What You Need To Know About The Panasonic GH5

Earlier today as part of CES 2017, Panasonic officially announced the GH5 camera with a large number of improved capabilities over its existing GH4 flagship.

We have seen the GH5 (or actually a pretty early prototype at Photokina 2016 last year), than the company had very little to say about the camera, however with the official introduction today, we now have a much wider understanding of this new camera which will offer quite a few important improvements in almost every aspect.

In the video above Sean Robinson from Panasonic talks to Doug Guerra from B&H about the new camera and explain some of these features (as well as some of the upcoming features – coming in two planned firmware updates in the next year or so).

Here are some of the main features of the new GH5:

Sensor: 20.3MP Digital Live MOS Sensor (no AA filter).
Processor – a new Venus Engine Image Processor.
Video resolution: 4K/60p – no crop (Output Only).
Internal 4:2:2 – 10bit (available April, 2017).
ISO – up to 25600.
Continuous shooting – 12 fps.
6K Anamorphic Video Mode (4:3) – Available Summer, 2017
5-Axis Sensor Stabilization; Dual I.S. 2.
Slow motion (Variable Frame Rate): Max of 180fps/23.98 in FHD
Improved Auto Focus (0.05 sec AF, 9 FPS AF Burst)
Full size HDMI (Type A/USB 3.1)
3.2″ 1,620-dot Free Angle touch monitor.
0.76x 3.68m-Dot OLED Viewfinder
4K Hybrid Log Gamma (4K HDR Video) – Available Summer, 2017
SD Card Slota: dual UHS-II U3.
No Recording Time Limit (at least on the U.S. version).
Waveform Monitor Display + separate video menu mode.
Formats – .MOV, MP4 (AAC, LPCM) AVCHD Progressive; H265 encoding for 60/50p.
Body – Splash, Dust, Freezeproof Upto -10 Degrees Celsius
Bluetooth + WIFI.
Weight: 2.0 lbs / 900 grams.
Power: Same batteries as GH4 (but with a new , smaller optional external XLR unit).
Price: $2000 (available – March 2017).

Another more extensive look at the GH5

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vyXs3W0RVo[/youtube]

An interesting interview with Panasonic’s M. Uematsu-san (by cinema5d)

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MukM7WhCgQU[/youtube]

Besides the GH5 Panasonic (alongside Leica) announced a new LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-60mm / F2.8-4.0 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. for micro-4/3 sensor cameras – this lens will ship in late March for $1000.

The new LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-60mm / F2.8-4.0

Panasonic also updated the following lenses with new versions that add Power OIS system that works with the new 5-axis Dual I.S. and Dual I.S.2 systems as well as a new exterior finish and a new iris for smoother automatic exposure changes (and updated autofocus system for faster readout). These are the lenses:

LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm F2.8 II ASPH. POWER O.I.S.
LUMIX G X VARIO 35-100mm F2.8 II POWER O.I.S.
LUMIX G VARIO 45-200mm F4.0-5.6 II POWER O.I.S.
LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm F4.0-5.6 II POWER O.I.S.

You can find many more photography gear announcements and new products on our photography gear section here on LensVid.

Iddo Genuth

Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.