The Most Underrated M43 Camera? Panasonic G90 - 8 PROs and 2 CONs

[@cameraexplorations]

What are your thoughts on the G90 or Panasonic cameras in general?

[@husband303]

I have a G90, a great camera

[@cameraexplorations]

@@husband303 I agree. I still have mine and will hold on to it. Great image quality for a MFT camera!

[@walterzannoni]

I love G90, I love it with Leica 25 1.4

[@cameraexplorations]

@@walterzannoni The 25mm f/1.4? Nice! A great lens for a great camera! Enjoy them!

[@DHShields]

Great analysis on a somewhat forgotten camera! I've shot the majority of my content with the G90's predecessor - the G80 and have nothing but great things to say about that wee camera. Having just upgraded to the GH5 I still keep my G80 as a 2nd camera but would definitely consider picking this up! Thank you very much and cheers to all Panasonic shooters!
Best,
Derek

[@cameraexplorations]

Thank you very much, Derek! I'm glad to see a fellow Panasonic user! Indeed, the G90 is somewhat forgotten; this is exactly the reason why I wanted to make this video. Your G80 is still legendary, it works great next to its big brother, the GH5!

[@63MemoryLane-gw1cv]

I have both and I find the G95 a much better handling camera. Comparing the two, the G9 's playback button is way over to the top left, and the G95's is placed almost in the perfect position
on the right just above the dial. The front dial on the G9 is a wheel dial that sits behind the shutter button and is not as easy to use. The front dial on the G95 is positioned around the shutter button and makes it simple to operate. The G9 has no flash and on many occasions, I have used the G95's built-in flash for fill-in lighting using a custom diffuser. And another bonus for the G95 is it has
Live View Composite! The latest G95D has a higher-resolution OLED display compared to the G9's LCD.

[@cameraexplorations]

Thrilled you're enjoying your G95! It sounds like you've discovered many advantages over the G9. While the 4K video crop might discourage some people, I bet there are even more pros to uncover!

[@kwchalky02]

I also have G9 and G95. I agree with you about the playback button. The G9 is better for video and certain types of photography, but for travel, street and landscape, out walking in the hills or cycling I take the G95. It's size is perfect balance between not too big and heavy but not too small to compromise on ergonomics.

[@michaeldouglaskemp3204]

My ideal camera. I start saving.

[@iandoolan8757]

I have the G90 which I use predominantly for travel. I use the post focus a lot, the live composite a lot and the stills from 4k. It's a brilliant camera with so many features that other cameras dont have. There's no need to use high ISO with such a good IBIS system and if you need bokeh it can easily be achieved with right lens. A lot of folk comment adversely about the G90, just copying what other people have said or taken from a poorly informed review. If you kniw about cameras then you'll know as you do that this is a great camera for the money. I have a Z50, a D5600 and A6400. They're all good cameras and capable of excellent results. The worse cameras I've ever had have all been Fuji's.

[@cameraexplorations]

Great insights! Thank you for sharing these valuable points!

[@ProductionTime5593]

I am happy with the camera. It also shoots continuous videos without overheating, whereas other cameras have a 30-minute limit. I bought mine in 2023 and was wondering if the updates are already installed since it was purchased in 2023. Thanks for doing the video and listing the pros and cons.

[@cameraexplorations]

Thanks for sharing! Those who truly appreciate this camera are the ones who own one. While comments keep coming in, I'm glad to see that so many people are enjoying their G90s!

[@seanmangan2769]

I recently upgraded from the G85 to the G95. Im very happy with it.

[@cameraexplorations]

Nice to hear that! Enjoy your G95!

[@matteodetina3952]

I bought it for my honeymoon and honestly I brought home some very nice shots, enough to make more than a big canvas to hang at home and a nice album! For me it’s the perfect camera since I’m not so much into videos, but I love to travel with lightweight equipment while I take photos. Shame that Panasonic didn’t even bother to keep this nice body up to date with some more firmware updates 😢

[@cameraexplorations]

The G90 has great image quality for stills! Being released in 2019, I believe it is even better(when it comes to color depth/dynamic range/iso performance) than a G9, that hit the market in 2017. It is nice and light, stays well in the hand - the only downside for still: no more firmware updates.

[@alexz7182]

Have the g90 and the gx8 and i love them both

[@cameraexplorations]

Finding joy in your gear amplifies the pleasure of photography! It's great to know you love both!

[@VidTechwRick]

Great job! I'm thinking about getting this camera or the GH5...similar used prices

[@cameraexplorations]

Thank you! The GH5 is also nice - it was Panasonic's flagship camera in 2017.

[@launcestonmethodists9444]

absolutely and I have 2 which I got second hand and they are awesome x

[@cameraexplorations]

Glad to hear that you're enjoying your G90's! 😀

[@timothykieper]

Better said, 4k video has an additional 1.26 crop on top of the 2x crop of micro 4/3 ? I have this camera but will moving on to the G9 or GH5

[@cameraexplorations]

I would also like a G9 or a GH5. I was constantly checking prices for these two cameras on the used market. Then I noticed that I don't actually need 4K video, thanks to my video editing software, DaVinci Resolve, which can nicely upscale Full HD videos to 4K. So, for me at least, the good and sharp Full HD video of the G90 is sufficient. I only switch to 4K video recording from time to time.

