Although the Panasonic GH3 has a strong reputation for being an excellent small system camera for recording video, its ability to take still photographs has received less attention than its video recording capabilities. Even though its capacity to record 4K video is the feature that garners the most attention, Panasonic is banking on the GH4’s prowess as a stills camera in the hopes that this will be its primary selling point.
The business has devoted a significant amount of time and effort to enhancing the GH3 for the GH4. The new top-of-the-line camera comes with a comprehensive list of capabilities that have either been added or improved.
Even though the sensor is brand new, the number of pixels it contains has remained the same—16.05 million. This may come as a surprise to some people.
Panasonic Lumix GH4 Features
The brand-new Digital Live MOS sensor from Panasonic boasts 16.05 million pixels, and the company has paired it with the Venus Engine IX CPU. This is a new processing engine; the Panasonic GX7 uses the Venus Engine VIII, whereas the Panasonic GH3 utilizes the VII iteration of the engine. Panasonic claims that, as a result, the image quality produced by the GH4 is superior to that of any other camera in the G-series.
The processing power required to play back a 4K movie is relatively high because each frame has four times as many pixels as a Full HD video. As a direct result, the Venus Engine IX CPU has four cores. In addition, the readout speed of the sensor is up to 200Mb/s, which is twice as fast as the GH3’s speed.
Panasonic Lumix GH4 Build Quality
The GH4 and the GH3 are nearly comparable in terms of the control arrangement, size, and weight, and there are very few discernible variations between the two in terms of the look of the camera.
The eye cup that surrounds the electronic viewfinder (EVF) on the GH4 is somewhat more significant than it was on previous models. This allows it to provide a bit more shade, for instance, while shooting in direct sunshine. In addition, there is a lock button in the middle of the mode dial that may be used to prevent the mode dial from being accidentally turned.
This form of lock, which can be locked and unlocked with a simple click, is our favorite option since it eliminates the need to hold the button while turning the dial.
On the top plate of the camera, next to the drive mode dial, there is now a new Time Lapse Shot option that may be selected. You have the option of delaying the start of the time-lapse recording by up to 23 hours and 59 minutes or setting it to begin immediately.
The recording period can also be adjusted anywhere between one second and ninety-nine minutes and 59 seconds, with a maximum of nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine pictures being conceivable.
The magnesium alloy body of the GH4 continues to be dust- and splash-proof, much like its predecessors. It has the same satisfying weight to it as the camera it supersedes. However, Panasonic has improved the GH4’s endurance by increasing the number of cycles its shutter can withstand to 200,000, which is twice as many as the GH3’s maximum.
Panasonic Lumix GH4 Performance
The GH4 can produce photographs that, on the whole, have a great appearance, including acceptable exposure, pleasant contrast, natural colors, and adequate detail.
When zoomed in to 100% on the screen, it is possible to observe that specific JPEG photographs do not have precisely the same level of fine detail or micro contrast that we see from other cameras. Still, when seen at reasonable viewing sizes, they appear to be of excellent quality.
Raw files taken concurrently typically contain more detail than other file types. When the sensitivity is increased, there is also an increase in the amount of noise, but this can be dealt with on an image-by-image basis to get a decent outcome.
However, at higher sensitivity settings, detail is not kept nearly as well as it is by other cameras, such as the Fuji X-T1, for example. However, noise is well controlled across the whole sensitivity range.
JPEGs appear up to around ISO 3200 when viewed at 100% on-screen. Above this point, there is a discernible increase in a softer quality.
Raw files feature chroma noise that is evident at 100% from roughly ISO 800 onward, although it is within acceptable limits and, as was indicated before, may be reduced as necessary.
Panasonic Lumix GH4 Image Quality
During this evaluation, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 generated photographs of exceptionally high quality. It can produce pictures devoid of noise from ISO 100 to 1600, after which it creates some noise (although very little) from ISO 3200. While the ISO 6400 and 12800 settings produce pretty noticeable noise and a loss of fine information, the ISO 25600 option, which is the fastest, seems far better on paper than in practice.
The images were a little soft right out of the camera with the default level of sharpening, and they need additional sharpening in an application like Adobe Photoshop. Alternatively, if you don’t like the default results, you can change the setting in the camera itself.
You can quickly customize the look of the camera’s JPEG photographs before you capture them by using the numerous Photo Styles and Creative Controls. Meanwhile, the Intelligent D-range and HDR modes pull more detail out of the shadow and highlight areas.
Panasonic Lumix GH4 Specs
| Body type | SLR-style mirrorless |
|---|---|
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 4608 x 3456 |
| Other resolutions | 4608 x 3072, 4608 x 2592, 3456 x 3456, 3264 x 2448, 3264 x 2176, 2448 x 2448, 2336 x 1752, 2356 x 1560, 1920 x 1080, 1744 x 1744, 1824 x 1368, 1824 x 1216, 1824 x 1024, 1712 x 1712 |
| Image ratio w:h | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 16 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 17 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | Venus Engine IX |
| Color space | sRGB, AdobeRGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 200-25600 |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 100 |
| White balance presets | 5 |
| Custom white balance | Yes (4 spots) |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Fine, standard |
| File format | JPEG (DCF, Exif 2.3)RAW (RW2)MPO |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Multi-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View |
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Digital zoom | Yes (2x, 4x) |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 49 |
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Focal length multiplier | 2× |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fully articulated |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,036,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | OLED |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 1.34× (0.67× 35mm equiv.) |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,359,000 |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 60 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 sec |
| Exposure modes | ProgramShutter priorityAperture priorityManual |
| Built-in flash | Yes |
| Flash range | 17.00 m (at ISO 200) |
| External flash | Yes (via hotshoe or PC sync) |
| Flash modes | Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/250 sec |
| Drive modes | Single-shot, continuous, bracketing, self-timer, interval |
| Continuous drive | 12.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs (single or three-shot)) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedSpot |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±3 (3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes (3 exposures in blue/amber or magenta/green axis) |
| Videography features | |
| Resolutions | 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (24p, 25p, 30p), 1920 x 1080 (24p, 25p, 30p, 50p, 60p), 1280 x 720 (24p, 25p, 30p), 640 x 480 (25p, 30p) |
| Format | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
| Videography notes | Supports IBP and ALL-Intra codecs; 1080p data rates up to 200 Mbps |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (micro-HDMI) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | Yes |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n, WPA/WPA2, WPS, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Remote control | Yes (via DMW-RSL1 wired remote) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | DMW-BLF19 lithium-ion battery and charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 500 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 560 g (1.23 lb / 19.75 oz) |
| Dimensions | 133 x 93 x 84 mm (5.24 x 3.66 x 3.31″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes |
| GPS | None |
Panasonic Lumix GH4 Verdict
Panasonic may want to market the GH4 as a stills camera. Still, the fact that it’s the first small system camera that can shoot 4K video means it’s already caught the attention of passionate videographers.
The manufacturer has also improved the camera’s video functionality by adding focus peaking and zebras. Both of these features can be helpful to photographers who take still images, but they were first developed for use in the video.
In addition, there is a component known as the Interface Unit, which enables serious and professional video shooters to construct a professional rig around the camera at a much lower price than is often required.
Panasonic Lumix GH4 Pros & Cons
- 4k video recording
- Rugged construction with a shutter life of 200,000 cycles
- Attaining maximum focus
- A sensor that is smaller than an APS-C format
- ‘Just’ 16Mp