Panasonic Launches G100 camera for vlogging

Panasonic G100 Vlogging camera
Panasonic has launched a vlogging camera Lumix G100 with sound from OZO audio of Nokia.

It is marketed as a stepup from a smartphone with its larger 4/3 sensor size. It has a 20.3 Megapixel sensor. Maximum still shot resolution is 5184 x 3888 and can shoot in jpeg and raw.

The G100 camera doesn’t have a low pass filter infront of the sensor and together with the Venus engine it can create sharp photos and videos.

The minimum ISO is ISO 200 and maximum ISO sensitivity is ISO 25600.

The Panasonic G100 comes with a 12-32mm f3.5-5.6 ASPH lens. This lens because of being mated to a micro 4/3 sensor acts like a 24-64mm (35 mm equivalent) lens. It has a retractable design, so is compact. There are three aspherical elements and one extra-low dispersion element to control chromatic aberration and spherical aberration. There is a built-in autofocus motor. It is to be seen how good the AF in real world applications.

4K videos in 3840 x 2160 resolution at 30p or 24p in MP4 and Full-HD at 60p recorded internally with 8-bit color depth and 4:2:0 sampling. Full HD external recording is supported via micro-HDMI with 4:2:2 sampling and 8-bit color depth. The lack of 4:2:2 internal sampling and lack of 10 bit colour is not expected to be a major problem as this camera is primarily aimed at the amateurs. It is in NTSC and not PAL. So 25p is not featured in this camera yet. Hopefully they will include in a later firmware.

Panasonic has also included V-log L mode so that people can have a flat log profile. The five axis hybrid image stabilisation will come in handy for handheld video shooting, even while walking or slow moves.

The G100 camera has a rear 3.0" 1.84m-dot LCD. It has touchscreen facilities and it has a free-angle design ie. the LCD can be turned around and that benefits working from high, low, and front-facing to record selfies/ vlogging.

The OZO audio of Nokia has subject tracking facility which works on the angle of view of the lens and face recognition. It has three microphones and will pickup based on the optimum direction of the sound source. The three microphones can also be set manually.

To professional videographers it may appear sickening, however, millions of smartphone users due to ignorance hold the camera vertical and click vertical videos. To pander to the trend Panasonic has included a vertical video mode in the G100 camera.

There is an optional tripod grip available. The good thing about this optional tripod grip DMW-SHGR1 is that it can be connected to the camera via usb and you can start/stop video recording, use it as shutter release as well as put to sleep/wake up the camera. One can use it for timelapse as well.

The built-in WiFi and Bluetooth helps in connecting with a smartphone. One can remotely operate the camera with the smartphone as well.

The Panasonic G100 has been designed to be compact and the camera body weighs 352 g and the 12-32 lens weighs 70g.

Price without grip: $747.99 US Dollars
Price with grip: $797.99 US Dollars
Awaiting India Price. Below is the B&H link with these prices:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/P...DFF/d10-v1-t12

