Last year, I was fortunate enough to be invited by Panasonic to see the Lumix GH5 in action at their offices in Los Angeles. After seeing this camera in person for the first time, going through all the specs in detail, and watching some pretty awesome test footage, I’m excited to share this news, to say the least. It hasn’t been easy to keep this under wraps so far, but as of today Panasonic has made an official announcement, so I’ll share some of my first impressions below.
This article is not a review of the GH5. I haven’t shot it with the camera yet, and while what I’ve seen so far looks very promising, I’ll certainly need to actually shoot some material on camera before I can do a proper review. That said, I do want to focus on some of the more groundbreaking features included in the camera and talk about my overall thoughts on the execution of the latest in Panasonic’s GH series.
Before we continue, let’s take a look at some of the highlights and specs of the GH5:
- Almost the same body as GH4
- Dual SD card slots
- 20.3 megapixel MFT sensor
- Venus Engine Image Processor
- 3D color control
- High-precision multi-processing noise reduction (noise reduction effect increased by 4 times)
- 5-axis dual image stabilizer
- 4K 60p/50p
- 400Mbps 4:2:2 10-bit 4K full intra-frame video
- High-speed sensor readout enables minimal rolling shutter
- No additional cropping required in video mode
- V-Log picture introduction (paid upgrade)
- Waveform monitors and vectorscopes
- Improved autofocus functionality
- back focus
- 6K photo mode
- Availability: late March
- price: $1999
first impression
Panasonic has clearly been paying attention to user needs, so the GH5 comes packed with really useful features and upgrades, many of which have been requested by GH4 shooters for some time.
I’m happy to see that the GH5’s dimensions are nearly identical to the GH4’s. In my opinion, the GH4’s body design is already quite strong, and for those GH4 users who are going to upgrade to a GH5 (and I imagine there will be many), having the ability to transfer accessories will be a big advantage. I also like that the Panasonic has dual SD card slots. This is very helpful for video shooters as it will allow for relay recording, backup recording or distributed recording.
It’s no surprise that Panasonic insists on using an MFT sensor for this camera, despite many GH4 users clamoring for a Super 35-sized sensor for the GH5. Panasonic has a growing lineup of truly excellent MFT lenses, and it simply doesn’t make sense for them to abandon the MFT format on the GH5. Even so, the sensor in the GH5 is new and will likely offer better color reproduction, improved low-light capabilities, and a higher megapixel count for still photos (20MP vs. 16MP on the GH4).
Arguably, the most crucial feature added by the GH5 is its in-body 5-axis dual image stabilization. Internal image stabilization seems to be quickly becoming a must-have feature in mirrorless cameras, with many GH4 owners seemingly considering jumping ship to other brands simply because Panasonic is lacking in this department. With this in mind, Panasonic not only added in-body stabilization to the GH5, but also upgraded the OIS on multiple lenses to be able to take full advantage of the power of in-body stabilization on the GH5.
By the way, the new lenses announced are version II: 12-35, 35-100, 45-200, 100-300.
Panasonic also announced another new lens. Their 12-60 F2.8 also has new OIS
Back to camera specs——
Another big highlight (probably the biggest highlight for many users) is the GH5’s ability to record 4K footage internally in 4:2:2 10-bit. This is almost unheard of on a digital SLR or mirrorless camera, although I’m sure we’ll see more cameras follow suit in the future. It’s worth noting that when shooting in 4K/10bit mode, you’ll be limited to 30p, 25p or 24p.
4K/60p footage will be recorded in 8-bit.
It’s also worth noting that the 4:2:2 10-bit recording feature will be launched via a firmware update in April. When the camera first shipped, it was limited to 8-bit recording.
Other updates we can expect via firmware updates include anamorphic shooting mode and hybrid log-gamma (for 4K HDR recording).
The GH5 will support V-Log picture profiles, but unfortunately, this will be a paid upgrade over and above the camera’s $1,999 base price. It’s nice to see V-Log included in the package price, but I suspect this will be a barrier for shooters interested in the GH5, as the V-Log licensing fee is unlikely to be prohibitively expensive.
As previously announced, the GH5 also features a 6K photo mode that can effectively record burst video files at 30 frames per second in either 3:2 or 4:3 aspect ratios. This feature is designed to allow photographers to extract high-resolution stills from video recordings, but it won’t be a feature used by filmmakers as its aspect ratio and burst-style recording make it less suitable for most videos Work.
final thoughts
Needless to say, Panasonic’s GH5 certainly hits the mark. They focused on the right things—image performance, stability, color science, low-light capabilities—as well as other core features, and made great strides in that area. The GH5 sets the bar very high for performance and quality levels in digital SLR and mirrorless cameras in 2017, and I’m happy to see Panasonic leading the way again in many areas.
The only real drawbacks to the GH5 are the same ones you might consider when considering any other MFT camera. Smaller sensor sizes generally mean that the low light capabilities are not as strong as larger sensor cameras, which of course also makes achieving ultra-shallow depth of field more challenging… That said, I am a big fan of the MFT format and believe in it For most shooters, Micro Four Thirds cameras have more advantages than disadvantages—including their small form factor, adaptability, and wide range of lens options, to name a few.
For me personally, the color science of the GH5 will be the deciding factor in whether or not the camera becomes part of my kit. I love GH4, but I can never get the colors to look perfect – even using color charts and extensive grading. Oddly enough, I found the GH2 to be much stronger in this area…so I’d really like to see the GH5 improve on this aspect, and from what I’ve seen so far, things are looking positive.
I will definitely get my hands on the camera and do a more detailed article once it is officially released. So check back soon for more updates on this front!
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