GEAR PANASONIC G100
VLOGGER’S DELIGHT SMALL WONDER The tiny Panasonic G100 is more than just for selfies and packs some advanced audio technology
WORDS ADAM DUCKWORTH
I f you’re reading this magazine, you probably won’t be bowled over by Panasonic’s new G100 camera, or have even registered that it exists. It’s not aimed at professional filmmakers, but at a growing band of vloggers and content makers. They just want a small, light camera that works and has as much technology as possible to help them get good results, without any fuss. But where most cameras aimed at vloggers use very small sensors and a built-in zoom lens, the pint- sized Pana packs a relatively large Micro Four Thirds sensor. It takes the full range of MFT-mount lenses and, best of all, has some incredible new audio technology that makes a real difference to your sound. That makes it a useful B or C camera, ideal for an extra viewpoint on your pro shoot, or an inexperienced crew member can use it to take behind the scenes or B-roll that’s very usable. And that’s all for not a lot of money in a very compact package.
Of course, if you do want to do some vlogging or take some photos, it can do that, too. The real techno innovation is the audio, licensed fromNokia’s OZO project. It uses three built-in microphones. These have a front, rear or surround pick-up pattern, but also have a tracking mode that adjusts which mic is best based on the camera’s face detection system. This reduces the input from other directions, therefore limiting background noise. While it won’t replace a direction shotgun mic and a boom operator, it definitely works well and you can hear the difference. If the camera doesn’t detect a face, the audio switches to general surround mode. With face and eye detection AF being around for a while now, it’s amazing nobody else has cottoned on to linking it to the audio. Perhaps we are at the start of a new age of more intuitive audio, where potentially high-quality surround sound mics could be linked to face
“Perhaps we are at the start of a new age ofmore intuitive audio, where surround soundmics could be linked to face tracking to customise the sound”
SPECIFICATIONS Price:
£719/$797with 12-32mm/ f3.5-5.6 lens and tripod kit Sensor: 20.3-megapixel Micro Four Thirds LiveMOS sensor, 17.3x13.0mm Recording format: MP4 4:2:0 8-bit, 4K/30p 100Mbps, Full HD 30/60p 28Mbps. 4:2:2 8-bit HDwhen recorded externally Fast and slow frame rates: Recordingmedia: Single SD/SDHC/ SDXC UHS-II slot Audio input: 3.5mmmic input jack, 3 built-inmics withNokia OZO technology 1080pHD, up to 120fps Log gamma: V-Log L 5-axis digital, works in combinationwith lens IS Screen: 3in LED articulating touchscreen, 1,840k dots Shutter speeds: 1-1/16,000sec Autofocus: Contrast AF Videomodes: manual, programAE, aperture-priority, shutter-priority Dimensions (WxHxD): 115.6x82.5x54.2mm/ 4.55x3.25x2.13in Weight: 345g/0.76lb (body only with battery and card) ISO range: 200-25,600, expandable 100-25,600 Image stabilisation:
BELOW The complete kit of camera, lens and grip make it an ideal camera for fast use on location
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