Panasonic Lumix GH5 Review

April 3, 2017 | Mark Goldstein |

Introduction
Ease of Use
Image Quality
Sample Images
Product Images
Rating & Conclusion
Main Rivals
Review Roundup
Specifications
Comment
More…

Introduction

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 is a new flagship compact system camera featuring 4K 60p/50p and internal 4K 30p 4:2:2 10-bit video recording, a new 20.3 megapixel sensor with no low-pass filter, and upgraded 6K Photo function which extracts 18 megapixel images from a 30fps burst. Successor to the popular GH4 camera, the splash- and dustproof Panasonic GH5 features the very latest Venus Engine processor, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, 0.05 second contrast-detect autofocus system with 225 focus points, 1/8000th top shutter speed, 1/250th second flash sync speed, 1,728-zone metering system, 3,680K-dot OLED electronic viewfinder, 3.2-inch 1,620K-dot swivelling and tilting LCD screen, touchscreen control system with touch-based functions like Touch AF/AE and Touch Shutter, 5-axis Dual Image Stabilisation system to help combat camera-shake, ISO range of 100-25600, completely silent electronic shutter, 12 (AFS) / 9 (AFC) fps burst shooting, Post Focus and Focus Stacking functions, and dual UHS-II SD Memory Card slots. The Panasonic Lumix GH5 is available in black and retails for £1699 / $1999 body only, £1899 with the standard 12-60mm f3.5-5.6 lens (M Kit), and £2199 with the Leica f/2.8-4.0 12-60mm lens (L Kit).

Ease of Use

Measuring 138.5 x 98.1 x 87.4 mm and weighing 645g body only, the Panasonic Lumix GH5 is larger and heavier than the GH4 model that it succeeds, about 13% bigger in fact. The GH5's body is made out of a magnesium alloy, full die-cast front and rear frame. Every joint, dial, and button is sealed to ensure that the GH5 is splash/dust-proof and also freeze-proof down to -10 degrees Celsius. The tripod socket is in-line with the centre of the metal lens mount and the camera has a shutter release life of 200,000 shots. This is the most well-constructed Panasonic camera that we've ever reviewed, and should stand up to some serious abuse.

The GH5 ships either body only, with the Panasonic 12-60mm f3.5-5.6 lens, or with the excellent Leica 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 lens that we reviewed it with. While the body of the GH5 is comparable in size and weight to a mid-range APS-C DSLR camera, the lenses are where Panasonic have really shrunk the overall system. Given the fast maximum apertures on offer, the Leica 12-60mm optic is relatively small and light, and delivers great image quality whilst being fast to focus and completely silent, perfect for video use. The Lumix GH5 is compatible with the new DMW-BGGH5 battery grip, which houses an extra battery to extend the overall battery life. The DMW-BGGH5 grip shares the same splash / dustproof design as the GH5 body.

Panasonic have significantly upgraded the image stabilisation system on the GH5. The new 5-axis Dual I.S. MK II system incorporates new gyro-sensor technology to combine the 2-axis stabilisation from the lens (if it has OIS built-in) and 5-axis stabilisation from the camera body, resulting in compensation for up to 5-stops slower shutter speed.

Unlike a conventional DSLR camera which uses a phase detection auto-focus system, the Panasonic Lumix GH5 employs a 225-point Contrast AF system, similar to that commonly used by compact cameras. The GH5 still has one of the fastest AF systems of any interchangeable lens camera, though, be that a compact system camera or a DSLR, with a claimed speed of just 0.05 seconds when used with certain lenses thanks to the inclusion of DFD (Depth from Defocus) technology, which further shortens the time to set focus. This is incredibly quick, and there were also almost no occasions when the GH5 failed to lock onto the subject, especially when using the centre AF point, resulting in a very quick and importantly reliable AF system. There are a wide range of AF modes on offer, including multiple-area AF with up to 225 focus areas, 1-area AF with a selectable focus area, Face/Eye Detection, AF Tracking, Custom Multi and Pinpoint AF. As it's name suggests, the Custom Multi AF mode allows you to configure the AF points from a wide range of options and patterns, and you can even save up to three customised choices.

On the front of the Panasonic Lumix GH5 is a small focus-assist and self-timer indicator lamp, lens release button, customisable Function6 button, metal lens mount, flash sync socket and a sculpted, rubberised hand-grip that's really nice to use. By default the Fn6 button cleverly toggles between showing a live preview of the effects of the current aperture (effectively a digital version of Depth of Field Preview) and the current shutter speed. The latter will prove especially useful for beginners, providing a visible way of checking how different shutter speeds will affect the capture of different subjects - running water is a good example. The majority of the GH5's exterior is matt black plastic, with the handgrip, right-hand and left-hand corners finished in a more tactile rubberised coating.

Front of the Panasonic Lumix GH5

Found on top of the Panasonic GH5 are the burst mode/6K photo/bracketing/self-timer/time-lapse dial, external flash hotshoe, stereo microphones, lockable shooting mode dial surrounded by the on/off switch, shutter release button, front control dial, white balance, ISO and exposure compensation buttons, a customisable Fn1 button and a large one-touch movie record button. There's also a tiny LED to indicate if wi-fi is on or off.

The row of white balance, ISO and exposure compensation buttons make it extremely easy to access the camera's key exposure controls, while the dual control dials make it easy to use the fully Manual shooting mode. The GH5 has both a traditional mechanical shutter and a silent electronic shutter, which as well as not spooking your subject ensures that your subject is completely sharp by avoiding pixel shifting. The Delay Shutter option helps to remove the effect of hand-shake by releasing the shutter after a specified time (8, 4, 2 or 1 seconds).

