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Panasonic DCGH5K Digital Camera with 3.2-Inch LCD, Black
Brand | Panasonic |
Model name | GH |
Photo Sensor Size | Micro Four Thirds |
Image stabilization | Dual |
Minimum shutter speed | 1/8000 seconds |
Metering description | Center-Weighted Average, Multiple, Spot |
Exposure control type | aperture-priority, shutter-speed-priority, manual-and-automatic |
Form factor | Mirrorless |
Effective still resolution | 20.3 MP |
Special feature | Brightness Control |
About this item
- Professional photo and 4K video performance in a durable magnesium alloy body.
- 20. 3MP Micro Four Thirds sensor with no low pass filter.
- 4K video: internal recording at 4k60/50P (4: 2: 0 8bit) & 4k30/25P/24P (4: 2: 2 10bit).
- Variable video frame rates 4K: max. 60Fps & FHD: max. 180Fps. Full size Type A HDMI terminal with cable lock included & twin SD Card slots UHS-II U3 Compatible.
- 5-Axis photo/video Dual I. S. . 2. 0 up to 5 Stops with compatible LUMIX MFT lenses, plus In-body stabilization Support for classic non-O. I. S. lenses.
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Product details
- Batteries : 1 Lithium Metal batteries required. (included)
- Is discontinued by manufacturer : No
- Product Dimensions : 14.81 x 19.2 x 15.6 cm; 725.75 Grams
- Date First Available : April 7 2018
- Manufacturer : Panasonic
- Place of Business : MISSISSAUGA, ON, L4W 2T3 CA
- ASIN : B01MZ3LQQ5
- Item model number : DC-GH5
- Best Sellers Rank: #72,698 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
- #123 in Digital Point & Shoot Cameras
- Customer Reviews:
Top Brand: Panasonic
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This Item Panasonic DCGH5K Digital Camera with 3.2-Inch LCD, Black | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | — | -10% $898.00$898.00 Was: $998.00 | -14% $899.00$899.00 List: $1,049.00 | $589.99$589.99 | $599.98$599.98 | $2,219.95$2,219.95 |
Delivery | — | Get it by Saturday, Mar 16 | Get it by Saturday, Mar 16 | Get it Mar 22 - Apr 4 | Get it by Saturday, Mar 16 | Get it Mar 18 - 21 |
Customer ratings | ||||||
Picture quality | — | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | — |
Auto focus | — | — | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.5 | — |
For beginners | — | — | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | — |
Sold by | — | Amazon.ca | Amazon.ca | CanadaProShop | Amazon.ca | Erie's Electronics |
display type | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD |
display size | 3.2 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches | 2.7 inches | 3 inches | 3.2 inches |
lens type | Fisheye | Zoom | Wide Angle | Zoom | medium-telephoto | Telephoto |
zoom type | Depth from Defocus | Optical Zoom | — | Optical Zoom | Optical Zoom | — |
shooting modes | Expressive, Retro, Old Days, High Key, Low Key, Sepia, Monochrome, Dynamic Monochrome, Rough Monochrome, Silky Monochrome, Impressive Art, High Dynamic, Cross Process, Toy Effect, Toy Pop, Bleach Bypass, Miniature Effect, Soft Focus, Fantasy, Star Filter, One Point Color, Sunshine | AUTO, Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed Priority, Manual Exposure, Memory Recall [body 3 sets/memory card 4 sets], Movie Mode, Movie AUTO, HFR Mode, Panorama, Scene Selection | — | Automatic | Landscape; portrait mode; close-up; night portrait; food; sports mode | — |
connectivity tech | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | 3.5mm Microphone, HDMI D (Micro), USB Micro-B (USB 2.0) | USB, HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, USB | NFC, HDMI, USB | HDMI, USB |
video resolution | 4K UHD 2160p | 4K UHD 2160p | 2160p | 1080p | 1080p | 4K UHD 2160p |
optical zoom | 1 multiplier x | — | 3 multiplier x | — | 0 multiplier x | 1 multiplier x |
Looking for specific info?
