Review: Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II

If you're a content creator, filmmaker or hybrid shooter looking for a camera that can keep up with your creative ambitions, the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II might be your perfect match. Externally, it has the same shape and dimensions as its predecessor, the legendary GH5. In this guide, we’ll explore how the GH5 II helps you shoot with confidence, whether you're capturing fast-paced action, cinematic footage or high-quality livestreams. 

The Panasonic DC-GH5 II is a mirrorless system camera based on the Panasonic DC-GH5. Both DSLMs are equipped with a 17.3 x 13.0mm MFT sensor with 20.2 megapixels. This allows for detailed shots, except for very high ISO sensitivities (ISO 6,400 and above) which show very little image noise. Compared to the GH5, the sensor of the GH5 II has an improved AR coating, which reduces light reflections. Panasonic has also improved the performance of the image stabiliser, which can compensate for camera shake by up to 6.5 f-stops. The autofocus of the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II works, as with all newer Panasonic system cameras, with contrast metering and DFD technology. Thanks to Deep Learning technology, the camera can recognise the faces and eyes of people and animals and focus on them automatically. This is only possible to a limited extent with the GH5. With static subjects, the DSLM focuses quickly and accurately, but with moving subjects, the precision decreases somewhat.

Continuous shooting is possible at a brisk twelve frames per second, but the autofocus can only be used up to a maximum of nine frames per second. This is sufficient for many situations, but the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II is less suitable for sports photography and action photography. Instead, its strengths are to be found in video recording: Among other things, it supports the storage of video recordings in 4K resolution with up to 60 full frames per second and a low compression (4:2:0 10-bit internal or 4:2:2 10-bit external). The videos accordingly show a lot of detail and can be optimally post-edited. Equally praiseworthy: even at the highest resolution and frame rate, the camera's entire image sensor is read out. This is quite different from some of the competitors' cameras. Very appealing slow-motion recordings are also possible in full HD quality - i.e. at a video resolution of 1,920 pixels by 1,080 pixels with up to 180 full frames per second.

Furthermore, the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II has the V-Log L-image style for videos with a large dynamic range, interfaces for a microphone and headphones as well as unlimited recording time. The Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II is particularly interesting for content creators. They can stream live in high quality with the camera and are not dependent on a computer or notebook. A smartphone or a WLAN network is sufficient. Image control can be done via a very high-resolution electronic viewfinder with 3.68 million subpixels or via the built-in 3.0-inch LCD screen with 1.84 million subpixels.

Panasonic designed the latter to rotate and swivel, so it is not only easy to see behind the camera, but also in front of it, making it suitable for self-portraits. Data is stored via one or two SD card slots, both of which support high transfer rates (UHS-II). When buying a suitable memory card, you should at least go for a model with a video speed class rating of "V30", for recordings with the best quality even "V60" cards are required. Panasonic uses a robust magnesium alloy for the camera body, and the camera is just as large as its predecessor, the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5. Integrated seals allow the camera to be used in less-than-ideal weather conditions; in winter, the DSLM can be used in temperatures as low as minus ten degrees Celsius.

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