Lumix GH5 II Body Hardware/Electronic

[This review was collected as part of a promotion. ] I bought my Panasonic Lumix GH5 second hand and I’m thrilled with the exceptional video capabilities. Panasonic Lumix GH5 stands out as a popular choice for both photographers and videographers. Released in 2017, this mirrorless camera has since been hailed for its impressive video capabilities, making it a popular choice for content creators and filmmakers. The camera offers unlimited recording timeUnder the hood there is high degree of customisation and flexibility. The camera’s magnesium alloy body is splash, dust, and freeze-proof down to -10°C, making it a great choice for adventurous photographers and videographers. Oh did I mention the in-body image stabilization, yes it has that feature as well. To round ... More[This review was collected as part of a promotion. ] I bought my Panasonic Lumix GH5 second hand and I’m thrilled with the exceptional video capabilities. Panasonic Lumix GH5 stands out as a popular choice for both photographers and videographers. Released in 2017, this mirrorless camera has since been hailed for its impressive video capabilities, making it a popular choice for content creators and filmmakers. The camera offers unlimited recording timeUnder the hood there is high degree of customisation and flexibility. The camera’s magnesium alloy body is splash, dust, and freeze-proof down to -10°C, making it a great choice for adventurous photographers and videographers. Oh did I mention the in-body image stabilization, yes it has that feature as well. To round up, I think its a GREAT camera because of the compact size, excellent image quality, and versatile features.

Absolutely amazing camera

A couple of years ago I started filming my son's sport activities. I began using a camcorder and then upgraded the Lumix S5ii. That camera is amazing. However because we were going to be doing a lot of traveling I wanted something more compact. Right on cue this camera came to market. Based on my satisfaction with the S5ii I knew I'd love this and I do. the 12-60mm lens that came with it is perfect for traveling. The camera takes great pictures and videos. Plus, the small MFT lenses with the S5ii body style is excellent. And the number of MFT lenses on the market and available second hand? Staggering! I highly recommend this hybrid camera!

Beyond Disappointed

First, this was not the camera I ordered, but I worked with lensrentals and accepted the lower quality one you guys had available. If the camera worked as it was supposed to, there would have been no issues. But it didn’t. I needed to shoot an event in 4K with the dynamic range activated, but when I would select these rec settings, and try to record, the camera would freeze to the point I had to remove the battery in order to reset. I was not able to capture the quality of video I NEEDED to for this job. I would like a full refund and credit for further rentals, which I will only be using for lenses since this experience destroyed my trust in renting cameras from you.

Glorified Abandonedware. Can't use your phone as a hotspot.

This camera has been updated less than the GH6, which should tell you all you need to know about how Panasonic feels about it. Despite the updates in wifi, routers, and transmission protocol this camera is as good as abandonware.Since it's the GH line, it's rugged and robust. But that's the only good thing about it.The only reason anyone is getting this camera is to live stream. Panasonic has a different definition of live stream than 99% of the user base; as it comes with two profiles baked in, and they are Facebook and YouTube. Look, no one live streams streams to either of those platforms anymore unless you're a boomer. There is an RTMP protocol custom setting but that config is a nightmare, as you need to set it through the godawful Panasonic App on your ... MoreThis camera has been updated less than the GH6, which should tell you all you need to know about how Panasonic feels about it. Despite the updates in wifi, routers, and transmission protocol this camera is as good as abandonware.Since it's the GH line, it's rugged and robust. But that's the only good thing about it.The only reason anyone is getting this camera is to live stream. Panasonic has a different definition of live stream than 99% of the user base; as it comes with two profiles baked in, and they are Facebook and YouTube. Look, no one live streams streams to either of those platforms anymore unless you're a boomer. There is an RTMP protocol custom setting but that config is a nightmare, as you need to set it through the godawful Panasonic App on your phone.Then it's just going to hang. There will be no update from the camera, and no time out. I have tested this, the GH5ii will hang for over 30 minutes if you let it, saying Connecting to Wifi and will completely drain your battery. Now I know networks and got it to stream eventually, but if you're not tech savvy (as the majority of facebook and youtube streamers probably are not) you're not going to get this to work.How the camera should work:1. Select streaming wifi network (like your phone)2. Start Stream.It should be effortless, as the man competitor to this would be a smartphone.Alas, you cannot use your phone as a hotspot...unless you either USB tether to it. That means you now need a cable fast enough for 4k transmission and you need a mount for your phone.Taking out the phone complete defeats the purpose at that point and you might as well be streaming WITH your phone instead of TO your phone.The Panasonic App itself is still god awful.The wifi transmission protocol itself is a joke. It's not bonded or anything, so if you're serious you need to get a serious rig like U Live and then at that point, you can use any camera's HDMI output.Other than that it's just a GH5. You can get those cheaper anywhere else and just use the HDMI transmission to live stream over your home network. This camera solves nothing and is for no one.To Panasonic, live streaming means sitting in one location at a desk. That might have been true 15 or 20 years ago. But live streaming has evolved as the platforms have also changed. If Panasonic isn't going to keep up with those changes, why bother keeping up with what Panasonic has to offer?The scant information on this camera, aside from paid influences, shows this thing went over like a lead balloon. Avoid and get a Galaxy smartphone. Better camera quality, and easier integration. and a few hundred dollars cheaper.

