Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Panasonic takes on Sony in the vlogging camera game with compact Lumix G100

The Sony ZV-1 was not a fluke. Vloggers are taking over, and camera manufacturers are reaching for this new market.

Panasonic charged into the vlogging game Wednesday, June 24, with the new Lumix G100, a compact mirrorless camera built for the modern content creator. Like the recently introduced Sony ZV-1, the G100 includes a number of features specifically for the niche vlogger market. But where the ZV-1 was essentially a point-and-shoot, the G100 is part of the Micro Four Thirds system, complete with a larger, 20-megapixel sensor and interchangeable lenses.

Starting at $750 for the basic kit, the G100 is an entry-level camera in terms of price, but comes with some features we’d expect to see on higher-end models. This includes the 3.68-million-dot electronic viewfinder, which is also 2.8 times brighter than the EVF on the Lumix G90, according to Panasonic. The variable-angle touchscreen is also new, featuring 1.84 million pixels and 1.4 times the brightness of the G90’s screen.

Recommended Videos

But clearly seeing what you’re shooting is only half the battle — clearly hearing it is often even more important. The G100 incorporates a new three-microphone system that uses Nokia’s OZO audio processing for what should be vastly improved sound quality compared to a standard built-in microphone. Active noise cancellation allows the camera to filter out unwanted sound, and the microphone array can even alter its pickup pattern in real time to “track” a subject across the frame, using directional information provided by the face-detect autofocus system. A 3.5mm microphone jack also allows for external audio, although a headphone jack is missing.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Panasonic says it has refined its Depth from Defocus (DFD) autofocus algorithms to be both faster and to hunt less. Long an annoyance on other Panasonic cameras, like the Lumix GH5, DFD autofocus often hunts back and forth while filming — not enough to take the subject out of focus, but enough to cause subtle but distracting changes in the background. Fixing this issue was likely a key challenge in designing a camera for vloggers, and a Panasonic rep explained the G100 takes “a significant step forward” in autofocus.

Image stabilization is another area where Panasonic invested much effort. Too small for a traditional sensor-shift stabilization gimbal, the G100 — which weighs just 410 grams with kit lens attached — instead relies on electronic image stabilization (EIS). Although it won’t match the performance of the five-axis sensor-shift stabilization in cameras like the GH5, the EIS uses algorithms that were drawn from those physical systems. Especially when combined with an optically stabilized lens, performance should come close to a physical five-axis system, with the caveat that video will be cropped (Panasonic did not say by how much).

Even as the G100 takes steps to be as easy-to-use as possible, it still includes some advanced features that more experienced video shooters will appreciate. 4K can be captured at 24 or 30 frames per second, 1080p at up to 120 for slow motion. V-Log L, Panasonic’s flat color profile for preserving more dynamic range, comes standard, rather than being a paid unlock as it is on some other cameras. Frame guides are also included for a number of different aspect ratios, including vertical 9:16, square 1:1, and even 2.39:1 widescreen.

The Lumix G100 is available with the 12-32mm lens for $750, or with the lens and a tripod grip accessory — perfect for walk-and-talk or tabletop shots — for $800. Slated to ship at the end of July, customers who pre-order before August 1 will save $50 on either kit, plus get an extra battery and a wall charger thrown in for free.

The second vlog-focused camera to be announced in less than a month, the G100 is a part of a new wave of cameras for the mobile-first content creator who needs a step up from a smartphone without the more complicated user experience of a higher-end mirrorless camera. We look forward to testing it and expect it won’t have trouble making the list of the best cameras for vlogging.

Daven Mathies
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Daven is a contributing writer to the photography section. He has been with Digital Trends since 2016 and has been writing…
Don’t miss the chance to get this 128GB SD card for less than $100
The Lexar 128GB Professional 2000x UHS-II SDXC Memory Card on a white background.

Your new purchase from camera deals will need storage for photos and videos, but you can't buy just any SD card that you see online. It's highly recommended that you invest in a high-quality storage device like the Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II SDXC Memory Card, which you can currently get from B&H Photo Video with a $75 discount on its 128GB version that brings its price down from $170 originally to a more affordable $95. You may want to buy multiples of this SD card while it's available for less than $100, but you'll have to hurry because we're not sure how much time is remaining on this bargain.

Why you should buy the Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II SDXC Memory Card
More devices are using microSD cards for expanded storage, but according to our guide on finding the right memory card for your digital camera, most DSLR cameras and mirrorless cameras are still using SD cards like the Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II SDXC Memory Card. Lexar is one of the brands that we wouldn't hesitate to recommend to photographers, and this SD card's read speed of 300 MB/s and write speed of 260 MB/s will enable quick transfers and smooth shooting. Additionally, as an UHS-II card, you won't have a problem with advanced functions such as continuous shutter bursts, rapid shooting, and raw and JPEG captures.

Read more
Capture all the action with the GoPro HERO12 Black — $150 off today at Amazon
The GoPro Hero 12 Black Creator Edition set up on a small tripod on the beach.

In the moment, when you're blasting over that jump on your dirt bike, catching that killer wave, or jumping off of whatever insane cliff you've found, you don't necessarily think about capturing it all. But one of the best ways to make that happen is to strap on an action cam, like a GoPro. You can capture all of the action, and it's relatively low-lift. You wear whatever unique mount is best for the situation and the camera does all the work. There's just one issue, action cameras can be expensive especially if you're on a budget. However, today, Amazon has the GoPro HERO12 Black for $150 off. That brings it down from its normal price of $400 to $250. You can use that extra money to grab an accessory and you're good to go. GoPro HERO12 Black captures it all in 5.3K or 4K so you can rewatch the glory over and over.

 
Why buy the GoPro HERO12 Black? To capture the action, that's why
An action camera like a GoPro makes it possible to capture the action, in full detail, no matter what you're doing. You don't even have to be doing crazy stunts either. A common misconception is that they're only useful for outdoor activities, but no they work for filming just about anything. Even if you're having a barbecue, or a birthday party, or want to see what your roaming cat sees throughout the day -- a GoPro is what you need.

Read more
NASA astronaut Don Pettit talks photography from the space station
NASA astronaut Don Pettit discussing his photography from aboard the ISS.

NASA ASTRONAUT DISCUSSES PHOTOGRAPHY IN SPACE WITH NASASPACEFLIGHT.COM

NASA astronaut Don Pettit arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) in September on his fourth orbital mission in 22 years. Besides working on various science projects on the space-based facility, Pettit is also known for his keen interest in photography, and he regularly shares his impressive efforts -- including rivers, clouds, star trails, and high-speed spacecraft -- on X and Instagram.

Read more