Panasonic LUMIX GH6, 25.2 MP Mirrorless Camera with 5.7K 60
Panasonic LUMIX GH6, 25.2 MP Mirrorless Camera with 5.7K 60 fps/4K 120 fps, Unlimited C4K/4K 4:2:2 10-Bit Video Recording, 7.5-Stop 5-Axis Dual Image Stabilizatio
A New Creative Dimension
LUMIX GH6 Camera DC-GH6
New 25.2MP sensor
The new 25.2-megapixel sensor with no low-pass filter offers higher resolution, higher readout speed while also minimizing rolling shutter distortion.
| Weight: | 0.74 Kilograms |
| Size: | Full-Size |
| Dimensions: | 10 x 13.8 x 10 centimetres |
| Brand: | Panasonic |
| Model: | DC-GH6E |
| Part: | DC-GH6E |
| Colour: | Black |
| Batteries Included: | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
| Dimensions: | 10 x 13.8 x 10 centimetres |
| Size: | Full-Size |
Ich bin sehr zufrieden mit der GH6. Die Videoqualitt ist einmalig, die Farbe sind sehr schn. Das Autofokus System ist nicht das beste und trotzdem habe sie gekauft.. Ich war damals sehr begeistert und sehr berzeugt von meiner GH5 und jetzt steht sie nur im Schatten der GH6
ant monteur vidaste , j’adore cette appareil qui permet de partir lger et de revenir charger de vido, facile prendre en mains , l’enregistrement sur un dd exterme et un plus surtout a haute rsolution aprs l’avoir mis jour vers la version 2,2.
Amateur ou professionnel si vous avez un panoplie d’objectifs 4/3 ,je vous recommande fortement cette ppite de technologie,
Une stabilisation a couper le souffle un vrai Vlog, du PRORES, bref trs bo
Es simplemente espectacular lo de esta cmara, su calidad de vdeo es ASOMBROSA (al nivel de cmaras de 4000 o ms) y la calidad en fotografa es ms que notable (como podis ver en las imgenes que adjunto)
Es una cmara totalmente todoterreno, sin lmite de tiempo en las grabaciones, con un modo de fotografa de 100 megapixeles, ningn tipo de recorte o sobrecalentamiento al grabar vdeo, muy bien construida y podra seguir as horas.
Termino diciendo que vale cada euro que cuesta y que el objetivo que utilice para estas imgenes no es el del kit (que es un objetivo ms que decente) si no el Olympus Zuiko Pro 25mm f1.2 que es una bestialidad y que os recomiendo compris para esta cmara, ya que conseguirs resultados de cmaras que valen ms que el doble que est y sacaras todo el potencial de este bicho creado por Panasonic.
Mi enhorabuena al equipo de Panasonic por haber creado la mejor cmara del mercado relacin calidad/precio.
The Panasonic LUMIX GH6 camera is quite an impressive product. It has a lot to offer to its users, including the ability to shoot at 4K at 120fps and 5.7K at 60fps. It also got a 26.52 MP sensor and 5x optical zoom lens. These features make it an ideal choice for those looking for a high-quality camera that will help them take great photos on their adventures or in their everyday lives.
The camera’s body is made of magnesium alloy, which helps keep it lightweight while still being durable enough to withstand various kinds of weather conditions. It comes with Wi-Fi connectivity so you can easily transfer photos wirelessly from your camera to your computer or smartphone without having to use any physical cables or wires. You can also connect your smartphone directly to the camera through a Wi-Fi connection if you want more control over what kind of settings are used when taking photos remotely (this requires downloading an app called “LUMIX Link” onto your smartphone).
I love how easy it is to use – you can literally just point and shoot, and you’ll get a great shot. The controls are intuitive, so even if you’re new to photography, you’ll be able to figure out how to use it right away.
I also love the image stabilization feature. It does such a great job of reducing blur that I rarely have to worry about taking pictures where my subject is moving around too much or has their hands in front of their face (which happens all the time with kids). Even when my kids are running around like crazy (which is pretty much always), this camera makes sure they stay in focus and look amazing in every shot.
The other thing that I love about this camera is its size. It’s not much bigger than my iPhone12 Pro Max (just slightly larger), so it’s easy to carry around without feeling like you’re lugging around a bag full of bricks all day long.
Amazing camera! HIGHLY recommended!
This GH6 is no exception. It is a cracking camera for photos and videos, but at over 2000 its not for everyone. This is a camera for the keen photographers and for keen video makers – ideal for content creators like you tubers and instagrammers!
This camera has a 25.6 Mpixel MOS sensor and records video to 5.7k and Apple ProRes codec video.
It is extremely well made and feels like a solid traditional SLR camera from back in the day.
