Panasonic GH5: A Revolutionary Camera for Video Enthusiasts.
A Brief History
The Panasonic GH5 is a digital mirrorless camera that was first released in 2017. It was the successor to the highly popular Panasonic GH4 and was designed with professional photographers and videographers in mind.
Panasonic first entered the digital camera market in 2001 with the release of their Lumix line of cameras. These cameras were designed to be small, lightweight, and easy to use, and they quickly gained popularity among consumers.
In 2008, Panasonic released the first camera in their GH (short for “grown-up hybrid”) series, the GH1. This camera was designed specifically for video recording, and it quickly gained popularity among independent filmmakers and videographers.
Over the next several years, Panasonic continued to release new cameras in the GH series, including the GH2, GH3, and GH4. These cameras were praised for their high-quality video recording capabilities and their ability to shoot in a wide range of lighting conditions.
Then in 2017, Panasonic released the GH5, which was the most advanced camera in the GH series to date. The GH5 was designed with professional filmmakers and videographers in mind, and it was equipped with a host of new features and upgrades.
One of the most notable upgrades was the GH5’s ability to shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second (fps). This was a huge improvement over the GH4, which could only shoot 4K video at 30fps. The GH5 also featured improved image stabilization, a new autofocus system, and a higher resolution viewfinder.
Since its release, the GH5 has become one of the most popular cameras among professional videographers and filmmakers. It has been used to shoot a wide range of content, from feature films and documentaries to music videos and commercials.
Overall, the Panasonic GH5 has had a significant impact on the world of professional video production. Its advanced features and high-quality video capabilities have made it a favorite among filmmakers and videographers, and it continues to be a popular choice for those looking to create high-quality video content.
An Overview of its Specifications
The Panasonic GH5 is a high-end mirrorless camera that was designed with professional photographers and videographers in mind. It was released in 2017 and quickly gained popularity among professionals due to its advanced features and high-quality video capabilities.
Here’s a breakdown of the GH5’s specifications:
Sensor and Image Processor:
The GH5 features a 20.3-megapixel Digital Live MOS sensor, which is paired with a Venus Engine 10 image processor. This combination allows the camera to produce high-quality images with excellent color accuracy and sharpness.
Video Recording:
The GH5 is capable of shooting 4K video at up to 60 frames per second (fps) and 1080p video at up to 180fps. It also supports a variety of video recording formats, including 4:2:2 10-bit, 4:2:2 8-bit, and 4:2:0 8-bit.
The camera also features a built-in 5-axis image stabilization system, which helps to reduce camera shake and produce smoother footage.
Autofocus:
The GH5’s autofocus system features 225 focus points and uses Panasonic’s Depth From Defocus (DFD) technology, which allows for fast and accurate autofocus even in low light conditions. The camera also features a customizable AF system, which allows users to adjust the focus settings to suit their needs.
Viewfinder and LCD Screen:
The GH5 features a high-resolution OLED viewfinder with a magnification of 0.76x. The viewfinder also has a 120fps refresh rate, which makes it ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects.
The camera also features a 3.2-inch vari-angle LCD screen with a resolution of 1.62 million dots. This screen can be rotated to a variety of angles, making it easy to shoot from a variety of positions.
Connectivity:
The GH5 features built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, which allows users to easily transfer photos and videos to their smartphone or tablet. The camera also features a variety of ports, including HDMI, USB-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Battery Life:
The GH5 is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and is capable of shooting up to 410 shots per charge.
Overall, the Panasonic GH5 is a high-end camera with advanced features and high-quality video capabilities. Its excellent image quality, fast autofocus, and customizable settings make it a popular choice among professional photographers and videographers.
An Overview of its Photographic Images and Image Specifications, the GH5 is also a powerful photographic tool, capable of producing stunning images with excellent color accuracy and sharpness.
Sensor and Image Processor:
The GH5 features a 20.3-megapixel Digital Live MOS sensor, which is paired with a Venus Engine 10 image processor. This combination allows the camera to produce high-quality images with excellent color accuracy and sharpness.
ISO Range:
The GH5 has a native ISO range of 200-25600, which can be expanded to 100-25600. This allows photographers to shoot in a variety of lighting conditions, from bright daylight to low-light situations.
Shutter Speed:
The GH5’s mechanical shutter has a range of 1/8000th of a second to 60 seconds, while its electronic shutter has a range of 1/16000th of a second to 1 second. This allows photographers to capture fast-moving subjects or create long-exposure images.
Image Stabilization:
The GH5 features a built-in 5-axis image stabilization system, which helps to reduce camera shake and produce sharper images. This system works with both still images and video, making it an excellent tool for photographers and videographers.
