Panasonic DC-GH6 Sensor Measurements at PhotonsToPhotos

Files provided by Interceptor121 see his conclusions at Panasonic GH6 Video and StillL Performance

It does look as if it's optimized for video with a still capability that is limited below ISO 800.

Here's the Photographic Dynamic Range (PDR)

Of technical note spectral analysis shows the Dual Output Gain kicking in at ISO 800

In this 3D chart the lowest ISO is on the right and ISO goes up as you move left.
The peaks in the center start at ISO 800 and are due to the Dual Output Gain.

Thank you for this analysis.  The low PDR measured here confirms what we have seen in the samples provided, and in Richard Butler's article.

Perhaps Lumix will release a photo oriented M43 camera soon.  The FF Lumix line is badly in need of a refresh as well.

SrMi wrote:

Thank you, Bill. I hope that you will be able to measure HHHR and tripod HR modes (they have different noise characteristics).

Am doing those later tonight

AURA PA wrote:

Thank you for this analysis. The low PDR measured here confirms what we have seen in the samples provided, and in Richard Butler's article.

Perhaps Lumix will release a photo oriented M43 camera soon. The FF Lumix line is badly in need of a refresh as well.

I was hoping for something like a G9 Mark II for stills, but not if its sensor has the same low-ISO behavior as these measurements indicate.

Austinian wrote:

AURA PA wrote:

Thank you for this analysis. The low PDR measured here confirms what we have seen in the samples provided, and in Richard Butler's article.

Perhaps Lumix will release a photo oriented M43 camera soon. The FF Lumix line is badly in need of a refresh as well.

I was hoping for something like a G9 Mark II for stills, but not if its sensor has the same low-ISO behavior as these measurements indicate.

Unfortunately due to the design optimised for video is not possible to understand the benefit of higher bit depth

As I stated before is unlikely this sensor will be used for any still orientated camera

hmmm, what a disaster for Panasonic... GH6 scores worse than the OM-1 and and last gen EM1-2 and 3...

bclaff wrote:

Funny Valentine wrote:

hmmm, what a disaster for Panasonic... GH6 scores worse than the OM-1 and and last gen EM1-2 and 3...

This camera is not designed with still photography in mind.

But Panasonic's limited r&d already went into the development/purchase of this sensor from tower semi, so it will end up in the next gen G9, GX9, etc. Or maybe it's a sign that Panasonic will axe the photocentric cameras to concentrate on video only.

Funny Valentine wrote:

bclaff wrote:

Funny Valentine wrote:

hmmm, what a disaster for Panasonic... GH6 scores worse than the OM-1 and and last gen EM1-2 and 3...

This camera is not designed with still photography in mind.

But Panasonic's limited r&d already went into the development/purchase of this sensor from tower semi, so it will end up in the next gen G9, GX9, etc. Or maybe it's a sign that Panasonic will axe the photocentric cameras to concentrate on video only.

If the results are this bad, I doubt it will go into a stills oriented camera like the G9 (if there is even a successor for that model). Maybe something that is closer to a hybrid like a G95 successor? At this point, using the older IMX272 (from GH5) for a GX10 is a much better choice.

I realized going with a non-Sony sensor would likely be worse, but didn't expect it to be this much worse.

Funny Valentine wrote:

hmmm, what a disaster for Panasonic... GH6 scores worse than the OM-1 and and last gen EM1-2 and 3...

It is a conscious design decision Panasonic already does better than all olympus oma cameras so they would know what to do if they wanted to but they don’t this is a video camera

Funny Valentine wrote:

hmmm, what a disaster for Panasonic... GH6 scores worse than the OM-1 and and last gen EM1-2 and 3...

You don't seem to know how to read that graph. This is quite good for a very fast front side illuminated higher resolution sensor optimized for video. If anything the OM-1 isn't looking quite as good as it should. The Em1mk2 needs to be corrected to the right 1/3 a stop due to gain choices. The stacked nature of the Om-1 semsor is hurting significantly any gains from being BSI, and its still very slow read out sensor compared to even the GH6.

I can see why now Panasonic choose this sensor over the Sony stacked BSI one. Its better.

bclaff wrote:

Funny Valentine wrote:

bclaff wrote:

Funny Valentine wrote:

hmmm, what a disaster for Panasonic... GH6 scores worse than the OM-1 and and last gen EM1-2 and 3...

This camera is not designed with still photography in mind.

But Panasonic's limited r&d already went into the development/purchase of this sensor from tower semi, so it will end up in the next gen G9, GX9, etc. Or maybe it's a sign that Panasonic will axe the photocentric cameras to concentrate on video only.

I wouldn't make that assumption. Part of what we are seeing here is how the firmware uses this sensor and not necessarily a limitation of the sensor per se.

Bill, are you saying Panasonic could, if they wanted, improve the GH6 stills performance with a firmware change?

Those charts are worse than the G6 and the EM5 (the mark I!), cameras released 10 years ago. WTH.

bclaff wrote:

Files provided by Interceptor121 see his conclusions at Panasonic GH6 Video and StillL Performance

It does look as if it's optimized for video with a still capability that is limited below ISO 800.

Here's the Photographic Dynamic Range (PDR)

Of technical note spectral analysis shows the Dual Output Gain kicking in at ISO 800

In this 3D chart the lowest ISO is on the right and ISO goes up as you move left.
The peaks in the center start at ISO 800 and are due to the Dual Output Gain.