Panasonic GF5 PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Panasonic makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the GF5 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 below.
In any case, the GF5 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This mirrorless interchangeable lens camera was officially introduced on April 5th, 2012, which means that, as of today, the camera is 4634 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Panasonic GF6 as a replacement in the same line of cameras.
Panasonic's advanced owner manual for the GF5
The camera's advanced owner manual is 213 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the GF5 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Panasonic's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Panasonic GF5 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your GF5 by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Panasonic GF5 is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
Panasonic GF5 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the GF5.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the Panasonic GF5?
The camera has a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.
Which image processing chip is used in the Panasonic GF5 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Panasonic equipped the GF5 with the Venus FHD image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Panasonic GF5?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 6400.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5?
Panasonic does not publish a shutter rating for the GF5. Yet, shutters in comparable cameras from other manufacturers are said to be good for at least 100 000 actuations. It should be noted, though, that this number represents a Mean Time before Failure. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust an expected shutter life of 100 000 shots over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Panasonic GF5?
Panasonic embeds the number of shutter actuations in hidden menus. You can check the number of shots that your GF5 has taken up to now by carefully following the steps described on the Panasonic GF5 shutter count page.
Does the Panasonic GF5 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Panasonic GF5 for flash photography?
The GF5's flash sync speed is 1/160 sec.
Does the Panasonic GF5 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).
Which battery does the Panasonic GF5 use?
The camera gets its power from the Panasonic DMW-BLE9 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Further reading
How does the GF5 stack up against available alternatives? If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just make your choice using the following search menu. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Canon 1D Mark III vs Sony A9 II
- Canon 1Ds Mark III vs Sony A9 II
- Canon T6 vs Panasonic GF5
- Nikon 1 V2 vs Panasonic GF5
- Nikon A1000 vs Panasonic GF5
- Nikon D3400 vs Panasonic GF5
- Nikon D500 vs Sony A9 II
- Olympus E-P2 vs Panasonic GF5
- Olympus E-P7 vs Sony A9 II
- Panasonic GF5 vs Sony RX10
- Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 V
- Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 VII
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5.
Camera Model | Panasonic GF5 | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
Camera Lens | Micro Four Thirds lenses | |
Launch Date | April 2012 | |
Launch Price | USD 499 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | Four Thirds Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 17.3 x 13.0 mm | |
Sensor Area | 225 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 21.6 mm | |
Crop Factor | 2.0x | |
Sensor Resolution | 12 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 4 000 x 3 000 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 4.33 μm | |
Pixel Density | 5.34 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 1080/60i Video | |
ISO Setting | 160 - 6 400 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 160 - 12 800 ISO | |
Image Processor | Venus FHD | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 50 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 20.5 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 10.0 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 573 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | No viewfinder | |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 920k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 4 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | |
UHS card support | UHS-I | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | no Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | |
Body Specs | ||
Battery Type | Panasonic DMW-BLE9 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 360 shots per charge | |
Body Dimensions |
108 x 67 x 37 mm (4.3 x 2.6 x 1.5 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 267 g (9.4 oz) |
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