The start-up time from turning the Lumix GH5 on to being ready to take a photo is impressively quick at less than a second. It takes about 1/2 second to store a JPEG image, allowing you to keep shooting as they are being recorded onto the memory card - there is no perceptible LCD blackout between each image. Storing a single RAW image takes around 1 second and doesn't lock up the camera in any way - you can use the menu system or shoot another image while the first file is being written to memory. The Panasonic Lumix GH5 has an excellent Burst mode which enables you to take 12 frames per second with the focus and exposure locked at the first frame or 7.5fps with AF tracking for up to 600 JPEG images at the highest image quality or 60 RAW files.

The traditional shooting mode dial lets you choose from the different exposure modes. The usual selection of Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual are available for the more experienced photographers. Additionally there are 3 custom modes, marked C1, C2 and C3, which allow you to configure your favourite settings and quickly access them, Intelligent Auto for less experienced users, and the Creative Movie mode which provides access to all of the camera's extensive range of video options. The Panasonic Lumix GH5's Creative Controls, denoted by an artist's palette on the shooting mode dial, offers 22 different options. There are also 8 different customisable Photo Styles in the Main Menu which still allow full control of the camera's settings.

The red movie record button on the top, as you'd expect, allows you to start recording a movie with a single push of a button and then stop recording by pressing the same button, regardless of which shooting mode is currently selected. This is a lot more intuitive than having to select the movie mode then press the shutter button, although you can still start/stop movie recording via the GH5's shutter button if you wish.

The Creative Movie shooting mode, accessed via the mode dial on top of the GH5, allows you to set the shutter speed, aperture or both settings manually during recording (a Program option is also available). Changing the shutter speed is especially suitable for shooting fast-moving subjects, whilst the ability to control the aperture is convenient when there are several subjects at different distances.

Front of the Panasonic Lumix GH5

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 has a plethora of movie options, making it the most full-featured interchangeable lens camera on the market in terms of video. It principally offers 10-bit 4:2:2 DCI 4K (4096x2160 pixels) at 24fps and consumer 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) at 24, 25 or 30fps with a bitrate of 150Mbps. There's also 8-bit 4:2:0 consumer 4K recording at a higher 50 or 60fps rate, and Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) too. Unlike the GH5, which used a cropped area of the sensor to record, 4K footage, the new GH5 uses the full sensor then downsamples it in-camera, which means that your framing won't be cropped when composing.

The GH5 is one of the few cameras that isn't geographically limited, as you can choose from both NTSC and PAL settings, so you get the full range of frame rates regardless of where you bought the camera. It's also now capable of recording continuously for an unlimited time in any mode until your memory card is full. Another improvement is the ability to output a 10-bit 4:2:2 signal via HDMI and record it internally at the same time. You can set the luminance level for 10-bit capture (0-1023, 64-940 or 64-1023), and enable V-LogL recording by purchasing the DMW-SFU1 software key.

The Variable Frame Rate option now allows you to set the video frame rate from 2fps to 180fps while recording Full HD video. Available for both JPEG photos and movies, the EX Tele Conversion option extends the focal length attached lens by 2x for still images, by 1.4x for 4K/UHD video recording, and 2.7x for 1080p without any loss of image quality.

The new Focus Transition tool allows you to create three focus points, between which the GH5 automatically shifts the focus at a constant speed. There's a choice of five different speeds, and you can choose whether to start the transition immediately when recording begins or add a 5 or 10 second delay.

Dolby-quality stereo sound is recorded during video capture via the internal mics on top of the camera, which is a big improvement on the rather muffled noises recorded by most digital cameras, helped by the wind cut function which blocks out most of the noise from background wind. You can also add the optional DMW-XLR1 XLR microphone adapter which attaches via the hotshoe and offers two XLR audio inputs with physical switches and dials for changing the levels, gain, and low cut filter of each input individually.

Rear of the Panasonic Lumix GH5

The rear of the Lumix GH5 is dominated by the large 3 inch OLED screen with 100% scene coverage. The rotating, free-angle monitor, which is hinged on the left side of the camera (looking from the rear), can be flipped out and twisted through 270 degrees. You can use the screen as a waist-level viewfinder, holding the camera overhead, and even for turning the GH5 on yourself for arm-length self-portraits. There's also the added benefit of folding the screen away against the camera body to protect it when stored in a camera bag, preventing it from becoming marked or scratched.

The 1,620K pixel, high-resolution screen coped admirably with the majority of lighting conditions, even proving nice to use in low-light. The Auto Power LCD function automatically detects the current lighting conditions and boosts the LCD backlighting by up to 40% when shooting outdoors in bright sunshine, helping to keep the screen visible. The handy level gauge indicates the two directions of horizontal lean and front/rear tilt.

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 inherits the GH4's clever touchscreen interface. Panasonic have wisely restricted the amount of things that you can do by interacting with the screen, and indeed you can still operate everything on the camera without having to push and prod the LCD at all. You would be missing out on a lot of genuinely useful functionality, though, which really improves the overall shooting experience. A clever feature called Touchpad AF allows you to move the focus point area with your finger on the LCD while you're looking through the EVF.

The most immediately noticeable function is the ability to use the 1-area AF mode to focus on your main subject simply by touching it on the LCD. If the subject then moves, the Panasonic Lumix GH5 cleverly follows it around the screen using the the AF tracking function. If the subject exits the frame entirely, simply recompose and tap it again to start focusing. Impressive stuff that makes focusing on off-center subjects fast and intuitive. It is a little too easy to accidentally press the screen and set the focus point to the wrong area for the current subject, but a simple tap in the middle of the LCD will center the AF point (or you can turn this feature off altogether). The size of the AF point itself can also be changed via an interactive onscreen slider.

