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In a rising development of cameras made for content material creators, the Panasonic G9 II is a digicam that places nonetheless photos first. Whereas video is obtainable, the options that interfered with nonetheless photos — just like the cumbersome fan — are axed to prioritize stills. Consequently, the G9 II gives higher weather-sealing, extra stabilization, cleaner excessive ISO photos, and a much-improved autofocus system over the hybrid-focused Panasonic GH6.
The G9 II is well the very best Micro 4 Thirds digicam that Panasonic has made up to now. For stills, it’s a much better alternative than the GH6, although the OM System OM-1 nonetheless has the highest autofocus and excessive ISO efficiency.
However, shouldn’t Micro 4 Thirds ought to come at a cheaper price level and in a smaller physique than a full body? That’s not the case right here, as Panasonic’s S5 II is barely $100 extra and some ounces lighter. Positive, the G9 II has higher stabilization and extra telephoto lenses, however the slim value distinction will push some Panasonic followers in direction of the S5 II as an alternative.
The Large Image
With options designed particularly for stills, the Panasonic G9 II is the very best Micro 4 Thirds physique that Panasonic has made but. The physique boasts each consolation and sturdiness. The stabilization is a formidable eight stops. Pace is a fast 60 fps or 10 fps with the mechanical shutter with pre-burst. RAW photos are a bit cleaner than on the GH6. And the very best half? Panasonic’s Micro 4 Thirds lastly has hybrid part detection autofocus.
There’s rather a lot to like on the Panasonic G9 II. However, whereas the autofocus is leaps and bounds forward of the GH6, the Animal Eye AF falls behind opponents and frustratingly delivers plenty of misses. Motion photographs, too, aren’t fairly pretty much as good as different manufacturers. However maybe the most important sticking level is that the price of the physique is barely $100 lower than the Panasonic S5 II, which gives cleaner photos and extra light-gathering energy from a sensor that’s twice as huge. The photographers drawn to the G9 II as an alternative of the S5 II are those that actually prioritize the telephoto attain.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ranking: 4 out of 5.
I’m giving the Panasonic G9 II 4 out of 5 stars.
Professionals
Snug grip
Higher climate sealing than GH6 because of lack of fan
Improved hybrid part detection autofocus system
Low gentle autofocus is sweet, with publicity preview off
60 fps AF-C bursts with digital shutter, 10 fps with mechanical shutter
As much as three seconds of pre-burst
As much as 8 stops of picture stabilization
The Leica monochrome profile is attractive
100-megapixel handheld high-res mode
Extra versatile RAW recordsdata than the GH6
The guarantee is three years, reasonably than the extra typical one-year
Cons
Video is restricted to round 40 minutes, not like the GH6
Whereas improved, AF nonetheless lags behind the most important opponents
Animal eye AF is irritating
Greatest stored at ISO 6400 or much less
Full body S5 II is barely $100 extra
Gear Used
I examined the Panasonic G9 II with the Panasonic Leica 12-35mm f2.8 and the Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f4-6.3. Each the physique and lenses are on short-term mortgage from Panasonic.
Improvements
With greater than 5 years between the G9 and G9 II, the 2023 launch has a number of updates. The largest adjustments, as we shared in our G9 II preview, are:
An up to date 25.2-megapixel sensor, the identical as within the GH6
An 8-stop physique IS and seven.5-stop twin IS system, a soar from 6.5 stops
A hybrid part detection autofocus system with 779 factors
Automotive and Motorbike detection autofocus added
60 fps digital shutter and 10 fps burst mechanical shutter with steady autofocus and pre-burst settings of .5, 1.0 or 1.5 seconds
100 megapixel excessive res handheld in comparison with 80
A decrease base ISO of 100 (ISO 50 prolonged)
An up to date decision for the Vari-Angle LCD at 1,840k dots
Up to date ports, together with USB-C and synch socket
Ergonomics
If I had to decide on between the design of the GH6 and the G9 II, I’d positively select the G9 II. The Panasonic G9 II is a extra comfy digicam, whereas the GH6 is a bit oddly formed. Right here’s the tour of the digicam from our Panasonic G9 II preview:
Photographers accustomed to Panasonic cameras will discover themselves proper at dwelling with the G9 II. Whereas the digicam has an extended listing of enhancements over its predecessor, the ergonomics stay comparatively unchanged from the G9. The digicam makes use of the identical chassis because the S5 Mark II, so the G9 II feels just like Panasonic’s full-frame our bodies as effectively — in actual fact, the G9 II weighs barely greater than the full-frame S5 II which Panasonic says is as a result of stabilization unit contained in the G9 II. It weighs the identical as the unique G9, and the scale are off by just a few millimeters.