[@prizepictures1]

Looks fantastic. All those features are tempting. Video is not a priority for me so I don’t care about a 4K crop. I was thinking of going full frame but I can’t justify it with cameras like these. I like that it doesn’t weigh much but it’s still a bit big for an everyday carry. What is the average battery life in your experience? How is the audio quality? Do you use the built in microphones or a dedicated microphone into the 3.5mm audio jack?

[@cameraexplorations]

It's great that you mentioned video isn't a top priority for you because I purchased the G90 for photography. With its excellent image quality, upgrading to a full-frame camera doesn't seem necessary. The only reason I'd consider a full-frame camera is for low-light situations, like shooting at night or during concerts. If portability is important to you, MFT or APS-C cameras are (still) the best choices. The battery life is just ok, around 290 shots, but I always carry a spare, which I highly recommend. The built-in microphone, as expected in most cameras, provides average audio quality, but it sounds good if you use an external microphone. Personally, since I'm only capturing audio from inside the house (while talking in front of the camera), I only use a lavalier microphone attached to the camera, and it works nicely for me.

[@beholder2012]

The third downside: when shooting using bracketing, the dynamic range drops from 12 to 10 bit.
That being said: I'm also owner and happy user of G90. It's great and capable camera that gives very good picture. Especially considering its price (bought it used for less than 500 EUR).

[@cameraexplorations]

Thank you for adding this! It’s useful for people reading the comments section. Glad you're happy with your G90!

[@user-lj4dd5bb7n]

hey man cool i used to watch all you reviews what about the Northamerican version and european version any difference (America is a whole Continent never forget that) greetings from Peru

[@cameraexplorations]

I understand. The Panasonic G95, G90, and G91 are exactly the same camera with no differences; only the name varies depending on the region.

[@Lepewhi]

It is smaller/lighter than the g9, is cheaper, plus builtin flash. If I were looking, I know which one I'd choose.

[@laurentyarp514]

You're right it is a forgotten camera. It was in the shadow of the G9 and nobody cared about it.
For a beginner it makes a good budget camera. I have been waiting a long time before getting my first camera because I had no money. Instead I should just have picked one of those excellent second hand cameras.

[@cameraexplorations]

Exactly, it was overshadowed by the G9, and nobody paid much attention to it. Well said! Second-hand cameras are an excellent choice for beginners, and nowadays, there are numerous good options available. The G90 is one of them.

[@jcru40]

Great camera especially for video but I liked the Sony A6600 much better for photos and it’s more compact .

[@cameraexplorations]

Good to hear that you appreciate the G90! Sony A6600 has a superb design (like all cameras from the A6000's series). For sure, it is better for photos, but significantly more expensive.

[@jcru40]

Overall this is an amazing camera for $700. You can’t go wrong and looks beautiful

[@cameraexplorations]

It is one of the best Micro Four Thirds cameras and, at this price (brand new), there's nothing to complain about. Yes, I also like the way it looks - nice design.

[@michaelbell75]

$700 WITH the very nice 12-60 lens

[@bigtiger567]

What about continuous autofocus? Especially the tracking ability? I know em1 mark 2 does not do well in tracking. Not sure about this.

[@cameraexplorations]

The G90 is slightly better when it comes to continuous af/tracking.

[@dandanu2526]

DC-G91M is the same camera?

[@cameraexplorations]

Yes, the Panasonic G95, G90 and G91 are the exact same camera; only the name varies depending on the region.

[@dandanu2526]

@@cameraexplorations Thank you.

[@BarryMaskell]

That’s why the G85 still remains a keeper it only has a 1.1 times crop in 4k

[@cameraexplorations]

Yes, the G85 only has a crop of only 1.1x in while recording videos in 4k.

[@eatingcookingKh]

Does G90 and G95 the same model?
I am looking for budget camera for photo. second hand in the market around 500-600$, should I buy this camera with Kit let 12-60mm and 25mm F1.7?
I don't think about video, but the most important think is photo, I want the clear ,sharp , and quality photo. SHOULD I buy this model please give me advice❤
I am a beginner I ever use lumix GF10. So I want to try this camera G95. ❤ Recommend me pleaae

[@cameraexplorations]

Yes, the G90 and G95 are the same, just with different names (for different regions). Yes, the 12-60mm and 25mm f/1.7 are good options. For sure the G90 brings better image quality than the GF10. It will not be a big-major upgrade, since both have the same sensor size (MFT). If you could get the G90 + those two lenses for 500-600$, it will be a good deal, but if you want a major increase in quality for photos you will need to bump the budget a bit and get a recent camera with a larger sensor: like the Canon R10 (APS-C sensor) or Canon RP (Full Frame sensor) . Hope it helps!

