Panasonic G5 review

With an exciting number of new technologies, is this the ultimate CSC?

Panasonic G5
Panasonic's latest compact system camera, which it is dubbing a DSLM, has lots to offer enthusiast and novice photographers

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We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using DXO Analyzer software to generate the data to produce the graphs below.

A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) indicates a cleaner and better quality image.

For more more details on how to interpret our test data, check out our full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests.

JPEG Signal to noise ratio

Panasonic G5 review

The JPEG files from the G5 have a fairly similar, but slightly lower signal to noise ratio to those from the Panasonic G3, Sony NEX-5N and Olympus E-P3. This indicates that the images are very similar, but maybe slightly noisier.

Raw signal to noise ratio

Panasonic G5 review

After conversion to TIFF the G5's raw files have a good signal to noise ratio at the lowest sensitivity settings. However, the figure falls quite steeply from around ISO 400 and by ISO 800 the raw files from both the Sony NEX-5N and Olympus E-P3 have a better signal to noise ratio, indicating that the images from these two cameras are cleaner.

JPEG Dynamic range

Panasonic G5 review

While the JPEGs from the G5 have a greater dynamic range than the Panasonic G3 at ISO 160-400, above this the older camera performs better. Both the Sony NEX-5N and Olympus E-P3 have a better dynamic range score from ISO 100-1600, but above this value the E-P3 is a very close match for the G5.

Raw dynamic range

Panasonic G5 review

Although the raw files (after conversion to TIFF) from the G5 can't match those of the Sony NEX-5N, they have a very respectable dynamic range – especially at the lower sensitivity settings. From around ISO 800 upwards they are a close match for the Panasonic G3's raw files and have about 0.5Ev more dynamic range than the Olympus E-P3's files.

Amy Davies

Amy has been writing about cameras, photography and associated tech since 2009. Amy was once part of the photography testing team for Future Publishing working across TechRadar, Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, N Photo and Photography Week. For her photography, she has won awards and has been exhibited. She often partakes in unusual projects - including one intense year where she used a different camera every single day. Amy is currently the Features Editor at Amateur Photographer magazine, and in her increasingly little spare time works across a number of high-profile publications including Wired, Stuff, Digital Camera World, Expert Reviews, and just a little off-tangent, PetsRadar.