Like the unique, the Panasonic G9 II has a extremely pretty grip. My fingers can wrap all the way in which round it, which makes it a extra comfy maintain, even when working with heavier telephoto lenses. My thumb and index finger relaxation proper close to the twin management wheels on the prime of the grip. The highest additionally homes shortcut buttons for white stability, ISO, publicity compensation, and document, with dials for each the mode and drive mode.
A gaggle of autofocus buttons relaxation close to the thumb relaxation on the again. A spotlight mode change wraps round an AF space mode button. Subsequent to that’s an AF joystick—which may additionally transfer diagonally, not like the 4-way joystick on the unique G9—and the AF on button. Beneath that may be a set of menu buttons and controls. After leaping over the viewfinder, you’ll see playback and viewfinder buttons. The 1840k dot monitor flips out to the aspect for vari-angle viewing. The viewfinder boasts a 3680k dot decision and, in digital shutter mode, doesn’t black out between bursts.
The grip aspect of the digicam homes two SD card slots and a distant management port whereas the other aspect has a financial institution of ports for a mic, headphones, HDMI, and USB. The entrance of the digicam homes two shortcut buttons between the mount and the grip. The battery door is situated on the underside of the digicam (the G9 II makes use of the identical battery because the S5).
Construct High quality
The place the GH6 is designed for content material creators, the G9 II is designed for nonetheless photographers. Sure, the G9 II nonetheless shoots video, however the video options that interfered with photograph options have been paired again. Probably the most vital distinction is that the G9 II doesn’t have a built-in fan. This implies it will probably’t document a one-hour video with out stopping, but it surely does make the G9 II extra ergonomic, go away room for higher stabilization, and provide a bit higher weather-sealing.
I shot with the Panasonic G9 II in some gentle rain and, simply to make certain, additionally gave the digicam a reasonably good splash from the sink. The digicam continued to operate usually. Whereas mud and splash resistance is frequent, Panasonic additionally calls this physique freeze-resistant. (The climate didn’t ship any sub-zero temperatures to check the digicam in initially, nonetheless.)
Whereas the G9 II doesn’t have the metallic really feel of some digicam our bodies, it nonetheless feels good within the arms. It doesn’t have that overly low-cost plastic really feel.
One factor the imaging business doesn’t speak a lot about is warranties. However, that’s price noting right here as a result of Panasonic gives a three-year prolonged guarantee, the place one yr tends to be extra frequent.
Ease of Use
Panasonic’s 4K and 6K photograph modes have been phased out — however with digital shutter capturing as much as 60 fps with steady autofocus, most of these modes received’t be missed. (The exception is the power to decide on the main target level later, however Submit Focus was a bit gimmicky.) The digital burst is loads quick — and in lots of circumstances, too quick as a result of culling via 60 fps bursts isn’t significantly an pleasing course of. The mechanical shutter bursts of 10 fps are extra my velocity and nonetheless loads quick sufficient for many topics.
Regardless of missing the 4K photograph modes, pre-burst continues to be a part of the G9 II. With this setting on, the digicam will begin capturing photos when the shutter is barely half pressed, as much as 1.5 seconds earlier than totally urgent the shutter. That’s a useful device that helps keep away from lacking that decisive second with energetic topics.