Image Quality:
The GH5 is capable of shooting in a variety of image formats, including JPEG, RAW, and RAW+JPEG. The camera also features a variety of color modes, including Standard, Vivid, Natural, Monochrome, and L. Monochrome. Additionally, the GH5 has a range of image aspect ratios, including 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, and 1:1.
Viewfinder and LCD Screen:
The GH5 features a high-resolution OLED viewfinder with a magnification of 0.76x. The viewfinder also has a 120fps refresh rate, which makes it ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects.
The camera also features a 3.2-inch vari-angle LCD screen with a resolution of 1.62 million dots. This screen can be rotated to a variety of angles, making it easy to shoot from a variety of positions.
Connectivity:
The GH5 features built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, which allows users to easily transfer photos to their smartphone or tablet. The camera also features a variety of ports, including HDMI, USB-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Video Formats:
The GH5 is capable of shooting in a variety of video formats, including:
- 4K (4096×2160) at 60 frames per second (fps)
- 4K (3840×2160) at 60fps
- 1080p (1920×1080) at up to 180fps
The camera can also shoot in a variety of aspect ratios, including 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, and 1:1.
Bitrate and Compression:
The GH5 features a high bitrate recording capability, with a maximum bitrate of 400Mbps. This means that the camera can capture a large amount of video data, resulting in high-quality footage with plenty of detail.
The GH5 also supports a variety of compression formats, including:
- All-Intra: This format compresses each frame individually, resulting in high-quality footage with less compression artifacts.
- Long GOP: This format compresses groups of frames together, resulting in smaller file sizes but with more compression artifacts.
Image Stabilization:
The GH5 features a built-in 5-axis image stabilization system, which helps to reduce camera shake and produce smoother footage. This system works with both still images and video, making it an excellent tool for videographers who need to shoot handheld footage.
Slow Motion:
The GH5 is capable of shooting slow-motion video at up to 180fps in 1080p. This allows videographers to create stunning slow-motion footage with plenty of detail.
Focus and Exposure:
The GH5 features advanced autofocus and exposure systems, which allow videographers to track moving subjects and maintain proper exposure even in challenging lighting conditions. The camera also features a variety of focus and exposure assist tools, including focus peaking, zebras, and waveform monitors.
Audio:
The GH5 features built-in stereo microphones, as well as a 3.5mm microphone jack for external microphones. The camera also features a headphone jack, which allows videographers to monitor audio levels in real-time.
Connectivity:
The GH5 features built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, which allows users to easily transfer footage to their smartphone or tablet. The camera also features a variety of ports, including HDMI, USB-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
In addition to its impressive imaging capabilities, the GH5 also offers a variety of storage options to accommodate the large amount of data generated by its high-resolution images and videos. Here’s a closer look at the storage specifications of the GH5.
Memory Card Slots:
The GH5 features two memory card slots, both of which support UHS-II SD memory cards. This allows users to store a large amount of data, including high-resolution images and videos, without the need to constantly swap out memory cards.
The camera also features a variety of recording modes, including a high-bitrate 4K mode, which requires fast and reliable memory cards to avoid dropped frames or recording errors.
File Formats:
The GH5 supports a variety of file formats, including JPEG, RAW, and various video formats such as MP4, MOV, and AVCHD. These file formats offer different levels of compression and image quality, allowing users to choose the best option based on their needs.
The camera also features a 6K photo mode, which allows users to capture 18-megapixel still images from 6K video footage. These images are saved in JPEG or RAW format, depending on the user’s preference.
File Management:
The GH5 features a variety of file management options to help users keep their data organized and easily accessible. These options include:
- Customizable file names: Users can customize the names of their image and video files, making it easier to identify and locate specific files.
- Folder creation: Users can create folders on their memory cards to help organize their files based on project, location, or other criteria.
- File transfer: The camera features built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, which allows users to easily transfer their files to a smartphone or tablet for backup or editing.
The storage specifications of the Panasonic GH5 are designed to accommodate the high-resolution images and videos generated by the camera’s advanced imaging capabilities. Its dual memory card slots, support for fast and reliable memory cards, and variety of file management options make it a versatile tool for professional photographers and videographers who need to store and manage large amounts of data.
Audio Inputs:
The GH5 features several audio inputs to allow users to capture high-quality sound. The camera has a built-in stereo microphone, which is useful for capturing ambient sound or reference audio. Additionally, the camera features a 3.5mm microphone input jack, which allows users to connect an external microphone to capture more directional sound.