If you prefer to manually focus rather than use the fast AF system, you can magnify any part of the subject by 1x, 5x or 10x by simply dragging the image around the screen. The final touchscreen ability from an image composition point of view is the ability to release the shutter, with a small icon on the right hand screen enabling this functionality, and then a single on-screen tap all that's required to take the picture. All of the menu options can be changed via the touchscreen interface, including the Main menu system. You can also control image playback by touching the screen, with the ability to tap a thumbnail to see the full-size version, scroll through your images by dragging them from side to side, and magnifying them up to 16x.

Top of the Panasonic Lumix GH5

The Panasonic GH5 has an improved electronic viewfinder. The OLED unit has a large 1.52x (0.76x on 35mm equiv.) magnification, 100% field of view, 1000:1 contrast ratio and 3,680K-dot resolution, resulting in one of the best EVFs that we've ever used. The EVF (and also the main LCD screen) operates at a native rate of 60fps, twice the usual speed, which helps make it flicker-free.

There are three 6K Photo functions - 6K Burst Shooting, 6K Burst (Start/Stop) and 6K Pre-burst - which all record continuous 18 megapixel stills at a 30fps shooting rate. 6K Burst allows you to continuously record 18 megapixel images at 30fps, 6K Pre-Burst does the same but for one second prior to and one second after pressing the shutter button in order, giving you 60 frames to choose from, and 6K Burst (S/S) allows you to playback your video, pause at the chosen moment, and use the shutter button to mark a chosen frame from the video and save it as a single 18 megapixel frame. The GH5 also offers the same option for 4K Photo, which doubles the capture speed to 60fps but lowers the effective resolution to 8 megapixels.

The Post Focus mode allows you to take a series of photos all with a different focus point, and then choose your preferred one after you've captured the shot. This can be more useful for some subjects than others, for example with macro it’s a great idea. Focus Stacking is also new to the GH5. This feature enables you to take multiple shots with different aperture values, then combine them into a single image and choose how much of the subject is in focus, again good news for macro photographers. The Panasonic Lumix GH5 has a time lapse function in which you can set the time interval and the number of images to take, plus a multi-exposure option that lets you combine up to four exposures in a single frame, while the Stop Motion Animation mode allows you to create unique stop motion videos.

The Wi-Fi function (802.11ac) lets you use your smartphone to change the camera settings (focus setting, exposure compensation, ISO, WB and Photo Styles) and even fire the shutter button remotely (including interval video recordings), while the auto transfer function automatically backs up your photos onto a tablet. You can also use GPS data from your smartphone to record the shooting location onto your images. The new Bluetooth option establishes a low-energy, permanent connection between the camera and a smart device for easier transfer of images.

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 In-hand

On the rear of the Panasonic Lumix GH5, from left to right, is a Playback button, an LVF button for manually switching between the two viewing methods (useful if you turn the eye sensor off) which can also be configured as the Fn5 button, conveniently located AF/AE Lock button which is surrounded by the AF Type switch, the rear control dial, which is used for, amongst other things, changing the aperture and shutter speed by turning from left to right and back again, and a brand new thumb-controlled joystick. This allows you to quickly and easily select the AF point without taking your eyes off the subject and is a very useful addition.

Underneath are the Quick Menu/Fn2, Fn3/AF Mode and Display buttons. In shooting mode, the Display button alternates between turning the display off, the main camera settings as icons, no settings at all, and an Info Display which shows the current key settings in a clear graphical format. You can additionally press the Q.Menu button and then use the navigation pad to move between the onscreen options. The Q.Menu button provides quick access to most of the principal controls, including ISO speed, image size, image quality and white balance (there are 16 settings in total, depending upon the shooting mode selected). You can still access all of these options from the main menu system too.

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 has a traditional 4-way navigation pad system with a circular scroll wheel and Menu/Set button in the centre. Unlike other G-series cameras, the four directions on the d-pad don't have a specific function, other than to move through and select options, playback images etc. The circular scroll wheel can also accomplish many of the same things. The Delete button underneath the navigation pad doubles up as the Fn4 button.

The new main menu system on the GH5 is very clear and straight-forward to use and is accessed by pressing the Menu/Set button in the middle of the navigation pad. There are up to 7 main menus represented by a column of icons on the left of the screen, depending on which shooting mode you're currently using, which then show 8 options onscreen at once.

On the bottom of the Panasonic Lumix GH5 is a metal tripod socket, importantly in-line with the middle of the lens barrel, and the battery compartment, and on the right side are the Remote port and the dual and SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slots. On the left is the Remote/Mic socket for use with the optional remote shutter release or 3.5mm external microphone, and three connection ports, including a port for external headphones (again 3.5mm in size), and a very welcome full-sized HDMI port for connecting the GH5 to a HD television or monitor.

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 20M Fine JPEG image size option, which gives an average image size of around 8Mb.

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 produced images of outstanding quality during the review period. It produces noise-free images at ISO 100 to 1600, with limited noise starting to appear at ISO 3200. ISO 6400 and 12800 exhibit quite visible noise and loss of fine detail, while the fastest setting of 25600 looks much better on paper than in reality.

The various Photo Styles and Creative Controls allow you to quickly and easily customise the look of the camera's JPEG images before you take them, while the Intelligent D-range and HDR modes extract a little more detail out of the shadow and highlight areas. The night photograph was excellent, with the maximum shutter speed of 60 seconds allowing you to capture plenty of light.

