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Panasonic Lumix G97 First Look Review

Panasonic continues to refine its micro four thirds range with the launch of the Lumix G97, an entry to enthusiast-level camera designed for hybrid creators. The G97 is a compact yet feature-packed model, and aims to strike a balance between performance, usability and affordability, while marking a great entry-point into the MFT system.

In this Panasonic Lumix G97 First Look Review, we explore its key features and specifications to see how it caters to photographers and videographers. With a number of upgrades like vertical video recording, connectivity and a new Free-angle LCD, this MFT camera is positioned as a versatile camera for creators who want to produce high-quality stills and video with the 4/3 system. 

Whether you’re an intermediate user looking to elevate your content or just want a lightweight interchangeable lens system for travel and everyday use, the G97 could be the ideal choice.

When did the Panasonic Lumix G97 launch?

The Panasonic Lumix G97 was released on Tuesday, 17th December 2024 at the same time as the Panasonic Lumix TZ99 Launches. It arrives in three variants with a body-only and two lens kits, offering options for those new to the MFT system to get everything they need to start creating content right away.

The G97 follows the June launch of Panasonic’s flagship micro four thirds body, which we explored in the Panasonic Lumix GH7 Review. These two cameras cater to different audiences, with the G97 aimed at newcomers and enthusiasts, while the GH7 targets professional and advanced users.

With that in mind, let’s dive into the cost of this latest addition and the key features it brings to the table.

How much are the Lumix G97 body and lens kits?

At launch, the Panasonic Lumix G97 is available in three configurations with a body-only option and two zoom lens kits. These choices cater to a range of creators, offering flexibility and great value whether you're upgrading or new to the MFT system.

Lumix G97 key features

The Lumix G97 is a hybrid all-rounder, which is aimed at newcomers to the system, as well as enthusiasts who want a lightweight travel-ready M4/3 camera, which they can switch lenses with. This model adds a handful of upgrades refining the popular entry-point into the Panasonic camera lineup.

Key features include:

• 20MP CMOS sensor (17.3 x 13.0 mm)
• Venus image processing engine
• B.I.S. (5-axis / 5.0-stop) and Dual I.S. 2 (5.0-stop)
• Contrast AF system with Depth from Defocus (DFD)
• 4K 30p recording without limit
• 4x Full HD slow motion 120fps up to Max. 8x Quick Motion *upgraded
• 12 stops DR using V-Log L
• 4K photos, Post Focus and Focus Stacking image technology
• Mic and headphone sockets
• Send Image (Smartphone) Button *new
• Vertical video recording and a REC frame indicator *new
• 1,840k-dot LCD fully articulating monitor for selfies *upgraded
• Enhanced connectivity with USB-C, WiFi and Bluetooth v5.0 *upgraded

Who Is the Lumix G97 For?

The Lumix G97 is a versatile camera designed for hybrid creators, vloggers, and photography enthusiasts who are looking for a significant step up from smartphone photography without breaking the bank. With its compact design, it offers a more comfortable and intuitive shooting experience compared to a phone, making it ideal for longer sessions or more complex compositions.

A key advantage of the G97 is its interchangeable lens system, which allows users to adapt the camera to any genre, from landscapes to portraits, far surpassing the capabilities of a smartphone camera at the telephoto end.

For vloggers, features like 4K video recording, a free-angle LCD touchscreen, and a REC frame indicator streamline content creation for platforms like YouTube or TikTok.

Enthusiasts will appreciate its computational photography tools, such as Post Focus and Focus Stacking, which capture sharp, detailed results across a variety of subjects. Whether you're documenting travels or creating social content, the G97 is an excellent choice at the entry level, which will help you to develop your skills.

Build and Design

The Panasonic Lumix G97 is a well-balanced MFT body that balances its compact size and low weight of 530g (including the SD card, Battery), with functionality. Its ergonomics make it comfortable for extended use, offering a firm grip for photography and video, and the updated design includes an upgraded 1,840k-dot Free-Angle LCD touchscreen, which provides excellent clarity and flexibility for composing shots (including selfies) at any angle, from high above to low to the ground.