One other perk to the G9 II is that via these quick bursts and pre-bursts in digital shutter mode, the viewfinder received’t black out. That lets photographers see what’s taking place reasonably than that view being interrupted by flashes because the shutter strikes up and down.
Dwell Composite
In contrast to the GH6, the G9 II consists of Dwell Composite. This mode layers light-painting photos collectively and makes it potential to deal with issues like star trails and excessive lengthy exposures in digicam. Dwell Composite is way simpler than creating star trails in Photoshop and can also be massively useful for gentle portray.
Handheld
One other tally within the Panasonic G9 II’s execs column is the stabilization, rated for as much as eight stops. That’s sufficient to shoot handheld waterfalls with movement blur on a wide-angle lens. That additionally is useful, making the most of the 2x crop issue with telephoto lenses.
The menu will likely be acquainted to any photographer who has shot with Panasonic. The tabs are moderately effectively organized. Plus, the menu is touch-sensitive as effectively.
My solely criticism in regards to the usability of the Panasonic G9 II is that the digicam is pretty sluggish to start out up. Most cameras will boot up instantly, however the G9 II takes lengthy sufficient that I begin questioning if the battery died earlier than the display screen flashes to life. It’s sufficient of a delay that photographers might not need to energy off the digicam to preserve battery life as actually because it may imply lacking a fast shot.
Autofocus
The autofocus on the Panasonic G9 II is leaps and bounds forward of the GH6. With the G9 II, Panasonic has lastly migrated to a hybrid part detection system. There was a noticeable distinction after I went from utilizing the Panasonic Leica 100-400mm on the G9ii and the GH6. Photographing my canine working straight for the digicam, the G9 II had a 70 p.c hit fee, whereas the GH6 solely had two photographs that have been really in focus.
Whereas the autofocus is a large enchancment over older Panasonic our bodies, it’s nonetheless just a few steps behind the quickest cameras from Canon and Sony. With the wiggle room supplied by an f6.3 aperture on Micro 4 Thirds, I’d have anticipated that hit fee to be a bit larger. Sure, 70 p.c continues to be usable, but it surely’s not nice both.
The Panasonic G9 II has each human and eye AF. However, the animal eye AF was a irritating expertise. Animal eye AF is inconsistent, at greatest. The digicam appeared to do a reasonably good job of finding the eyes and drawing that little inexperienced field round the suitable space of the picture. However, in scenes with objects like leaves or grass between the digicam and the topic, the digicam typically targeted on the leaves, regardless of that inexperienced field suggesting that the digicam was correctly targeted.
There have been even just a few situations the place there wasn’t something between me and the chook, but the digicam frustratingly wasn’t targeted in any respect, and even refocusing didn’t work. I consider this was partially because of utilizing steady autofocus. When the chook occurs to remain nonetheless on the department, steady AF goes to trigger plenty of errors. Sure, that’s what the totally different AF modes are for. However, some manufacturers like Canon are in a position to just do superb in the identical state of affairs with out continually swapping forwards and backwards between single and steady autofocus. The animal eye AF wants some work for certain — hopefully, firmware helps enhance this function.
On folks, eye AF appeared to work a bit higher. Nevertheless, the attention AF doesn’t work as effectively on profile photographs. Some digicam’s eye and face detection work with profiles and even amazingly on the again of a head, however the G9 ii isn’t one among them. The attention AF right here is simply okay.
The G9 II provides topic detection for automobiles and bikes as effectively. On automobiles, the detection was adequate that it may discover and seize a automotive that was solely within the body for a second or two. It additionally labored effectively at selecting up the entrance of a automotive in addition to the aspect view.
Within the technical specs, the -4 EV isn’t the very best low-light ranking that I’ve seen. However the digicam appeared to focus fairly shortly in restricted gentle. The digicam focuses quickest in low gentle with the publicity preview off. A built-in AF-assist gentle helps with the low-light situations as effectively. I used to be pleasantly stunned at how effectively the G9 II did, focusing in a darkish room.
Metering
Following the Sunny 16 rule, the built-in meter on the Panasonic G9 II measured precisely within the center the place it ought to. I didn’t have points utilizing partially automated publicity modes or the meter.