From the manufacturer
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Splash/Dust/Freezeproof Rugged DesignThe LUMIX GH5 is built like a tank to withstand even heavy use out in the field. It is freezeproof down to -10-degrees in addition to splash / dustproof construction thanks to weather sealing on every joint, dial, and button. A magnesium alloy full die-cast armor frame makes the body lightweight yet durable while bringing ruggedness to the compact size. This camera can go everywhere you can. |
High Durability Shutter UnitThe shutter unit is durable for approx. 200,000 times release*. Not only does it offer the highest shutter speed at max. 1/8000 to capture fast-moving 'spur-of-the-moment' shots but when used with fast aperture lenses - even outdoors - it gives impressive de-focus. * Panasonic LUMIX in-house examination. |
20.3MP PixelsThe LUMIX GH5 packs a real punch with its high performance 20.3MP Digital Live MOS sensor to achieve incredible picture. Together with the removal of the low-pass filter from the sensor, you can confidently capture sharp images with a high dynamic range and artefact free. |
Venus Engine ProcessorThe marriage of an advanced Digital Live MOS sensor with the beautiful new Venus Engine 10 produces extraordinary color detail and natural texture expression. Multipixel Luminance Generation and Intelligent Detail Processing render intense brightness and contrast. The Three-Dimensional Color. |
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4K 60p/50p VideoThe LUMIX GH5 records silky smooth 4K 60p/50p (QFHD 4K: 3840 x 2160 / MOV or MP4) video. Faster frame rates mean excellent motion compensation plus you can slow down footage inside your video editing timeline without losing detail. You also achieve perfect panning control and a suppression of the rolling shutter effect as seen in lesser frame rates. High-resolution images and perfect focal length can also be achieved as the Lumix GH5 features pixel for pixel, no sensor cropping recording. There's also no recording duration limit so you can go beyond 30 minutes in all record settings. * Available Summer 2017. |
4:2:2 10-bit Internal RecordingThe LUMIX GH5 brings game changing internal 4:2:2 10-bit 4K video recording. For example, 10-bit will render all the subtleties of graduated skies and sunsets without the banding so prone to 8-bit. The power of having film creation capabilities inside the camera sets a new precedent in guerilla style filmmaking. And you can record 4:2:2 10-bit to SD card whilst simultaneously feeding the live signal thru a full-size HDMI port connected to an external monitor or recorder. 4:2:2 10-bit recording enables faithful color and grading fidelity with over a billion colors and four times the tonality of 8-bit to match professional intent. Control zings with rich colors from dark to bright shades and high-precision Multi Process NR makes your images pop even at high ISO sensitivity settings. Video users will be impressed with the improved performance in perceptual dynamic range at high ISO sensitivity settings. |
VFR (Variable Frame Rate)The VFR lets you record videos with dramatic slow motion or unique quick motion in 4K (60fps max.2.5x slower) or Full HD (180fps max.7.5x slower) quality, such as 180 fps / 7.5x*. * In full HD, 24p playback. |
Rack Focus TransitionThe Focus Transition function automatically shifts the focus point at a constant speed for precise in-focus to out-focus points - for example background to foreground - to give you an impressive 'rack focus' motion picture effect. |
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Live Output & Full Size HDMIThe Lumix GH5 is capable of 4:2:2 10-bit real-time image output to an external monitor or recorder via an optional HDMI cable (full size Type A), while simultaneously providing an internal 4:2:2 10-bit recording*. It is suitable for professional video making that requires accurate monitoring of the imagery or high quality recording to external codec devices (such as Pro Res). * 4K 60p/50p is output only. |
6K 30fps / 4K 60 fps PHOTO BurstShoot with unlimited burst, then choose and extract the exact frames you want to keep. The new 6K PHOTO* mode at 30fps allows you to capture the perfect moments at a stunning ~18-megapixel high-resolution. The Ultra-high-speed 4K Photo mode at 60fps freezes even faster motion which is simply not possible in conventional DSLR cameras. The LUMIX GH5 truly does make moments unmissable. * 6K Photo is a high speed burst shooting function that cuts a still image out of a 4:3 or 3:2 video footage with approx.18-megapixel (approx. 6000 x 3000 effective pixel count) that the 6K image manages. |
