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Camera Overview
Sensor | Full-frame |
|---|---|
Image Quality | 2160p60 |
Weight (No lens) | 725g / 1.60 lb |
Flip Screen | |
External Mic Port | |
Stabilization | |
Our Rating | |
Price | $1,397.99 |
Panasonic revolutionized the camera industry with a hybrid camera—the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH series. The GH5 is now the fifth iteration of this camera and it is seen as a hybrid because it prioritizes both video and stills with the same intensity. The benefits of this camera, though, are not cheap. You will find it through various retailers for between $1,700 and $2,000.
With this steep of a price tag, it is essential for you to ask yourself if this camera will elevate your vlogs that much more than other, more affordable cameras on the market. To help you decide, I've laid out some of the most important considerations to think about in regards to the Panasonic GH5 below.
Image Quality and Resolution
Panasonic's GH series was initially developed for both photographers and indie filmmakers. It needed to offer the performance required for motion pictures, as well as advertisements and marketing campaigns. And it does just that.
But the GH5 took the camera to the next level. The camera offers 4K video without cropping. It can shoot at up to both 59.94p and 48p, which is practically unheard of in its competitors.
And the camera comprehensively makes use of its sensor, which can be seen through the fact that it provides sharp footage by oversampling from 5.1K.
Beyond this, the image quality in the GH5 is expanded by newly developed technology from Panasonic. Their new autofocus system, which I won't explain the complexities of here, significantly speeds up focusing and reduces focusing confusion.
Additionally, the camera offers incredible video-derived stills. This is a great tool for vloggers to use to show their audience a slice of a video clip that captures everything they were hoping to share.
As Stable as a Vlog Can Get
Panasonic further enhanced the GH offering in GH5 by adding in-body stabilization. The camera has a 5-axis in-body image stabilization system that is supported by Dual IS 2. This technology ensures that a video is as stable as possible with five different stops for correction. The technology is especially essential for vloggers who have lenses that don't offer stabilization. It also provides a little extra support for lenses that do have stabilization built in.
This type of stabilization is helpful for vloggers that are on the move, whether they are walking with their camera or doing stunts and action shots. Without it, the shakiness of the video will leave the audience dizzy.
A Bit Too Fat, But Smaller Than a DSLR
When Panasonic created the GH series they made a camera that sounds like a video camera, when looking just at the specifications, but looks like many other mirrorless still cameras that are on the market.
This is an incredible feat considering the fact that all of the power of a motion picture camera is packed into such a small body. The camera itself weighs 1.6 pounds, which is typically on the higher end for most vloggers. This is something that you need to take into consideration. Will you need a free hand during most of the filming? If so, there are other cameras that are a little lighter and more compact.
To get a clearer picture of the weight and size of the GH5 it is easiest to compare it to the midrange DSLR cameras.
However, Panasonic realizes that users, such as vloggers, want smaller and more portable cameras, so they make up for this bulkier body with smaller lenses. And the lenses that are most compatible with the camera are not only light and small, they are also fast at focusing and silent, which is paramount for video creation.
Packed With All Things for Vlogs
Articulating screen
The GH5's screen provides more flexibility that the screens on most cameras. Not only is it larger than the average screen, at 3 inches, but it is also OLED and provides coverage of the entire scene. The screen is also hinged on the left side and rotates out 270 degrees.
This type of leverage means that vloggers can hold the camera at waist level, above their head, or be in front of the camera and still have a view of what is being filmed.
Finally, you can fold the screen into the camera. This is something that most other cameras do not offer and it allows you to avoid screen scratches when you are storing or transporting the GH5.
Microphone port and hot shoe
And then there's the question of the microphone options. Panasonic left nothing to chance with this and the fact that they are prioritizing videography shines through.
The camera offers several possible choices for microphones. One option is the fact that the camera has room for attachments and Panasonic has specially designed an accessory microphone jack.
You can mount a shotgun microphone on the hot shoe and never worry about mic positioning.
However, the positioning of the microphone port and the LCD screen can make it awkward to use both at the same time, which just seems like a design flaw.
Micro 4/3 That Can Film in the Dark
The low-light performance is phenomenal. The camera is able to pick up more details in dim lighting than the naked eye. I would like to note, though, that while it offers up to ISO 3,200 for decent noise levels, it can't match the larger full-frame cameras for shooting in total darkness and still providing enhanced resolution.
The Panasonic GH5 is without a doubt one of the more impressive cameras on the market. It is among the first to truly start serving vlogger's needs. However, due to the price and several other factors, it may not be the ideal option depending on your vlogging needs.
The Good
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Will has been a full-time content creator since 2014. He’s an audio, video, and tech hobbyist dedicated to reviewing products and giving you the best tips he knows to grow your audience.