Panasonic

Type: Camera and video equipment manufacturer
Founded: 1918
Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Key products: LUMIX GH series (Micro Four Thirds), LUMIX S series (full-frame), LX compact series, professional video cameras, Micro Four Thirds lenses

Overview

Panasonic has been the leading camera manufacturer for underwater videographers, primarily through the LUMIX GH series of Micro Four Thirds cameras. While Canon and Nikon dominated underwater still photography, Panasonic carved out a strong niche by consistently pushing video capabilities beyond what competitors offered at similar price points. The GH series — from the pioneering GH1 through the professional-grade GH5 and GH6 — became the go-to choice for underwater filmmakers who wanted cinema-quality video in a compact, affordable package.

Panasonic co-developed the Micro Four Thirds standard with Olympus in 2008, creating the sensor format that enabled dramatically smaller underwater camera systems compared to full-frame alternatives. This partnership meant Panasonic bodies could use Olympus lenses and vice versa, giving underwater photographers an unusually broad lens ecosystem for a single mount.

Product Timeline

Early Products and Video Cameras (2003-2008)

The GH Series Revolution (2009-2014)

GH5: The Underwater Video Standard (2015-2021)

Full-Frame S Series and GH6 (2018-2023)

Key Lenses for Underwater Photography

LX Compact Series

Panasonic’s LX series compact cameras offered larger-than-average sensors in pocketable bodies:

3D Video Pioneer

Panasonic was notably active in underwater 3D video during the 2010-2012 period:

Housing Ecosystem

Significance in Underwater Photography

Video-first philosophy: Panasonic’s GH series consistently prioritized video specifications that exceeded competitors at the same price point. The GH5’s internal 4:2:2 10-bit recording at $2,000 was a fraction of the cost of competing video-capable cameras. Features like V-Log gamma profiles, unlimited recording times, 4K 60p, and anamorphic mode made the GH series the default choice for serious underwater filmmakers on a budget.

Micro Four Thirds co-creator: Panasonic’s partnership with Olympus to create the Micro Four Thirds standard enabled a new category of compact underwater camera systems. The shared lens mount meant Panasonic bodies could use Olympus lenses (and vice versa), expanding options for underwater photographers. Peter Rowlands noted the GX7’s video quality was “on an equal footing to the GH3” — the standard by which many cameras were judged for underwater video.

Accessible professional video: While Canon’s Cinema EOS line and Sony’s professional video cameras served high-end underwater filmmakers, Panasonic’s GH series democratized high-quality underwater video at consumer price points. The progression from GH1 (manual HD video, $1,499) to GH5 (4K 60p 10-bit, $1,999) represented remarkable value for underwater filmmakers.

Full-frame expansion: Panasonic’s entry into full-frame with the L-mount S series broadened their appeal, though the GH series remained their primary underwater offering due to the size advantages of Micro Four Thirds. The S5 II’s introduction of phase-detection AF in 2023 addressed a long-standing criticism of Panasonic’s contrast-detect-only approach.

3D video pioneer: Panasonic led the underwater 3D video movement in 2010-2012, producing the first consumer 3D camcorder and a professional twin-lens 3D camcorder (AG-3DA1) that received underwater housings from multiple manufacturers.