Post Focus & Focus StackingPost focus — Shoot now, Focus Later This fantastic Post Focus function gives you the power to focus after you've taken the shot! Simply capture the scene, review the image and touch the part of the photo you'd like pin sharp. Set and save. It's simple, stunning and all this advanced processing happens inside the camera. Focus Stacking — Adjust The Focus Area After Shooting The Focus Stacking function enables you to adjust the focus area after shooting by blending multiple images taken at different focus distances to create an amazing image depth of field. You can make your images with exactly the kind of de-focus you want or pan-focus the image by simply selecting the focus area after shooting. This is brilliantly useful when shooting with fast apertures, close ups or macro photography. |
DFD Ultra Fast Motion Detection & FocusPanasonic's innovative DFD (Depth From Defocus) technology is constantly evolving and its just got even better. DFD allows the LUMIX GH5 to calculate focal lens movement by comparing depth of field values of two images at incredibly high speed. By combining the AF drive with a maximum read speed of 480 fps, the LUMIX GH5 can achieve ultra-high-speed Auto Focus in up to 0.05 seconds* and 9 fps burst shooting with AFC (** 12 fps burst shooting with AFS). A newly adopted motion detector accurately tracks fast moving subjects, and enables smooth 4K Photo/Video & 6K PHOTO recording. ** In AFS, at wide-end with H-ES12060 (CIPA). |
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225 Focus Points Plus Selective AFA Joystick Controller on the back of the LUMIX GH5 is used to smoothly and intuitively select focus blocks inside the focusing area overlay. 225-Area AF: The focus detect area is massively increased from 49 (LUMIX GH4) to 225 points for more flexible composition. Custom Multi AF: The Custom Multi AF mode allows you to freely select an array of blocks inside the 225 focusing area. |
AF Zone Selectable & Customizable AFAF Zone Selectable: The focus area group size and position can be customized for Multi AF / Custom Multi AF. Customizable AF: With more customized AF settings, it is now possible to adjust AF directionality depending on the shooting scene. |
Joystick ControlThe LUMIX GH5 offers you more intuitive control with the addition of a joystick over the conventional front /rear dials operation. A dedicated button allows direct reach to exposure compensation, white balance adjustment or ISO setting and a maximum of 5 settings can be assigned to the Fn buttons. All these components are designed to be operated easily and without taking your eyes away from the viewfinder. |
5-Axis Dual I.S. Eliminates Blur5-axis Dual I.S. (Image Stabiliser) 2* intelligent compensation enables up to 5-stops of slower shutter speeds even through telephoto lenses. The LUMIX GH5 nearly eliminates shake in both body and lens from wide-angle to tele-end**. It also works in both photo and video recording, including 4K video. The astonishing power of the 5-axis Body I.S. corrects shake for all lenses, including classic lenses not equipped with O.I.S. * 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 works when attaching the lens that are compatible with it. Firmware update of the lens is also required. ** Based on the CIPA standard [Yaw/Pitch direction: focusing distance f=50-140mm (35mm film camera equivalent f=100-280mm), when H-FS14140 is used.] |
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Professional Versatility — 4 Recording OptionsA plethora of video formats and bit rates prepare the Lumix GH5 for use in a wide range of professional applications such as web, TV, DVD/Blu Ray and digital cinema production. You can select from four recording formats such as AVCHD and MP4 for playback ease, or MP4 (LPCM) and MOV for professional editing ease. The LUMIX GH5 is worldwide compatible as the system frequency can be selected from 59.94 Hz (NTSC), 50.00 Hz (PAL), or 24.00 Hz (Cinema). |
Dual SD Card SlotsDual SD card slots increase recording capacity and file arrangement efficiency. The dual SD card slots allow you to record in relay, backup, and simultaneous modes. Relay allows you to swap a full card out for an empty card so you can record virtually endlessly. The backup mode allows you to record continuously on one card, while you start and stop recording on the other card. Simultaneous record duplicates your recording on both cards. |