What I found extremely good are the memory storage options and input options. It has a mini CF and XD card slot and has inputs for a microphone and headphone and usb c.
The pictures are excellent quality but this camera comes into its own with its video capabilities.
The video just blew me away, and has even tempted me to take this camera on holiday, when previously i’ve always used the phone for video. There are a plethora of video options for the tinkerer and the output is in 10bit, so it looks great on your 4k tv back home! The GH6 is due a firmware update to record straight from the USB-C output to a SSD which will be another amazing addition.
Overall this is a great camera and you wont be disappointed with the purchase. The leica lense is fantastic and the whole unit feels premium and extremely well built. If you are in the market for a camera that is predominantly good for video but also takes great stills, this is hard to beat!!
Systemkameras sind die neuen Videocams. Prima. Was gelernt. Doch was ist das? Kleinkrieg, wie immer. FullFrame ist das einzig Wahre. Und dann fing ich an, mich zu informieren. Und weil meine letzten Camcorder von Panasonic waren und ich die Farben von Panasonic immer geliebt habe… habe ich Richtung Lumix geschielt. Und ein neues Modell kam auch gerade raus… mit 4k 120fps unlimited recording und uncropped. (Mir fiel erst mal das Gesicht runter als ich lernte, da das scheinbar nicht Standard ist). Irgendwie beschlich mich das Gefhl, da in den Jahren, in denen ich nicht gefilmt hatte, die Technik nur mit Kompromissen weiter kam, das Ganze noch immer nicht perfekt ist. Aber die GH6… die gefiel mir.
Aber so laute Stimmen, die sagten MFT sei tot. Fr ein totes System noch Glas kaufen? Andererseits… das Glas ist billiger und leichter. Zentraler Punkt… jedes Gramm weniger zum rumschleppen zhlt. Also Kit-Objektiv 12-60mm dazu genommen, ein Ultra-Weitwinkel und ein Supertele. War ne gute Wahl, was Preis/Leistung und Gewicht anging. Ich war im Urlaub fr alle Situationen gut ausgestattet. Klar, besser geht immer, aber es ist ja auch eine Frage des Preises und Gewichts. Und nachdem ich den Film im Kasten habe, kann ich die Kamera nun auch beurteilen. Los geht`s:
Die Kamera an sich ist recht bullig fr ne MFT, vor allem, weil Panasonic ihr einen Lfter eingebaut hat. Den hrt man nicht, aber er macht den Body dicker. Das ist gut, um die Kamera gut nehmen zu knnen, aber der Body ist zu dick, um auf den Zhiyun Crane M3 zu passen… zumindest ohne Gewichte oder andere Basteleien. Der Lfter ermglicht es aber, jeden Modus ohne Zeitbeschrnkung aufnehmen zu knnen. Also gut. Die Kamera liegt also gut in der Hand.
Die Bedienung ist sehr gut durchdacht. Fotos sind fr mich zwar Nebensache, aber auch fr Videos ist es gut, wenn man die wichtigsten Funktionen wie WB, SHTR und ISO samt Whlrad gleich am Auslser vorfindet. Auch sehr gut ist das Men, ich habe mich schnell zurechtgefunden und das Quickmenu ist auch sehr praktisch. Der Sucher ist schn scharf und die Farben sind super. Alle Knpfe, Rdchen und Schalter arbeiten mit gutem Druckpunkt und alles wirkt wertig und stabil. Auch einen heftigen pltzlichen Starkregenschauer auf Helgoland hat die Kamera problemlos weggesteckt, sie scheint also recht robust zu sein.
Ich habe den gesamten Urlaub in 4K 120p aufgenommen. Es ist praktisch, wenn man in bestimmten Momenten etwas Puffer fr SlowMotion hat. Das klappt in DaVinci Studio problemlos bei der Weiterverarbeitung. V-Log (die GH6 hat Full V-Log) hat recht gute Reserven in der Nachbearbeitung, was besonders auffllt, wenn in einem Bild sehr starke Kontraste sind. Die kann man super rausarbeiten. Das Videomaterial ist also sehr gut, die eingebaute Stabilisierung auch. Das eingebaute Mic ist ok… aber ein externes Mikrofon ist natrlich besser. Fr einen Schnappschu aber, wo keine Zeit ist, den Kram erst zusammenzubauen, ist das eingebaute Mic auf jeden Fall besser, als es frher die meisten Camcorder beim Ton waren. Nicht gut, aber fr spontane Situationen gut genug.
Die bekannte Panasonic Schwche ist der Autofocus. So auch hier. Er hat gerne mal Probleme damit, auf das richtige Ziel scharfzustellen, besonders wenn im Hintergrund Wasser ist. Sind zwei Personen im Bild, folgt er mal der Einen, dann der Anderen. Und manchmal findet er gar nichts zum Scharfstellen. Gottlob aber macht man das meist ja eh manuell. Aber auf den Autofokus kann man sich in schwierigen Situationen nicht verlassen.