Sources

  1. Wetpixel article, Jul 18, 2003: Lumix 2003 Digital Photography Awards
  2. Wetpixel article, Feb 14, 2005: Ocean Images Dolphin Housing For The Panasonic Gs150 Gs200 Gs250 Gs400
  3. Wetpixel article, Mar 18, 2005: Panasonic Releases Cardbus Adapter For Sd Media
  4. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2005: Sea Sea Vx G1 Housing For Panasonic Nv Gs250
  5. Wetpixel article, Jun 22, 2006: Panasonic Lumix Dmc L1
  6. Wetpixel article, Jan 10, 2008: Panasonic Lumix Dmc Tz3 Underwater Housing Review
  7. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2008: Panasonic Sdr Sw20 Underwater Camcorder Reviewed
  8. Wetpixel article, Aug 5, 2008: Olympus And Panasonic Announce Micro Four Thirds
  9. Wetpixel article, May 21, 2009: Panasonic Dmc Gh1 Continues The Vidslr Revolution
  10. Wetpixel article, Feb 19, 2010: Seatool Releases Housing For Panasonic Gf1
  11. Wetpixel article, Feb 21, 2010: Inon Announces X 2 Underwater Housing For Panasonic Gf1
  12. Wetpixel article, Feb 19, 2010: Panasonic Introduces Worlds First 3xcmos Sensor 1080 50 60p Camcorders Hdc
  13. Wetpixel article, Feb 10, 2010: Panasonic Releases 10m Waterproof Camera
  14. Wetpixel article, Jun 1, 2010: Panasonic Announces 8mm Fisheye For Micro Four Thirds
  15. Wetpixel article, Jun 22, 2010: First Panasonic 8mm Fisheye Underwater Footage In The Wild
  16. Wetpixel article, Jul 29, 2010: Panasonic Releases Lumix Lx5 Compact Camera
  17. Wetpixel article, Aug 27, 2010: Ikelite Announces Housing For Panasonic Compacts
  18. Wetpixel article, Sep 21, 2010: Panasonic Announces Gh2 Camera
  19. Wetpixel article, Sep 14, 2010: Panasonic Releases Ag Af100 105 Micro 4 3 Camcorder Details
  20. Wetpixel article, Nov 4, 2010: Panasonic Releases Lumix Gf2 Micro 4 3 Camera
  21. Wetpixel article, Feb 14, 2011: Nauticam Releases Pictures Of Its Housing For Panasonic Dmc Lx5
  22. Wetpixel article, Jun 3, 2011: Nauticam Releases Housing For Panasonic Lumix Gh2
  23. Wetpixel article, Aug 16, 2011: Nauticam Releases Housing For Panasonic Gf2
  24. Wetpixel article, Aug 26, 2011: Panasonic Releases 14 42mm Pancake Zoom
  25. Wetpixel article, Sep 21, 2011: Subal Housings For Panasonic Gf2 And Gf3
  26. Wetpixel article, Oct 20, 2011: Nauticam Announces Housing For Panasonic Lumix Gf3
  27. Wetpixel article, Nov 9, 2011: Panasonic Announces Lumix Gx1 Evil Camera
  28. Wetpixel article, Jan 10, 2012: Panasonic Unveils Wide Angle Macro And Fisheye Conversion Lenses
  29. Wetpixel article, Mar 21, 2012: Nauticam Announces Housing For Panasonic Lumix Gx1
  30. Wetpixel article, Sep 17, 2012: Panasonic Lumix Gh3 Released At Photokina
  31. Wetpixel article, Oct 4, 2012: Nauticam Annouces Housing For Panasonic Lx 7
  32. Wetpixel article, Feb 4, 2013: Panasonic Develops New Sensor Technology
  33. Wetpixel article, Mar 30, 2013: First Images Nauticam Housing For The Panasonic Gh3
  34. Wetpixel article, Apr 25, 2013: Panasonic Announces The G6 Mirrorless Camera
  35. Wetpixel article, Aug 1, 2013: Panasonic Announces The Lumix Gx7
  36. Wetpixel article, Nov 18, 2013: Preview Panasonic Lumix Gx7 Underwater
  37. Wetpixel article, Apr 4, 2014: Update Housing Compatibility For Panasonic Lumix Gh4
  38. Wetpixel article, Jul 5, 2014: Autofocus Testing With Panasonic Gh4
  39. Wetpixel article, Jul 9, 2014: Nauticam Announces Housing For Gh4
