Panasonic just announced their latest entry in the Lumix division – the Lumix DC-G9 mirrorless camera. According to Panasonic, the G9 is the “…highest picture quality in the history of LUMIX cameras”. Other big features include an advanced Body I.S. (Image Stabilizer) and Dual I.S. making it possible to use 6.5-stop slower shutter speed.
According to Panasonic, this is achieved by a more accurate calculation of shake in various shooting conditions, utilizing information of angular velocity and motion vector acquired not only from the gyro-sensor but also from the image sensor and accelerometer sensor.
Clearly positioned towards the wildlife and sports photography market, the new Panasonic Lumix G9 also boasts outstanding tracking performance and high-speed, high-precision AF.
Panasonic is even calling the G9, their “new flagship Compact System Camera”, in reference to its photographic prowess. The G9 builds on the Panasonic GH5’s still performance with a 20.3-megapixel Digital Live MOS Sensor without low-pass filter.
For all you photographers out there, who care about big megapixel images, Panasonic have implemented a High Resolution mode that provides stunning 80-megapixel equivalent images in JPEG /RAW formats in the camera, which uses some strange camera voodoo to move sensor around and capture 8 images that are stitched together to arrive at one really big 80 Megapixel image. The Venus Engine renders high-precision yet natural images with its Multi-pixel Luminance Generation and Intelligent Detail Processing.
But what about video? Well, you do get 4K/60p (UHD really) and 180fps in Full HD, but the are no 10bit modes as on the Panasonic GH5, so for those of you looking to get the G9 primarily for video you may stick to your GH5 if colour depth and Anamorphic shooting modes are your preference – you won’t find those in the G9. There is no LOG option as well (at least there is no mention of a V-Log license available for the camera, so I am assuming that there isn’t one available).
There is a swivel touchscreen though, and a top graphic display similar to that of a DSLR.
The combo of 5-axis IBIS and a 2-axis O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), the 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 in the LUMIX G9 compensates for larger movements that were conventionally uncontrollable. Maximizing both O.I.S and B.I.S. is highly beneficial in telephoto shots and in adverse situations, such as at night or with one-handed shooting.
The 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 works for both photo and motion picture recording, including 4K video.
Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 Features
- 20.3MP Four Thirds (5184 x 3888) MOS Sensor
- Venus Engine Image Processor
- UHD 4K/60p Video
- Cinelike-V and D
- No V-Log option
- 8bit 4:2:0 MP4
- Clean 8bit 422 output via HDMI
- 80MP High-Res Shot Mode
- 5-Axis Sensor Stabilization; Dual I.S. 2
- 0.83x 3.68m-Dot OLED Viewfinder
- 3.0″ 1.04m-Dot Free-Angle Touchscreen
- Top Status LCD; Rear Joystick
- Advanced DFD AF System;
- 6K PHOTO
- ISO 25600 and 60 fps Continuous Shooting
- 2 x UHS-II SD Slots
- Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
- Price: $1,698 (B&H, Adorama)
- Availability: January 2018
Those of you itching to get the Lumix DC-G9 for some wildlife photography, should definitely check out the video below:
The Lumix DC-G9 also features the fastest-in-class AF – 20 fps (AFC)/60 fps (AFS) in 20.3-megapixel full resolution mode. The AF systems is still Contrast Detect based, nevertheless the performance showed from the Lumix promo videos is impressive.
The G9 also has the largest-in-class LVF (Live View Finder) with a stunningly high magnification ratio of approx. 1.66x/0.83x (35mm camera equivalent) and no blackouts occur even in high-speed burst shooting Night mode and an AF Point Scope function are also integrated.
Thanks to the OLED in the LVF, the G9 achieves a smooth display at 120 fps and high speed response with minimum lag of less than 0.005 sec as well as 10,000:1 high contrast for exceptional visibility.
The new Lumix DC-G9 is expected to ship in January 2018 and is currently priced at around $1700 USD.
Panasonic also announced a new 200mm f/2.8 super-telephoto lens – the LEICA DG ELMARIT 200mm f/2.8 POWER O.I.S. And due to the inherent size of the MFT system, you get a 400mm equivalent.
The new telephoto lens boasts the sharpest-ever corner to corner image quality in LUMIX G CSC (Compact System) camera history and features a fast constant aperture lens in a compact, lightweight design, and thanks to the O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilizer) enables handheld super-telephoto shooting.
The lens is comprised of 15 elements in 13 groups, featuring two UED (Ultra Extra-low Dispersion) lenses. The use of UED lenses and the crystallization of Panasonic cutting-edge optical technology helps achieve high resolution, high contrast corner to corner images while suppressing distortion and chromatic aberration.
The new Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f2.8 is priced at $2,998 and expected to ship in January 2018.
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10 minute recording limit in 4k/60p. Well done, Panasonic. Thats what I get when I pay exactly as much as the GH5 is costing at the moment?