Noise

There are 9 ISO settings available on the Panasonic Lumix GH5 which you can select at any time if the camera is in one of the creative shooting modes. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting:

JPEG	RAW
ISO 100 (100% Crop)	ISO 100 (100% Crop)


ISO 200 (100% Crop)	ISO 200 (100% Crop)


ISO 400 (100% Crop)	ISO 400 (100% Crop)


ISO 800 (100% Crop)	ISO 800 (100% Crop)


ISO 1600 (100% Crop)	ISO 1600 (100% Crop)


ISO 3200 (100% Crop)	ISO 3200 (100% Crop)


ISO 6400 (100% Crop)	ISO 6400 (100% Crop)


ISO 12800 (100% Crop)	ISO 12800 (100% Crop)


ISO 25600 (100% Crop)	ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

File Quality

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 has 2 different JPEG image quality settings available, with Fine being the highest quality option. Here are some 100% crops which show the quality of the various options, with the file size shown in brackets.

Fine (8.6Mb) (100% Crop)	Normal (4.11Mb) (100% Crop)


RAW (23.1Mb) (100% Crop)

Night

The Panasonic Lumix GH5's maximum shutter speed is 60 seconds and there's also a Bulb option for exposures up to 30 minutes long, which is excellent news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 30 seconds at ISO 100. The camera takes the same amount of time again to apply noise reduction, so for example at the 15 second setting the actual exposure takes 30 seconds.

Image Stabilisation

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 has an antishake mechanism which allows you to take sharp photos at slower shutter speeds than other digital cameras. To test this, we took 2 handheld shots of the same subject with the same settings. The first shot was taken with the stabilizer turned off, the second with it turned on. Here is a 100% crop of the image to show the results. As you can see, with image stabilisation turned on, the images are sharper than when it's turned off.

Shutter Speed / Focal Length	Image Stabilisation Off (100% Crop)	Image Stabilisation On (100% Crop)
1/8th / 24mm

1/8th / 120mm

Post Focus and Focus Stacking

Post Focus is a function that enables users to select the in-focus area after shooting simply by touching it on the LCD screen. The first three images show the effects of switching between the three memory cards.

The Post Focus Stacking function enables users to take multiple images of the same frame with different areas in focus, then combine all or selected focus areas into one image. The fourth image below shows the effect of merging the first three images into one stacked image.

Intelligent Resolution

The Panasonic Lumix GH5's Intelligent Resolution feature identifies outlines, texture areas and soft gradation areas of the image and then automatically optimizes the edges and detailed texture areas while using noise reduction to make the soft gradation areas smoother. There are three available strengths - low, standard and high.

Off (100% Crop)	Low (100% Crop)


Standard (100% Crop)	High (100% Crop)

Intelligent Dynamic

The Panasonic Lumix GH5's Intelligent Dynamic feature adjusts the exposure setting to record more detail in the highlights and shadows, with three strengths available - low, standard and high.

Off	Low


Standard	High

HDR

In the HDR mode the Panasonic Lumix GH5 combines 3 frames taken at different exposures to create a single image with increased dynamic range (JPEG only).

Off	On 1EV


On 2EV	On 3EV

Multiple Exposure

In the Multiple Exposure mode the Panasonic Lumix GH5 combines multiple frames to create a single image.

Photo Styles

Panasonic's Photo Styles, similar to Nikon's Picture Styles, Canon's Picture Controls and Olympus' Picture Modes, are preset combinations of different sharpness, contrast, saturation and noise reduction settings. The six available Photo Styles are shown below in the following series, which demonstrates the differences. There is also a Custom option so that you can create your own look.

Standard	Vivid


Natural	Monochrome


L.Monochrome	Scenery


Portrait	Cinelike V


Cinelike D

Filter Effects

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 has an extensive range of digital filter effects, denoted by an artist's palette in the shooting mode menu, with 22 different options on offer.

Expressive	Retro


Old Days	High Key


Low Key	Sepia


Monochrome	Dynamic Monochrome


Rough Monochrome	Silky Monochrome


Impressive Art	High Dynamic


Cross Process	Toy Effect


Toy Pop	Bleach Bypass


Miniature	Soft Focus


Fantasy	Star Filter


One Point Color	Sunshine

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Panasonic Lumix GH5 camera, which were all taken using the 20 megapixel Fine setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	5
Features	5
Ease-of-use	4.5
Image quality	5
Value for money	5