  40. Wetpixel article, Sep 15, 2014: Panasonic Announces The Lx100 4k Compact Camera
  41. Wetpixel article, Sep 4, 2014: Panasonic Announces The Hc X1000 4k Camcorder
  42. Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2015: Nauticam Ships Housing For Panasonic Lx100
  43. Wetpixel article, Feb 23, 2015: Panasonic Announces A 30mm Macro Lens
  44. Wetpixel article, Apr 28, 2015: Sealux Ships Housing For Panasonic Hc X1000
  45. Wetpixel article, May 19, 2015: Panasonic Announces The Lumix G7
  46. Wetpixel article, Jul 16, 2015: Panasonic Announces The Lumix Gx8
  47. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2015: Panasonic Announces Gh4r And V Log L Firmware Update
  48. Wetpixel article, Nov 28, 2015: Panasonic Releases Post Focus Firmware
  49. Wetpixel article, Apr 6, 2016: Panasonic Releases The Gx80 85 Mirrorless Camera
  50. Wetpixel article, Apr 19, 2016: Panasonic Announces Ux Series 4k Camcorders
  51. Wetpixel article, Sep 3, 2016: Panasonic Announces Hc X1 4k Camcorder
  52. Wetpixel article, Jan 4, 2017: Panasonic Announces The Gh5 Camera
  53. Wetpixel article, Jan 30, 2017: Subal Announces Housing For Panasonic Gx80
  54. Wetpixel article, Feb 23, 2017: Ikelite Releases Housing For Panasonic Lumix Gh5
  55. Wetpixel article, Apr 19, 2017: Panasonic Announces Leica 8 18mm Lens
  56. Wetpixel article, May 5, 2017: Nauticam Ships Housing For Panasonic Gh5
  57. Wetpixel article, Jul 12, 2017: Sealux Ships Housing For Gh5
  58. Wetpixel article, Aug 30, 2017: Panasonic Announces Firmware Update For Gh5
  59. Wetpixel article, Sep 4, 2017: Acquapazza Releases Details Of Housing For Gh5
  60. Wetpixel article, Nov 8, 2017: Panasonic Announces The G9 Mirrorless Camera
  61. Wetpixel article, Jan 8, 2018: Panasonic Announces The Lumix Gh5s
  62. Wetpixel article, Apr 16, 2018: Ikelite Announces Housing For Panasonic G9
  63. Wetpixel article, Aug 22, 2018: Panasonic Announces Lx100 Ii
  64. Wetpixel article, Feb 15, 2019: Inon Ships X2 Housing For Panasonic Gx9
  65. Wetpixel article, Mar 12, 2019: Uw Technics Ships Ttl Converter For Panasonic Cameras
  66. Wetpixel article, Apr 5, 2019: Panasonic Announces The G95 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Camera
  67. Wetpixel article, Apr 29, 2019: Uw Technics Ships Ttl Board For Panasonic Gh5
  68. Wetpixel article, May 13, 2019: Backscatter Reviews The Panasonic Lx100 Ii
  69. Wetpixel article, Jun 13, 2019: Ikelite Releases Ttl Converter For Olympus And Panasonic
  70. Wetpixel article, May 30, 2020: Nimar Ships Housing For Panasonic G90 G91 And G95 Cameras
  71. Wetpixel article, Mar 18, 2021: Ikelite Ships Ttl Converter For Olympus And Panasonic
  72. Wetpixel article, May 25, 2021: Panasonic Announces The Gh5 Mark 2
  73. Wetpixel article, Jul 2, 2021: Nauticam Ships Housing For Panasonic Gh5 Camera Family
  74. Wetpixel article, Sep 25, 2018: Panasonic Announces Two Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras
  75. Wetpixel article, Feb 1, 2019: Panasonic Announces Lumix S Series Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras
  76. Wetpixel article, May 24, 2019: Nauticam Housing For Panasonic S1 Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras
  77. Wetpixel article, Jun 1, 2019: Panasonic Announces The 6k 24p Lumix S1h Mirrorless Camera
