Panasonic’s Lumix camera lineup can be confusing with its various model letters. Understanding the model letters and numbers can help you choose the best camera.

Let’s break down what each letter represents and provide some examples:

G Series (Micro Four Thirds)
- GH: High-end hybrid cameras for photo and video Example: Lumix GH6
- G: Mid-range mirrorlessTechnically speaking most DSLR, point-and-shoot and smartphone cameras are mirrorless, in that they don’t have internal mirrors. However, mirrorless camera is a specific term for a camera where the sensor is directly exposed to light and the photographer has a preview of the potential image at all times to view on an electronic viewfinder. For example the Olympus and Panasonic micro four-thirds cameras are mirrorless. More cameras Example: Lumix G9
- GX: Rangefinder-style compact mirrorlessTechnically speaking most DSLR, point-and-shoot and smartphone cameras are mirrorless, in that they don’t have internal mirrors. However, mirrorless camera is a specific term for a camera where the sensor is directly exposed to light and the photographer has a preview of the potential image at all times to view on an electronic viewfinder. For example the Olympus and Panasonic micro four-thirds cameras are mirrorless. More Example: Lumix GX9
S Series (Full-Frame)
- S: Professional-grade full-frame mirrorlessTechnically speaking most DSLR, point-and-shoot and smartphone cameras are mirrorless, in that they don’t have internal mirrors. However, mirrorless camera is a specific term for a camera where the sensor is directly exposed to light and the photographer has a preview of the potential image at all times to view on an electronic viewfinder. For example the Olympus and Panasonic micro four-thirds cameras are mirrorless. More Example: Lumix S1H
FZ Series (Bridge Cameras)
- FZ: Superzoom bridge cameras Example: Lumix FZ1000 II
LX Series (Premium Compact)
- LX: High-end compact cameras Example: Lumix LX100 II
TZ Series (Travel Zoom)
- TZ: Compact cameras with long zoom ranges Example: Lumix TZ95, DMC-TZ3 (ZS80 in some markets)
TS Series (Tough Cameras)
- TS: Rugged, waterproof compact cameras Example: Lumix TS7 (FT7 in some markets)
DC Series (Point-and-Shoot)
- DC: Entry-level compact cameras Example: Lumix DC-FP8

The G Series in More Depth

G Range (Micro Four Thirds System)

G Series
- Standard G: Mid-range all-round mirrorlessTechnically speaking most DSLR, point-and-shoot and smartphone cameras are mirrorless, in that they don’t have internal mirrors. However, mirrorless camera is a specific term for a camera where the sensor is directly exposed to light and the photographer has a preview of the potential image at all times to view on an electronic viewfinder. For example the Olympus and Panasonic micro four-thirds cameras are mirrorless. More cameras
- Example: Lumix G9, G95/G90
GH Series
- High-end hybrid cameras, excellent for both stills and video
- Known for advanced video feature
- Examples: Lumix GH6, GH5 II
GX Series
- Rangefinder-style compact mirrorlessTechnically speaking most DSLR, point-and-shoot and smartphone cameras are mirrorless, in that they don’t have internal mirrors. However, mirrorless camera is a specific term for a camera where the sensor is directly exposed to light and the photographer has a preview of the potential image at all times to view on an electronic viewfinder. For example the Olympus and Panasonic micro four-thirds cameras are mirrorless. More cameras
- Aimed at enthusiasts who prefer a more compact body
- Examples: Lumix GX9, GX85/GX80
GF Series
- Ultra-compact mirrorlessTechnically speaking most DSLR, point-and-shoot and smartphone cameras are mirrorless, in that they don’t have internal mirrors. However, mirrorless camera is a specific term for a camera where the sensor is directly exposed to light and the photographer has a preview of the potential image at all times to view on an electronic viewfinder. For example the Olympus and Panasonic micro four-thirds cameras are mirrorless. More cameras
- Entry-level models aimed at beginners upgrading from point-and-shoots
- Examples: Lumix GF10/GF90, GF9/GF8
GM Series (discontinued)
- Extremely compact mirrorlessTechnically speaking most DSLR, point-and-shoot and smartphone cameras are mirrorless, in that they don’t have internal mirrors. However, mirrorless camera is a specific term for a camera where the sensor is directly exposed to light and the photographer has a preview of the potential image at all times to view on an electronic viewfinder. For example the Olympus and Panasonic micro four-thirds cameras are mirrorless. More cameras
- Aimed at style-conscious users
- Example: Lumix GM5 (last model in this series)
GX8xx Series
- Intermediate models between the GF and GX series
- Slightly larger than GF but smaller than GX, with more advanced features
- Example: Lumix GX880/GF10
G100/G110
- Specialized for vlogging and content creation
- Compact body with features tailored for video creators

Each of these sub-categories within the G range is designed to cater to different user needs, from beginners to professional photographers, videographers and Vloggers. The main differences between these sub-categories typically involves body size, control layout, features, and intended use.

PanasonicPanasonic K. K. (was: Matsushita Electric Industrial) is a Japanese company that uses the brand name Panasonic for its electronic devices, including digital cameras and analogue cameras in the past. Panasonic also use the brand Lumix. More has been streamlining its lineup, focusing more on the GH, G, and GX series, while some of the other series (like GF and GM) have seen fewer new releases.

Global Naming Differences

PanasonicPanasonic K. K. (was: Matsushita Electric Industrial) is a Japanese company that uses the brand name Panasonic for its electronic devices, including digital cameras and analogue cameras in the past. Panasonic also use the brand Lumix. More often uses different model numbers for the same camera in different regions, particularly between the USA/North America and the rest of the world. This can sometimes lead to confusion for consumers. Here are some examples of Lumix cameras with different model numbers in the USA compared to other markets:

Travel Zoom (TZ) series:
- USA: Lumix ZS100
- Rest of World: Lumix TZ100
Tough (TS) series:
- USA: Lumix TS7
- Rest of World: Lumix FT7
Bridge Camera:
- USA: Lumix FZ80
- Rest of World: Lumix FZ82
Compact Camera:
- USA: Lumix ZS80
- Rest of World: Lumix TZ95
MirrorlessTechnically speaking most DSLR, point-and-shoot and smartphone cameras are mirrorless, in that they don’t have internal mirrors. However, mirrorless camera is a specific term for a camera where the sensor is directly exposed to light and the photographer has a preview of the potential image at all times to view on an electronic viewfinder. For example the Olympus and Panasonic micro four-thirds cameras are mirrorless. More Camera:
- USA: Lumix G7
- Rest of World: Lumix G70
Another Travel Zoom example:
- USA: Lumix ZS200
- Rest of World: Lumix TZ200
Compact Camera:
- USA: Lumix LX10
- Rest of World: Lumix LX15

These differences in naming conventions are typically due to marketing strategies and sometimes historical reasons. The cameras themselves are essentially identical, with perhaps minor regional differences in firmware or included accessories. It’s worth noting that in recent years, particularly with their higher-end models like the S series and newer G series cameras, PanasonicPanasonic K. K. (was: Matsushita Electric Industrial) is a Japanese company that uses the brand name Panasonic for its electronic devices, including digital cameras and analogue cameras in the past. Panasonic also use the brand Lumix. More has been moving towards more unified global naming. However, some differences still persist, especially in compact and bridge cameraThe bridge camera is a form factor that is between a point-and-shoot and a DSLR, the sensors are often small sensors for the larger form factor, but bridges offer incredible zoom power very often at high lens speeds. They also tend to be very affordable new and used. More lines. Searches on eBay and used camera retailers like MPB and WEX are likely to bring up both variants. So for example if you search for GX80 you will also see results for GX85.