TYPE		Type	Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera
		Recording media	SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card (Compatible with UHS-I / UHS-II UHS Speed Class 3 standard SDHC / SDXC Memory Cards)
		Image sensor size	17.3 x 13.0 mm (in 4:3 aspect ratio)
		Lens mount	Micro Four Thirds mount
IMAGE SENSOR		Type	Live MOS Sensor
		Total pixels	21.77 Megapixels
		Camera effective pixels	20.30 Megapixels
		Color filter	Primary color filter
		Dust reduction system	Supersonic wave filter
IMAGE STABILIZATION SYSTEM			Image sensor shift type (5-axis / 5-stop), Dual I.S. (Dual I.S. 2 compatible)/ Based on the CIPA standard [Yaw/Pitch direction: focusing distance f=60mm (35mm camera equivalent f=120mm), when H-FS12060 is used.
RECORDING SYSTEM	Recording file format	Still image	JPEG (DCF, Exif 2.31), RAW
		6K PHOTO*1 / 4K PHOTO	6K PHOTO: MP4 (H.265/HEVC, Audio format: AAC (2ch))/4K PHOTO: MP4 (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, Audio format: AAC (2ch))
		Motion picture	MOV: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC (Audio format: LPCM (2ch 48kHz/16-bit, 48kHz/24-bit, 96kHz/24-bit)) *When attaching DMW-XLR1 (sold separately)./MP4: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC/AVCHD Progressive, AVCHD (Audio format: Dolby Audio 2ch)
	System frequency		59.94Hz, 50.00Hz, 24.00Hz
	Aspect ratio		4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1
	Image quality		RAW, RAW+Fine, RAW+Standard, Fine, Standard
	Color Space		sRGB, AdobeRGB
	File size(Pixels) -Still Image	4:3	5184x3888(L) / 3712x2784(M) / 2624x1968(S) / 4992x3744(6K PHOTO) / 3328x2496(4K PHOTO)
		3:2	5184x3456(L) / 3712x2480(M) / 2624x1752(S) / 5184x3456(6K PHOTO) / 3504x2336(4K PHOTO)
		16:9	5184x2920(L) / 3840x2160(M) / 1920x1080(S) / 3840x2160(4K PHOTO)
		1:1	3888x3888(L) / 2784x2784(M) / 1968x1968(S) / 2880x2880(4K PHOTO)
	File size (Pixels) -Motion picture	AVCHD Progressive2/ AVCHD2-59.94Hz	<[Full HD] 1920x1080> 59.94p, 28Mbps (LongGOP) (Dolby)/<[Full HD] 1920x1080> 59.94i, 24Mbps (LongGOP) (Dolby) (Sensor output is 29.97fps)/<[Full HD] 1920x1080> 59.94i, 17Mbps (LongGOP) (Dolby) (Sensor output is 59.94fps)/<[Full HD] 1920x1080> 23.98p, 24Mbps (LongGOP) (Dolby)
	File size (Pixels) -Motion picture	AVCHD Progressive2/ AVCHD2-50.00Hz	<[Full HD] 1920x1080> 50.00p, 28Mbps (LongGOP) (Dolby)/<[Full HD] 1920x1080> 50.00i, 24Mbps (LongGOP) (Dolby) (Sensor output is 25.00fps)/<[Full HD] 1920x1080> 50.00i, 17Mbps (LongGOP) (Dolby) (Sensor output is 50.00fps)
	Continuous recordable time (Motion picture)		AVCHD [FHD/60p]: Approx. 150 min (rear monitor), 150 min (LVF) with H-ES12060, Approx. 160 min (rear monitor), 150 min (LVF) with H-HSA12035 / H-FS12060/AVCHD [FHD/60i]: Approx. 150 min (rear monitor), 150 min (LVF) with H-ES12060, Approx. 160 min (rear monitor), 160 min (LVF) with H-HSA12035 / H-FS12060/MP4 [4K/60p]: Approx. 100 min (rear monitor), 100 min (LVF) with H-ES12060 / H-HSA12035 / H-FS12060/MP4 [4K/30p]: Approx. 110 min (rear monitor), 110 min (LVF) with H-ES12060 / H-HSA12035 / H-FS12060"
	Actual recordable time (Motion picture)		AVCHD [FHD/60p]: Approx. 75 min (rear monitor), 75 min (LVF) with H-ES12060, Approx. 80 min (rear monitor), 75 min (LVF) with H-HSA12035 / H-FS12060/AVCHD [FHD/60i]: Approx. 75 min (rear monitor), 75 min (LVF) with H-ES12060, Approx. 80 min (rear monitor), 80 min (LVF) with H-HSA12035 / H-FS12060/MP4 [4K/60p]: Approx. 50 min (rear monitor), 50 min (LVF) with H-ES12060 / H-HSA12035 / H-FS12060/MP4 [4K/30p]: Approx. 55 min (rear monitor), 55 min (LVF) with H-ES12060 / H-HSA12035 / H-FS12060
WIRELESS		WiFi	IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac * 5GHz Wi-Fi is not available in some countries./1-13, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140 ch
		QR Code Connection	Yes
		Password-less connection	Yes (ON / OFF selectable)
		Bluetooth	Bluetooth® v4.2 (Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE))
VIEWFINDER		Type	OLED Live View Finder (3,680k dots)
		Field of view	Approx. 100%
		Magnification	Approx. 1.52x / 0.76x (35mm camera equivalent) with 50 mm lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1
		Eye point	Approx. 21 mm from eyepiece lens
		Diopter adjustment	-4.0 - +3.0 (dpt)
		Eye sensor	Yes
		Eye sensor adjustment	High / Low
FOCUS		Type	Contrast AF system
		DFD technology	Yes
		Post Focus	Yes
		Focus Stacking	Yes
		Focus mode	AFS (Single) / AFF (Flexible) / AFC (Continuous) / MF
		AF mode	Face/Eye Detection / Tracking / 225-Area / Custom Multi / 1-Area / Pinpoint/(Full area touch is available) (Scalable AF frame size (by Joystick) and flexible AF position (by front/rear dial))
		AF detective range	EV -4 - 18 (ISO100 equivalent)
		AF assist lamp	Yes
		AF lock	Yes (AF/AE LOCK button)
		AF custom setting	AF Sensitivity, AF Area Switching Sensitivity, Moving Object Prediction
		Others	One Shot AF, Shutter AF, Half Press Release, Quick AF, Continuous AF (during motion picture recording), Eye Sensor AF, AF+MF, MF Assist, Touch MF Assist, Focus Peaking, Touch AF/AE Function, Touch Pad AF, Touch Shutter