Large OLED LVF (3,680k-dot)The high-resolution 3,680k-dot OLED Live View Finder matches up to exactly how you intended to see the image even under direct sunlight. A high 0.76x magnification (35mm camera equivalent) makes it easy to see image detail, your settings and icons, and, the long eye point distance of 21mm is excellent for people who wear glasses. |
Bluetooth 4.2 & Wi-Fi 5GHzThe Bluetooth 4.2 (Low Energy) enables full-time connection between camera and smartphone with low energy consumption. After shooting, it automatically switches to Wi-Fi connection, transferring data to your smartphone. The Wi-Fi 5GHz (IEEE802.11ac) is incredibly fast. You can use Panasonic's Lumix Image App for Android / iOS to control shutter and other settings, plus, video record Start / Stop without physically touching the camera! * The Wi-Fi Certified Logo is a certification mark of Wi-Fi Alliance. * The Bluetooth word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Panasonic Corporation is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners. |
Product description
PANASONIC LUMIX GH5 Body 4K Mirrorless Camera, 20. 3 Megapixels, Dual I. S. 2. 0, 4K 422 10-bit, Full Size HDMI Out
Customer reviews
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from Canada
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There are plenty of complaints or negatives about the autofocus, but since the v2.4 firmware, it's greatly improved. While it can't compete with dual-pixel focussing, it can still hold its own and has many other merits over similarly priced bodies.
2020 Update: It's been a year since my review and my rating stands. I've found some things I'd wish this camera did, but doesn't (eg. charge or self-power over the USB-C connector, or the function to use it as a webcam - a vital tool for COVID-times), and many things that this camera DOES but the competition still has troubles doing in their latest and greatest models (such as not overheating when filming in 4K!) This is still a video powerhouse in 2020 and the still-photo capabilities are solid for the price.
What I like:
Great stabilization with the Leica 12-60 lens (even better on the mark 2 version)
Full HMDI out allowing 10 bit raw footage to an external recorder
Double card slot allowing either long recording sessions or a backup recording on one of the cards in case of card failure
Small but sturdy body
What can be improved:
The on/off button is THE weak point of the camera and I have had it break (after many many uses). should be made or better materials
Vlog should be included (is on the Mark 2 version)
Autofocus can be slower in low light / contrast situation
I bought the camera specifically for underwater and wildlife filming and it has served me very well. I recently bought the mark 2 version and still use the GH5 for my work.
Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2023
What I like:
Great stabilization with the Leica 12-60 lens (even better on the mark 2 version)
Full HMDI out allowing 10 bit raw footage to an external recorder
Double card slot allowing either long recording sessions or a backup recording on one of the cards in case of card failure
Small but sturdy body
What can be improved:
The on/off button is THE weak point of the camera and I have had it break (after many many uses). should be made or better materials
Vlog should be included (is on the Mark 2 version)
Autofocus can be slower in low light / contrast situation
I bought the camera specifically for underwater and wildlife filming and it has served me very well. I recently bought the mark 2 version and still use the GH5 for my work.
Top reviews from other countries
I run a small video production company, and for years I have used the GH4 for capturing high quality video. The problem is that every video shoot also requires several high quality/professional photographs. While the GH4 excelled in capturing video as a true camera it always came up short. As a result, I was always forced to lug my Nikon D750 around with me. I would travel with two cameras, and two sets of lenses. Occasionally, I would substitute the Nikon for my Fujix100T or I would substitute the GH4 for my Osmo Pro (recently it has been more of the later).
