The Lumix GH series is a long-running favorite for video-first creators—the most recent GH5 Mark II is one of our top recommendations for video pros and vloggers looking for a 4K camera. Rivals have pushed video resolution further, and Panasonic is catching up with the Lumix GH6, a new model that co-exists with the GH5 II in the lineup, and one that delivers a substantially upgraded video toolkit, as well as some reasons for stills photographers to pay attention.
A Video-First Hybrid
Panasonic, curiously, tells us that the GH6 is built as a stills camera first. It’s true that its body design takes its cues from stills cameras—the centered viewfinder, handgrip, and silhouette are unmistakeable. In the world of cinema production, the form factor lies somewhere between outlier and disruptor—no one would mistake it for an Arri Alexa or other Hollywood production camera.
The GH6 is built for use in the studio and out in the field. The USB-C port and supplied power adapter will run the camera continuously for on-set use. For use outdoors the magnesium alloy chassis with dust and splash protection comes in handy—we’ve not yet tried the GH6, but have no reason to expect it to be any less durable than the GH5 II.
In the consumer mirrorless space, the GH series is the darling for videographers. And the GH6 has a pretty fantastic toolkit—it supports 5.7K at up to 60fps, and can record at 4K UHD or DCI at up to 120fps with sound. Continuous autofocus is supported while recording in most modes, but is dropped from the in-camera silent VFR slow-motion mode; despite significant upgrades to the image processor, that’s just a bit too much for it to handle.
Long-form recording is no problem. The GH6 doesn’t limit clip length and includes an in-camera fan to actively cool the processor and CFExpress memory card when recording the highest-quality footage, encoded using Apple ProRes 422 HQ at 10-bit 4:2:2 quality. A second memory card slot supports SDXC cards, and you can opt for more affordable V90-rated media for most formats, just not ProRes.
New, Exclusive Image Sensor
The attention-grabbing video specs are made possible by an updated image processor and a fresh 25.2MP Micro Four Thirds sensor. Panasonic tells us that it’s fast enough to read out 120 times a second, while relying on a traditional CMOS architecture. The surface area of Micro Four Thirds comes into play here—full-frame chips are larger, so they need Stacked CMOS to read out quickly—but the all-new design and processing power certainly factor in.
The GH6 doesn’t just offer more pixels, its sensor promises more dynamic range, up to 13 stops when recording with the V-Log profile. It leverages a special Dynamic Range Boost recording mode and a dual gain sensor design to get there.
Available at 60fps or less, DRB uses both low and high gain channels to expose a scene, and blends those exposures together. Panasonic tells us to expect more detail in shadows, with less noise. DRB works for the stills engine too, but it’s not a feature you’ll turn on or off. Instead, the image processing engine determines whether a metered scene would benefit from the effect, and applies it in the background.
In-body image stabilization is included. The GH6 uses a new gyroscope and streamlined algorithms for up to 7.5 stops of correction with most lenses. The GH6 also uses the IBIS for a handheld multi-shot mode—it shifts the sensor and takes multiple exposures for 100MP output with truer color sampling.
Other notable stills features include a 75fps Raw capture mode, though we should note that’s with focus fixed for the burst. The DFD focus system is able to track moving targets at 8fps, by no means a class-leading figure. It’s what you can expect from a contrast based system, though—the recently released OM System OM-1 tracks at 50fps, likely a better fit for action photographers who must have phase detection.
We’ll have more on the Lumix GH6 once we’ve had a chance to review it. Panasonic expects it to ship in March. It’s priced at $2,199.99 as a body only, or $2,799.99 in a kit with the Leica 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 zoom.