Major improvement in image quality

The new G9II is a terrific upgrade in terms of better image quality, low-light noise handling and reliability of focusing thanks to both the new, better 25MB 4/3rds sensor, as well as finally incorporating a solid phase detect auto focus system. The color accuracy of the camera is excellent, and the menu system is still intuitive and straight-forward, if you have owned any of Panasonic's other hybrid cameras. I primarily do 90 percent photography (landscape, architecture, wildlife, air shows and boat races) and 10 percent video, so I think Panasonic positioned this camera well for those focused on stills photography with some video needs.I've been testing the various features of the camera for about a month now and I have to say that the implementation of focus ... MoreThe new G9II is a terrific upgrade in terms of better image quality, low-light noise handling and reliability of focusing thanks to both the new, better 25MB 4/3rds sensor, as well as finally incorporating a solid phase detect auto focus system. The color accuracy of the camera is excellent, and the menu system is still intuitive and straight-forward, if you have owned any of Panasonic's other hybrid cameras. I primarily do 90 percent photography (landscape, architecture, wildlife, air shows and boat races) and 10 percent video, so I think Panasonic positioned this camera well for those focused on stills photography with some video needs.I've been testing the various features of the camera for about a month now and I have to say that the implementation of focus bracketing makes good sense, as I do a reasonable amount of macro and just being able to drop the raw files into Helicon produces a far better final image output than most cameras can do internally with more flexibility. It also frees up camera memory and computational power for additional add-on functionality down the road.It should be noted that operating manual for this camera is 832 pages in length and I encourage you to download the pdf. That is because of literally all the functionality and flexibility that has been built into this hybrid camera. It truly is a highly customizable hybrid camera.

Perfect Camera for Video Journalism/ Run-and-Gun Short Docs

This camera is amazing, especially when paired with a Metabones speedbooster and EF lenses. I am a freelance journalist and use this for video journalism purposes, including at actions at protests and outdoor events, and the small profile makes this camera less intimidating to people, even when attached to a rig and some accessories.Before buying this, I'd considered Sony's lineup, like the a7 III, which was a comparable price, as well as Canon's R series. I can't say how the GH5 II stacks up in comparison, but for my purposes, this has worked very well. One tradeoff is that it's not great in low light, but having and small external light (attached to the camera cage even) addresses that. At this price tradeoff seems to often be low light performance, better in ... MoreThis camera is amazing, especially when paired with a Metabones speedbooster and EF lenses. I am a freelance journalist and use this for video journalism purposes, including at actions at protests and outdoor events, and the small profile makes this camera less intimidating to people, even when attached to a rig and some accessories.Before buying this, I'd considered Sony's lineup, like the a7 III, which was a comparable price, as well as Canon's R series. I can't say how the GH5 II stacks up in comparison, but for my purposes, this has worked very well. One tradeoff is that it's not great in low light, but having and small external light (attached to the camera cage even) addresses that. At this price tradeoff seems to often be low light performance, better in full-frame and Sony's cameras, vs stabilization, and the the in-body stabilization allows for a great handheld feel without footage being to jittery.As is commonly noted, the autofocus also isn't that reliable, but I enjoy manual focus anyway. That's something to consider, depending on what you're up to, because manual focus pretty much requires a rig with a handle and a monitor, but the profile of the whole setup is still decently small. I believe that soon-to-be-released GH 7 will be much better in this realm, as I think the GH 6 was, butI came from a Canon EOS camera, so I was able to use all my EF lenses once I got the Metabones .71x speedbooster and the image quality is amazing, for this budget.