What I need... want... would love .... is camera to do all of it. I guess I could invest in the FF Sony, but the idea of investing in a 3rd set of lenses doesn't exactly excite me. At some point.... either the video on the Olympus will come up... or the photo stills on the Panasonic will improve...right? Based on my tests - I think the GH5 will become my Holy Grail of cameras. I have 0% doubt that it will perform for video (and my the couple of tests I have run look very favorable), but my worry was IQ. The new 20.3MP resolution has me hopeful that the GH5 will become my one camera for all purposes.
Photos - Again - I will update this as time goes on
- The upgraded sensor seems to make a large difference.In the photos I attached the 1st picture was taken at ISO 400 while the rest were at ISO 1600. Frankly, I always got nervous taking my GH4 above ISO 800 the noise and grain really started to become noticeable. The GH5 looks very usable at ISO 1600 ( I need to check ISO 3200 a little closer). For full disclosure the ISO 1600 shots were taken with the Panasonic Leica f1.2 42.5mm gem of a lens.
This is a good point for a tangent,. The reason why i like the MFT format (in addition to the cameras being physically smaller) there are some very excellent lenses out there. I would stack the Olymous Zuiko lenses up against the branded Nikon lenses any day of the week. In addition, ignoring the difference in focal length my Panasonic/Leica f1.2 42.5 rivals my Otus f1.4 55mm for my Nikon (plus it has vibration reduction AND autofocus - eat your heart out Sigma). These high quality lenses are smaller and cost less than their full frame rivals to boot. Now there are some poor lenses too, but if you are willing to pay a little more I have found all of the Panny/Leica and Olympus Zuiko lenses to be very, very good.
Other notes -
- If you shoot in RAW and use Lightroom you will have to update to 6.9.
- The autofocus really is improved. It is very fast on the point.
- Has the ability to do focus stacking - I haven't tried this yet - but it is a very interesting function.
- Shooting manual is a breeze - I am not sure why Nikon can't copy Panasonic's focus peaking, but if they could... they should. I mentioned I owned the Otus f1.4 55mm.... that lenses would be soooooo much more useful if Nikon offered a similar type of focus peaking.
- Low light performance - others may disagree, but I do think that it is better than the GH4. I have very good stills at ISO 1600. However, this might be a counter-intuitive since Panasonic is using the same sized sensor but increasing the resolution. In order for the camera to have better low light performance and higher resolution would require either significantly better algorithms and/or improvements on the actual sensor gathers the light.
- Button placement and layout are still very solid. it is easy to navigate WB and ISO settings without moving your eyes (much more difficult on my Nikon D750).
- No built in flash. Honestly, I can not remember the last time I used a built in flash.
- The camera is not too much larger than the GH4, but it is noticeably heavier. This camera is dense, and while it still has an advantage over my full frame it's losing ground here.
Video-
- My early footage is excellent. The continuous autofocus is improved (although I do need to run a lot more tests on this one). I loved shooting footage with my GH4, but I usually filmed in manual focus. I never fully trusted the GH4 autofocus - it seemed to spend too much time searching.
- The ability to shoot at 180 FPS (you have first select a variable frame rate to get into this menu).
- Out of the box it will allow you to record 10 bit straight to SD card (I recommend the new high transfer rate cards).
- Image stability - I am very excited for the improvements - but I definitely need to do a lot of testing to see how it really performs.
- In short... for video the GH5 will do everything that GH4 will do, but it adds the ability to capture 10 bit footage directly to a SD card, offers weather protection, and in-body stabilization
- The screen and viewfinder are excellent.
Final Verdict - Again, I will have to update this review - there is MUCH still to be covered (especially for video). However, the early results are very promising and I do believe that Panasonic has made a significant improvement in IQ over the GH4. I may be naive, but I just ASSUMED it would be great for video (minor improvements in the GH4 would have helped maintain its status). The GH5 is roughly double the price of the GH4 so you will need to understand if the photo improvements and the upgrades in video are really worth it to you. For me... it is a no-brainer.... and I am optimistic that for now on I will be carrying just one camera with me!
