View Full Version : Panasonic GH5 is coming


Bryce Comer
September 19th, 2016, 12:58 PM
LUMIX GH5 (http://shop.panasonic.com/gh5)
A lot to like for a camera in this price range!

Dylan Couper
September 19th, 2016, 12:59 PM
But but but... all the rumor sites told me it would be 8k?!?!?!? Waaaah!

Bryce Comer
September 19th, 2016, 01:00 PM
Just buy 2 Dylan. There you go, 8k! :)

Dylan Couper
September 19th, 2016, 01:19 PM
Heh, I'll get my crazy glue ready!

What's interesting to me is the 6k photo mode... Not 6k video mode? Whats up wit dat?

Noa Put
September 19th, 2016, 02:27 PM
And no word about IBIS?

Steve Burkett
September 19th, 2016, 02:37 PM
I'm hoping ibis is just a feature that is just included and not a major selling point; hence the lack of mention They've also announced a G80 which has ibis, so it feels criminal not to include on their flagship mode as well. Aside from that, 4k at 50/60 fps is more than I hoped and very welcome. 4:2:2 10 bit internal video again a major plus and I love the new xlr audio mount for the hotshot. So much better than the terrible ugly box that became available with the gh4 as an expensive extra. Much more practical this new one and worth getting.

Honestly today has seen so many great announcements after Canons lacklustre video specs on its releases. With this, the new GoPro plus drone and gimbal; I've got some saving up to do. A great day for some new video tech.

Philip Lipetz
September 19th, 2016, 04:04 PM
But but but... all the rumor sites told me it would be 8k?!?!?!? Waaaah!

It would take four cameras to do 8k

Bryce Comer
September 19th, 2016, 04:07 PM
Agreed Steve, that hotshoe mounted audio interface looks the goods! I am also wondering if it will work with the GH4?
As far as the IBIS is concerned, if it comes, great, but i pretty much always use my GH4 on a tripod anyway. When i'm not, i am using it handheld with the 14-140mm lens which i am very impressed with, with it's image stabilization.
60fps for me is awesome. This will allow me to get far better shots of animals in motion than i get with 30fps. The occasional shakiness with handheld shots will look far better shot at 60fps too when stabilized in post. It does sound like 60fps will only be recorded in 8 bit 4:2:2 in body rather than the 10 bit, but i can certainly live with that!
Bryce

Noa Put
September 19th, 2016, 04:20 PM
As far as the IBIS is concerned, if it comes, great, but i pretty much always use my GH4 on a tripod anyway. When i'm not, i am using it handheld with the 14-140mm lens which i am very impressed with, with it's image stabilization.

I shot handheld with a non stabilized 40-150mm olympus lens @ 150mm on my gx85 last weekend and eventhough I have not compared this yet, I am almost sure the ibis performs better then a stabilized 14-140m on a gh4 which I also own, it just opens up so much possibilities that where impossible to do before, like shooting jitter free with a 75mm f1.8 prime lens handheld and it has given my way of capturing weddings a whole new dimension. That IBIS is not something you can dismiss as not that important and panasonic would be stupid to not include it on their flagship, unless there is a technical limitation in not doing so. I personally value the IBIS higher then their new codec.

Bryce Comer
September 19th, 2016, 05:06 PM
Yeah sorry Noa, not trying to dismiss it at all. I do find the GX85 pretty darn cool with the IBIS, i just don't feel i get that much more stabilization with it. This is using the same lens on both cameras. Maybe i need to get out & test it again!! :)
I have to say though, that the ergonomics of the GH4 are far better than the GX85. I am forever changing settings on the GX 85 accidentally :(
One thing i definitely don't like so much about the IBIS on the GX85 is the noise it makes. In a hide when i am filming nature stuff, the darn thing sounds super loud!
Regards,
Bryce

Jack Zhang
September 19th, 2016, 05:21 PM
More likely the 50/60p modes will be 8bit 4:2:0 at 150mbps, just like what we currently have in the DVX200.

The HDMI output won't gain you any quality cause the current camcorder/DSLR HDMI chips can only output 4K 60p at 8bit 4:2:0.

