Panasonic’s 25-megapixel GH6 is the best decision Micro 4 Thirds digicam but

After a little bit of a lengthen, Panasonic has in the end printed the 25.2-megapixel GH6, the highest-resolution Micro 4 Thirds mirrorless digicam to this point. One can call to mind it as a mini model of its S1H “Netflix digicam,” as it is loaded with professional video options like 5.7K ProRes V-Log video, a tilt-swivel show and CFexpress seize. Then again, it is nonetheless caught with distinction locate fairly than section locate autofocus like most present cameras. Thankfully, I used to be ready to get my arms on a preproduction unit to try the brand new options and get an early really feel for it. 

First, let’s speak about essentially the most attention-grabbing adjustments. As discussed, the GH6 has a 25.2-megapixel sensor with a high-speed readout, even though it’s not stacked like its Micro 4 Thirds rival, the OM-1. That clearly offers a much-needed symbol decision spice up, even though photograph burst efficiency is in truth down a slightly from the GH5 II (8 fps with steady AF in comparison to 9 fps). 

The GH6 nonetheless makes use of a distinction locate autofocus gadget (what it calls “intensity from defocus” or DFD) fairly than section locate like just about all its opponents. As with the GH5 II, it additionally contains face/eye/head/physique/animal AI popularity. Whilst Panasonic has just about perfected its DFD gadget, it is nonetheless now not as rapid or dependable as section locate programs. 

When capturing other folks photos in rather low mild, it occasionally did not get center of attention briefly sufficient to nail the shot, as an example. Through comparability, Sony and Canon’s newest cameras (the A7 IV and EOS R6) haven’t any such issue, even in low mild. And I nonetheless noticed some wobble or looking with video AF. 

With regards to video, issues are extra certain. The GH6 can now shoot 5.7K video with V-Log at as much as 30 fps with interior seize to both ProRes or ProRes HQ, or 5.7K as much as 60 fps to MP4 10-bit H.264/H.265 recording (all-intra or longGOP). You’ll additionally shoot 10-bit 4:2:0 4K at as much as 120 fps the usage of the longGOP codec. All of those modes use the overall sensor width with super-sampled video, even though the 4K 120p atmosphere introduces some pixel binning. 

It’s going to additionally be capable of report ProRes RAW to an exterior Atomos recorder by the use of a long term firmware replace. Extra apparently, the GH6 is among the first mirrorless cameras with HDMI 2.1 output, so it’s going to ultimately help you report 4K RAW externally at as much as 120 fps by the use of a long term replace. When it first ships, it’s going to make stronger 4K at as much as 60 fps, with simultaneous exterior and interior recording. 

With regards to video high quality, Panasonic is promising 13+ stops of dynamic vary the usage of ProRes and V-Log recording. It additionally claims you can see much less noise at upper ISO settings (ISO 6400 and up). For each video and stills, it wasn’t relatively as excellent in low mild as the GH5s (which has lower than part the decision) however it wasn’t some distance off. 

Taking pictures 5.7K video at as much as 30 fps in ProRes HQ makes use of interior information charges of one,903 Mbps, some distance past SD UHS II capacity. As such, the GH6 is the primary Micro 4 Thirds mirrorless digicam with a CFexpress Sort B card slot. That is required for ProRes recording and lots of the MP4 high-frame-rate formats. 

The disadvantage presently is that there is just one CFexpress slot, so that you will not be able to get a backup for positive video resolutions except you employ an exterior recorder. Then again, the GH6 will ultimately make stronger recording to an exterior SSD recorder by the use of the USB-C 3.2 port, which additionally permits you to energy the digicam whilst capturing.

In case you are serious about rolling shutter with the additional decision, the high-speed sensor readout is meant to cut back that greater than ever. I showed that rolling shutter was once very manageable, even on the best 5.7K and 60p decision. Then again, it’s provide if the digicam or matter transfer too briefly.

As with previous GH fashions, video high quality is phenomenal, with the 5.7K video specifically sharp and helpful for modifying. The ProRes possibility has additionally stored me an additional step in comparison to the GH5s, as I not want to transcode video. The disadvantage is that the video information are 4-5 occasions the scale — so it would be best to spend money on excessive capability CFexpress Sort B playing cards, which is able to get very dear.

The GH6 has five-axis in-body stabilization like the opposite fashions, however now provides as much as 7.5 stops of shake aid with supported lenses, simply in the back of the 8 stops on Canon’s EOS R6. With boosted IS and E-stabilization, it actually smooths out video smartly even for scenarios like strolling, higher than maximum mirrorless cameras I have used. 

The GH6 more or less looks as if the GH5 II, however it is relatively a little heavier (823 grams in comparison to 727 grams with a battery and reminiscence card), and the physique has modified in numerous notable techniques. It is a lot thicker, to begin with, thank you partly to an energetic cooling fan that guarantees the GH6 does not undergo overheating problems like Canon’s EOS R5 and R6. To that finish, Panasonic is promising limitless recording in all video modes, together with 5.7K 60p and 4K 120p.

The opposite primary exchange is with the grip that is significantly deeper than at the GH5 II (or GH5 and GH5s. With that, the GH6 is significantly extra comfy to make use of than any Micro 4 Thirds digicam I have attempted, specifically with massive lenses. Panasonic has made numerous different adjustments to the button and dial format as smartly, maximum significantly with the addition of a devoted audio button that help you exchange such things as acquire ranges and high quality. It additionally has an additional report button at the entrance of the digicam that is extraordinarily to hand for vlogging .

The GH6 now has a tilt-swivel show just like the SH1, with the similar 1,840K dot decision as the only at the GH5 II. That makes the digicam thicker, however simpler for low perspective and different sorts of capturing, and the lean possibility helps to keep the display screen from being blocked via cables if you happen to use an exterior recorder. It is usually Panasonic’s brightest show but, and was once extremely visual even in daylight.

The three.68 million dot OLED digital viewfinder (EVF) is sadly unchanged from the GH5 lineup. Whilst it is true that the GH6 is extra of a video than a stills digicam, a large number of shooters want to make use of an EVF in vibrant daylight, so a sharper symbol would had been great. Additionally unchanged is the BLK-22 battery that delivers fewer pictures than the GH5 II (380 in comparison to 410) and moderately much less capturing time — most likely because of the fan and additional decision.

The GH6 has a few different severe downsides in comparison to opponents. One in every of them is the rather small sensor dimension in comparison to a full-frame digicam. That gives fewer ingenious chances, even though additionally it is extra forgiving relating to center of attention and makes for inexpensive, lighter lenses. 

The most important flaw, alternatively, is the contrast-detect autofocus. The excellent news is that Panasonic turns out to have in the end learned that customers need section locate and hinted that it is not out of the query for long term fashions. 

The GH6 was once rumored to be priced at $2,500, however there is some excellent information on that entrance. It’s going to pass on sale in March for $2,200 (physique simplest), making it rather reasonable to fashions that may fit its video specifications. It appears a forged selection for that, with video high quality on par with any opponents. We will take a better have a look at the whole thing in our upcoming overview.