Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 12.1 MP Live MOS Interchangeable Lens Camera with 14-42mm Lumix G Vario f/3.5-5.6 MEGA OIS Lens

by Panasonic

• Dual Full-time Live View for LCD and LVF
• Includes Lumix G Vario 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. lens
• High-speed Contrast AF System
• 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor and Intelligent Resolution technology
• HD Movie (Motion JPEG) and HDMI compatibility featuring Viera Link

Product Details

• Item Weight: 5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B003AOAXJQ
• Item model number: DMC-G10K-K
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,429 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 7, 2010

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Panasonic's Lumix DMC-G10 packs a host of advanced digital camera functions designed to be easy-to-use for users new to system cameras. The compact and portable Lumix G10, which can record High Definition (HD) video in addition to high-quality still images, joins the Lumix DMC-G2 as part of the Panasonic Lumix G Series.

The Lumix G10, with its incredible compact body and portable design, uses a mirrorless structure as part the Micro Four Thirds System standard, eliminating a number of components that are found in a conventional interchangeable lens camera, including the mirror box and optical viewfinder unit. This innovative structure allows for the Lumix G10 to be the world's lightest system camera in a compact digital camera design that is a desired feature for new users. Adding to its lightweight body, the Lumix G10 comes equipped with the Lumix G Vario 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. lens. This lens offers a versatile zoom range of 14-42mm (35mm camera equivalent: 28-84mm), making it suitable for shooting a wide-range of scenes, from dynamic landscape to portrait.


The Lumix G10, designed for ease of use, offers iA (Intelligent Auto) mode--with its shooting assist functions that have proven extremely popular in Lumix compact cameras. Panasonic's iA (Intelligent Auto), an easy shooting mode with automatic optimization according to the scene in either photo and video recording, is helpful to beginner users unfamiliar with an interchangeable lens system camera. With the new dedicated iA button, which illuminates in blue when engaged, activating this mode is even easier and can be used to shoot both photos and videos.

When shooting still photos, iA offers the following: MEGA O.I.S., which helps prevent blurring from hand-shake; Intelligent ISO Control, which reduces motion blur by adjusting the ISO sensitivity if the subject moves; Intelligent Exposure optimizes exposure for each part of an image, preventing blocked shadows and blown highlights and helping ensure that gradation and details are reproduced properly; Intelligent Scene Selector detects the most common shooting situations--Portrait, Night Portrait, Scenery, Night Scenery, Close-up and Sunset--and switches to the appropriate Scene mode automatically with no setting changes needed.

The Lumix G10 can record 1280 x 720 HD video in Motion JPEG, QVGA, VGA and WVGA formats. Photographers can enjoy recording HD videos while taking advantage of the high quality lens and the flexibility to change to other lenses. Even users new to recording videos will find the Lumix G10 makes it easy. Panasonic's iA for video offers the following: Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) helps prevent handshake when using high-powered zoom; Face Detection automatically detects a face in the frame and adjusts focus, exposure, contrast, and skin complexion; Intelligent Exposure continually checks the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure setting as conditions change to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows; Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Close-up, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the situation to optimize visual quality.

With AF Tracking, the Lumix G10 can lock onto any subject and keep it in focus even if it moves--making it easy to get beautiful, clear shots of moving subjects, such as children and pets. Simply aim, lock, and shoot. The Face Recognition function remembers registered faces to give an appropriate AF/AE on the people. In playback, you can choose to display only photos that contain a specific registered face using Category Playback. The contrast AF system adopted by the Lumix DMC-G10 is not only accurate and easy to use, but also very fast. Photographers can choose from a wide range of AF modes, including AF Tracking, 1-area AF, Face Detection AF/AE and 23-area AF.

Live MOS sensor

The Lumix G10's Live View Finder, with a resolution of 202,000-dot equivalent, 1.04x (0.52x) retains the viewability of an optical viewfinder and displays information about its settings that users can see without removing their eye from the subject. The 60 fps Live View is powered by the Live MOS sensor, which takes signals directly from the image sensor and sends them continuously to the LCD, in real time. Both the Live View Finder and LCD provide approximately 100% field of view. This allows the user, when composing a shot, to check the framing accurately from corner to corner. The 3.0-inch large 460,000-dot high-resolution LCD with wide viewing angle automatically controls the brightness according to the situation as an Intelligent LCD.

The 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor and the new Venus Engine HD II help to separate chromatic noise from luminance noise and apply the optimal noise reduction to each, so users can capture clear and beautiful images even when shooting at high ISO sensitivity levels.

Venus Engine HD II

The high-speed, high-performance Venus Engine HD II, which has been re-engineered to incorporate the new image processing technology, Intelligent Resolution, enables the recording of beautiful photo and HD video with high quality signal processing. With Intelligent Resolution technology, three areas--outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation--are automatically detected. The outline parts are enhanced effectively to give edges increased clarity, while simultaneously giving a moderate accentuation to the textured areas so they look finely detailed. For the soft gradation areas, the improved noise reduction system of the Venus Engine HD II is applied to achiever a smoother effect. Apart from the uniform enhancement of sharpness, the innovative technology Intelligent Resolution precisely performs signal processing pixel by pixel in the most effective way, resulting in images that are naturally clear.

