At last count, Panasonic had over 30 unique digital camera listings on their USA website. These range from pocket-sized compacts to professional models that can hold their own against the more established brands. A new report suggests that another two Lumix cameras are in the making. With so many cameras already in their lineup, what could these two bring to the table that’s not already there?
Is There A Thing As Too Much Choice?
Having more models in your lineup gives your consumers a much broader choice to select from when deciding on the next camera to buy. But in Panasonic’s case, I wonder if there’s too much overlap between their models. If you check out their Lumix lineup on the Panasonic USA page, you’ll see over 25 models currently in stock. The Mark I and Mark II models are listed next to each other. Given the plethora of options available, I was surprised to note that there was no comparison option on the page. How exactly is the unassuming average customer supposed to be able to distinguish between the various camera features without having to manually note down the differences by themselves? It’s strange that so many popular Mark I models are still listed there.
If you too thought there are too many Lumix cameras out there, you’d be surprised to know that some more are coming up.
What Does The Report Say
According to PhotoRumors, two new cameras have been registered in Asia by Panasonic. While there’s no official confirmation yet on what they could be, one might be the G9 II model we wrote about a few days ago. A camera that, by all standards, really needs to be a massive improvement over its predecessor. If these two registrations are for entirely different cameras, it would be interesting to see what Panasonic plans on releasing. Will they be refreshed versions of existing models? Or will we be seeing something new altogether?
Their strength lies in the Micro Four Thirds segment, but as we’ve seen in recent years, the full-frame Lumix cameras are starting to be strong competitors. Let’s look at what we might be seeing from Panasonic in 2024.
An Entry Level Full-Frame Model
Canon has its RP model, and Nikon has the Z5. These two are clearly marketed as entry points into the world of full-frame cameras for the respective brands. I’d argue that Panasonic hasn’t entirely done this in their Lumix lineup yet from a pricing perspective. It’d be quite the opportunity for them to release a new entry-level Lumix camera next year. Something as close to USD 1000 (body only) as possible. We’ve really enjoyed what they gave us with the Lumix S5 II, so to be able to get something similar at a better price point could entice DSLR users to make the move to mirrorless.
An Underwater Camera
A rugged, compact, waterproof camera may not be the need of the hour, but there’s no reason for Panasonic to not update the dinosaurs in their series now. Stylish and vibrant as they are, the DMC-TS25 and DMC-FT30 waterproof models are nearly a decade old now. How cool would it be to see an update to this segment, with something like a Micro Four Thirds sensor and a 20mm or 24mm field of view? That would far outperform any GoPro model from at least a low-light scenario perspective. Underwater housing for cameras is an expensive affair, and not every diver, professional or otherwise, would want to spend on these. Such compacts offer an excellent entry point into underwater photography’s ever-expanding, lucrative world.
A Rangefinder Style Camera
Let’s leave aside the discussion of whether this could be a Micro Four Thirds camera or a full-frame one. At The Phoblographer, we love looking at, using, and singing praises of rangefinders and cameras that look similar to them. Cameras in general, need to go back to being things of beauty and awe. Panasonic has had quite a few beautiful compact cameras in the last decade and a half, but I can’t think of one inspiring-looking model in their m4/3 sensor type (or larger). Here’s a chance for them to come out with something that will turn heads alongside the likes of the Fujifilm X100V, Leica Q3, or even the Sony A7C II.
This might even be the Lumix LX100 III; the LX100 II was released over 5 years ago. It could benefit from some restyling and at least a couple of color variations, like the Fujifilm X-Pro 3. Or how about being a bit more daring and making a camera like the LX100 II but with an interchangeable lens mount? Why limit the lens to just the built-in one?
A Light Refresh Of A Current Model
At least a couple of Lumix models in their G-series could do with a refresher. The G95 is one model that comes to mind. It was released back in 2019. Also the compacts like the ZS80 and ZS200. Many of these need newer sensors and much-improved autofocus technology. But right now, it’s still just speculation; we’re hoping to see more news in the coming weeks that’ll give us a clearer picture of what these cameras might be.
Panasonic has shown it can do an outstanding job with full-frame cameras, but there is still a lot that the Micro Four Thirds world can do. I personally feel that OM System has been running away with the lion’s share in this area of expertise. While that works great for their consumers, it would improve things if Panasonic also stepped up to this plate. More innovation is definitely a good thing for the industry as a whole.
The lead image in this article is a screenshot from PhotoRumors