Bryce Comer
September 19th, 2016, 05:24 PM
Yeah you're right Jack, just not sure of the exact specs yet. I think i read somewhere that the 60p mode would be 8 bit 4:2:2 not the 10 bit 4:2:2 of the 4k 30p. If this is indeed the case, well i can live with that!

Jack Zhang
September 19th, 2016, 05:31 PM
They said the FS7 had 8bit 4:2:2 in XAVC-L 4K, but it's actually 8bit 4:2:0.

All 4K 60p cameras below the FS7 shoot 8bit 4:2:0 in 4K 60p. The FS7 and above shoots 10bit 4:2:2 4K 60p in XAVC-I only. (which isn't economical data-wise)

Bryce Comer
September 19th, 2016, 05:58 PM
Ok, but the GH5 isn't actually out yet, nor are all the specs. How can you say it's 4:2:0? Do you know that for sure?

Jack Zhang
September 19th, 2016, 06:15 PM
Hardware has to be decided on well in advance. You can't gamble on a chip that meets your needs to just magically appear halfway through development. Currently there is no ASIC on the planet that can do 10bit 4:2:2 4K 60p Long-GOP. To maximize compatibility, manufacturers choose 8bit 4:2:0 when writing to the .MP4 format in H.264 for wide NLE compatibility. 8bit 4:2:2 in H.264 is not widely supported. 10bit 4:2:2 is though.

Bryce Comer
September 19th, 2016, 06:49 PM
Well that certainly makes sense. I won't be banking on anything until it is released with the specs & i can actually go out & buy it. Who knows what they have up their sleeves though??

Noa Put
September 20th, 2016, 01:00 AM
I do find the GX85 pretty darn cool with the IBIS, i just don't feel i get that much more stabilization with it.

Have you tried non stabilized lenses on the camera? That's what IBIS is actually made for and the difference is like night and day, you can't even compare because the difference is so ridiculously big. One might question the use of IBIS on a more professional camera but just like Canon's DPAF these functions can be a godsend for documentary type of shooters, such as myself. Anyone who shoots in controlled environments on a tripod will probably never need any of these automatic aids but both have proven their usefulness, also on professional shoots. I even consider IBIS as a part of what makes M4/3 camera's so great, small size and low weight which makes a perfect travel companion and the addition of IBIS just makes it so much easier to use, last step would be to give the camera something like Canons DPAF.

I have to say though, that the ergonomics of the GH4 are far better than the GX85.
Yes but what else would you expect? The gx85 is a pocket camera that comes with the usual limitations, you buy such a camera because it's so small, not because you would expect it to have the same ergonomics as a bigger camera.

One thing i definitely don't like so much about the IBIS on the GX85 is the noise it makes
You also can hear the stabilization on the Olympus EM1 so it might be "normal" but Sony has proven with their BOSS system that this doesn't need to be the case but it's not the actual sensor that moves in their case so that might explain the difference. The noise the stabilization makes however does not bother me at all, what does is the fact this noise gets transferred into the sound making it unusable at times, I do hope that the G80 and the GH5 (if it has IBIS) have found a way to eliminate that on their internal mikes or at least can give a clean recording using it's mike inputs.

Cliff Totten
September 20th, 2016, 07:00 AM
10bit 4:2:2 60p DCI 4k?

My God,.....how are they going to control heat? The G5 HAS to have a fan....a significant sized one! Can anybody see this happening in a passive cooled body?

That's allot of CPU power for that little GH5 battery too.

Wow.....this is one HELL of a shot they are firing at Sony. By announcing it so boldly 6 months early, Panny is saying "Go ahead Sony,...we DARE you to go 10bit on your Alphas!"

I think Panasonic might be VERY confident that Sony will not cannibalize their fleet with a new 10bit Alpha model and Sony will likely back down from the GH5 challenge. For Panasonic to reveal it's cards soooo early, REALLY shows how confident they are. It speaks volumes about their mindset and attack plan.

