Panasonic Lumix G110: Once again not the perfect camera
17.8.2020
Translation: machine translated
The G110 is a small and lightweight system camera that you can use for both photography and vlogging. The perfect all-rounder? No, of course not this time either.
With the Lumix G110, Panasonic wants to appeal to the same target group as Sony with the ZV-1: vloggers. But not only. Unlike the Sony ZV-1, the G110 is supposed to be just as suitable for classic photographers. How well does it manage this balancing act?
By the way, the camera is only called G110 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, everywhere else in the world it's called G100. Everything you read about the Panasonic Lumix G100 also applies to the G110 - it's the same model. I still don't quite understand why Panasonic does it this way and I'll chalk it up to "that's how it is, because that's how it is."
Video features
The fact that videos are not a minor matter with this camera is immediately apparent: the large, red record button on the top makes it easy to quickly start and stop a video. It can also be used to start a video recording in the photo modes (P, A, S, M and automatic). In video mode, the shutter release does not take photos, but also starts a video recording.
Another vlogging feature: A red frame around the image makes it easy to see whether the camera is recording. There is no red LED on the front like on the Sony ZV-1, but the screen can be rotated 180 degrees to the side so that you can see yourself and the control frame in front of the camera.
In addition, the video function offers the option of setting the aperture, shutter speed and ISO completely via the touchscreen. This allows me to make settings even when I'm already in front of the camera.
For vloggers, the camera is available in a kit with the DMW-SHGR1 tripod grip. This is one thing above all: remarkably light. This makes it feel a little cheap, but it is stable. The camera can be freely orientated thanks to the ball head. An advantage over the tripod handle from Sony.
Compared to the Sony grip, this one also has a disadvantage: it does not offer zoom control. Such remote control buttons would make no sense, as the lens has no zoom motor at all.
The kit lens supplied with the camera is extremely light, just like the grip. As the camera itself is not heavy either, everything together can be used for long periods with an outstretched arm without any problems. The 12-32 mm focal length corresponds to the angle of view of 24-64 mm in full format.
The screen shows very clearly which face and which eye the camera is currently tracking. The face autofocus worked quite well for me. However, the Sony ZV-1 seems faster and more reliable in this respect.
4K vlogging unusable
The Panasonic G110 can only handle 4K with the infamous 4K crop. This means that you only see a section of what you would see in photos or full HD videos. Although the small and lightweight kit lens would offer enough wide angle for vlogging, the image section is too narrow in 4K. The problem is exacerbated if you switch on the image stabiliser. This cuts off even more of the image, especially in the "high" setting. Incidentally, the camera does not have a sensor image stabiliser, which would probably be impossible given the small dimensions. The image is kept more or less steady by a combination of software and lens stabilisation.
Theoretically, you can attach a different lens to achieve the desired angle of view. However, in this camera system (Micro Four Thirds), the Auswahl an entsprechenden Objektiven unbefriedigend. They are either large, heavy and expensive, or they are fisheye lenses that can only be focussed manually.
The reason why manufacturers resort to cropping in the first place is that it requires less computing power. This makes it all the more surprising that recording in 4K is limited to 10 minutes. Full HD with 60p is limited to 20 minutes at a time. The camera generally heats up quite quickly.
Under these conditions, it doesn't seem practical to me to produce vlogging in 4K. At best, I would use a 4K recording to crop the 4K further afterwards and integrate it into a full HD video. This way, you get a telephoto section without having to have a telephoto lens with you.
Microphones
The Panasonic Lumix G110 has three built-in microphones and can record sound from all sides. Unlike other cameras, it is possible to specify where the sound that is to be heard predominantly comes from. Sounds coming from other directions are recorded more quietly and are less distracting. This basically works well.
There are three settings: Front, Back and Surround. In the following video, the camera is between me and the guitar amplifier. The sound is therefore much louder when the microphone is facing backwards. On the other hand, the attack of the strings is audible when the microphone is facing forwards. You can hear both in the surround setting.
There are also the "Auto" and "Tracking" settings. As I understand it, the microphone automatically points to where it recognises a face. With "Auto", the device should recognise where the relevant sound is coming from. To be honest, I can't say whether it really works that way. I don't have enough realistic scenarios to test it in a meaningful way. However, I think audio tracking is an exciting innovation. And I also think that the sound quality of the built-in microphones is generally very good.
The camera has both an accessory shoe and a microphone input for connecting an external microphone. However, the audio alignment and noise filtering do not work with external microphones.
Photography
The viewfinder is needed much more for photography than for video. The fact that a camera trimmed to tiny dimensions has a viewfinder at all is a further indication that it is not a pure vlogging camera. And it's not a cheap version: with its 3.68 million pixels, the viewfinder makes a good impression.
With its viewfinder, compact dimensions and low weight, the camera is ideal for travelling, for example on hikes.
Unfortunately, I still can't view and edit the RAW files in Lightroom despite waiting a long time for an update. I'm happy with the JPEGs from the camera. The sensor delivers good quality up to 3200 ISO. You can set up to 25,600 ISO, but that's only good for viewing on a mobile phone.
3200 ISO on the left, 16,000 ISO on the right. As is usually the case, the defects only become clearly visible when enlarged.
The kit lens is already five years old, but a few words about it. In the centre of the image, the photos are sharp at all zoom levels - in contrast to my Sony RX100 III, which clearly falls short in the telephoto range. In the corners of the image, on the other hand, the lens delivers little sharpness, which I noticed particularly at wide angle. But that is normal. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the image quality of this featherweight.
Conclusion: A good travel camera
With the Lumix G110, Panasonic wants to please everyone who is looking for a small camera: Videographers, Instagrammers, vloggers and photographers. It almost succeeded. But only almost.
The Panasonic Lumix G110 offers interesting features for anyone who likes to record videos. The controls are well suited for this and the sound recording is innovative. Unfortunately, the limitations in 4K are so severe that vloggers have to switch to Full HD.
Due to its small and lightweight dimensions, the G110 proves to be practical for on the go, where you don't want to carry a lot of weight - trekking, travelling or a stroll through town. With the very good viewfinder, you retain full control of the image composition even in sunshine. For the fact that there is virtually nothing on the lens, it delivers amazing quality. It can of course also be replaced by another lens, such as the equally small 20mm lens with a lens speed of f/1.7.
I have the suspicion that the Lumix G110 is being touted primarily as a vlogging camera because vlogging is more in vogue than travelling at the moment. For me, this is first and foremost a travel camera. <p
David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.