All Panasonic Lumix G Series digital cameras are equipped with the highly-efficient Dust Reduction System. If dust or other foreign matter gets inside the Lumix G10 while changing lenses, it could cling to the image sensor and show up as a spot in your photos. However, with the Dust Reduction System, it helps eliminate this possibility by placing a supersonic wave filter in front of the Live MOS sensor. Vibrating vertically around 50,000 times per second, the filter repels dust and other particles effectively.



Panasonic Lumix G10 Highlights

Utilize Full-time Live View for accurate shooting.

Dual Full-time Live View for LCD and LVF, and Contrast AF System
The DMC-G10 features dual Full-time Live View for the LCD and the LVF (Live View Finder). It gives you a live view of what you're shooting, with approx. 100% field of view. The DMC-G10's 3.0-inch LCD features 460,000-dot resolution Intelligent LCD with wide-viewing angle. This LCD provides sharp, clear images in virtually all shooting situations, ranging from nighttime to bright daylight scenes and from low-angle to high-angle shooting. The DMC-G10 also features Contrast AF system that is not only accurate and easy-to-use, but also very fast.

12.1-megapixel Live MOS Sensor and Intelligent Resolution Technology with Venus Engine HD II
The 4/3-type 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor is advantageous for image recording with its high S/N, thanks to a circuit structure that is unaffected by the noise generated in each of the circuits. The Intelligent Resolution Technology, incorporated in the Venus Engine HD II, determines the subject's contours and color edges, and emphasizes them during image processing. This lets you capture stunning images with details. The Dust Reduction System helps maintain image quality by placing a Supersonic Wave Filter in front of the sensor.

Artistic Images with My Color Mode, Peripheral Defocus Mode and Motion Picture P Mode
My Color Mode makes it easy to customize color effects to match your favor. In still image recording, the Peripheral Defocus Mode automatically adjusts the focus to match the AF area you positioned while gently defocusing the foreground and background to emphasize the subject. In movie recording, the Motion Picture P Mode makes adjustment the aperture easily. The iA Mode, featuring Face Recognition function, serves as a combination of functions that makes it easy for anyone to get beautiful photos and movies.

My Color Mode options.

HD Movie (Motion JPEG) and HDMI Compatibility Featuring VIERA Link
The DMC-G10 can record HD movie (1,280 x 720 pixels at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format). The pixel mixed readout method enables bright motion-picture recording even in low-light settings. The iA Mode can also be activated in movie recording. When the DMC-G10 is connected to a Panasonic VIERA via an optional mini HDMI cable, the TV's remote control unit can be used to enjoy playing back with greater convenience.

Lumix G Vario 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. Based on the Micro Four Thirds System Standard
Suitable for a wide range of scenes from portrait to landscape photography, the Lumix G Vario 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. offers a zoom range of 28-84mm (35mm equivalent) while featuring its compact size and light weight. It incorporates Panasonic's MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), which makes it easy to shoot clear shots even in low-lit situations without hand-shake blur. When the lens is mounted on the DMC-G10, you can use the contrast AF system, which is implemented in the DMC-G10 to offer a variety of convenient functions.

Other features of the Lumix G10 include:

• My Color mode with a total of seven preset effects: Expressive, Retro, Pure, Elegant, Monochrome, Dynamic Art, Silhouette. Also includes Custom mode, which lets users manually set the color, brightness and saturation levels. For beginners, the Lumix G10's full-time Live View function lets users see how these settings will affect the images before they shoot, making it easier to capture the exact mood or atmosphere desired.
• Scene modes total 26, including the Peripheral Defocus mode, which lets users take a photo where the foreground is in focus and background is blurred--or vice versa. This popular effect can be intimidating for a beginner, but in the Peripheral Defocus mode, by simply selecting the objects to be blurred and focused using the camera's keypad, it is simple for photographers of any level.
• Exposure meter can be displayed in the P/A/S/M shooting modes. The correlation between shutter speed and aperture is shown, with a color-coded warning system that alerts users when the settings are not in the proper range. For those new to system camera digital photography, this makes it easy to learn proper settings both visually and logically, enhancing their photography skills.

The Panasonic Lumix G10 is compatible with Micro Four Thirds System lenses, allowing users even higher levels of performance in a digital interchangeable lens camera. In addition to Lumix G lenses, the Lumix DMC-G10 and Lumix G Micro System can use any interchangeable lens that complies with the Four Thirds standard via an optional mount adaptor DMW-MA1 and with the prestigious Leica M/R Lenses via DMW-MA2M or MA3R.

What's in the Box
Lumix G10 body, Lumix G Vario 14-42mm lens, Battery Charger/AC Adaptor, Battery Pack, Body Cap, AV Cable, USB Connection Cable, AC Cable, Shoulder Strap, CD-ROM.