Der Akku der Kamera ist ok, aber nicht besonders ausdauernd. Klar, 4k 120fps aufzunehmen braucht schon Leistung und darum kommt man damit auch nur knapp ber eine Stunde. Aber schlimmer finde ich, da die Akkus sowohl in der Kamera, als auch im mitgelieferten Ladegert stundenlang zum Vollladen brauchen. Viele Akkus sind fr lngere Aktionen also Pflicht, schnell Nachladen ist nmlich nicht.
Und der ausklappbare Bildschirm ist scharf, hat auch gute Farben und ist bei Nacht oder bedecktem Himmel super. Aber wenn die Sonne scheint, sieht man nichts mehr, weil der Bildschirm viel zu dunkel ist, auch auf manueller Einstellung auf maximale Helligkeit. Ich habe dann halt durch den Sucher gefilmt… aber ich hatte auf einen Bildschirm gehofft, wie ihn der SmartController von DJI mit 1000nits hat, den sieht man auch bei Tag gut.
Ich freue mich ber die Aufnahmen, die die Kamera mir ermglicht hat. Die sind gut bearbeitbar und haben hohe Qualitt. Auch bei Dmmerung oder Nachts bei Beleuchtung im Ort hatte ich keine Probleme, die Bilder sind berraschend sauber, das kenne ich von frher noch nicht so. Und das verrt mir auch, da die GH6 mit dem MFT-Chip durchaus fr sehr gute Aufnahmen geeignet ist. Bis auf den Autofokus und den meiner Meinung nach zu dunklen Bildschirm ist diese Kamera ein treuer Begleiter mit wenig Mngeln. Sie ist einfach bedienbar und die Ergebnisse sind super. Die Stabilisierung ersetzt kein Gimbal… aber da, wo ein Gimbal zu umstndlich ist, stabilisiert die Kamera gut genug. Man kann auch ohne FullFrame gute Aufnahmen machen. Ich empfehle die GH6.
If you are recording in video, it is best to check for an approved Compatible SD card. I just got a Sandisk Ulta from the Supermarket and it has worked fine but I have not particularly pushed the video any extreme. In the future with there will the option to record to an external SD card for those that need large storage.
The camera has 2 memory card slots Compatible SD and CFExpress Memory cards, with some variety of options on how to use them. Panasonic state a list of approved SD cards on their site.
Battery life is ok but you can recharge by taking the battery out or using the USB-C input using PD charger or power bank that has 9V 3AMPs.
There are a lot of buttons and some configuration options, there are 2 buttons on the front specifically designed to be assigned to a configuration. You can just hold them down to assign their function.
Recording Resolution and Frame rates
You can record 8.8K up to 30 frames per second (4:3) and 5.7K up to 60 frames per second. At 4.4K 60 frames per second (4:3), 4K in multiple aspect ratios up 120 frames per second. HD up to 240 frames per second but if you activate Variable Frame Rate up to 300 frames per second. 48 frames per second is supported in all mode bar 5.8K. All this can be done at 10-Bit Colour with unlimited recording time.
There are 3 Codec modes to choose from for recording video: MP4, MOV and Apple ProRes. Apple ProRes is limited to 5.7K at 24 and 30 Frames per second. It is great to have so many choices.
There are so many customisable options that amount to over 58 different options and customisable lists of customisations. The camera has Time code BNC connector connection and with a bunch of options for it.
On the bottom there is a tripod mount
The LUMIX GH6 features the first Micro Four Thirds system standard 25.2-megapixel Live MOS sensor. With no low-pass filter, its design allows for both more pixels and higher resolution, for ultra-realistic detail. Its higher readout speed delivers C4K/4K 120p video recording and 75-frames-per-second burst shooting using the electronic shutter while also minimizing rolling shutter distortion.
What I do not like is the side where the memory cards are stored, it is rather smooth making a bit slippery when holding with one hand and is a bit fiddly to open.
The camera takes incredible pictures but it is truly made to be a video camera. As a video camera it is fantastic and for what it can do it comes in at a good price. If you want to make professional videos then this camera is worth considering.
This Panasonic LUMIX GH6 with with 12 – 60mm lens is a truly remarkable mix of quality, technology and wizardry. It is by far the best camera I have seen, let alone owned.