EXPOSURE CONTROL		Light metering system	1,728-zone multi-pattern sensing system
		Light metering mode	Multiple / Center Weighted / Spot
		Metering range	EV0-18 （F2.0 lens, ISO100 equivalent)
		Exposure mode	Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual
		ISO sensitivity (Standard Output Sensitivity)	Still image: Auto / Intelligent ISO / 100 (Extended) / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 / 12800 / 25600 (Changeable to 1/3 EV step)/Creative Video Mode: Auto / 100 (Extended) / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 / 12800 (Changeable to 1/3 EV step)
		Exposure compensation	1/3 EV step ±5EV (±3EV for motion picture)
		AE lock	Yes (AF/AE LOCK button)
WHITE BALANCE		White balance	AWB / AWBc / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / incandescent / Flash / White Set 1, 2, 3, 4 / Color temperature setting 1, 2, 3, 4
		White balance adjustment	Blue/Amber bias, Magenta/Green bias
		Color temperature setting	2500-10000K in 100K
SHUTTER		Type	Focal-plane shutter
		Shutter speed	Still image: Bulb (Max. 30 minutes), 1/8,000 - 60/Electronic first curtain shutter: Bulb (Max. 30 minutes), 1/2,000 - 60/Electronic shutter: 1/16,000 - 1/Motion picture: 59.94Hz: 1/16,000 - 1/30, 50.00Hz: 1/16,000 - 1/25, 23.98Hz: 1/16,000 - 1/24 (When using Synchro Scan)
		Shutter life	Approx. 200,000 images
		Self timer	10sec, 3 images / 2sec / 10sec
		Remote control	Remote control with Bulb function by DMW-RSL1 (sold separately)
6K PHOTO*1 / 4K PHOTO		Burst speed	[6K PHOTO] 30 frames/sec/[4K PHOTO] 60 frames/sec, 30 frames/sec
		Exif information	Yes (Each JPEG image cropped out of the 4K burst file complies with EXIF.)
		Marking function	Yes (in 6K/4K Burst (S/S) mode)
		Loop rec function	Yes (in 6K/4K Burst (S/S) mode)
BRACKET		AE bracket	3, 5, 7 images in 1/3, 2/3 or 1 EV step, max. ±3 EV, single/burst
		Aperture Bracket	3, 5 or all positions in 1 EV step
		Focus Bracket	1 to 999 images, focus steps can be set in 5 levels
		White balance bracket	3 exposures in blue/amber axis or in magenta/green axis, color temperature setting
BURST SHOOTING		Burst speed	[Mechanical shutter] AFS/MF: H: 12 frames/sec, M: 7 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)/[Mechanical shutter] AFF/AFC: H: 9 frames/sec, M: 7 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)/[Electronic shutter] AFS/MF: H: 12 frames/sec, M: 7 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)/[Electronic shutter] AFF/AFC: H: 9 frames/sec, M: 7 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)
BURST SHOOTING		Number of recordable images	More than approx. 60 images (when there are RAW files with the particular speed)/More than approx. 600 images (when there are no RAW files)/(depending on memory card size, battery power, picture size, and compression)
FLASH		Flash type	TTL External Flash (sold separately)
		Flash Mode	Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off * For iA, iA+ only.
		Synchronization speed	Less than 1/250 second
		Flash output adjustment	1/3EV step ±3EV
		Flash synchronization	1st. Curtain Sync, 2nd Curtain Sync.
		Synchronization for flash dimming and exposure compensation	Yes
		Wireless control	Yes (When using DMW-FL200L / FL360L / FL580L (sold separately)), Wireless Channel: 1ch/2ch/3ch/4ch
		Flash sync socket	Yes
REAR MONITOR		Type	TFT LCD monitor with static touch control
		Monitor size	Free-angle 3.2-inch (8.0cm) / 3:2 aspect / Wide viewing angle
		Pixels	Approx. 1,620k dots
		Filed of view	Approx. 100%
		Monitor adjustment	Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Red-Green, Blue-Yellow
LIVE VIEW		Digital zoom	2x, 4x
		Extra Tele Conversion	Still image: Max. 2x/4K PHOTO: 1.6x (4:3), 1.5x (3:2), 1.4x (16:9, 1:1)/Motion picture: 2.7x (FHD), 1.4x (4K)
		Other functions	Level Gauge, Real-time Histogram, Guide Lines (3 patterns), Center Marker, Highlight display (Still image / motion picture), Zebra pattern (Still image / motion picture)
DIRECTION DETECTION FUNCTION		Direction Detection Function	Yes
FUNCTION BUTTON		Fn1-20	Wi-Fi / Q.MENU / LVF/Monitor Switch / LVF/Monitor Disp. Style / AF/AE LOCK / AF-ON / Preview / One Push AE / Touch AE / Level Gauge / Focus Area Set / Zoom Control / 1 Shot RAW+JPG / 1 Shot Spot Metering / Cursor Button Lock / Dial Operation Switch / Photo Style / Filter Select / Aspect Ratio / Picture Size / Quality / AFS/AFF / Metering Mode / Burst Rate / 6K/4K Photo / Self Timer / Bracket / Highlight Shadow / i. Dynamic / i. Resolution / HDR / Shutter Type / Flash Mode / Flash Adjust. / Wireless Setup (Flash) / Ex. Tele Conv. / Digital Zoom / Stabilizer Sensitivity / ON/OFF of each item in White Balance / ON/OFF of each item in Photo Style / AF Mode/MF / Rec/Playback Switch / Off / 4K Live Crop / Motion Pic. Set / Picture Mode / Variable Frame Rate / Picture Mode / Synchro Scan / Time Code Display / Mic. Directivity Adjust / Color Bars / WFM/Vector Scope / LUT Monitor Display* / LUT HDMI Display* / Focus Transition / Silent Mode / Peaking / Histogram / Guide Line / Zebra Pattern / Monochrome Live View / Rec Area / Video-Priority Display / Step Zoom / Zoom Speed / Restore to Default *Upgrade Software Key DMW-SFU1 (sold separately) is required.
