Panasonic’s 25-megapixel GH6 is the highest resolution Micro Four Thirds camera yet

After a little bit of a delay, Panasonic has lastly revealed the 25.2-megapixel GH6, the highest-resolution Micro 4 Thirds mirrorless digital camera to this point. One can consider it as a mini model of its S1H “Netflix digital camera,” because it’s loaded with professional video options like 5.7K ProRes V-Log video, a tilt-swivel show and CFexpress seize. Nonetheless, it is nonetheless caught with distinction detect moderately than section detect autofocus like most trendy cameras. Fortunately, I used to be in a position to get my palms on a preproduction unit to take a look at the brand new options and get an early really feel for it. 

First, let’s discuss essentially the most fascinating modifications. As talked about, the GH6 has a 25.2-megapixel sensor with a high-speed readout, although it is not stacked like its Micro 4 Thirds rival, the OM-1. That clearly provides a much-needed picture decision enhance, although photograph burst efficiency is definitely down a contact from the GH5 II (8 fps with steady AF in comparison with 9 fps). 

The GH6 nonetheless makes use of a distinction detect autofocus system (what it calls “depth from defocus” or DFD) moderately than section detect like practically all its rivals. As with the GH5 II, it additionally consists of face/eye/head/physique/animal AI recognition. Whereas Panasonic has just about perfected its DFD system, it is nonetheless not as quick or dependable as section detect programs. 

When capturing folks photos in comparatively low gentle, it typically did not get focus shortly sufficient to nail the shot, as an illustration. By comparability, Sony and Canon’s newest cameras (the A7 IV and EOS R6) don’t have any such problem, even in low gentle. And I nonetheless noticed some wobble and looking with video AF — although it is a lot lower than on any earlier GH cameras. 

When it comes to video high quality, issues are extra constructive. The GH6 can now shoot 5.7K video with V-Log at as much as 30 fps with inside 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 can even shoot 10-bit 4:2:0 4K at as much as 120 fps utilizing the longGOP codec, or 1080p at 300 fps (240 fps with autofocus). 

The entire 5.7K and 4K modes (together with 120p) use the total sensor width with super-sampled video. It additionally helps 5.8K as much as 30p and 4.4K as much as 60p in 4:3 anamorphic modes, with granular controls for various anamorphic modes and lenses. Whereas ProRes/ProRes HQ is restricted to five.7K for now, it’s going to come to 4K by way of a future firmware replace. 

Additionally coming by way of a future firmware replace down the street is the power to file ProRes RAW to an exterior Atomos recorder. Extra apparently, the GH6 is without doubt one of the first mirrorless cameras with HDMI 2.1 output, so it’s going to finally allow you to file 4K RAW externally at as much as 120 fps by way of one other future replace. When it first ships, it’s going to assist 4K at as much as 60 fps, with simultaneous exterior and inside recording. 

When it comes to video high quality, Panasonic is promising 12+ stops of dynamic vary utilizing ProRes and V-Log recording, or 13+ stops utilizing dynamic enhance vary (extra on that in a sec). It additionally claims you will see much less noise at increased ISO settings (ISO 6400 and up). For each video and stills, it wasn’t fairly nearly as good in low gentle as the GH5s (which has lower than half the decision) nevertheless it wasn’t far off. 

Capturing 5.7K video at as much as 30 fps in ProRes HQ makes use of inside knowledge charges of 1,903 Mbps, far past SD UHS II functionality. As such, the GH6 is the primary Micro 4 Thirds mirrorless digital camera with a CFexpress Sort B card slot. That is required for ProRes recording and lots of the MP4 high-frame-rate codecs. 

The disadvantage proper now’s that there is just one CFexpress slot, so you will not be capable of get a backup for sure video resolutions except you employ an exterior recorder. Nonetheless, the GH6 will finally assist recording to an exterior SSD recorder by way of the USB-C 3.2 port, which additionally means that you can energy the digital camera whereas capturing.