PRESS RELEASE
Panasonic Launches the LUMIX G100, its Newest Mirrorless Camera for Vlogging and Creative Video Content
The compact, feature-packed camera features high sound quality produced by OZO Audio by Nokia
NEWARK, N.J., June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic today launched the LUMIX G100, a new Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera designed and developed for creating high-quality, versatile content.
Intuitive controls, visually engaging images and excellent sound quality are hallmarks of the new LUMIX G100, raising the bar for content production and user experience in the vlog camera category. Usability is further enhanced by its remarkably compact and lightweight design that doesn't skimp on functionality and creative options.
1. The Logical Next Step from your Smartphone
With their limited sensor size and optics, a Smartphone can only take your creativity so far, the LUMIX G100 uses a smartphone crushing 4/3rds sensor that records smooth, high-resolution QFHD 4K videos in 3840 x 2160 resolution at 30p or 24p in MP4*¹ and Full-HD at 60p. The five-axis hybrid I.S. (image stabilizer)*² in the LUMIX G100 provides effective shake suppression essential for capturing stable, easy-to-see video in scenarios such as walking or in a moving vehicle. In addition, the new Video Selfie Mode easily captures both the videographer and background in crisp focus without adjustments of aperture that changes with the lens each time.
Adopting a static-type touch control system, the 3.0-inch free-angle rear monitor with 1,840K-dot high resolution makes it easy to compose selfies as well as shots from a high or low angle. Convenient shooting assist functions allow the Frame Maker to check the composition during recording in various popular aspect ratios such as 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, 4:5, 5:4 and 9:16. The REC Frame Indicator displays an eye-catching red frame so that videographers can recognize whether the camera is recording or not at a glance.
*1 Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 10 minutes with [MP4] in [4K]
*2 When using an interchangeable lens (H-FS12032) released before this camera, update the firmware of the lens to the latest version.
2. High Sound Quality Supported by OZO Audio Technologies
The LUMIX G100 integrates OZO Audio by Nokia for high-quality spatial audio recording, a first for a Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera.* Engineered for universal playback and shareability across the world's most popular social media platforms, the OZO Audio enables users to capture and edit the full richness of sonic life with vibrant accuracy and precision. It sets a new standard in innovative audio solutions for user-generated content. Three microphones record clear, vibrant sound with outstanding images, for example a dynamic landscape with immersive, realistic sound; interviews with clear speech; or easy, on-the-scene coverage by the videographer with easy mode selection. Combining Panasonic and Nokia OZO Audio technologies, the LUMIX G100 also offers a tracking feature that continues tracking the voice of the subject. Auto mode automatically recognizes the best setting and switches between tracking and surround modes.
* For a digital interchangeable lens system camera, as of June 24, 2020.
3. High Potential and Unlimited Expression
The new LUMIX G100 integrates a 20.3MP MOS Sensor without Low Pass Filter, which features higher resolution and a larger size than found in smartphones. Realizing maximum ISO 25600 high sensitivity, even images captured at night or low light are clear. In addition, the large sensor enables beautiful defocusing in the background, and the Venus Engine assures high-speed, high-performance image processing. Impressive 4x*/2x slow and 8x/4x/2x quick FHD motion footage and time lapse shots are captured with ease.
Advanced videographers will appreciate the V-LogL recording capability; users can apply the LUT (Look Up Table) of their choice on the recorded V-LogL footage via a PC to create a differentiated video with subtle colors and moods.
Features such as the 4K technology, along with the 3,680K-dot equivalent center-aligned viewfinder, allow users to capture 4K PHOTO shots, excelling in performance and function for photo shooting. Able to save spontaneous shots by just selecting the frame out of a burst file sequence, users will never miss a moment.
*30p only
4. Easy Connectivity via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and HDMI
The LUMIX G100 integrates Bluetooth and Wi-Fi® 2.4GHz (IEEE802.11b/g/n) connectivity to offer a more flexible shooting experience and easy instant image sharing. A dedicated upload button controls video and photo transfer to a smartphone via Panasonic's LUMIX Sync app for iOS / Android. Users can also use their smartphone as a remote control to capture video and photo.
Compatibility with Bluetooth 4.2 (called BLE: Bluetooth Low Energy) enables constant connection with a smartphone/tablet with minimum power consumption and can activate the camera by using a smartphone/tablet or automatically add geotagging photos.
HDMI*¹ allows video output via The LUMIX G100, or it can be used as a webcam that provides exceptional image quality with rich depth of field and high quality sound for streaming in combination with an HDMI video capture device.*²
*1 It is not possible to stream live in 4K. While using the HDMI output function, video cannot be recorded.
*2 A separate streaming software for PC is required.
5. Compact, Lightweight Design Even with Tripod Grip
Despite its high performance and selection creative functions, the LUMIX G100 is portable, compact and weighs only 412 g, even with the LUMIX G VARIO 12-32mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S.(H-FS12032) lens. A new Tripod Grip DMW-SHGR1*⁴ makes it even easier to hold the camera or can be used as a compact tripod. Connecting with the camera via USB allows the user to start/stop video recording, release the shutter and enable/disable sleep mode. The camera's battery can be recharged either via AC or USB according to the user's convenience.
*4 Tripod Grip is bundled in DC-G100V kit. It is also sold separately.
The LUMIX G100 will be available for sale at the end of July.