It shoots stills too: Panasonic GH5 studio scene and sample gallery

In terms of DoF on m43, it's fine, plus all that stuff about noise levels and wanting to freeze the motion of the boats. Obviously, to each his or her own, but yes that was a conscious creative choice on my part.

4 months agopermalink

boni bonev

GH5 is first Panasonic camera with ACR profiles!!! It is very nice:)

4 months ago*permalink

jackspra

Recent samples galleries were a lot better.Maybe three or four shots showed what the sensor can do.Suprised.Seeing as you get the video side as well I would say this is a great camera to have anyway.Look forward to full test.

4 months agopermalink

bijutoha

Really a desirable for the usual needs. Loving it to get the video and quality photos from video.

4 months agopermalink

Is Raw on the GH5 better than the EM1 M2? 🤔

4 months agopermalink

tinternaut

The differences will be pretty marginal. There has been some suggestion that Olympus is doing some very clever noise filtering when it produces the raw file.

4 months agopermalink

BostonC

GH5 raw files resolve more than Em1ii. In high ISO, Em1ii does slightly better in reducing chroma noise.

4 months agopermalink

Hen3ry

Carey, I would like to congratulate you on your excellent sample pix.

Great sample shots; I don't know how you people can keep shooting in the disgusting rain and cold and rain and cold and… (wot? I'm repeating myself?). These are the sort of pix I want to see in samples, real life stuff with the sort of images we all wish we could shoot every time, where you have been smart and e.g. shot the three boats on the river which gives an indication of edge and corner sharpness without using a brick wall, and a shot involving a wire mesh fence. Good stuff.

Oh boy, the GH5 lines up right next to the E-M1 II as the premier cameras of ANY format, each leaning in a different direction but meeting in the middle with top tech and top images.

4 months agopermalink

@Hen3ry appreciate the kind words, thank you. Always a (usually fun) challenge to try to show something valuable about the camera while also trying to take a halfway decent photo.

And agreed, this and the Olympus are supremely capable products! You've summed them up perfectly, as Panasonic has upped their AF game with the GH5 and Olympus has upped theirs with great 4K video and stabilization.

4 months ago*permalink

Running production firmware?

4 months agopermalink

Yup.

4 months agopermalink

Grip comfortable?

4 months agopermalink

Very!

4 months agopermalink

Better grip than EM1 M2?

4 months agopermalink

Just different - probably down to personal preference. To me, the GH5 is the 'chunkier' feeling camera of the two.

4 months agopermalink

I ask because I have big hands.

4 months agopermalink

Understood. The GH5 is likely the better camera for you, but of course, there's no substitute for handling each yourself if you can!

4 months agopermalink

I rented the GH4 when it was released. Then 2 months later bought the EM1 without demoing it. It proved to be better built & more solid.

4 months agopermalink

Definitely rent the GH5 if you can. It feels different from the GH4 in the hand, not in a bad way.

4 months agopermalink

Dr_Jon

Carey - what did you think of the chamfer on the inside edge of the grip? The first time I held a GH5 I found it annoying on my fingers (the edge was quite sharp on the original beta camera I had), but I seem to either have got used to it, sub-consciously changed the way I hold the camera or they changed it somewhat on later cameras.

4 months agopermalink

@Dr_Jon, I'm with you; found it was a bit weird at first but then really liked it after extended usage. It's an interesting differentiator from the E-M1 II and D750-style grips, which are thinner and deeper, and more chunkier grips from older mid-to-large cameras like the D700.

4 months agopermalink

CallumG

Why can't everyone be happy about this release? It seems to be the only camera product really pushing the boundaries.

4 months agopermalink

King Penguin

Do 'the boundaries' need to be continually pushed?

4 months agopermalink

tinternaut

They might as well be. There's sod all else to do with them.

4 months agopermalink

drent

I have pre-ordered one, but I must admit that I am not impressed. I've downloaded several raw images and worked on them in Lightroom. I see a lot of noise (luma and chroma). I lose sharpness when I try to get rid of the noise. The results are not better than the out of camera jpegs then. Also bokeh of the new 12-60 lens is not pleasing imo and chromatic abberation cannot be removed completely. Maybe this is because of the raw converter in Lightroom? Or is it not the final firmware version? I get better results with my GX80.