I have been an amateur photographer for around 50 years (I started off with a cheap, but reliable 35mm Praktica) and was fascinated by the effects and compositions I could get by varying the f-stops and shutter speeds. In those days, I did not know how my compositions had turned out until the 35mm slides had been processed and sent back to me, so if I’d got it wrong, the moment was gone forever. Now with the GH6, I can instantly review my results on the 3 inch LCD screen under any lighting conditions, including full sun (yes, it is that good) and get a second bite at the cherry, if need be. The GH6 range of shutter speeds is from 1/32,000s to 30s. That provides tremendous scope for experimentation and the 12 – 60mm lens is a superb general purpose lens that gives great results from close-ups to landscapes.
I worked in IT and was an early adopter of digital cameras. During the 1990’s, I bought several digital cameras with different display formats that did not pass the test of time, but in the mid 2000s I bought a good Canon camera with video that is still representative of the format in use today. I’ve had many years of good service from it, but technology has moved on and when my son was able to take good snap shots from a moving car with his smart phone in 2011, I could see the advantage of being able to take opportunistic photos with a device that I always had in my bag. This came to a head in Jan 2020 when we were in the Norwegian arctic circle “in search of the Northern Lights” and found them in Alta. I had my trusted Canon with me and was disappointed that what I was seeing was not being captured as vividly by my camera. There were some semi-professional photographers with better cameras that captured the scene perfectly, but there were a couple of people with the latest smart phone that produced great results that even surprised the on-board professional photographer. I then decided that my Canon had had its day and upgraded my smart phone solely for the latest camera technology. This was a big mistake. Yes, great photographs and video, but not an ergonomic device that provides pleasure and takes skill to use. It is not a substitute for a good camera, if you enjoy photography and not a patch on a great camera like the GH6.
I also enjoy making my own videos and the GH6 is as good a video camera as it is a photographic camera. To have this flexibility in one device is amazing. The video run time is not limited to minutes and has unlimited C4K. The 5 axis image stabilisation and autofocus provide great quality results.
I don’t think that I will ever master all the features and capabilities that the GH6 has to offer, but I will certainly have fun trying.
I received the Panasonic GH6 to review, and it came with the Panasonic 12-60 lens.
I’ve been using a canon dslr 600d for the last 9 years and I’m already feeling that I know nothing about photography or video!
First feeling is that the camera is heavier then the 600d, and after checking, I was right (600d has 570 and the lumix has 823g).
Camera feeling is amazing, everything says it’s a premium device!
Buttons are in the right places and they have a description of what they are meant to do/manage.
It needs to use CF cards for bigger quality videos (5.7k) and pro res). It can also work with other cards (Im using the same cards I was using in my dslr for the time being, but I know I need better writing speeds then what I have now – 20mbps).
So basically you can get cheaper cards to work with this amazing camera, but you will not take the best from it (still allows a learning curve and a slow investment from the owner).
It comes with the Panasonic 12-60 lens, with aperture of 3.5-5.6 and it’s light enough to use indoors (I’ve been using it indoors for some videos that I’m using to Amazon and they look great).
Outdoors with plenty of light it’s easy to use, autofocus works really well, and I can see that it’s already making me study more about photography.
Battery lasts for a long time, it’s easy to charge and it’s nice that it comes with adapter to charge it in uk and Europe.
I felt that image stabilisation is accurate and focus works 90% of the times.
Wi-Fi included in the camera was easy to pair with iPhone and start controlling the camera from my phone. I transferred 27 pictures from camera to phone in around 30m (slow card doesn’t helped).
The only thing I think it’s missing from the package is a transport bag, but that can be bought on Amazon for less than 25.
Overall, I think it is the best camera I used or owned, great to use as a professional photographer (even just for weddings).
About me: interested in my photography. I have always selected my phone based on the camera. This is my first serious camera.
Attached pics: These are raw files, no post editing so you can see what this camera is capable of. For example the last of my pictures when I have done some post editing looks fantastic.
The camera does both pictures and videos brilliantly. However it is slightly more geared towards videos than pictures.
Pros:
– The auto focus is very quick and works well
– The camera is fairly heavy but it’s easy to hold due to the nice textured grip which fits your palm well
– Works well in low light
– Comes with a strap and an excellent 12-60 mm lens
– SD card or CFExpress card storage options
– The fold out screen and viewfinder screen are excellent quality
– The video quality is brilliant due to the 4k capabilities. Video works well in low light too. Modes such as slow motion are easy and quick to select.
– Fairly low noise with high ISO
– Incredible range of options for both pictures and videos, I am still learning as I go so I am sure I will eb able to take even better pictures with time
Cons:
– For the price you’d think you’d at least get a little storage bag/box
I hope you find this review helpful.
Les ralentis extrmes de 200 300 fps en HD ! tous les modes vidos 4K, HD, ProRes sont en 10 bits et sans limites d’enregistrement, un must !
J’aime galement l’excellent mode photo Haute Rsolution de 100 mpx main leve !