The camera also features a headphone jack, which allows users to monitor the audio being recorded in real-time. This is particularly useful for ensuring that the audio levels are properly set and that there are no issues with background noise or interference.
Audio Recording Formats:
The GH5 supports a variety of audio recording formats, including Linear PCM, which is an uncompressed format that offers the highest possible audio quality. The camera also supports compressed audio formats such as AAC and Dolby Digital, which offer smaller file sizes and are more suitable for web-based videos.
The camera also features a built-in stereo microphone that can record in 48 kHz, 16-bit WAV format, which is a high-quality uncompressed format that is useful for recording reference audio or capturing ambient sound.
Audio Controls:
The GH5 offers a variety of audio controls to allow users to customize the sound recording to their specific needs. These controls include:
- Audio level adjustment: The camera features a manual audio level adjustment, which allows users to adjust the microphone input level to prevent clipping or distortion.
- Audio limiter: The camera features an audio limiter, which automatically adjusts the microphone input level to prevent sudden loud sounds from distorting the audio.
- Audio monitoring: The camera features a headphone jack, which allows users to monitor the audio being recorded in real-time.
Overall, the audio specifications of the Panasonic GH5 are designed to enhance the overall quality of its video recordings. Its variety of audio inputs, recording formats, and controls make it a versatile tool for professional videographers who need to capture high-quality sound along with their videos.
One of the key advantages of the GH5 is its versatility when it comes to lens options. Here’s a closer look at the lens options available for the GH5.
Micro Four Thirds Mount:
The GH5 features a Micro Four Thirds mount, which is a standard mount used by several camera manufacturers, including Panasonic and Olympus. This mount allows users to interchange lenses between different cameras, providing a wider range of options for capturing different types of images and videos.
Panasonic Lenses:
Panasonic offers a range of lenses that are specifically designed for use with the GH5. These lenses are designed to take advantage of the camera’s advanced features and offer a range of focal lengths and aperture settings to suit different shooting situations.
Some of the most popular Panasonic lenses for the GH5 include the Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS zoom lens, the Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS zoom lens, and the Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 ASPH prime lens.
Third-Party Lenses:
In addition to Panasonic lenses, there are also several third-party lenses available for the GH5. These lenses are made by companies such as Sigma, Tamron, and Voigtlander and offer a range of focal lengths and aperture settings to suit different shooting situations.
One advantage of using third-party lenses is that they can often be more affordable than manufacturer lenses, while still offering high-quality optics and construction.
Lens Adapters:
Another option for using different types of lenses with the GH5 is to use lens adapters. Lens adapters allow users to mount lenses from other camera systems onto the GH5, expanding the range of lens options even further.
For example, with a suitable adapter, users can mount Canon EF lenses onto the GH5, providing access to a range of lenses that may not be available in the Micro Four Thirds mount.
Overall, the Panasonic GH5 offers a range of lens options for photographers and videographers. Whether using Panasonic lenses, third-party lenses, or lens adapters, the GH5 provides a versatile platform for capturing high-quality images and videos.
The Panasonic GH5 was a revolutionary camera that set a new standard for professional video recording. This mirrorless camera comes packed with a range of features that make it an ideal tool for videographers and content creators.
The GH5 boasts a 20.3-megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor, which is capable of capturing stunningly sharp and vivid images. It also features a 5-axis image stabilization system that ensures smooth and stable footage even in challenging shooting conditions.
One of the standout features of the GH5 is its ability to record 4K video at up to 60 frames per second. This allows users to capture footage that is incredibly detailed and smooth. The camera also supports 10-bit 4:2:2 color sampling, which provides a wider color gamut and more accurate color reproduction.
For those who want even more control over their video, the GH5 also includes a range of advanced settings. These include the ability to adjust shutter speed, aperture, and ISO while recording, as well as a waveform monitor and vectorscope for monitoring exposure and color.
Another key feature of the GH5 is its durability. The camera is weather-sealed and built to withstand the rigors of professional use. It also includes dual SD card slots, allowing for easy backup and extended recording times.
One area where the GH5 truly excels is in its autofocus system. The camera uses Panasonic’s Depth From Defocus technology, which allows it to focus quickly and accurately even in low-light conditions. It also includes a range of autofocus modes, including face detection and tracking, making it easy to keep subjects in focus.
Overall, the Panasonic GH5 is a remarkable camera that sets a new standard for professional video recording. With its advanced features and exceptional performance, it’s an ideal tool for videographers and content creators who demand the best. While it may come at a high price point, the GH5 is well worth the investment for those who are serious about video production.