Picture high quality
Panasonic has some nice coloration profiles on their cameras — plus the power to make use of LUTs — however my favourite a part of taking pictures with the G9 II is the brand new Leica Monochrome coloration profile. I like Leica’s black and white, and the G9 II brings a beautiful high-contrast monochrome and not using a high-end price ticket. However, coloration on different profiles continues to be a spotlight right here, too, and, in good lighting, I used to be loads pleased with the un-retouched JPEGs.
Leica Monochrome
The Panasonic G9 II homes the identical picture sensor because the GH6, but it processes these photos a bit otherwise. As a result of the GH6 is designed as a hybrid photo-video digicam, the dynamic vary increase doesn’t come into play till ISO 800 and above. On the G9 II, the digicam exposes two circuits concurrently for a type of in-camera HDR with out ghosting with out being restricted to larger ISOs. The digicam has sufficient dynamic vary to get better some underexposed shadows in submit with out too many enhancing artifacts.
When photographers need a larger decision, handheld high-resolution photos now boast as much as 100 megapixels for a file that’s greater than 11,000 on the widest aspect. This permits for extra cropping and element. As a result of the mode makes use of the stabilization system, these photos can sometimes undergo from digicam shake. This mode additionally takes up much more time than a typical single shot.
Is the G9 II going to supply the identical dynamic vary or excessive ISO efficiency as a full body? No, however the Panasonic G9 II delivers fairly spectacular photos for the Micro 4 Thirds class, significantly for photographers who need to use that sensor to get in twice as shut. The G9 II has extra enhancing versatility than the GH6, although the excessive ISO on the OM-1 tended to be a bit cleaner.
Excessive ISO Photos
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
The Panasonic G9 II doesn’t go overboard on decision, a possible effort to maintain noise from changing into overwhelming on the Micro 4 Thirds sensor. At ISO 1600, photos nonetheless retail a pleasant degree of element. Advantageous textures are noticeably extra muddled at ISO 3200. I wouldn’t push the digicam past ISO 6400; there’s sufficient lack of element that photos begin to look a bit tender. That’s a problem if utilizing lenses just like the Panasonic 100-400mm f4-6.3 as a result of an f6.3 directed in any respect the animals that come out at nightfall requires pushing that ISO too excessive.
Whereas the ISO shouldn’t be pushed to the intense, the G9 II fared a bit higher at enhancing these photos. At ISO 3200, brightening the shadows tended to create coloration noise and banding on the GH6. I used to be in a position to brighten the shadows a bit extra on recordsdata from the G9 II at ISO 3200 with out these artifacts. The G9 II total appears a bit extra forgiving than the GH6.
Whereas excessive ISO photos are cleaner than the GH6, the OM-1 felt a bit cleaner right here.
RAW File Versatility
Edited RAW
Whereas Micro 4 Thirds isn’t recognized for its dynamic vary, I used to be in a position to push the shadows a bit greater than with the GH6. On backlit cattails rendered not fairly black, I used to be in a position to get better the unique inexperienced coloration. On ISO 3200 birding photos, I may carry up the shadows a bit with out creating coloration banding.
As is typical, highlights are a lot tougher to efficiently get better than the shadows. Preserve an eye fixed out for white spots or use the histogram to stop overblown highlights.
Additional Picture Samples
From day one, the Phoblographer has been big on transparency with our viewers. Nothing from this evaluation is sponsored. Additional, a number of people will submit critiques and present a number of enhancing within the images. The issue then turns into that anybody and everybody can do the identical factor. You’re not displaying what the lens can do. So we now have a complete part in our Additional Picture Samples space to indicate off edited and unedited images. From this, you may make a choice for your self.
Edited
Unedited
Who can buy it?
Photographers wavering between the Panasonic GH6 and the G9 II, the selection right here is simple: get the G9 II. The ergonomics and stabilization are higher, whereas the G9 II has a bit extra enhancing flexibility in submit. The G9 II additionally maintains modes like Dwell Composite. The one factor the GH6 is best at is video.
