Panasonic G9 II Announcement: A Worthy Improve?

Panasonic has simply launched the DC-G9 II, a highly-anticipated replace to the beloved Panasonic G9 that Nicholas and I reviewed just a few months in the past. 5 years because the authentic, the Panasonic G9 II brings some superb updates to an already nice camera. As a consumer of the unique Panasonic G9, will I get one? Ought to micro four-thirds shooters be excited?

What’s New within the G9 II?

The Pansonic G9 II isn’t a small improve. In truth, it’s a totally totally different camera, each inside and outside. The camera physique is totally totally different than the unique and is principally a Panasonic Lumix S5 II with a micro four-thirds sensor.

Talking of the sensor, gone are the times of the ol’ traditional 20MP micro four-thirds sensor. Within the G9 II, you’ll discover a 25 MP sensor just like the one within the Panasonic GH6, with a refined dual-gain system to supply extra dynamic vary in a novel kind of 16-bit Uncooked file. Additionally quite neat characteristic is the lower within the base ISO from 200 to 100. I already am fairly proud of the sensor in my Panasonic G9, however these adjustments within the G9 II will make it much more interesting.

Persevering with with a few of the G9 II’s design adjustments, the mixture mode dial on the left of the G9 has been changed by two dials, with the usual PASM-style dial on the precise and a separate mode selector on the left. What’s most unusual about this new design is that there isn’t any extra prime LCD show, a characteristic that I’ve gotten so used to on my different cameras. It’s the one characteristic I’d miss upon upgrading.

The most important adjustments by far, although, are contained in the camera. And on this regard, Panasonic answered the largest want amongst Panasonic customers: the inclusion of a brand new hybrid phase-detect autofocus system! Though the unique G9’s contrast-detect autofocus is fairly good for many topics, it generally struggles with steady autofocus and monitoring. The newer phase-detect system together with the improve to 779 autofocus factors will definitely end in critical enhancements for these capturing quick motion.

The introduction of the phase-detect autofocus system (together with the up to date Panasonic Leica 100-400 f/4-6.3 II lens) makes the G9 II a extra enticing camera for wildlife than the unique G9, which generally is a irritating camera for capturing motion – and belief me, I like my G9. Nevertheless, the G9 II nonetheless doesn’t look pretty much as good because the OM System OM-1 in that division. In contrast to the G9 II, the OM-1 has a stacked sensor with extra topic detection modes that ought to make it sooner and extra suited to erratic motion like birds in flight.

Except for the brand new autofocus system, the opposite principal critical improve is video. The unique Panasonic G9 is a fairly good video camera with its newest firmware replace, however the G9 II takes it to an entire new degree. The video bitrates have been massively upgraded to as much as 600Mb/s at 4K versus the 150Mb/s for the unique G9. On the the unique G9, I observed significantly degraded efficiency in some circumstances when capturing 4K, particularly on the increased body charges.

You’ve additionally obtained much more video decision choices to select from, together with as much as 5760×4320 (a 6K anamorphic choice with a 4×3 facet ratio). ProRes 4:2:2 is now an choice for 1080P, V-Log is included (this was a paid improve with the G9), and the recording time is now limitless. Though I by no means discovered the 30-minute restrict on the unique an issue, the limitless recording time will likely be helpful for long-form interviews, lecture recordings, and occasion videographers who don’t wish to fear about restarting the recording.

You possibly can see the primary variations between the 2 cameras at a look with this chart:

Digital camera Characteristic	Panasonic G9	Panasonic G9 II
Introduced	November 2017	September 2023
Digital camera Sort	Mirrorless	Mirrorless
Sensor Sort	CMOS	CMOS
Picture Processor	Venus	Venus with L2
Decision	20.3 MP	25.2 MP
Pixel Dimensions	5184×3888	5776×4336
Sensor Dimensions	17.3 x 13.0 mm (Micro 4 Thirds)	17.3 x 13.0 mm (Micro 4 Thirds)
Sensor Pixel Dimension	3.34µ	3µ
Low Move Filter	No	No
IBIS (In-Physique Picture Stabilization)	Sure	Sure
Base ISO	ISO 200	ISO 100
Max Native ISO	ISO 25,600	ISO 25,600
Prolonged ISOs	ISO 100-25,600	ISO 50-25,600
Excessive-Decision Sensor Shift	Sure	Sure
Focus Stack Bracketing	Sure	Sure
Pre-Shoot Burst Mode	Sure	Sure
Quickest Shutter Velocity	1/32000	1/32000
Longest Shutter Velocity	60 seconds	60 seconds
Steady Taking pictures (Mechanical Shutter)	9 FPS	10 FPS
Steady Taking pictures (Digital Shutter)	60 FPS	60 FPS
Notes for Excessive FPS Taking pictures	None	None
Buffer Dimension (Uncooked)	60	200
Autofocus System	CDAF	Hybrid PDAF
Autofocus Factors	225	779
Most Low-Mild AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100)	-4 EV	-4 EV
Normal Flash Sync Velocity	1/250	1/250
Curtain to Shield Sensor at Shutdown	No	No
Video Options
Most Video Bit Depth (Inner)	10 bits	10 bits
Most Video Bit Depth (Exterior)	10 bits	10 bits
Uncooked Video	No	No
4K Most Framerate	30 FPS	120 FPS
1080P Most Framerate	180 FPS	300 FPS
Further Video Crop Issue	No	No
Chroma Subsampling	4:2:2	4:2:2
Video Recording Restrict	30 min	No restrict
Bodily and Different Options
Card Slots	2	2
Slot 1 Sort	SD (UHS-II)	SD (UHS-II)
Slot 2 Sort	SD (UHS-II)	SD (UHS-II)
Rear LCD Dimension (Diagonal)	3.0 in	3.0 in
Rear LCD Decision	1.04 million dots	1.84 million dots
Articulating LCD	Absolutely Articulating	Absolutely Articulating
Touchscreen	Sure	Sure
Viewfinder	EVF	EVF
Viewfinder Magnification	0.83x (0.40x FF equiv.)	0.80x (0.38x FF equiv.)
Viewfinder Decision	3.86 million dots	3.86 million dots
Viewfinder Protection	100%	100%
Voice Memo	No	No
Headphone Jack	Sure	Sure
Microphone Jack	Sure	Sure
Constructed-in Flash	No	No
GPS	No	No
Bluetooth	Sure	Sure
WiFi	Sure	Sure
USB Sort	Micro USB	Sort C 3.2 Gen 1
Battery Sort	DMW-BLF19	DMW-BLK22
Battery Life (Viewfinder)	400 frames	390 frames
Climate Sealed	Sure	Sure
Weight (Physique Solely w/ Battery + Card)	579 g (1.28 lbs.)	575 g (1.27 lbs.)
Dimensions (LxHxD)	136.9 x 97.3 x 91.6 mm (5.4 x 3.8 x 3.6″)	134.3 x 102.3 x 90.1 mm (5.3 x 4 x 3.5″)
Value Comparability
MSRP, Physique Solely	$13001 (Check Current Price)	$1900 (Check Current Price)
1Nevertheless, be aware that the G9 is principally completely on sale at $900.

Conclusion and Ideas

The Panasonic G9 II is an incredible improve to the unique G9, to the purpose that it’s hardly the identical class of camera. Therefore the big distinction in worth.

So, who ought to get the G9 II? Let’s give it some thought. With all these new options, the G9 II is unquestionably not a funds camera, however quite, targets the OM System OM-1 in each options and worth. (The OM-1 retails for $2200, however is on sale in the mean time for $2000, so the 2 cameras are fairly comparable.)

On one hand, for photographing quick motion, the OM System OM-1 with its stacked sensor might be nonetheless the perfect micro four-thirds camera. Nevertheless, for videography, the G9 II surpasses the OM-1 because of the newer instruments and higher most video high quality. In brief, the G9 II occupies the same area of interest as its predecessor because the strongest hybrid micro four-thirds camera.

In comparison with the earlier era G9, the G9 II is clearly extra superior – a lot extra superior that the roughly $1000 distinction of their present costs isn’t a shock. For the cash, you’ll get dramatically higher autofocus, higher-end video options, and different miscellaneous options just like the decrease base ISO, greater buffer, and higher-resolution sensor. In the meantime, the G9 nonetheless is smart in the event you’re in search of a hybrid stills/video camera on a funds and don’t thoughts the extra fundamental autofocus system.

Will I get this camera? It’s certainly tempting, and since I shoot a whole lot of video, the G9 II will certainly be my first alternative if I determine to improve my micro four-thirds gear. Then again, since my current G9 continues to be going sturdy and I’m a bit extra invested within the Nikon system, I’ll in all probability focus my efforts there for now.

What do you assume? Is the G9 II your dream camera? Let me know within the feedback! And in case you are pondering of shopping for this camera, take into account using this B&H link to assist Photography Life!