4 months ago*permalink

Well... A lot of people are really looking forward. Not as a dslr like camera with small sensor for stills though....

You have to live with an increased noise floor. If you need to reduce it, don't use noise reduction, buy a different camera instead.
For the CA, I think it will not be worse than the software correction of your current camera.

4 months agopermalink

Archiver

I wasn't aware that the current release of Lightroom can handle GH5 raw files. Did you have to convert them, or do any metadara hacks to make them work? Lightroom may do a new release with an updated GH5 profile.

4 months agopermalink

drent

Lightroom CC update just yesterday. Support for GH5 including picture styles!

4 months agopermalink

ABM Barry

I agree with you, not much detail in the shadows? I decided No on the Panasonic lenses and went for the 7 = 14mm 12 - 60mm and the 40 - 150mm Pro series all f2.8 In my findings, they are certainly ahead in results.
My Oly is ahead of my GH4 jpeg and RAW by a considerable margin.
I plan to shoot with a GH5 prior to making a decision.
I hope it runs well for you. Cheers.

4 months agopermalink

samtheman2014

The differences in RAW files between pretty much any m43 camera since the E-M5 mk 1 { Feb 2012} are in fact insignificant including the new 20mp models . I have been using them since 2009 and currently have both the GH4 and GX8

The JPEG engine is a matter of opinion Olympus goes for the sunshine and rainbows, higher contrast bolder colour look which many seem to favour. Given that most Olympus and Panasonic cameras use the same sensors and the ease of adjusting colour to taste in RAW their similarity is hardly a surprise . Well to most folk the Olympus rose-tinted spec brigade have a diffrent world view to the rest of us lol

4 months ago*permalink

photofan1986

Images look sharp, though default noise reduction is far too aggressive. I've noticed the same on my GX85 compared to the previous Pany's. Thanks for the good samples.

4 months agopermalink

rsser

Same on the G85.

4 months agopermalink

stratplaya

Yikes. What are those green and blue spots on the lead photo?

4 months agopermalink

Pixieblood

4 months agopermalink

Androole

The lens flare?

4 months agopermalink

No, pixieblood, definitely.

4 months agopermalink

Androole

Pixelblood?

4 months agopermalink

Angrymagpie

I always find my 12-35/2.8 Panasonic to have a somewhat subpar flare control. The image in question seems to have similar problem.

4 months agopermalink

John Koch

The sample gallery has, of course, nice pictures. The real question is the "hit rate" or ratio of successful to unsuccessful outcomes with auto-focus in the default "intelligent auto" mode, face detection mode, or perhaps a sports tracking mode.

All the Panasonic G, GH, GX, GM, and even GF models have become fairly proficient at AF in stills mode. The drawbacks have been the AF in video mode, where is has been sluggish, hunts, or muffs as the subject approaches or distances from the camera. In video, does the GH5 AF approach the performance of the Canon dual pixel AF with a STM lens? Or how would it compare to the OM-D EM1ii or the (stellar video AF for its time) NX1?

4 months agopermalink

Joe Niepce

Good question.
I've seen a few comments that with the GH5 Panasonic up-ed their game, but I am waiting for multiple sources to confirm this.

4 months agopermalink

Richard Butler

Autofocus testing is currently underway, but it's a complex and multifaceted challenge, so we're not quite finished, yet.

4 months agopermalink

yslee1

It's contrast detect, I doubt it'll improve by much. DFD can tell the camera to turn the lens in the right direction but the final approach is bound to need that "jitter" for CDAF to work.

4 months agopermalink

Joe Niepce

I thought DFD was different. At first it needs to figure out the direction, so it may jiiter one quick time, but then it can tell how much to change. I could be wrong it might be able to tell from the blur which way to change too. Someone who knows will chime in I am sure.

4 months agopermalink

kolyy

The problem is, you don't want jitter in video, so the benefit of DFD is limited.

4 months agopermalink

brownie112

+1 Very much would like to know if there is a camera to replace NX1 if it ever breaks. Was looking forward so much to the a6500 but seems like a let down compared to NX1 (cropped 4K, overheats, sub-par IBIS and average touchscreen). Hopefully GH5 will be a worthwhile upgrade :) Thanks DPR for taking time to thoroughly test the GH5 :)

4 months agopermalink

Georgeee

looking forward to seeing the full review..