The G97 is portable enough for travel, yet solid enough to inspire confidence in its durability, particularly as it includes dust and splash resistance for further reliability, making it well-suited to adventurous creators who need a dependable body for the great outdoors.

The addition of USB-C connectivity (including charging) and Bluetooth v5.0 ensures modern usability, allowing seamless charging, file sharing, and remote operation.

Performance and Image Quality

At the heart of the Lumix G97 is a 20.3MP sensor, paired with Panasonic's powerful Venus Engine processor. This combination delivers exceptional image quality, capturing vibrant, detailed stills and 4K video. The omission of a low-pass filter enhances sharpness, and is ideal for capturing intricate textures and fine details which are found in some clothing or similar patterns.

Dual I.S. 2 stabilisation helps with capturing sharp, blur-free results, even when shooting handheld or in low-light conditions and the 5-axis sensor-shift stabilisation, combined with lens-based stabilisation, offers up to 5 stops of compensation.

Photographers gain access to the camera's advanced stills features, such as Post Focus and Focus Stacking, the former of which allows precise control over focus points after shooting an image.

For video creators, tools like 4x slow motion, 12 stops of V-Log L dynamic range, and vertical video enhance your creative options, especially with vertical content becoming more common.

Usability and Connectivity Updates

The Panasonic Lumix G97 brings meaningful upgrades to enhance the shooting experience for hybrid creators. A noteworthy addition is the USB-C port, which allows power delivery and in-camera battery charging, making it easier to keep the camera ready for action while on the go.

Bluetooth v5.0 has also been introduced, offering improved stability and faster pairing compared to previous versions. This works seamlessly with the integrated Wi-Fi for remote control and instant file sharing. Lastly, a dedicated Send Image button has been added, streamlining the process of transferring images to your smartphone, which is a very handy feature for content creators who post on the fly.

Lens Options

As part of the Micro Four Thirds system, the Lumix G97 benefits from one of the most extensive lens ecosystems available. It includes lightweight primes, broad reaching zooms, and high-performance telephotos, all designed to cover a variety of photo and video styles of content.

Beyond the two kit lenses, are options like the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm F/2.8-4.0 ASPH, which delivers wide-angle versatility for landscapes and architecture, while the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm F/4-6.3 II ASPH Power OIS Lens caters to wildlife and sports enthusiasts, especially thanks to the 2x crop factor.

For hybrid creators, the system also offers specialised lenses such as the updated Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm F/1.4 II ASPH, which is perfect for low-light videography and naturally lit portraits. The wide range of MFT lenses ensures that the G97 can grow with its users, adapting to creative needs and new styles over time.

Like the majority of Lumix cameras, the Panasonic G97 balances performance with portability, and affordability. It’s a solid choice for new hybrid creators, enthusiasts, and vloggers thanks to its tried-and-tested 20.3MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and Venus Engine, which deliver great image quality at this level.

It also includes a number of computational photography features like Post Focus and Focus Stacking, combined with 4K photo and 4K 30p video recording, make it a brilliant tool for the who want to make stills and videos.

Ergonomic improvements such as the tiltable 1,840k-dot LCD screen, USB-C charging, and enhanced connectivity with Bluetooth v5.0, cater to modern expectations for ease of use. These updates, along with its Dual I.S. 2 stabilisation system, ensure smooth and sharp results, whether capturing handheld HD videos or stills.

While the contrast-detection autofocus system might not compete with phase-detection alternatives in speed, it performs well for many situations. For some users, the lack of a high frame rate in 4K recording may be a limitation, but the camera’s overall versatility and value outweigh these minor drawbacks.

All said and done, the Lumix G97 is a good entry point into the Micro Four Thirds system, offering access to a vast range of lenses and the ability to upgrade over time as you progress your skills.

Whether you’re coming from a smartphone or just want a lightweight, feature-rich camera, the G97 is a compelling option for creators looking to elevate their content.

Choose between the Panasonic Lumix G97 Camera Body only or pick a lens kit and snag everything needed (aside from an SD memory card) which you need to make amazing content from day one. The Lumix G97 Camera with 12-60mm Lens gives you an equivalent 24-120mm, while the Lumix G97 Camera with 14-140mm Lens provides a 10x zoom range age of 28-280mm.

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By Nick Dautlich on 17/12/2024