Panasonic LUMIX G97

The Panasonic LUMIX G97 is a versatile mirrorless camera for content creators, photography enthusiasts, and hybrid shooters. It delivers high-quality stills and advanced video in a compact, portable form, ideal for those transitioning from smartphone photography or experienced users seeking a powerful tool for visual storytelling.

Use Cases

The LUMIX G97 excels in diverse shooting scenarios. Its robust video features, including unlimited 4K 30p recording, make it an excellent choice for vlogging, documentary filmmaking, and online content creation. The advanced 5-axis Body Image Stabilisation (B.I.S.) and Dual I.S. 2 ensure steady footage for handheld or dynamic environments, crucial for run-and-gun videography and travel. For travel photography, the Panasonic LUMIX G97’s compact, lightweight, and durable, dust and splash-resistant design allows users to capture stunning landscapes, vibrant street scenes, and candid portraits without heavy equipment. The high-resolution 20.3-megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor and Venus Engine processor deliver sharp, detailed still images with excellent color reproduction, suitable for portraiture, landscape, and general everyday photography. Features like Post Focus and Focus Stacking enhance its utility for macro photography and precise depth of field control.

Key Benefits

A primary benefit of the Panasonic LUMIX G97 is its hybrid performance, offering seamless transition between still photography and video without compromising quality. The camera’s 20.3-megapixel Digital Live MOS Sensor ensures exceptional image clarity and detail, while the Venus Engine processor contributes to impressive low-light performance and fast operation. The integrated 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 image stabilization system provides up to 5 stops of shake correction, minimizing blur for both stills and video, even with longer focal length lenses. The LUMIX G97 also boasts unlimited 4K 30p video recording, allowing creators to capture extended takes without overheating. The inclusion of V-Log L gamma profile provides wider dynamic range for greater flexibility in post-production color grading. Its free-angle 3.0-inch, 1,840k-dot LCD touch monitor and high-resolution OLED Live View Finder offer versatile viewing and intuitive control. The camera’s durable, dust and splash-resistant design ensures reliability in various outdoor conditions.

Technical Highlights

The Panasonic LUMIX G97 is built around a 20.3-megapixel Digital Live MOS Sensor with a Micro Four Thirds format, paired with the advanced Venus Engine image processor. This combination delivers high-resolution imagery with a native ISO range of 200-25600, expandable down to ISO 100. The camera features a sophisticated Contrast AF system with DFD (Depth From Defocus) technology, offering fast and precise autofocus with 49 focus areas, including Face/Eye Detection and Tracking capabilities.

For video recording, the LUMIX G97 supports UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 30p, 25p, and 24p, with a bitrate of 100Mbps. Full HD (1920 x 1080) recording is available at up to 60p, with options for slow and quick motion effects. A notable inclusion is the pre-installed V-Log L gamma profile, which maximizes dynamic range for professional-grade color grading. Audio capabilities are enhanced with a built-in stereo microphone, a 3.5mm microphone input, and a 3.5mm headphone output for monitoring.

Image stabilization is a cornerstone of the Panasonic LUMIX G97, featuring a 5-axis Body Image Stabilization (B.I.S.) system that works in conjunction with Panasonic’s O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) lenses to form Dual I.S. 2, providing up to 5 stops of shake compensation. The camera’s electronic viewfinder is a 2.36m-dot OLED Live View Finder with approximately 100% field of view and 0.74x magnification (35mm equivalent), offering a clear and immersive viewing experience. Complementing this is a 3.0-inch, 1.84m-dot free-angle TFT LCD touchscreen monitor, providing intuitive control and flexible shooting angles.

Connectivity options include USB Type-C (USB 2.0 High-Speed) for data transfer and in-camera battery charging, microHDMI Type D, and integrated Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth v5.0 (Bluetooth Low Energy) for seamless wireless control and image transfer to smart devices. The camera also features a focal-plane shutter with a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/4000 second and an electronic shutter capable of up to 1/16000 second, alongside a continuous shooting rate of up to 9 frames per second (AFS/MF).