  78. Wetpixel article, Jun 11, 2019: Ikelite Announces Housing For Panasonic S1 Series Cameras
  79. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2020: Panasonic Announces S5 Full Frame Mirrorless Camera
  80. Wetpixel article, Sep 19, 2021: Ikelite Ships Housing For Panasonic Lumix S5
  81. Wetpixel article, Sep 15, 2021: Anglerfish Announces Deep Housing For Panasonic Bhg1
  82. Wetpixel article, Feb 22, 2022: Panasonic Announces Lumix Gh6
  83. Wetpixel article, Mar 4, 2022: Video Gh6 For Uw Filmmakers By Matthias Lebo
  84. Wetpixel article, Mar 18, 2022: Nauticam Ships Housing For Panasonic Gh6
  85. Wetpixel article, Mar 25, 2022: Ikelite Ships 200dl Housing For Panasonic Gh6
  86. Wetpixel article, Sep 12, 2022: Panasonic Announces 18mm Wide Angle Lens
  87. Wetpixel article, Oct 18, 2022: Anglerfish Announces Housing For Panasonic Bgh1
  88. Wetpixel article, Jan 4, 2023: Panasonic Announces S5 Ii Cameras
  89. Wetpixel article, Jun 22, 2010: First Panasonic 8mm Fisheye Underwater Footage In The Wild
  90. Wetpixel article, Apr 19, 2017: Panasonic Announces Leica 8 18mm Lens
  91. Wetpixel article, Feb 23, 2015: Panasonic Announces A 30mm Macro Lens
  92. Wetpixel article, Feb 14, 2011: Nauticam Releases Pictures Of Its Housing For Panasonic Dmc Lx5
  93. Wetpixel article, Oct 4, 2012: Nauticam Annouces Housing For Panasonic Lx 7
  94. Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2015: Nauticam Ships Housing For Panasonic Lx100
  95. Wetpixel article, May 13, 2019: Backscatter Reviews The Panasonic Lx100 Ii
  96. Wetpixel article, Jan 7, 2010: Panasonic Announces Full Production To Tv Hd 3d Solutions At Ces
  97. Wetpixel article, Jul 30, 2010: Panasonic Hdc Sdt750k Worlds First 3d Camcorder
  98. Wetpixel article, Jul 28, 2010: Panasonic Releases 3d Interchangeable Lens For Lumix G Series
  99. Wetpixel article, Aug 28, 2010: Patima 3d Housing For Panasonic Hdc Tm700 Available
  100. Wetpixel article, Aug 28, 2010: Gates Releases Housing For Panasonic Ag 3da1
  101. Wetpixel article, Dec 30, 2010: Images Of Sealux Housing For Panasonic Ag 3da1
  102. Wetpixel article, Dec 31, 2010: Gates Adds Correction Lenses To Panasonic Ag 3da1
  103. Wetpixel article, Aug 31, 2011: Panasonic Announces The Hdc Z10000 3d Camcorder
  104. Ocean Images housing for Panasonic camcorders (2005) (article)
  105. Olympus and Panasonic announce Micro Four Thirds (2008) (article)
  106. Panasonic GH1 continues ViDSLR revolution (2009) (article)
  107. Panasonic 8mm fisheye announced (2010) (article)
  108. First Panasonic 8mm fisheye underwater footage (2010) (article)
  109. Gates housing for Panasonic AG-3DA1 (2010) (article)
  110. Panasonic GX7 underwater preview (2013) (article)
  111. Panasonic GH4 housing compatibility (2014) (article)
  112. Panasonic announces GH5 (2017) (article)
  113. Panasonic Leica 8-18mm lens (2017) (article)
  114. Panasonic GH5S announced (2018) (article)
  115. Panasonic announces full-frame S series (2018) (article)
  116. Backscatter reviews LX100 II (2019) (article)
  117. UW Technics TTL board for GH5 (2019) (article)
  118. Panasonic announces LUMIX S5 (2020) (article)
  119. Nauticam housing for GH5 family (2021) (article)
  120. Panasonic announces GH6 (2022) (article)
  121. GH6 for UW filmmakers by Matthias Lebo (2022) (article)
  122. Panasonic announces S5 II with phase-detect AF (2023) (article)