Nevertheless, that alternative turns into a lot more durable when widening the web past Panasonic’s Micro 4 Thirds. The OM System OM-1 does a bit higher with Eye AF, each animal and human, and fares a bit higher at excessive ISOs. On the flip aspect, the G9 II has higher stabilization and a cheaper price level.
The worth, although, will trigger some hesitation — largely as a result of the S5 II physique is barely $100 extra. Leaping to full body means stabilization isn’t pretty much as good, and also you don’t have many choices for tremendous telephoto lenses with out that 2x crop issue. However, full body fares higher at excessive ISOs, an vital issue when photographing motion that requires a extremely excessive shutter velocity. The G9 II and the S5 II really use the identical chassis, so Micro 4 Thirds isn’t saving any house within the physique, simply within the telephoto lenses.
Tech Specs
These key specs are taken instantly from Panasonic’s listing of G9 II tech specs, tailored for brevity:
Sensor: 25.21 megapixel Micro 4 Thirds
Recording file format: JPEG and RAW
Viewfinder: OLED approx. 3.68 million dots
Rear monitor: TFT LCD monitor with static contact management, free-angle 3.0-inch
Focus sort: Part detection AF System / Distinction AF System with DFD
AF detection vary: -4 EV
ISO sensitivity (nonetheless): 100-25600, 50 Prolonged
Stabilization: 5 axis, 8-stop; Twin IS 7.5 cease
Shutter: Focal airplane
Shutter velocity (nonetheless): 1/8000- 60 seconds, bulb (max half-hour); digital 1/32,000 – 60 seconds, bulb (max 60 seconds)
Most burst velocity: 14 fps AF-S, 10 fps AF-C mechanical; 75 fps AF-S, 60 fps AF-C digital
Variety of recordable photos; RAW + JPEG greater than 160 photos; JPEG greater than 200 photos
Flash sync: 1/250
Picture model: Normal / Vivid / Pure / L. Traditional Neo / Flat / Panorama / Portrait / Monochrome / L. Monochrome / L. Monochrome D / L. Monochrome S / LEICA Monochrome / Cinelike D2 / Cinelike V2 / Like709 / V-Log / REAL TIME LUT / Hybrid Log Gamma / My Picture Type 1-4 (5-10)
Card slots: twin slots suitable with UHS-I ,UHS-II UHS Pace Class 3
Wi-fi: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0
Battery life: Approx. 370 photos, 1300 Energy Save mode utilizing an SD card
Dimensions: Approx. 134.3 x 102.3 x 90.1 mm / 5.29 x 4.03 x 3.55 inch (Physique solely, excluding protrusions)
Weight: Approx. 658g / 1.45 lb (Physique, Sizzling Shoe Cowl, Battery, SD Reminiscence Card x 1) (excluding physique cap)
Working temperature: -10oC to 40oC (14oF to 104oF)
Panasonic G9 II Overview: Is This the Greatest M43 Digital camera But?With options designed particularly for stills, the Panasonic G9 II is the very best Micro 4 Thirds physique that Panasonic has made but. The physique boasts each consolation and sturdiness. The stabilization is a formidable eight stops. Pace is a fast 60 fps or 10 fps with the mechanical shutter with pre-burst. RAW photos are a bit cleaner than on the GH6. And the very best half? Panasonic’s Micro 4 Thirds lastly has hybrid part detection autofocus.
There’s rather a lot to like on the Panasonic G9 II. However, whereas the autofocus is leaps and bounds forward of the GH6, the Animal Eye AF falls behind opponents and frustratingly delivers plenty of misses. Motion photographs, too, aren’t fairly pretty much as good as different manufacturers. However maybe the most important sticking level is that the price of the physique is barely $100 lower than the Panasonic S5 II, which gives cleaner photos and extra light-gathering energy from a sensor that’s twice as huge. The photographers drawn to the G9 II as an alternative of the S5 II are those that actually prioritize the telephoto attain.
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