I’ve been waiting for Panasonic to make something very specific. And more than anyone else, I think they were in the best position to do so. I’m talking about another rangefinder-style camera. The ones they did were incredible. But more specifically, with them being a part of the L-Mount alliance for such a long time, I’m really waiting for a rangefinder-style camera body with autofocus and all. But I don’t necessarily want one like the Sony a7c series. Instead, I’d like something bigger and more proper rangefinder-style.
The last camera of note that we saw from Panasonic like this was the Lumix GX9. But it lacked a joystick, and a rangefinder-style camera like this really needs one. It’s implemented beautifully on the Fujifilm X Pro 3 and other cameras like this. And so if any camera company could do this correctly, I’d think it would be Panasonic.
This camera would obviously be targeted more at photographers than it would the video crowd. The approach that the company took with the G9 II really excited us; it prioritized photographers first and then gave it better video features later on. So here’s what I’d want from a rangefinder-style camera from Panasonic.
Higher Megapixel Count for Photographers
Photographers are starting to need more megapixels at times. While I don’t think we need the 60MP sensor that Sony and Leica use, it’s probably going to be what we get. And if that’s the case, I don’t think that Lumix’s autofocus might be able to keep up all that much. Instead, the 45MP sensor that’s in the Nikon Z9 or the 50MP sensors in the Sony a1 might be a better consideration.
We need more megapixels for a variety of reasons. But these days, I’ve been seeing more and more photographers start to move away from social media and back towards printing and such. It’s a big part of printing, cropping, color depth, etc. And considering things like L Classic Neo and CineLike V2, we could really use the deeper colors.
Alternatively, Faster Autofocus for Street Photography and Candids
If Panasonic chooses to stick with a more modest sensor like the 24MP one or the 33MP sensor in the Sony a7 IV, I’d want better and faster autofocus. Lots of cameras aren’t really all that great at autofocus for street photography. But I imagine that this one could be incredible if it’s done right. More specifically, I’d really love to be able to zone focus better with their lenses.
Weather Resistance
Well, come on. This is a given. All of Panasonic’s L-series gear has weather resistance, and that’s incredible. But I’d hope that Panasonic doesn’t treat this like a cheap camera but instead like a photographic instrument.
A Solid, Metal Body with a Silver Variant Option
A metal body is a bigger part of the feeling than you’d think. I’m seeing that with the Nikon Zf right now and I love the way it feels. A retro-style body from Panasonic could be really nice. I enjoyed all of the retro-style cameras that they’ve made in the past, and I hope that they bring them back.
New L-Style Looks
Lastly, I’d like new L-style looks. L Monochrome and all that stuff is very nice. But what about other more film-inspired looks? Considering that they’re not Fujifilm, they’ve got a bit more free reign to emulate the look of Ilford, Kodak, and other films out there.