5 Stars
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2017
I run a small video production company, and for years I have used the GH4 for capturing high quality video. The problem is that every video shoot also requires several high quality/professional photographs. While the GH4 excelled in capturing video as a true camera it always came up short. As a result, I was always forced to lug my Nikon D750 around with me. I would travel with two cameras, and two sets of lenses. Occasionally, I would substitute the Nikon for my Fujix100T or I would substitute the GH4 for my Osmo Pro (recently it has been more of the later).
What I need... want... would love .... is camera to do all of it. I guess I could invest in the FF Sony, but the idea of investing in a 3rd set of lenses doesn't exactly excite me. At some point.... either the video on the Olympus will come up... or the photo stills on the Panasonic will improve...right? Based on my tests - I think the GH5 will become my Holy Grail of cameras. I have 0% doubt that it will perform for video (and my the couple of tests I have run look very favorable), but my worry was IQ. The new 20.3MP resolution has me hopeful that the GH5 will become my one camera for all purposes.
Photos - Again - I will update this as time goes on
- The upgraded sensor seems to make a large difference.In the photos I attached the 1st picture was taken at ISO 400 while the rest were at ISO 1600. Frankly, I always got nervous taking my GH4 above ISO 800 the noise and grain really started to become noticeable. The GH5 looks very usable at ISO 1600 ( I need to check ISO 3200 a little closer). For full disclosure the ISO 1600 shots were taken with the Panasonic Leica f1.2 42.5mm gem of a lens.
This is a good point for a tangent,. The reason why i like the MFT format (in addition to the cameras being physically smaller) there are some very excellent lenses out there. I would stack the Olymous Zuiko lenses up against the branded Nikon lenses any day of the week. In addition, ignoring the difference in focal length my Panasonic/Leica f1.2 42.5 rivals my Otus f1.4 55mm for my Nikon (plus it has vibration reduction AND autofocus - eat your heart out Sigma). These high quality lenses are smaller and cost less than their full frame rivals to boot. Now there are some poor lenses too, but if you are willing to pay a little more I have found all of the Panny/Leica and Olympus Zuiko lenses to be very, very good.
Other notes -
- If you shoot in RAW and use Lightroom you will have to update to 6.9.
- The autofocus really is improved. It is very fast on the point.
- Has the ability to do focus stacking - I haven't tried this yet - but it is a very interesting function.
- Shooting manual is a breeze - I am not sure why Nikon can't copy Panasonic's focus peaking, but if they could... they should. I mentioned I owned the Otus f1.4 55mm.... that lenses would be soooooo much more useful if Nikon offered a similar type of focus peaking.
- Low light performance - others may disagree, but I do think that it is better than the GH4. I have very good stills at ISO 1600. However, this might be a counter-intuitive since Panasonic is using the same sized sensor but increasing the resolution. In order for the camera to have better low light performance and higher resolution would require either significantly better algorithms and/or improvements on the actual sensor gathers the light.
- Button placement and layout are still very solid. it is easy to navigate WB and ISO settings without moving your eyes (much more difficult on my Nikon D750).
- No built in flash. Honestly, I can not remember the last time I used a built in flash.
- The camera is not too much larger than the GH4, but it is noticeably heavier. This camera is dense, and while it still has an advantage over my full frame it's losing ground here.
Video-
- My early footage is excellent. The continuous autofocus is improved (although I do need to run a lot more tests on this one). I loved shooting footage with my GH4, but I usually filmed in manual focus. I never fully trusted the GH4 autofocus - it seemed to spend too much time searching.
- The ability to shoot at 180 FPS (you have first select a variable frame rate to get into this menu).
- Out of the box it will allow you to record 10 bit straight to SD card (I recommend the new high transfer rate cards).
- Image stability - I am very excited for the improvements - but I definitely need to do a lot of testing to see how it really performs.
- In short... for video the GH5 will do everything that GH4 will do, but it adds the ability to capture 10 bit footage directly to a SD card, offers weather protection, and in-body stabilization
- The screen and viewfinder are excellent.
