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 digicam to this point. One can consider it as a mini model of its S1H “Netflix digicam,” 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 somewhat than section detect autofocus like most fashionable 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 probably 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 offers a much-needed picture decision increase, although picture 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) somewhat than section detect like almost 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 methods. 

When taking pictures folks photos in comparatively low mild, it generally didn’t get focus shortly sufficient to nail the shot, for example. By 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. 

When it comes to video, issues are extra optimistic. The GH6 can now shoot 5.7K video with V-Log at as much as 30 fps with inner 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 may also shoot 10-bit 4:2:0 4K at as much as 120 fps utilizing the longGOP codec. All of those modes use the total sensor width with super-sampled video, although the 4K 120p setting introduces some pixel binning. 

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

When it comes to video high quality, Panasonic is promising 13+ stops of dynamic vary utilizing ProRes and V-Log recording. It additionally claims you may see much less noise at greater ISO settings (ISO 6400 and up). For each video and stills, it wasn’t fairly nearly as good in low mild because the GH5s (which has lower than half the decision) but it surely wasn’t far off. 

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

The downside proper now’s that there is just one CFexpress slot, so you will not be capable to get a backup for sure video resolutions except you utilize an exterior recorder. Nonetheless, the GH6 will ultimately help recording to an exterior SSD recorder by way of the USB-C 3.2 port, which additionally permits you to energy the digicam whereas taking pictures.

Should 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 digicam or topic transfer too shortly.

As with previous GH fashions, video high quality is excellent, with the 5.7K video significantly 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 downside is that the video recordsdata are 4-5 occasions the dimensions — so you may wish to spend money on excessive capability CFexpress Kind B playing cards, which may get very costly.

The GH6 has five-axis in-body stabilization like the opposite fashions, however now affords 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 properly even for conditions like strolling, higher than most mirrorless cameras I’ve used. 

The GH6 type of seems just like the GH5 II, but it surely’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 lively cooling fan that ensures the GH6 does not undergo 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 snug to make use of than any Micro 4 Thirds digicam I’ve tried, significantly with giant lenses. Panasonic has made quite a few different modifications to the button and dial structure as properly, 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 report button on the entrance of the digicam 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 digicam thicker, however extra sensible for low angle and different forms of taking pictures, and the lean choice retains the display screen from being blocked by cables in case you 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 digicam, loads of shooters want to make use of an EVF in vivid 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 taking pictures time — probably because of the fan and further decision.

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

The most important flaw, nevertheless, is the contrast-detect autofocus. The excellent news is that Panasonic appears to have lastly realized that patrons 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 going to go on sale in March for $2,200 (physique solely), making it comparatively low cost to fashions that may match its video specs. It seems a stable alternative for that, with video high quality on par with any rivals. We’ll take a more in-depth have a look at all the pieces in our upcoming assessment.