Panasonic Lumix GF6 - Incredibly Good Value

Introduction

Announced last quarter in April, the Panasonic Lumix GF6 mirrorless camera improves upon the GF5 while taking references from the higher-end, but older GX1. The Mode dial, which had been missing since the GF2, makes a comeback. There are no control dials, but the new Function Lever around the shutter release doubles as one, while the scroll wheel on the back is there just as ever. The touch-screen monitor now swivels nearly 180° to face the front.

Internally, the GF6 carries a new 16MP sensor and Venus Engine with Panasonic’s advanced noise reduction. It’s also quicker to snap a photo after startup (just as we found out from our overseas shooting trip in May), and comes with built-in Wi-Fi as well as NFC (Near Field Communication). With NFC, you can connect the camera with another NFC capable smart mobile device by bringing them together.

Design & Handling

The GF6 is not a particularly attractive camera, even with the new silver highlighted top and a slightly less obvious hump than the GF5. The body feels flimsy like plastic does, but then again this is a particularly inexpensive mirrorless system camera.

Despite its appearances, the camera handles pretty well. New to the Panasonic G-series is a tilting monitor which swivels to a near 180° so you can take a selfie while still framing the shot (and still tap to focus on the touch-screen monitor). The Function Lever is a clever idea; if you mount a Power Zoom lens, the lever around the shutter release works like a standard zoom toggle found on digital compact cameras everywhere. With ordinary lenses, the lever doubles as a control dial, taking control of exposure.

Another reason the GF6 handles well is Panasonic’s smooth integration of touch and physical controls. You’re not forced to use only the touch-screen controls or the buttons, you can use either or and both options as they complement each other quite well. Especially the touch-to-focus feature, it’s become a staple on smartphones and mirrorless system cameras, but is still sorely missing on a lot of DSLR cameras. A Quick Menu overlay gives you instant access to essential commands like ISO, white balance and AF modes, as do dedicated controls on the back of the camera.

And of course, the Panasonic handy iA button, which quickly drops you in and out of Intelligent Auto mode, without having to switch modes on the Mode dial. For this reviewer, it means I can hand off the camera to someone else by pressing the iA button and not have to worry that the person has to figure out all my previous manual settings - which I can get back simply by pressing the iA button again.

One of the best bits about the GF6 is the built-in Wi-Fi, which lets you connect to a mobile smart device and control the camera using the Panasonic Lumix app. You can also share images between the GF6 and your smart device. The easy connectivity is appreciated (even essential in this Facebook/Twitter/Instagram age), and the live view window on your smart device which shows you what the camera is seeing is snappy and responsive. The app's interface, however, is still less than intuitive.

Image Performance

The Lumix GF6 benefits from Panasonic's fast and accurate auto-focus system, even in low-light with the help of the AF lamp. Even if the camera doesn't lock onto the right subject for whatever reason, all you need to do is tap on the screen to set focus. Colors are vivid and pleasant, and the camera shoots up to ISO 3200 while keeping image noise to a minimum. Even at ISO 6400, while there is noticeable loss of detail, the appearance of noise is kept impressively low. The camera scores approximately 2200 LPH (horizontal and vertical) on our resolution chart which is a good amount of detail.

Conclusion

The Panasonic Lumix GF6 is a capable little shooter with smooth handling for both beginners and enthusiasts. For the enthusiasts, the Function Lever and the rear scroll wheel work as twin control dials, while the beginner can just tap the iA (Intelligent Auto) button and let the camera take care of everything. The integration between the touch-screen and physical controls make the camera easy to use, and the tilting monitor opens up more shooting angles, including easy self portraits with its ability to tilt nearly 180°.

The quick and accurate auto-focus makes it easy to get the right subjects in focus, and the resulting images look great in both bright and low-light. You can then share images with smartphones and tablets using the built-in Wi-Fi and the Panasonic Lumix app. While the app could be better designed, it works, and you can grab images shot from the camera and quickly share it with your friends. 

If there's any quibble with the camera, it's that the body feels plasticky, but then again, at S$749 the GF6 is not built to be a premium camera. And that the Lumix G X 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 power-zoom isn't offered as a kit lens option with the GF6. While we had our reservations with the lens, it does help to streamline the entire shooting package. Nevertheless, we feel it's quite a steal to get a large-sensor interchangeable lens camera at S$749 with built-in Wi-Fi, a touch-screen and that fantastic AF speed and image quality.

Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.