ROCK SOLID DUAL STABILISATION AND AUTO FOCUS!

The Lumix S5ii is my fifth Lumix camera (G7, G85, GH5, S5, S5ii) as I was waiting for the new phase detection auto focus for video. Not only is it good but choosing the right settings can make it great! Combine that with rock solid dual image stabilisation in body and lens and it is awesome! I was able to video handheld at 300mm (with a borrowed S 70-300) of a kangaroo literally coaching two boxing joeys. This was an amazing experience and so happy that the focus didn’t hunt or loose focus to the Roos in front (see the video). This camera is so capable for stills and has plenty of pro video features too. A big 5 stars form me!

The ideal videography camera for the price!

Hello all, I'm Gary. I've been shooting primarily video on Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras starting with the GH4 in 2014. I've owned the GH5 II since it was available later in 2021. My review is written from over two years of ownership, significant use of the camera and after customizing the settings extensively. I now own 3 of these cameras for my videography business. Why did I choose the GH5 II? Compared to the GH5, this camera has a 50% brighter screen that is also sharper. You can adjust the waveform monitor size, set a low gain mode for improved internal audio recording, 4K60 is now 10-bit 4:2:0 internal instead of 8-bit 4:2:0 internal on the original GH5. You get improved stabilization, linear focusing (critical for serious video work), excellent battery ... MoreHello all, I'm Gary. I've been shooting primarily video on Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras starting with the GH4 in 2014. I've owned the GH5 II since it was available later in 2021. My review is written from over two years of ownership, significant use of the camera and after customizing the settings extensively. I now own 3 of these cameras for my videography business. Why did I choose the GH5 II? Compared to the GH5, this camera has a 50% brighter screen that is also sharper. You can adjust the waveform monitor size, set a low gain mode for improved internal audio recording, 4K60 is now 10-bit 4:2:0 internal instead of 8-bit 4:2:0 internal on the original GH5. You get improved stabilization, linear focusing (critical for serious video work), excellent battery life with the newly designed battery that supports USB-C PD charging, AFS to quickly grab focus while in VFR prior to recording, My List function to list your favorite video recording modes, and many other improvements. These features add up to make the GH5 II a very well rounded camera for the skilled video shooter, although it can serve as a photo camera too! I shoot in VLOG-L 10-bit for higher dynamic range conditions and Natural for the VFR modes as they are in 8-bit. I manually focus in video, so am not concerned much with video autofocus features. If you'd like to know how this camera performs in video autofocus, there are comparison videos out there. I've attached some frames from videos I've shot in VLOG-L in LongGOP profiles on this camera using the Panasonic Leica 200mm f/2.8, Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4.0-6.3 and Panasonic Leica 10-25mm f/1.7 lenses and color graded by me in Davinci Resolve. A few are from zoos I have been to, and a short film I was DOP and simultaneously the focus puller on. I do not use mist or VND filters, only fixed NDs. Notice the pleasing highlight rolloff on the shot with the window behind. With the right exposure and color grading techniques, one can get some excellent looking results from this camera. I do not need the extra features of the GH6 such as SSD recording or Apple ProRes, though I do like the over sampled 4K at 120fps from the GH6. Combined with shutter angle, minimal to no focus breathing on Panasonic lenses (a great feature for video work), and the aforementioned linear focusing, you have a really nice setup for professional results. Overall, I think the GH5 II is an excellent video camera. I use SanDisk V30 SD cards as they guarantee a minimum write speed of 30 megabytes (MB) per second, which means all video modes of the camera are supported except the 400mb (megabit) All-I recording mode (which I do not need). 400mb (megabit) All-I mode would require 50 megabytes per second minimum write speed, which means you'd need at least a V60 SD card for it (400 / 8 megabits to a megabyte = 50 megabytes per second). A V60 card guarantees a minimum write speed of 60 megabytes per second. Anyways, I'll upgrade when a significant update arrives such as a GH7. You can see the finished videos on YouTube by searching for Backus Creative Imaging. Enjoy :)