Final Verdict - Again, I will have to update this review - there is MUCH still to be covered (especially for video). However, the early results are very promising and I do believe that Panasonic has made a significant improvement in IQ over the GH4. I may be naive, but I just ASSUMED it would be great for video (minor improvements in the GH4 would have helped maintain its status). The GH5 is roughly double the price of the GH4 so you will need to understand if the photo improvements and the upgrades in video are really worth it to you. For me... it is a no-brainer.... and I am optimistic that for now on I will be carrying just one camera with me!
5 Stars
First off, I am most interested in video and short films. I am also into photography, and have shot with Nikons and Canons, but have always preferred Panasonic for video (No record length limit is critical for events). Canon video is nice, owing mainly to sensor size, but I've always felt all the way back to the GH1 that Panasonic video was superior, though I felt the stills capabilities were drastically unimpressive. The GH2 was a massive improvement for video, and a small still upgrade, but still nowhere near a Nikon or Canon. I skipped the GH3 because the video of the GH2 was so good I really didn't see a need to upgrade. I've been missing a good stills camera, and though I have always preferred Nikon, their late tendency to increase MP size has left me incredibly unimpressed with ISO performance. Canon's tendency to keep MP constant with new generations of sensors is REALLY attractive, because that means the ISO performance and noise is getting better (One can either make smaller pixels with less sensitivity or keep the pixel count steady and increase the sensitivity). I was set to buy a Canon 6D when I heard rumblings of the GH4. I waited, and everything seemed to be pointing to leaps and bounds in performance... new engine, same MP count, etc. I'm VERY glad I did.
The Body/Control Layout
Having not had a GH3, I'm not sure of the changes, but over the GH2, it's an incredible difference. It IS a little larger, in all three dimensions, but the weight is not noticeable. It's noted as "splashproof"... a claim I have no intention of testing, but I do like the ergonomics better. One of the BEST improvements of the GH4 is the layouts. I'm used to having buttons (from the Pro Nikon and Canon worlds), but on the GH1 and 2, there was only one forward dial, and it required a button push to switch from SS to A settings. This is remedied. There is a FORWARD dial, a REAR dial and an additional wheel dial on the control pad by the LCD. There are BUTTONS for ISO, WB, Exposure Compensation. While these might sound like non-issues, The control layout is EXCELLENT. I recently had to shoot with a Nikon D5200 and I couldn't believe how piss-poor the layout was for the dials. OOPS, DIAL, singular. It made the shooting experience miserable and I couldn't believe THIS was a NIKON and how far the mighty had fallen. I was shocked at having pulled the GH4 out and shot a few simple test pictures. The quality of the stills are a massive improvement over the 1 and 2... does it compete with a Canon 6D? Doubtful, but they are good enough I'm not worrying about getting a 6D anymore...
The LCD
Much has been made of Panasonic DOUBLING the resolution of the LCD. It seem like a small thing, but it really is a gorgeous screen. When you add in some of the touch features and how responsive they are, I no longer miss having a through the lens system instead of an LCD viewfinder. I HATED it in the GH1 and 2, and was a major reason I despised the Pannies for stills. The touchscreen functionality is incredibly responsive too, and when you are in focus, you are IN focus... it's razor sharp and the additional features really take advantage.
Video
Wow. I haven't tried 4K, but let's be absolutely clear about this: VFR is CLEARLY going to become an overused function in the future. Why? Because it is GORGEOUS in this camera. GORGEOUS. Here are the breakdowns of available modes:
AVCHD:
24Mbit/30p: 2, 15, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 45, 60
24Mbit/24p: 2, 12, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 36, 48, 60
MP4 or MOV:
100Mbit/30p: 2, 15, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 45, 60, 75, 90, 96
100Mbit/24p: 2, 12, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, !!!96!!!
