To offer a worthy successor to the Lumix GH5, Panasonic had to put the small dishes in the big ones. On the menu of the Lumix GH6: new sensor, new processor, 5.7K 60p and 4K 120p recording, anamorphic, Apple ProRes, simultaneous recording on four audio channels, and much more. 24×36 mm hybrids just have to behave themselves.
Leaving the definition battle to others (understanding “8K video”), Panasonic has decided, for its Lumix GH6, to focus on what makes the strength of Micro 4/3 sensors: their speed. Compared to its predecessor, the newcomer therefore focuses mainly on raising the frame rates, in photos and videos, on generalizing recording in 4:2:2 10-bit internal and unlimited, while reinforcing the flexibility of the files and their processing latitude in post-production.
A new sensor + processor couple
The arrival of the Lumix GH6 is an opportunity to adopt a new sensor with a definition of 25 Mpx, here without a low-pass filter. It is associated with a new Venus Engine processor, announced as twice as fast as before. This new duo, which should logically be at the heart of all future Lumix Gs, makes it possible to improve the dynamic range (13 EV by activating the Boosted dynamic range mode), noise management (the principle of Dual ISO is renewed) and processing speed.
The Lumix GH6 thus claims a burst of 75 frames per second in photos and, in video, climbs up to 300p in Full HD. 4K (UHD and DCI) is not to be outdone, since it will be possible to film in 120p, and even 5.7K is available in 60p. On the autofocus side, Panasonic remains faithful to its in-house DFD (contrast detection) technology, now active in 315 zones thanks to the additional photosites.
Apple ProRes, V-Log, .CUBE, HDR: everything for post-production
The Lumix GH6 is the first hybrid capable of recording video, internally, in Apple ProRes format, popular in the industry for its low compression ratio and image quality. It comes in addition to the classic h.264 and h.265, available in All-Intra and LongGOP. The V-Log is now included as standard, “free”: there will no longer be a need to go back to the checkout to buy an extension. .CUBE compatibility will allow you to download the working LUT profile generated by your calibration software directly into the box.
Shooting in Hybrid-Log Range mode has, meanwhile, been perfected since the body is able to exploit the two native ISO circuits simultaneously, exposing both for highlights and lowlights, before recombining the information to generate an HDR video. Exclusive to Panasonic introduced with the GH5 and since taken over on the Lumix S1H and S5, anamorphic recording is also part of the game, here in 5.8K 4:2:0 10 bits, in 30p, 25p and 24p.
To absorb all this information and recording speeds of up to 1.9 Gb/s in ProRes, one of the two memory slots of the Lumix GH6 now supports CFExpress Type B cards, the other slot accepting SDXC UHS-II. Note in passing that Panasonic is already planning a firmware update that will allow direct recording to an SSD drive via the USB port. The HDMI socket, meanwhile, will eventually allow output in RAW Cinema 4K 120p to an ATOMOS Ninja V+.
New electronics, new chassis
Compared to the Lumix GH5, one of the only obvious physical differences with the Lumix GH6 is behind it. Thus, under the screen, vents have been fitted so that a fan responsible for cooling the electronics can suck in fresh air and expel hot air. A transplant directly inspired by the Lumix S1H, which makes the Lumix GH6 1 cm thicker and 100 grams heavier than the Lumix GH5 II (823 grams with the battery and memory cards, once morest 727 g previously). Another visible novelty: the front panel gains, at the bottom right of the lens mount, a second video trigger, which, in some cases, will be easier to access than the equally red one on the right shoulder. Apart from these two changes, regulars of the manufacturer will not be out of place.
Good news: the Lumix GH6 uses the same DMW-BLK22 2200 mAh battery as the Lumix S5 and Lumis GH5 II, owners of these two boxes can reuse the batteries they already have. A priori, it should even be possible to reuse the battery of your Lumix GH5 (reference DMW-BLF19), but with autonomy limitations.
Some will complain that the 3680kpt OLED viewfinder and 7.5cm 1840kpt LCD screen haven’t been improved, but there’s a good reason for that. Panasonic being aware that Lumix GH5 users most of the time connect an external monitor to frame, they preferred to put the R&D money elsewhere. Perhaps we will have to wait for the successor to the Lumix G9, which is more photo-oriented, to appreciate a 5.3 Mpts or even 9 Mpts viewfinder. The future will tell.
Prices and availability
There won’t be long to wait between the official announcement and actual availability, as the Lumix GH6 should hit stores in mid-March. It will be sold for €2,199 bare, €2,399 as a kit with the Lumix G 12-60 mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom (M-Kit) and €2,799 with the Leica DG 12-60 mm f /2.8-4 L-Kit.
Note that, for any purchase of a Lumix GH6 between February 22 and April 30, 2022, Panasonic will offer a Lexar Professional CFExpress Type B Gold Series 128 GB card, worth €239, as well as an extension of one year warranty.