Very capable and great ergonomics

My prior cameras are a Lumix GM5, and the GX9. I love the GM5 for its compactness especially with the small 12-32 and 35-100 zoom lenses, and it's a perfect travel camera (I wish they'd make an updated version). I wasn't in love with the GX9 however, so when I saw they added phase detect autofocus to the G9, I traded up. I'm so happy I did! Everything about the G9 seems like it was very carefully engineered and is better! Especially the phase detect auto focus. I was concerned about the larger size of the camera coming from smaller bodies, but the ergonomics are great, and the included 12-60 Leica lens feels like it's a definite step up from the Lumix version, without being too big. The camera pairs especially well with the Lumix/Leica 100-400 mark ii lens, and I'm ... MoreMy prior cameras are a Lumix GM5, and the GX9. I love the GM5 for its compactness especially with the small 12-32 and 35-100 zoom lenses, and it's a perfect travel camera (I wish they'd make an updated version). I wasn't in love with the GX9 however, so when I saw they added phase detect autofocus to the G9, I traded up. I'm so happy I did! Everything about the G9 seems like it was very carefully engineered and is better! Especially the phase detect auto focus. I was concerned about the larger size of the camera coming from smaller bodies, but the ergonomics are great, and the included 12-60 Leica lens feels like it's a definite step up from the Lumix version, without being too big. The camera pairs especially well with the Lumix/Leica 100-400 mark ii lens, and I'm looking forward to doing a lot of wildlife photography with this combo!

Wow

I was looking for the perfect camera for my husband and I to get into photography and wow have I found it. This camera suits both photography and filming with a whole host of features.The photography bit has many settings. If you are learning then you can still take fantastic pictures using the intelligent auto mode. I have played with a few different settings to get Christmas shots with the children. It is easy to set and save the setting. What’s great is there is a timer if you need to jump into the picture or you can connect your phone to take the photos. If you use this feature on your phone you can also review the photo before taking the next.It’s a reasonable light size camera that is comfortable to hold and carry. Considering it is well made it is easy to ... MoreI was looking for the perfect camera for my husband and I to get into photography and wow have I found it. This camera suits both photography and filming with a whole host of features.The photography bit has many settings. If you are learning then you can still take fantastic pictures using the intelligent auto mode. I have played with a few different settings to get Christmas shots with the children. It is easy to set and save the setting. What’s great is there is a timer if you need to jump into the picture or you can connect your phone to take the photos. If you use this feature on your phone you can also review the photo before taking the next.It’s a reasonable light size camera that is comfortable to hold and carry. Considering it is well made it is easy to carry. The strap is comfortable to wear but I have been using a tripod for a lot of my photos due to being a newbie. The lens is easy to attach and remove. It is surprisingly easy to use to focus and zoom and gives remarkable results.The photo quality is out of this world with the option to have 6k at just a turn of the switch. The touch screen is pretty impressive for a small screen. I kept using the manual buttons at first but the touch screen is easy to use. It is brilliant to move about at all angles to see if you are getting the perfect shot and settings can be quickly adapted if needed.The battery is easy to charge with either a plug in charger or you can charge it in the charging dock. It charges pretty quickly however I’m yet to run out of battery while using it. It can accept a memory card upto 256GB and has two slots if you need to create a lot of content.The time lapse and stop motion modes are impressive and yet simple to learn. There is an online manual that explains how to use all the features but there is so much more to this camera that I cannot wait to unlock.It is perfect for amateurs and professionals alike so if you are just getting started or an experienced film makers or photographer this camera is a great investment. It is definitely going to be a member of our family for a long time as it produces everything you need with such a high quality I don’t think I can go back to a standard iPhone camera after using this.