Product Description

Panasonic DMC-G10 Interchangeable Lens System Digital Camera

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to m4/3 September 29, 2010

By a scientist VINE™ VOICE

This review is in response to recent price movements for this camera. It's now offered around two-thirds the MSRP. I don't expect the price to go back up too much. This is the same money as a good point-and-shoot. For that, you get a really lightweight SLR-style camera with pretty good ergonomics and good features. I had used Panasonic point-and-shoots for the last six or seven years and have always been really pleased with the performance and build quality. However, I wanted more detail in my pictures and better low light ability. This camera has a better flash, a bigger sensor (not in terms of megapixels, but in terms of physical size, meaning similar sized image files of about 5 Mb per file, but less useless noise). The user interface is good, allowing more experimentation than my old Panasonic point-and-shoots. I feel like I have some growing room. Also, I tried the Olympus PEN E-PL1 competitor and found the autofocus system incredibly annoying. It was slow OR constantly hunting loudly. I love the feel of the G10/G1 much more than the E-PL1 (or the GF1 for that matter - I was surprised by that).

The real thing that sets this camera apart is the interchangeable lenses. I was able to buy an Olympus 9-18mm lens to get breathtaking landscapes that are 18mm equivalent ultra-wide, without stitching together pictures to make panoramas.

So why only four stars? Well, I prefer the G1, which this camera is supposed to replace. That camera may still be available from Amazon for a very good price not too much more than this camera. My advice: buy the G1. It has a better screen (with articulation), better viewfinder (with a nifty sensor to detect when you're using it!), and a much better kit lens. I know the lenses look very similar and the one for the G10 is lighter, but it's a significantly worse lens. Even I can tell the difference! Since the whole point of this camera for me was to buy good glass and occasionally replace the body, it did not make sense to invest in this particular kit.

That having been said, if you can't do the extra sixty dollars or need a movie mode, this is still a great camera. I'd also have a look at the GF1, although that's the price that the G10 is supposed to be. Both make the G2 look conspicuously over-priced right now, although that touch screen is cool. As far as lenses, I recommend the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 lens and the Olympus M Zuiko 9 - 18mm (don't worry about lack of image stabilization on this one).

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite a Jewel! October 14, 2010

By Roberto Vicente

Amazon Verified Purchase

Just received my G10, getting a special deal on Amazon. I've had numerous dslrs and I'm glad to be the proud owner of this camera. Finally not lugging around heavy equipment while getting quality pictures. Checkout my downloads.

First is how small this camera is--very. It is an all plastic body but feels good in the hands, is easy to control and get off shots (I wouldn't take the camera on a camping trip, but it is good for day to day shooting and weekends). The kits lens is excellent (check out my uploaded photos--sharp, detail, well toned and colorful images). I have only shot in RAW and the quality is superb. The lens is very small...and quality. The camera performs very fast, focuses fast. There are many, many features. I like the set up of 1-3 different film modes so you can set up different look and takes, including b/w all in one series of shots. I would have liked more photo editing features in the camera, but this isn't essential.

I shot some HDR movies and the quality was excellent. The camera focuses well throughout the panning.

Image stabilization in the lens works well. To be honest, the G10 has the sharpest photos of any camera I've shot right out of the camera. Excellent color rendition. Didn't make one exposure mistake.

The G10 is the paired down version of the G2. You save about $200 with the G10--no swivel LCD screen, view finder EVF isn't the sharpest quality but acceptable, and there is no automatic or instant button for video (all you have to do is turn the dial to video and press the shutter button to start recording video, easily done), but the G10 has the same photo engine and processing. No loss in quality. However, you do want to shoot in RAW...big difference from the weaker Jpeg.

Considerable drop off in Jpeg. You will want to shoot in RAW which is outstanding. For your information RAW + fine jpeg allows for the highest quality RAW image (this is what the manual says. You'll also see the difference between the RAW and jpeg image--jpeg is weak!).

On a very cloudy overcast day I shot in ISO 640 and thought there was a fair amount of noise. ISO 100-200 is recommended.

Battery life is outstanding as I've shot more than 500 RAW shots with charge. Also, the manual is better than most manual and guides the user quite easily.

I will write more as I proceed with the camera. This camera is a winner. The micro four thirds dslr is the way of the future and cameras will undoubtedly get even beter. Can't wait to see what else will come out. Good by to the old and heavy dslrs!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A great "bridge" camera January 21, 2011

By LoEndMaestro

Amazon Verified Purchase

My wife & I pulled the trigger on the Panasonic Lumix DMC G10 after doing much research & checking various reviews & Consumer Reports.
We were fed up with our cheap compact digital camera & were tired of missing a lot of memories due to its low quality & frustrating shutter lag.

The Lumix is a great choice for those who want an affordable pro quality camera & have "limited" photography skills. Don't be fooled, it has TONS of options and is honestly a little too much camera for me, but its very intuitive, easy to operate & has a great auto setting.

The pictures are spectacular & the video capabilities are impressive as well. Sure you could spend a lot more for some other cameras, but if you're just a regular person who wants a nice camera that will take good pictures of his kid, you may want to give this one a try.

A good bridge camera to take you from the compact digital camera world to the DSLR world.