L’cran inclinable et orientable et aussi, et c’est nouveau, inclinable dans l’axe, trs trs pratique !
La prise en main est trs bonne comme sur le G9.
La stabilisation du boitier est excellente, couple un objectif galement stabilis, vous bnficiez alors de la double stabilisation une des meilleures du march, un must !
Les menus comme toujours chez Panasonic sont trs bien organiss, lisibles et bien sr toujours un cran tactile !
J’adore comme sur le G9 mais avec un de plus, de sauvegarder les modes d’enregistrements personnaliss via les slecteurs C1 C4, trs pratique en tournage, je passe ainsi en un clin d’il d’une squence en 4K 60fps de la HD 240 fps sans passer dans les menus, un must !
Mes rglages : C1 4K 60 fps / C2 4K 120 fps / C3 5,7K ProRes 30 fps / C4 HD 240 fps
D’aprs mes premiers tests l’AF est amlior, pas parfait mais c’est mieux.
Je n’ai pas encore essay toutes les fonctions proposes par le GH6 mais je peux dj vous dire que c’est un boitier fantastique, vous ne serez pas du, en tout cas moi je suis trs satisfait de ce qu’il offre comme options incroyables pour les vidastes.
Impatient d’avoir la mise jour pour l’enregistrement direct sur SSD via l’USB-C ! utile pour les enregistrement en ProRes HQ 5,7K 10 bits 1600 M/bs.
My very first camera was a Lumix bridge camera and I still enjoy using it to this day however this new GH6 certainly gave me the wow factor on unboxing!
It is sold as a hybrid Video/Stills camera and frankly it is brilliant at both aspects having a huge range of Video options, unlimited recording time, great image stabilisation a multi angle tilt swivel screen and all whilst being priced competitively for the serious or amateur photographer.
The first impression is one of size as it is no different in size or in weight to a DSLR but frankly with the nice compact grip you don’t notice the size or weight as it is extremely well made as you would expect and In the box I would say you have everything you need to get going minus an SD card, I picked one up for next to nothing, so it is no hardship.
In the box you get the camera body, the attachable lens (nice bonus), battery pack, battery charger, shoulder strap, USB cable and of course lens caps.
The batteries don’t need much of a charge and so far I am getting about a month’s worth of power with average usage, the GH6’s body shape is very recognisable as it has that DSLR-inspired look used by most of Panasonic’s Lumix G series It might not be original but it works very well. There’s a big grip to put your hand around while your other supports the lens and a nice clear OLED electronic viewfinder with an apparently 3.68-million
dots for composing, previewing and reviewing your shots no matter how bright the weather conditions, speaking of weather conditions, the body is sealed against dust and water and is built on a rugged frame for toughness, It’ll also work to temperatures as low as -10C/14F but I haven’t actually had to try that yet.
The actual buttons, wheels and dials are well placed and I found the GH6 to be pleasingly familiar to control and use even if I had only used my old bridge camera before, there is also a second video record button on the front of the camera (the first is up on the top plate), which is really helpful for vlogging and other self-shooting work. There are also lights both front and back to make it clear when you’re recording, which you often don’t get with other models.
On the video side any filmmakers looking for a small camera with huge creative potential look no further, the 25.2MP GH6 fits a large array of movie tricks into it, there’s 5.7K video at 60fps and Apple ProRes 422 HQ recording, 7.5 stops of in-body image stabilization, 4-channel XLR audio recording and a monitor that can be tilted in almost any direction. (Most impressive) The 3-inch touchscreen is one of the best I’ve seen on Lumix models, with a super-flexible design, not only does it flip and twist, it also tilts and not only does that give you greater scope for shooting at unusual angles, it also lets you attach both a USB and a full-size HDMI cable to the GH6 without blocking your view of the screen.
The box came with a leica 12-60 lense which pairs wonderfully. It’s so clear and works very well for landscape and most video/picture needs. A smaller lense would be more effective for vlogging and close up. The box also comes with a charger, battery and weighty manual, as well as a strap which is fairly mandatory for a camera of this price.
The camera itself is solid and sits naturally in the hand. It is weighty but not heavy enough to make it a strain to use. Recording media is either conventional SD card or CFExpress card which offers giant capacity.
The camera is definately more aimed at video work and the quality is staggering. 4k and slow motion captures are a breeze and there are enough settings to cater to the most demanding of directors and camera operators. The camera has a built in fan cooling system to allow it to operate non stop for hours. There are also points for attaching microphone or a rig/stand for stability. The inbuilt stabilisation is pretty good and the auto focus is staggering, walking through dense environments like fields after picking the subject is flawless. No instances of the camera deciding to drift off with another subject or refusing to pick up what you want.