Personally, I do not understand why anyone would choose to shoot in anything but 24fps... but I am a filmmaker at heart. I don't shoot sports. I want everything to look as much like a film as possible. Having said that, following the 180shutter rule as closely as you can and shooting in 96fps MP424fps is GLORIOUS. What's more is the fact that it is instantaneous. You set the VFR, you record the footage (it will tell you "25%" on the viewfinder), you hit record, you stop recording, you hit play and you get to see unbelievably high quality sharp, full 1080 HD slow motion. It's incredible. Slower Frame Rates (Time Lapse) will require some time to compose the image, but Slow Motion is instant, Crisp, Fluid, and incredibly impressive.
The rest of the video is also improved. It's actually mindblowing how good it looks, but the VFR is reason enough to buy this camera. It's a gamechanger for anyone who shoots anything. This is the NUMBER ONE reason to buy this camera, I'd argue a bigger advance than the 4K. As impressive as the ability to shoot 4K is, there are other cameras on the market (albeit at a higher price point) that shoot 4K. Slow motion of this quality is an incredibly useful tool. Note that you can't use the VFR in the 200Mbit settings. This is not even approaching the reasonable limits of a downside. 100Mbit at this quality is incredible.
Tools
There are a variety of features that deeply improve the shooting experience. Focus peaking is brilliantly used, and it also makes the LCD sharpness that much more apparent. Zebra Levels are also available in all modes. Hitting the display button will toggle through modes of the LCD, including a built in tilt and level sensor. Manual focus assist is also massively improved, allowing you to select the size of the magnified area and where it appears on screen. Working in concert with the focus peaking makes manual shooting like I prefer top notch. The modes and ability of the AutoFocus is also impressive, but like 4K is so over-reviewed that I do not wish to beat that particular horse. The AF is great, but the takeaway is that the MF features are equally improved.
Additionally, there are options for Luminance, Pedestal, SS -> Shutter Angle, CineD (Increased Dynamic Range) and CineV (Increased contrast), and a lot of other settings that I'm just not going to cover at this point. The larger point behind it is what's critical: There have been MASSIVE upgrades to the ability to tweak your video, and it's a very capable and impressive piece of hardware.
Batteries
This is an oversight to a lot of people/companies, but this vital to people like me. I am used to having to buy AC adapters and power couplers to shoot events, as with the GH1 and 2 you couldn't feel too confident after an hour... but last night I shot a band with a GH1, 2 gh2's and my GH4. I was unable to procure an AC10 adapter for the GH4. After shooting 2 hours and 44 minutes without stop, I noticed the battery level indicator still had 3 bars. I had bought Third Party batteries (Wasabi BTR-BLF19-JWP) beforehand to have spares, and figured the power level indication just didn't work. I paused the recording between songs and started immediately again, figuring I'd rather not lose it all if the battery suddenly died. I recorded an additional 48 minutes and still had 3 bars. I went to a pizza place and was recording some stuff for slomo and low light and after 20 minutes of that, the battery dropped to 2 bars. I was SHOCKED. So apparently, you can shoot roughly FOUR HOURS before the battery drops a SINGLE bar. This makes me want to sell every other camera I own and buy several of these. I never have to look for another outlet to shoot events or long time lapse shots (which can now also be done in camera).
The Memory Cards
I am shooting with the Sandisk 95MB/s ExtremePro's. I have not shot 4K yet, but have shot a good bit of MP4 (24fps, 100 Mbit) and have had NO issues, even running at 96fps. 4K may be the decider, but if you are shooting HD this seems to be a non-issue.
Wifi Too?
Yep. If you have an android or iPhone, the camera has an app that works incredibly well... so if you want to shoot from a crane or bucket truck or remote control vehicle, you can, and retain recording control as well as focus. Wonderful addition.
Overall.
It's simple. It's as if the Wright brothers got done with the flight at Kitty Hawk, went back to the drawing board, and rolled out a P51 Mustang 3 years later. It's difficult to overstate the difference in value this camera represents over previous versions, which were themselves great values for the video capabilities. It's as if Chevy decided to give free upgrades on Cobalts to Corvettes.