PHOTO STYLE		Photo Style	Standard / Vivid / Natural / Monochrome / L. Monochrome / Scenery / Portrait / Custom 1, 2, 3, 4 / Cinelike D / Cinelike V / Like709* / V-LogL//When Creative Video Mode is selected. **Upgrade Software Key DMW-SFU1 (sold separately) is required.
CREATIVE CONTROL		Creative Control	Expressive / Retro / Old Days / High Key / Low Key / Sepia / Monochrome / Dynamic Monochrome / Rough Monochrome* / Silky Monochrome* / Impressive Art / High Dynamic / Cross Process / Toy Effect / Toy Pop / Bleach Bypass / Miniature Effect** / Soft Focus* / Fantasy / Star Filter* / One Point Color / Sunshine* For photos only. *Not available in 4:2:2 10-bit video or 4K video recording.
CREATIVE VIDEO MODE	Exposure mode		Program AE/ Aperture-Priority / Sutter-Priority / Manual Exposure
	Variable frame rate	59.94Hz	2, 30, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 90, 120, 150, 180 fps/ 2, 15, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 45, 60 fps/ 2, 15, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165, 180 fps/ 2, 12, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 36, 48, 60 fps/ 2, 12, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, 120, 132, 144, 156, 168, 180 fps
		50.00Hz	2, 25, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 75, 100, 150, 180 fps/ 2, 12, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 37, 60 fps/ 2, 12, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 37, 50, 62, 75, 87, 100, 125, 150, 175, 180 fps
		24.00Hz	2, 12, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 36, 48, 60 fps/ 2, 12, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, 120, 132, 144, 156, 168, 180 fps
MOTION PICTURE FUNCTION		LUT display	LUT Monitor Display / LUT HDMI Display *Upgrade Software Key DMW-SFU1 (sold separately) is required.
		Master pedestal level	31 steps
		Luminance level	8-bit: 0-255 / 16-235 / 16-255/10-bit: 0‒1023 / 64‒940 / 64‒1023
		Wave form monitor / Vectorscope	Selectable
		Synchro scan	Yes
		Time code	Count Up: Rec Run/Free Run selectable, Time Code Mode: Drop frame/Non-drop frame selectable (When system frequency [59.94Hz] is selected.)
		SS/Gain operation	Shutter Duration/ISO / Angle/ISO / Shutter Duration/dB
		Color bars / 1kHz test tone	Yes (SMPTE / EBU / ARIB) / Yes
		Photo style for motion picture	Cinelike D / Cinelike V / Like709* / V-LogL//When Creative Video Mode is selected. **Upgrade Software Key DMW-SFU1 (sold separately) is required.
		Knee control	Yens (in Like709 mode)
PLAYBACK		Playback mode	30-thumbnail display, 12-thumbnail display, Calendar display, Zoomed playback (Max. 16x), Slideshow (All / Picture Only / Video Only, duration & effect is selectable), Playback Mode (Normal / Picture Only / Video Only), Location Logging, RAW Processing, 4K PHOTO Bulk Saving, Light Composition, Clear Retouch, Title Edit, Text Stamp, Video Divide, Time Lapse Video, Stop Motion Video, Resize, Cropping, Rotate, Rotation Display, Favorite, DPOF Print Set, Protect, Face Recognition Edit, Picture Sort, Creating Still Pictures from a Motion Picture
IMAGE PROTECTION / ERASE		Protection	Single / Multi or Cancel
IMAGE PROTECTION / ERASE		Erase	Single / Multi / All / Except Favorite
PRINT		Direct Print	PictBridge compatible
INTERFACE	Headphone output		φ3.5mm for headphone
	USB		USB Type-C, Super Speed USB3.1 GEN1
	HDMI*3	Monitor-through	4:2:2 8-bit/4:2:2 10-bit (When [4K/60p] [4K/50p] mode is selected, it is not possible to record motion picture or still picture on the SD memory card in the camera unit.)/Auto / C4K / 4K / 1080p/Information display ON/OFF (selectable)/Automatic down-conversion (4K --> 1080p only)
	HDMI*3	Playback	HDMI TypeA / VIERA Link, Audio: Stereo/59.94Hz: Auto / 4K/60p / 4K/30p / 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 480p/50.00Hz: Auto / 4K/50p / 4K/25p / 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 576p/24.00Hz: Auto / C4K / 4K/24p / 1080p
	Audio video output		No
	Remote input		φ2.5mm for remote
	External microphone input		φ3.5mm for external microphone/Stereo/Lens Auto/Shotgun/Super Shotgun/Manual is selectable when attaching DMW-MS2 (sold separately).
	Microphone		Stereo, Wind Noise Canceller: OFF / Low / Standard / High / AUTO
	Speaker		Monaural
	SD card slot		Slot 1, Slot 2
LANGUAGE		OSD language	Japanese, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish
POWER		Battery	Li-ion Battery Pack (7.2V, 1860mAh, 14Wh) (included)
		Battery life (CIPA standard)	Approx. 410 images (rear monitor), 400 images (LVF), 1,000 images (Power Save LVF mode) with H-FS12060/Approx. 410 images (rear monitor), 390 images (LVF), 1,000 images (Power Save LVF mode) with H-HSA12035/Approx. 400 images (rear monitor), 380 images (LVF), 1,000 images (Power Save LVF mode) with H-ES12060/ Under the test conditions specified by Panasonic based on CIPA standard. When the time to get in the sleep mode is set to 3 sec.