The screen was my favourite feature. Being able to fold out the screen, rotate and flip it round is a pleasure to use.
The settings, fetaures, and customisation available are staggering. You can easily get lost in the settings as you go down the rabbit hole, but the rewards are worth it. Forum and tutorial videos are a godsend and will help you discover so many settings and features. The capability really is staggering.
The price seems alot but this is not an entry level camera, this is a market leading one.
I’m very privileged to have been sent this for review – and I can only apologise in advance, as I’m not any kind of expert and I simply don’t fully understand the technical specifications. I will leave it to others, far cleverer than I am, to expound on the virtues of stops and codecs and circuits. To me, this is an absolute marvel, which allows me to create a memory in every photo or video, with remarkable clarity and definition. I’m lucky that a friend who is very expert has patiently shown me the basics and helped so much (thank you Sue!) in composition and learning to make rapid adjustments to really capture a moment in time, as well as the incredible detail that only an excellent lens can provide. This isn’t bulky or too heavy either – I have quite small hands (and arthritis) yet I can manage this easily. I started to do more photography in lockdown, with a pretty basic point and click camera I’ve had for years, and focussing (excuse the pun) on wildlife, flowers etc. Not the usual happy snappy things with someone or other gurning away front and centre, against an unidentifiable background, but something that realised the essence and wonder of nature. Oh now I sound arty and pretentious! But to be able to see the iridescent sheen of a magpie’s wing, or the velvety midnight purply blue of a pansy is so utterly amazing and now I have it on film, not just in my head. This literally changes the way I look at everything now – seeing the minuscule feathers on a robin’s little red chest when I zoomed right in (I wasn’t quick enough, he flew away before I came to my senses and actually took the photo) or videoing a butterfly is a source of amazement to me. I have a grandchild on the way and I want to be able to have those tangible memories of a tiny foot, downy hair, a little cherubic dimple as he (or she, we don’t know yet) grows up. And this little wonder provides video as well, so what could be better – I can focus, adjust, edit and create all at once, pretty much. So clever. I wouldn’t say this is intuitive to use, I do think it takes time and practice to get the best out of it – the downloadable manual has been a godsend as I’ve screenshotted sections which are the most help to me so I can refer to them quickly and easily. The booklet provided with the camera is more of a startup thing really.
All this praise yet I haven’t given it 5 stars. That’s because of the cost – this is one seriously expensive piece of kit. There are a lot, and I mean really A LOT of things anyone could buy with 2.5k. It’s a quandary, as only those who are really committed to taking expert photos will buy it, yet this is actually superb for helping amateurs and beginners, like me, to learn how to create and encapsulate miniature works of art. But if you want to start and you have the money, this is the all in one, amazingly clever, easy to use (relatively), easy to hold, little piece of magic you need.
This camera is obviously a step up in quality, complexity, and price, from anything I have used before, so I enlisted the help of a friend, a keen amateur photographer, in composing this review.
As an experienced amateur photographer currently using a Canon DSLR, this was his first use of a mirrorless camera, and it’s fair to say he was won over.
With the versatile 12-60mm kit lens attached (supplied in the package I selected – other packages may contain different lenses), the camera is smaller and lighter than a DSLR but feels robust and well made. It is very easy to set up and use, with a touch screen, and almost all controls at the end of your right-hand fingers. All controls feel solid, but it is very easy to inadvertantly change the focus point on the screen.
The viewfinder clearly shows the settings and the auto focus is quick. Annoyingly the picture review button is on the left side of the camera, meaning you have to change your shooting position to view images.
The sensor is great, so image quality is crisp and vibrant across the normal lower working ISO range, with expected noise as this is increased. The camera takes dual cards, standard SD cards, and more expensive CFExpress cards.
Video quality is really good, even in low light. I’m sure the two of us have only scratched the surface so far, and I’m looking forward to learning more and becoming more familiar with the camera and its many features.
Overall, I would say that this package is aimed more at a serious, experienced amateur photographer, rather than a “newbie”, and I’m sure such individuals would be highly delighted with it.
The camera body is surprisingly compact and lightweight. It is covered in buttons (17), rotary selectors (5) and a 5 way joystick. Panasonic have done an EXCELLENT job of putting all of these in ergonomic positions, and it all seems pretty intuitive.
Unlike my Nikon D90, there is no mirror, so you need to turn it on to see anything through the view finder. There is tiny focusing dial on the side to bring the viewfinder image into focus if needed.
Of more use when shooting videos is the excellent (touch)screen, which can be stored screen face in, rotated screen face out, or moved to the side of the camera and tilted to whatever angle you prefer. The whole screen mount also tilts upwards from the camera so that you can easily see the screen when holding the camera low. I’ve found myself using this almost all the time for videos – it’s very useful.