I love Sony but I just dont think they have the guts to do a 10bit, 4:2:2, 60p consumer camera. There is just no way in Hell that Sony takes a swing at Panasonic's GH5 fast ball pitch. They are just going to look away and accept the strike-outs on this one.

Wow,....Is this is an industry Earthquake?.

CT

Noa Put
September 20th, 2016, 08:14 AM
10bit 4:2:2 60p DCI 4k?
The announcement from panasonic said 10 bit 4:2:2 4K at 25 or 30p and that it also could shoot 4k 60p but no mention there about it being 10bit, unless some new info came out?

Bryce Comer
September 20th, 2016, 08:17 AM
Have you tried non stabilized lenses on the camera? That's what IBIS is actually made for and the difference is like night and day, you can't even compare because the difference is so ridiculously big.

Very good point Noa. I have only tried it with a long telephoto lens & the results weren't that great. With wide lens' though, i'm sure it would perform very well.

Yes but what else would you expect? The gx85 is a pocket camera that comes with the usual limitations, you buy such a camera because it's so small, not because you would expect it to have the same ergonomics as a bigger camera.

I really only bought the GX85 as a little brother cam to the GH4. In most cases as a static wide shot, but also as a backup to the GH4.

You also can hear the stabilization on the Olympus EM1 so it might be "normal" but Sony has proven with their BOSS system that this doesn't need to be the case but it's not the actual sensor that moves in their case so that might explain the difference. The noise the stabilization makes however does not bother me at all, what does is the fact this noise gets transferred into the sound making it unusable at times, I do hope that the G80 and the GH5 (if it has IBIS) have found a way to eliminate that on their internal mikes or at least can give a clean recording using it's mike inputs.

Yes I totally agree with your thoughts on the sound recording. They cannot release the GH4 with sound issues from any IBIS system like the GX85. Let's hope they can make it work somehow!

Noa Put
September 20th, 2016, 08:23 AM
I have only tried it with a long telephoto lens & the results weren't that great. With wide lens' though, i'm sure it would perform very well.

Then either your gx80 is not working right or you have not set the stabilization option in the menu because that is not my impression at all. I shoot handheld with a 75mm f1.8 (or 150mm full frame equiv) a lot at receptions and my footage is near tripod like, this is impossible to achieve with my gh4, it would jitter so bad that it would be unusable.

Cliff Totten
September 20th, 2016, 08:44 AM
The announcement from panasonic said 10 bit 4:2:2 4K at 25 or 30p and that it also could shoot 4k 60p but no mention there about it being 10bit, unless some new info came out?

Interesting. So it's possibly 4K 10bit, 4:2:2, 30p, with an option of 8bit 4:2:0 60p.

If this is true, this is still every bit as ground breaking. This is nuts.

Panasonic has the luxury of doing this because it has no model above it to protect. Varicam is a Super35 camera that is WAY out of the GH4/5 market. So Panasonic has nothing to worry about.

Sony? Yeah, they have models all over the place at many price points. So for them,10 bit internal 4k is a FAR dangerous marketing problem.

Sony consumer Alpha division might love to give 10bit to a brand new A9 or A7s-III but the Sony PRO department management would likely protest that internally to high heaven. The XDCAM teams/groups/managers REALLY dont want 10bit 4:2:2 Alpahs out there!

CT

Barry Hunt
September 20th, 2016, 09:30 AM
Whats the story with low light abilities on this new boy?

Cliff Totten
September 20th, 2016, 10:38 AM
I would only guess that's it's typical Micro 4/3 sensor low light performance. Possibly better noise reduction.

We know for a fact that Sony Semiconductor now manufactures a Mirco 4/3 sensor in their catalog. I heard that Panny is buying it today but that's only a rumor. Is the GH5 a Sony sensor? Who knows? We know they are buying Sony 1 inch-type sensors today.

For me, the bigger mystery is: How will Panny read out the GH5 sensor? Are they pixel binning? Are the line skipping? Are they doing what Sony is doing with reading out all pixels, processing and scaling down?

CT

J. Stephen McDonald
September 20th, 2016, 11:55 AM
Even 4.5K or 5K would have been nice.