4 months agopermalink

onlooker

Some unusual stuff I noticed in the gallery -- how is it possible that the lens is listed at 100-400, but details show 12 mm focal length (which it obviously is)? Photo 22/72.

4 months agopermalink

RickPick

"...a new 12-60mm F2.8-4 kit lens..." - see the introduction to this piece.

4 months agopermalink

Aha, good catch - image 22 is just a mixup. Fixing now.

4 months agopermalink

dmanthree

Looking forward to see how the new AF does with continuous AF. Rugby shots look good. Is it a match for the Oly EM1 II?

4 months agopermalink

rsser

Yeah. There's been a general claim from Panasonic about improved AF. Want to see the eating of the pudding.

4 months agopermalink

mezastel

I wonder, does the continuous AF only work well for stills? My experience with A7RII is that while continuous AF is built-in in both the camera as well as my lens, its actual operation (focus hunting) is really terrible and can ruin footage.

4 months agopermalink

And now please get the X100F scene online...

4 months agopermalink

MrBrightSide

Was the red-headed rugby player's face in the first shot really so purpley red? I shoot a lot of fair-skinned people and it would be a bummer if skin tones are biased toward overly red.

4 months agopermalink

Understandable. He was quite red-faced in real life, so the JPEG is a pretty accurate representation.

4 months agopermalink

MrBrightSide

Thanks! Great looking pictures. Thanks for adding fast-action shots—very helpful.

4 months agopermalink

peterwr

Playing rugby will do that to a man. :-)

4 months agopermalink

peterwr

...or a woman.

4 months agopermalink

@MrBrightSide no problem, glad you found them useful!

4 months agopermalink

RXVGS

A Camera that shoots stills, wonders never cease!

4 months agopermalink

It's a miraculous time we live in!

4 months agopermalink

tonywong

It'd be more of a miracle if the camera was cut in half first.

4 months agopermalink

Beckler8

Enough of the high-resolution richly full-bearded men - apparently that's the only subject which can be photographed with the GH5. Some people prefer not to hurl their breakfast onto their computer monitor. :D

4 months agopermalink

Shaving ASAP

4 months agopermalink

Jordan Stead

Resist, Carey, resist...

4 months agopermalink

Barney Britton

If pictures of beards make you vomit, I think your problems may be beyond our capacity to solve...

4 months agopermalink

Peiasdf

He is kinda right. I know full beard is artsy and maybe popular in "hip" city like Seattle but it doesn't look very professional nor clean. Maybe it is a regional thing in the US. I am in New York and I don't see many bearded men walking around outside a few spots in the city.

4 months agopermalink

Barney Britton

'Damn hippies, with their beards and their flared trousers.

4 months ago*permalink

Beckler8

Sure, so I don't exactly enjoy examining men's facial hair (or any other feature) at high magnification (e.g. the Loupe tool) but *I'm* the one with the problem...ok then. :D I'm going to say 90% of men will agree with me (i.e. 80% of your readers.) There's a reason 100% of internet traffic (I may be exaggerating) is adult content aimed at men - we like looking at women. Not men. Ever. I've never looked at a bearded one directly.

4 months agopermalink

And you shouldn't. If you make eye contact, you will get a beard too. It's an epidemic. Please take care!
Sincerely,
Beardless

4 months agopermalink

Archiver

The full beard has been popular in Melbourne, Australia for a few years, but its favour is waning lately. Mostly accompanied by lumberjack shirts, tattoos and skinny jeans that are too short. Fashion is a funny thing.

4 months agopermalink

Last time I showed up at a shoot clean-shaven, I was asked if my mom dropped me off. So the beard stays.

4 months agopermalink

MrBrightSide

Please don't switch to "pretty ladies" that's really creepy. I would much rather look at these mokes and their embarrassingly out-of-date facial hair than have to cringe at the egregious objectification of women that is still so prevalent in certain parts of the photographic community.

4 months agopermalink

GRUBERND

dude is asking for "adult content aimed at men" (sic) on International Women's Day. great, really great. grow up and grow a beard.

4 months agopermalink

rsser

Hipsters, not hippies. Geez. Where's my soy flat white.

4 months agopermalink