When shooting videos there are three ways to start and stop; the normal shutter button (you can turn this off in settings), and two red buttons, one on the top and one on the front. There are also two lights (configurable), one on the top and one on the front to indicate that it is recording.
Which brings me onto the UI. To say that the menu system is extensive is an understatement. Almost everything seems configurable; there are even two buttons on the front of the camera body whose sole purpose is to be user defined. There are 7(!) user defined camera settings, along with the usual Auto/Manual/etc. Panasonic have also made it pretty easy to configure; long press the button, select the shortcut and you’re done. There are some good youtube videos covering the options perhaps better than I can without me rewriting the user manual in this review; Wex Photo Video has an excellent 43 minute one.
Output. Professionals will probably be familiar with this, but it was a surprise to me. You will need VERY fast write speeds on whatever media you use. If you want to use the full capabilities of the video performance, you will need a CFexpress card capable of up to 1.9Gbps write speed. That will give you 29.97p, 1.9Gbps (Apple ProRes 422 HQ) at 5.7k . More mundane resolutions are also possible(!); refer to the GH6 webpage for a full list of options; suffice to say that any resolution up to 5.7k, any speed up to 120fps, up to 10bit colour and either MOV, MP4 or ProRes codecs, though not aways all at the same time. One other note is that you can only record at up to 4k on .mp4; you’ll need to be using .mov or ProRes to record at 5.7k.
There are two card slots; an SD and CF Express; the camera can be set up to write everything to both, or to use one then the other. You can also output via the HDMI or the USB C. I haven’t tried this configuration, but it is apparently possible to record directly via USB C to an SSD hard drive which could bring down storage costs. However you’d have to be very careful that the USB C cable didn’t disconnect while you were handing the camera.
In order to quickly grab images from the phone on the move I used the Lumix Sync app to connect directly to my phone using wifi. The Lumix Sync app is excellent and worked first time; it allows you to transfer images/videos or remotely control the viewfinder, change settings etc. It also allows you to update firmware, back up settings and so on. It also works via bluetooth, but I’ve only used wifi because it’s faster. One disappointment is that is only seems to use 2.4Ghz, rather than the faster 5Ghz.
I’ve also connected the camera directly to my phone via USB C and transferred files across using file manager, which was faster than wifi.
Finally, an observation on the subject of SD cards, for other non-pros like me. Just be aware that not only will the camera need fast cards even for more prosaic resolutions but it will fill those cards up quickly. For example, recording at up to 150Mbps (18.75MB/s) you’ll need a v30 sd card (30MB/s), which will fill a 128GB card in 1h 53 minutes, which is fine, but isn’t taking advantage of the capabilities of this camera. If you were to use a 400mbps recording (which is common for this camera), you’ll need v90 cards which will fill a 128GB card in about 43 minutes. Adding in a CFexpress card so that the recording is backed up, and the costs will quickly add up. So, what I’m saying is that to take advantage of the capabilities of this camera you are going to also be making a heavy investment in storage cards if you want to record for any length of time.
Battery life is OK; coming from my D90 which was primarily a stills camera, and which needed charging maybe once a month, this bad boy will get through a battery in a few hours if videoing; you will need to consider the possibility if needing spares with you. One redeeming feature though, is that it will charge quite quickly via the USB C port, though it won’t let you use the camera at the same time. This has been pretty handy. The charging dock only charges one battery at a time, and is also USB C compatible. The camera is supplied with UK and European USB C 9W chargers – two separate chargers, not an adaptor. The advantage of all this USB C goodness is that I can travel with one charger for my phone, laptop and camera.
I’ve got all the way through this review and I haven’t mentioned photo or video quality! I’m can’t compare it to other similarly specced cameras, so all I’m going to say is that I’m more than happy with both. I’ve been surprised with the OIS and EIS stabilisation for videos – it’s pretty good – but then so is my pixel phone. A number of reviews have criticised it’s autofocus; I have to say I think it’s excellent. You can even select which eye to focus on a face. I’ve found that it just seems to focus on whatever I was hoping it would focus on – there’s some AI magic going on in there!!
So, overall, for a non-pro user like me, this is more camera than one will need, or put another way this is a camera that will allow one to grow and learn. It has a lot of video capabilities, but does stills just fine. It’s small, lightweight, easy to use and massively configurable. Image stabilisation is great and the camera seems to read my mind when choosing what to focus on.
This camera is impressive that is for sure the most expensive thing in my arsenal for photography ad this is going to bring it to the next level it’s weighty but comfortable to hold. you get virtually everything that you need to get started but your going to need your own SD cards but other the that it’s plain sailing and you can get started out of the box it comes with a battery charger so there is no excuse it’s good to go out of the box
Pet peeve for me you spend 2000 on a complex camera and have to download the instructions as it only comes with a basic starter manual. My old Nikon D750 came with a full paper manual all in English, companies penny pinching and cutting corners on something they are charging so much for is not acceptable to me.
