LUMIX G97

Released February 2025

A 20.3-megapixel Micro Four Thirds camera with sensor stabilisation, 4K video, a free-angle touchscreen and USB-C charging.

Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: Four Thirds
Megapixels: 20.3
Lens: Micro Four Thirds
Video: 3840 × 2160 at 30 fps
Body weight: 478 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praise handling, image quality and value, especially with the versatile kit lens. TechRadar finds single-shot autofocus very fast but continuous focus weaker, with visible video pulsing; Amateur Photographer also finds low-light focus slow. Both see little upgrade incentive for G90/G95 owners. TechRadar questions battery life, while Amateur Photographer notes the bulk and single card slot.

From amateurphotographer.com and techradar.com

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Mirrorless
Sensor format: Four Thirds
Sensor type: CMOS
Effective resolution: 20.3 MP
Largest image: 5184 × 3888
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 200–25600
Sensor detail: Maker specifies four-thirds CMOS, approximately 20.3 million effective and 21.8 million total pixels; native 4:3 stills 5184×3888. Sensor dimensions and BSI construction are not inferred from other Lumix bodies
Image formats: JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; 4K Photo frames are separate cropped JPEG captures
ISO detail: Standard stills ISO 200–25600; expanded ISO 100. Creative Video ISO 200–6400 with expanded 100, under the manual's mode restrictions
Image processor: Venus Engine (maker announcement)

Lens and shooting

Lens mount: Micro Four Thirds
Stabilisation: Lens and sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst: 9 fps
Autofocus: Contrast-detection TTL AF; AFS/AFF/AFC/MF, face/eye detection, tracking, 49-area, Custom Multi, single-area and pinpoint modes
Shutter: Mechanical 60–1/4000 second; electronic first curtain 60–1/2000; electronic 1–1/16000. Mechanical/first-curtain Bulb approximately 30 minutes maximum
Burst detail: Full-resolution 9 fps AFS/MF or 6 fps AFF/AFC with mechanical, electronic first-curtain or electronic shutter; 27 or more RAW frames, 600 or more without RAW under specified Panasonic tests and media conditions. 30 fps 4K Photo is approximately 8 MP cropped output and is excluded from native-resolution burst speed
Stabilisation detail: Five-axis sensor-shift IBIS and compatible-lens Dual I.S.2, both rated five stops under CIPA yaw/pitch conditions; IBIS tested with H-FS12060 at 60 mm, Dual I.S.2 with H-FSA14140 at 140 mm
Flash: Built-in pop-up TTL flash, GN 9 at ISO 200 or GN 6.4 at ISO 100; sync up to 1/200 second

Video

Highest video resolution: 3840 × 2160 at 30 fps
Video detail: Internal MP4 H.264 3840×2160 at 30/25/24p for European DC-G97E, 100 Mbps; Full HD up to 60p. 4K narrows the angle of view and uses reduced autofocus speed. Maker states no fixed recording time limit but warns that high ambient temperature can stop recording; media/battery also limit duration. V-Log L with maker claim of 12 stops; Internal 4:2:0 8-bit capture (maker advanced manual). No external 10-bit claim adopted from the review without maker confirmation
Audio: Stereo audio with AAC compression; 3.5 mm stereo microphone input and headphone output

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 1,840,000
Touchscreen: Yes
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Three-inch 3:2 capacitive touchscreen, approximately 1.84 million dots; free-angle articulation (Amateur Photographer)
Viewfinder detail: 0.39-inch 4:3 OLED, approximately 2.36 million dots, approximately 100% coverage; 1.48× magnification, 0.74× in 35 mm terms under maker's 50 mm/infinity/−1 dioptre/4:3 conditions

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes
Battery life (maker's claim): 300 photographs
Body weight: 478 g
Release detail: Maker German announcement confirms February 2025 availability. The UK article, dated December 2024, prints February 2024 for both new cameras; that conflicting year is not used as the release date. No precise first retail day confirmed
Recording media: One SD/SDHC/SDXC slot; UHS-I/UHS-II U3 supported under maker's format and recording restrictions
Ports: USB-C USB 2.0 High Speed; micro HDMI Type D, 2.5 mm remote and 3.5 mm microphone/headphone sockets
Wireless connections: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0; North American channels 1–11 are not assumed identical in every region
Battery life detail: DMW-BLC12 lithium-ion, 7.2 V 1200 mAh in the North American specification. CIPA approximately 280 monitor shots or 300 viewfinder shots with H-FS12060 and Nextorage SDXC; approximately 1050 only in Panasonic's specified one-second power-save EVF test
Charging: USB-C in-camera charging; USB cable and AC adapter are commercially available rather than assumed supplied
Dimensions: Approximately 130.4 × 93.5 × 77.4 mm, excluding protrusions
Weight detail: Maker 478 g body only, 530 g with battery and card; lens excluded
Materials: Dust/splash-resistant construction; not waterproof. Maker operating range 0–40 °C
In the box: Body, battery pack, shoulder strap, body cap, hot-shoe cover and battery-grip connector cover; kit includes its lens and lens accessories. Regional contents may vary

Pros and cons

Pros

Five-axis sensor stabilisation with compatible-lens Dual I.S.2
Microphone and headphone sockets
Built-in flash and dust/splash-resistant construction

Cons

Contrast-detection autofocus without phase detection
Six fps maximum with continuous autofocus
Single memory-card slot

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
OM SYSTEMOM-3	Mirrorless	Four Thirds	20.4	Micro Four Thirds	4096 × 2160 at 60 fps	413 g	Feb 2025
OM SYSTEMOM-5 Mark II	Mirrorless	Four Thirds	20.4	Micro Four Thirds	4096 × 2160 at 24 fps	370 g	Jul 2025
OM SYSTEMOM-1 Mark II	Mirrorless	Four Thirds	20.4	Micro Four Thirds	4096 × 2160 at 60 fps	511 g	Feb 2024

Sources

Photo: Panasonic, official Romania Store gallery; DC-G97ME_002.jpg.

Lumix G97 camera body, front three-quarter view without lens: Panasonic, official Romania Store gallery; DC-G97E_001.jpg.
Lumix G97 H kit with 14–140 mm lens, front three-quarter view: Panasonic, official Romania Store gallery; DC-G97HE_001.jpg.
Lumix G97 M kit with 12–60 mm lens, front three-quarter view: Panasonic, official Romania Store gallery; DC-G97ME_001.jpg.
Lumix G97 M kit with 12–60 mm lens, official three-quarter view with raised flash: Panasonic, official Romania Store gallery; DC-G97ME_003.jpg.
Lumix G97 M kit with 12–60 mm lens, official front view with raised flash: Panasonic, official Romania Store gallery; DC-G97ME_004.jpg.
Lumix G97 M kit with 12–60 mm lens, official front view with open display: Panasonic, official Romania Store gallery; DC-G97ME_005.jpg.
Lumix G97 M kit with 12–60 mm lens, official top view: Panasonic, official Romania Store gallery; DC-G97ME_006.jpg.

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