Panasonic LUMIX G G97 Black Review

Panasonic added a USB-C port and V-Log L to the G95 and called it a day. That makes it a fantastic budget video camera, but the battery life is a joke and the autofocus feels stuck in the past. At $598, it's the cheapest 4K log camera you'd actually want to use.

Panasonic took the aging but still capable G95, gave it a USB-C port, a slightly better screen, and freshened up the Bluetooth. That's the G97. If you shoot video on a budget, this is a seriously compelling little camera. The pre-installed V-Log L profile and solid 5-axis stabilization make it a streaming and vlogging workhorse that punches above its price. But the ancient DFD autofocus and a battery that struggles to hit 300 shots keep it firmly in 'good for the right person' territory—and that person is definitely not a stills photographer.

What surprised us most is how good the 4K footage looks straight out of this thing. V-Log L at this price is a steal, and the IBIS is genuinely one of the best on the market for handheld shooting. The flip side? The autofocus still hunts like it's 2016, especially in video with any kind of subject movement. And the battery life? It's a real letdown. At 290 shots, it's one of the worst we've seen in any mirrorless camera. You'll need at least two spares for a day of hybrid shooting.

At the $598 we're seeing from some sellers, the G97 is an absolute bargain for video-first creators. That's the price you want to aim for. The wild $174,160 listing we spotted is obviously a bundle gone rogue—ignore it entirely. For real-world money, you're getting a 4K log-capable camera with top-shelf stabilization. That's tough to beat. If you need it for hybrid photo/video work, the value drops fast because the stills performance is just average.

The Sony a6700 runs circles around the G97 for autofocus and low-light stills, but it costs nearly twice as much. The OM System OM-5 shares the same sensor size and similar price, but it leans harder into computational photography while the G97 walks all over it for video features like V-Log L and streaming tools. If you're a vlogger who needs reliable face tracking, the Sony is the better pick. If you want the cheapest route to 4K log with great stabilization, the G97 is your camera. Nikon's Z5 II and Canon's R6 Mark II are in a totally different league (and price bracket); they're not really competitors for this kind of budget hybrid shooter.

If you're primarily a stills photographer, someone who needs reliable continuous autofocus for action, or a vlogger who can't carry four batteries, this isn't your camera. Go get a Sony ZV-E10 or stretch to the a6700 instead. The G97 is a video specialist that doesn't pretend to be anything else.

Get the G97 if video is your main game and you're okay with manual focus or slow, deliberate pans. The V-Log L footage and IBIS are absurdly good for the price. For photography, skip it—the autofocus and small sensor will frustrate you. As a dedicated budget video rig or a compact streaming camera, it's an easy recommendation. Just budget for extra batteries immediately.