In case you’re involved about rolling shutter with the additional decision, the high-speed sensor readout is meant to cut back that greater than ever. I confirmed that rolling shutter was very manageable, even on the highest 5.7K and 60p decision. Nonetheless, it’s current if the digital camera or topic transfer too shortly.

As with previous GH fashions, video high quality is excellent, with the 5.7K video notably sharp and helpful for modifying. The ProRes choice has additionally saved me an additional step in comparison with the GH5s, as I now not have to transcode video. The disadvantage is that the video information are 4-5 occasions the scale — so you will wish to put money into excessive capability CFexpress Sort B playing cards, which might get very costly.

An fascinating new function known as dynamic vary enhance. Once you activate the setting, it’s going to use two analog circuits at totally different ISO settings to take two totally different exposures. The result’s improved dynamic vary in scenes with shiny and darkish areas, with none extreme noise, although it is restricted to ISO 2000 and up. I discovered it to be very helpful for inside pictures with shiny daylight coming by home windows, making it attainable to recuperate highlights and element. 

The GH6 has five-axis in-body stabilization like the opposite fashions, however now gives as much as 7.5 stops of shake discount with supported lenses, simply behind the 8 stops on Canon’s EOS R6. With boosted IS and E-stabilization, it actually smooths out video nicely even for conditions like strolling, higher than most mirrorless cameras I’ve used. 

The GH6 type of appears to be like just like the GH5 II, nevertheless it’s fairly a bit heavier (823 grams in comparison with 727 grams with a battery and reminiscence card), and the physique has modified in a number of notable methods. It is a lot thicker, to start out with, thanks partly to an energetic cooling fan that ensures the GH6 would not endure overheating points 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 main change is with the grip that is significantly deeper than on the GH5 II (or GH5 and GH5s. With that, the GH6 is significantly extra comfy to make use of than any Micro 4 Thirds digital camera I’ve tried, notably with massive lenses. Panasonic has made numerous different modifications to the button and dial format as nicely, most notably with the addition of a devoted audio button that allow you to change issues like achieve ranges and high quality. It additionally has an additional file button on the entrance of the digital camera that is extraordinarily helpful for vlogging .

The GH6 now has a tilt-swivel show just like the SH1, with the identical 1,840K dot decision because the one on the GH5 II. That makes the digital camera thicker, however extra sensible for low angle and different kinds of capturing, and the lean choice retains the display screen from being blocked by cables for those who use an exterior recorder. It is also Panasonic’s brightest show but, and was extremely seen even in daylight.

The three.68 million dot OLED digital viewfinder (EVF) is sadly unchanged from the GH5 lineup. Whereas it is true that the GH6 is extra of a video than a stills digital camera, numerous shooters favor to make use of an EVF in shiny daylight, so a sharper picture would have been good. Additionally unchanged is the BLK-22 battery that delivers fewer pictures than the GH5 II (380 in comparison with 410) and barely much less capturing time — seemingly as a result of fan and further decision.

The GH6 has a few different severe downsides in comparison with rivals. One among them is the comparatively small sensor measurement in comparison with a full-frame digital camera. That provides fewer inventive prospects, although it is also extra forgiving when it comes to focus and makes for cheaper, lighter lenses. 

The most important flaw, nonetheless, is the contrast-detect autofocus. The excellent news is that Panasonic appears to have lastly realized that consumers need section detect and hinted that it isn’t out of the query for future fashions. 

The GH6 was rumored to be priced at $2,500, however there’s some excellent news on that entrance. It is now on pre-order for $2,200 (physique solely) with shipments set for March, making it comparatively low cost in comparison with any to fashions that may match its video specs. It appears to be like a strong selection for video shooters, with high quality on par or superior to any rivals — so long as they’re okay with the distinction detect AF. I will take a more in-depth have a look at all the pieces in Engadget’s upcoming assessment.