[@eatingcookingKh]

@@cameraexplorations Thank you for your feedback. Can you recommend me with Fuji or Lumix brand? I think Canon is good for photography but I'm really don't like the body. please give me more options with Fuji or Lumix?

[@cameraexplorations]

@@eatingcookingKh I would recommend getting a Fuji camera because it has a larger sensor. Also, it is better to have a recently released Fuji camera because they improved their autofocus. The most inexpensive Fuji camera models are: the X-S10 or the X-T30 II (they are recent - released in 2020 and 2021). I would personally go for the X-S10 because it has IBIS, but when it comes to image quality, both are good.

[@eatingcookingKh]

@@cameraexplorations Thank you so much ☺️

[@ProductionTime5593]

I own the G95 and love it. I even purchased two extra lenses...Lumix 35-100mm and Lumix 10-25mm, both great lenses. The videos and photos come out fantastic.

[@walterzannoni]

I love G90. I also had the G9 that failed. I returned it and only kept the G90. It's fantastic for having fun and taking good photos. Ergonomic and lightweight. I adore. I honestly can't understand why, when it came out, someone decreed that the G90 is for video and the GX9 for photos. false. The GX9 is for nothing! Terrible viewfinder, no weather sealing, terrible ergonomics, even with a grip you have the uncomfortable backward shot.

[@cameraexplorations]

This is why the name of this title is "The Most Underrated M43 Camera" . I'm very glad that you're enjoying your G90! A very nice camera at all aspects! I still have mine and will hold on to it!

[@DuniaKita19]

No.. G9 for video G90 for budget.. 😂

[@bigtiger567]

How much is the image quality better than g80? Or iq is the same, just more megapixel?

[@cameraexplorations]

The sensor is better on the G90: better dynamic range, color depth and ISO performance. So its not just about more megapixels. The 3 year age gap (release date) matters: 2016 vs 2019.

[@bigtiger567]

@@cameraexplorations thanks people all say g90 cmos is not too much better than g80 so I'm confused...

[@cameraexplorations]

The difference is not huge between the two, since they are both MFT sensors, but the G90 is a bit better. If there are unnoticeable differences, they should be when comparing the G9 vs G90 vs G100 (Dec 2017 vs 2019 vs 2020 release dates) ; but when you put G80 (2016) vs G90 (2019), even if not huge, the difference is there, the latter has better image quality.

[@bigtiger567]

@@cameraexplorations I think we can say Panasonic just made g80 too good. The cmos didn't have AA and low pass filters and its resolution is on a par with 20mp models. If you look at photon to photos website, they say g80, gx9 and g90 have the same low dynamic range. g9 has significantly better dynamic range. I am not sure whether the website is accurate though!😂

[@cameraexplorations]

I might buy my own G80 this year, just to see what it can do - it sparks my curiosity. If you come across a G80 (and find it at a low price), in my opinion, you should just get it and enjoy it. If it's in good shape and the body is priced between 300-350 USD, it's worth buying - a good camera: IBIS, weather sealing, only a 1.1x crop in 4K.

[@bigtiger567]

How does it compare with em1 mark ii?

[@cameraexplorations]

The EM1 Mark II is a high-end camera (top of the line in 2016), the G90 is a mid-range camera (from 2019). Although, there is a 3 year difference between them, the high-end camera (EM1 Mark II) shines more due to High-Res Mode (80MP photos), quicker shutter speeds with both electronic and mechanical shutter, more photos per second and no crop in 4k. When it comes to image quality, they are very similar - no significant difference. The G90 is only slightly better when it comes to focusing speed, in both photo and video mode, but just slightly - and we must remember that the G90 doesn't have animal detect focusing, while the EM1 II receive it via Firmware update 3.0. Also, an important thing to mention, the Olympus camera was going for 2300 USD when it first came out, the Panasonic was around 1200 USD (with the lens included) when it was announced - different leagues, but still, the G90 is quite good.

[@evernam993m8]

this would be better camera if without heavy crop 4K :\

[@cameraexplorations]

That is true. Heavy crop via a software limitation, I suspect. The camera has enough processing power. But that heavy crop can help us if we're filming birds/buildings from far away (and other scenarios where we actually needed to get more zoomed in).

[@viktor4860]

exagerated 4k video crop makes it useless.

[@cameraexplorations]

For some, indeed, this might be a deal breaker; for others, it can be a helpful thing (like video recording birds, for example, getting the action "closer").

[@mikenewman6218]

turn the zoom ring a little when you use video

[@GrumpyOldMan9]

Another con: the small sensor causes a large DOF

[@michaelbell75]

Thats only one of the four factors in DOF. There is also aperture, focal length and size of the subject. Get a fast prime with a longer focal length. I shoot portraits and can get a plenty shallow DOF with the Olympus 75 f/1.8 which is an excellent lens. Hell, I can get a nice shallow DOF with my Panasonic Fz200 and its tiny 1/2.3" sensor thanks to its constant f/2.8 lens. I just get on the telephoto end around 300mm or so

[@beholder2012]

It may be rather a „pro” for the ones that frequently do macro photos.