Panasonic Lumix G5 Camera Review and Giveaway

Photography is a huge part of my life but I try not to let it become intrusive. Fiddling with a camera during a special moment is not my idea of a good time. I save experimentation and self-teaching for when I have one of those magical yet rare moments to myself.

When I'm out and about with my family I don't want to miss out on the fun because I'm adjusting settings or looking down at my camera screen. An easy to use and adaptable camera fits perfectly into our lifestyle. The Panasonic Lumix G5 is an impressive camera that's packed with powerful features but also simple to use. I'm a photography nerd and read the full Lumix manual before shooting my first picture. The advanced features this innocent little camera was packing blew me away.

If you're a hands-on learner that's totally fine too. The G5 is extra user-friendly straight out of the box. No steep learning curve involved which is convenient especially around the holiday season. Unpack and get shooting. Whether you're the occasional photographer or a professional looking for a practical addition to your gear lineup you're bound to fall in love with some of the features.

I was psyched about the color temperature and white balance settings, ability to shoot in RAW, and LCD touch panel. My husband, the occasional non obsessive photographer in the family, liked the small size, easy to use menu, and the scene guide.

The scene guide is amazing. It showcases 23 different images taken by professional photographers in different settings to help you choose the scene that most resembles what you're shooting. Scenes include backlit softness, sweet child's face, vivid sunset glow, appetizing food, and more. It's a great feature for beginner, casual, or amateur photographers that allows you to learn while you practice.

As awesome as the scene guide is it's not the most exciting feature on the camera. The Lumix G5 has 14 built in creative filters to give you creative control of your photo processing as you shoot. It's incredible. Preview the finished product on the gorgeous touch screen and shoot. Options include: toy effect, miniature effect, low-key, and sepia. Fourteen fun filters to choose from and inspire you to have fun with your photography.

I turned the Panasonic Lumix G5 over to Preston for a little fun. I love that he has taken an interest in photography and I wasn't nervous sharing the Lumix with him because it's a manageable camera. Its size is one of my favorite things about it. I have small hands and it fits perfectly. Preston had no problems handling the camera and had a blast playing with the different filters.

No filter

Impressive Art

Sepia

One Point Color

Toy Effect

Preston had a lot of fun using mommy's "fancy camera". He liked the different effects the filters had on his pictures too. My favorite filter is the Dynamic Monochrome. It's a black and white filter but I used it as a self-teaching tool. Monochrome shooting helped me pay closer attention to light and shows in my images. Preston liked making his colors pop and enjoyed using the High Dynamic filter.

The Lumix G5 performs well in low light. The kit lens is silent, versatile, and focuses quickly but there are other lens options as well. My pictures were noise free and the resolution is phenomenal. There is a pop up flash if you need it but in most conditions it wasn't necessary. If you enjoy making home movies the full HD 1080 60P video capture is perfect for you. You can selectively focus by touching the screen for professional results. It's truly impressive yet simple to use. You can use filters while shooting movies too.

You can get free shipping at Panasonic.com until December, 31 2012!

How would a Panasonic Lumix G5 help you and your family take more creative pictures? Answer in a comment to be entered for a chance to win a Panasonic Lumix G5 camera! (Please note that a winner will be chosen from a pool of all participating reviewers' blogs.)

Rules:
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This sweepstakes runs from 11/19-12/19

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