits that bill very well. It has a bigger sensor than competing compact cameras like the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III and Sony ZV-1 and benefits from accepting interchangeable lenses, which makes it a bit more versatile.

Panasonic Lumix DC-G100/G110 initial review