This is the first Micro Four Thirds camera I have owned. I heard this would be good for video and that is something I would like to get involved in. I have a full frame Nikon D750 and as such am somewhat locked into Nikons range of lenses (unless I sell up) so a camera like this has to offer me something that my old Nikon doesn’t. I was surprised that the body of this 4/3 camera is the same size as my D750. It has a nice weight (827g without lens) and feel to it and I found it very comfortable to hold.
The rear display touch screen is very responsive. It is fully articulated but does protrude a little out of the back of the camera as behind it is the fan intake. Yes the camera has a fan to allow continuous video recording. I don’t know if over time there will be issues with maintenance of this fan but I didn’t find the position of the screen affected my use of the viewfinder in any way.
As this is a mirrorless camera the viewfinder is a screen. I found it clear to use and it can display a lot of information. It has the added advantage of being able to display the camera’s operational menus without having to look at the rear display. It does look and feel different to a mirrored camera.
Card slot on the right takes one SD and one CFexpress card. The CFexpress is primarily for shooting higher quality video Apple ProRes 4K and bit rates of 800Mbps and up. Unfortunately I don’t have a CFexpress card or the software or kit to try any of that out. I did find the card slot door a bit of a faff to open at first compared to other cameras. It does support UHS-I and UHS-II SD cards. This does mean that if you are not going to drop 80 on a CF express card you are restricted to just one storage card slot.
This camera does not have a built-in flash but has all the flash capabilities when used with an external flash gun.
Even though I am unused to Panasonic’s range the button layout is well thought out. A lot of it is self explanatory if you have ever picked up a camera. The menu system is extensive with lots of options but it is split up in a logical way. It just takes a little time to find your way around.
25MP will make for some large image files especially if you shoot JPEG/RAW combination and slow transfer times to a PC so a large capacity higher speed card is worth considering.
I found the still pictures with the kit lens (a Lumix 12-60 3.5-5.6/12-60) I took to be of very good quality as you would expect from a camera of this cost FourThird or not. Low light was not bad and the noise at high ISOs with the kit lens was acceptable for me although you do need to manage it.
Video is easy to take with two record buttons one located on the front at the bottom left one on the top plate on the right. It has a lot of options, a lot of which is advanced and I’m unsure if I would ever use it but if you do a lot of video work it seems to have most bases covered.
The video I took looked fine to me. The auto focus might be a little slow for things that suddenly move into frame. (I’ve added a bit of video but when I reviewed it on Amazon the quality was terrible until the last few seconds I will try to re upload it)
This camera has a large amount of video options and adjustments. I think it really is more a video rather than stills camera. If you only take stills or stills and very little video I think this camera may not be for you. As I am new to the Panasonic camera range I can not tell you if you should upgrade your old Panasonic to this one. All I can say is it has good stills pictures and impressive if complex video capabilities.
You can’t decide to buy a camera on a simple and in my case amateur Amazon review, especially one as complex and expensive as this. If you are interested in this camera read and watch plenty of reviews and if at all possible try one out in person before you hit the buy button.
It feels fantastic in the hand. The side grip makes one handed filming a breeze and the buttons are all easily reachable. The front record button and tally light make vlogging so much easier and the top button which controls the audio settings is just awesome to use rather than digging through the settings. You can tell a lot of time and effort has gone into the design of the GH6. It’s incredibly light even with the lense fitted thanks to its smaller form factor due to the Micro Four Thirds sensor.
I was curious as to how the Micro Four Thirds sensor would stack up against a full-frame sensor and boy does it not disappoint. It’s obviously not as good in low light situations but standard day to day filming looks incredible and the image stabilisation can’t be beat.
Whilst it shoots stills well, offering shots of up to 100MP handheld! Video is where this camera shines. The rear touchscreen flips, turns and tilts so seeing what you’re shooting is never an issue. The picture on the screen is clear even in daylight. It offers 5.7k Apple Pro res recording, 1080p 240fps slow-mo, 5.4k animorphic and too many more to mention. All the while offering 10-bit output. There is no recording limit and the GH6 is due a firmware update to record straight from the USB-C output to a SSD. The inbuilt fan keeps things running cool and it’s water and dust resistant.
Autofocus is contrast based so it’s not as accurate as phase detection. It will depend what you’re filming but I didn’t have any issues getting a subject into focus quickly.
I said it before and I’ll say it again, wow. With the amount of features the GH6 has and at this price point it can’t be beat. Hands down this is the best hybrid camera currently on the market.