		Battery grip	DMW-BGGH5 (sold separately)
DIMENSIONS / WEIGHT		Dimensions (W x H x D)	138.5 x 98.1 x 87.4 mm / 5.45 x 3.86 x 3.44 inch (excluding protrusions)
DIMENSIONS / WEIGHT		Weight	Approx. 725g / 1.60 lb (SD card, Battery, Body)/Approx. 645g / 1.42 lb (Body only)/Approx. 935g / 2.06 lb (SD card x 1, Battery, H-FS12060 lens included)/Approx. 1030g / 2.27 lb (SD card x 1, Battery, H-HSA12035 lens included)/Approx. 1045g / 2.30 lb (SD card x 1, Battery, H-ES12060 lens included)
OPERATING ENVIRONMENT		Operating temperature*5	-10℃ to 40℃ (14°F to 104°F)
OPERATING ENVIRONMENT		Operating humidity	10%RH to 80％RH
STANDARD ACCESSORIES		Software	・ The software to edit and playback images on computer is not bundled with this camera. To do this, PHOTOfunSTUDIO 10.0XE is available for download at Panasonic website using computer connected to the Internet. http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/soft/download/d_pfs99pe.html (For Windows) ・ The software to process RAW file on computer is not bundled with this camera. To do this, SILKYPIX Developer Studio is available for download at Ichikawa Soft Laboratory's website using computer connected to the Internet. http://www.isl.co.jp/SILKYPIX/english/p/ (For Windows / Mac)
STANDARD ACCESSORIES		Standard accessories	Battery Charger (AC Cable included), Battery Pack, Body Cap, Hot Shoe Cover, Eye Cup, Flash Syncro Socket Cap, Cover for the Battery Grip Connector, USB Connection Cable, Shoulder Strap, Cable Holder, Lens Cap, Lens Hood, Lens Rear Cap/Included with DC-GH5L kit, DC-GH5A kit and DC-GH5M kit.
INTERCHANGEABLE LENS-1	Weatherproof		Splash/Dust/Freezeproof
	Lens Name		LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 12-60mm / F2.8-4.0 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S.
	Lens Construction		14 elements in 12 groups (4 aspherical lenses, 2 ED lenses)
	Nano Surface Coating		Yes
	Mount		Micro Four Thirds mount
	Optical Image Stabilizer		Yes (POWER O.I.S.)
	Focal Length		f=12-60mm (35mm camera equivalent 24-120mm)
	Aperture Type		9 diaphragm blades / Circular aperture diaphragm
	Maximum Aperture		F2.8 (Wide) - F4.0 (Tele)
	Minimum Aperture		F22
	Closest Focusing Distance		0.20m/0.66ft (at focal length 12mm) / 0.24m/0.79ft (at focal length 60mm)
	Maximum magnification		Approx. 0.3x / 0.6x (35mm camera equivalent)
	Diagonal Angle of View		84°(Wide) - 20°(Tele)
	General	Filter Size	φ62mm / 2.44inch
		Max. Diameter	φ68.4mm / 2.69inch
		Overall Length	Approx. 86mm / 3.39inch (from the tip of the lens to the base side of the lens mount)
		Weight [g]	Approx. 320g (excluding lens cap, lens rear cap and lens hood)
		Weight [oz]	Approx. 11.29oz (excluding lens cap, lens rear cap and lens hood)
NOTE			*1 6K PHOTO is a high speed burst shooting function that cuts a still image out of a 4:3 or 3:2 video footage with approx. 18-megapixel (approx. 6000 x 3000 effective pixel count) that the 6K image manages.
NOTE			*2 About motion picture recording / 6K PHOTO/4K PHOTO recording
NOTE			- Use a card with SD Speed Class with "Class 4" or higher when recording motion pictures in [AVCHD] or [MP4(under 28Mbps)].
NOTE			- Use a card with SD Speed Class with "UHS-I / UHS-II UHS Speed Class 3 (U3)" when recording motion pictures with [mov], [MP4] in [4K] or [6K PHOTO/4K PHOTO].
NOTE			(SD speed class is the speed standard regarding continuous writing.)
NOTE			- MP4 motion pictures with [MP4] in [4K]:
NOTE			- When using an SDHC memory card: You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB, but the motion picture file will be divided and recorded/played back separately.
NOTE			- When using an SDXC memory card: You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 96 GB or 3 hours 4 minutes in length, but the motion picture file will be divided and recorded/played back separately.
NOTE			- MP4 motion pictures with [MP4] in [FHD]:
NOTE			- You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB or 30 minutes in length, but the motion picture file will be divided and recorded/played back separately.
NOTE			*3 For [4K 60p] video output, use an HDMI2.0 cable that has the HDMI logo on it, and that is described as"4K compatible".
NOTE			*4 High-res audio is selectable only when using the DMW-XLR1 (sold separately).
NOTE			*5 The camera may stop recording when used in lower or higher than recommended operating temperature: -10 to 40 degrees.
NOTE			・4:2:2 10-bit recording is a recording mode for film production and the video needs to be processed on PC. The original video cannot be played on standard TV, Blu-ray Disc™ recorder and Blu-ray Disc™ player. It may cause problems such as freezing when played on these devices.

Panasonic Lumix GH5 Review

Latest Reviews

Introduction

Ease of Use

Image Quality

Noise

File Quality

Night

Image Stabilisation

Post Focus and Focus Stacking

Intelligent Resolution

Intelligent Dynamic

HDR

Multiple Exposure

Photo Styles

Filter Effects

Sample Images

Sample RAW Images

Sample Movies & Video

Product Images

Conclusion

Main Rivals

Review Roundup

Specifications

Your Comments