Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 Review

 The Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 is that the brand's highest-end stills-oriented camera, sitting beside the video-oriented Lumix DC-GH5 at the highest of the merchandise lineup. The GH-series has long command a positive name with pro-video shooters however Panasonic hasn't seen the likes of the GH5 resonate further with the stills crowd. With the G9 Panasonic hopes to mimic the success the GH series has had within the video realm, and gain a larger foothold within the stills world.

There's a sensible little bit of crossover between the 2 cameras, however the G9 has some juicy offerings to whet the appetency of still photographers - specifically advanced amateurs and professionals - further as those seeking a stills/video hybrid.

For starters, its quicker than its video-centric relation, capable of a powerful twenty FPS with continuous optical device for regarding fifty frames victimisation the electronic shutter. It may also shoot at nine FPS with AF-C for 600+ frames victimisation the mechanical shutter, that is equally as spectacular.

Panasonic's taken a page out of Olympus' book - as different makers with stabilised sensing elements recently have - associated other a high-resolution mode that shifts the sensor to create an 80MP file - this could be massively appealing to picture and landscape shooters often requiring resolution larger than that of a small Four Thirds camera.

Key options

• 20.3MP Live MOS sensing element with no AA filter (same as GH5)
• 3.68M-dot electronic optical device w/ zero.83x equivalent magnification
• 1.04M-dot 3" articulating touchscreen show
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization with twin I.S. two (CIPA rated half-dozen.5 stops)
• 20 FPS burst w/continuous AF victimisation the e-shutter (for ~50 frames)
• 9 FPS burst w/continuous AF victimisation mechanical shutter (for 600+ frames)
• 80MP Raw and/or JPEG files victimisation high-resolution mode
• 4K/60p UHD video capture
• Magnesium body designed to be dust/weather-sealed
• Dual UHS-II card slots supporting new high-speed 'V'-rated cards
• Assortment of 4K and 6K ikon modes and in-camera focus stacking
• USB charge and power capability
• Top plate alphanumeric display
• AF joystick
• Wi-Fi + Bluetooth

Physical standouts embody a high plate alphanumeric display - a real rarity in mirrorless-land - and one among the most important electronic viewfinders on a small Four Thirds cameras. it's the same magnification of zero.83x associated an eyepoint of 21mm. The G9 conjointly options twin UHS-II card slots and may support V-rated South Dakota cards - the industry's quickest so far.

Don't take these mostly-stills minded enhancements to mean the G9 isn't a capable video camera, as a result of it sure enough is. just like the GH5 it will shoot 4K/60p video and offers each electro-acoustic transducer and mike jacks, however it lacks the high bitrate choices and intensive video tool set of its relation. Dual I.S. two has conjointly been improved and once victimisation compatible lenses, the G9 offers the very best CIPA-rated level of stabilization - half-dozen.5-stops - of any camera presently on the market. this can be nice news for each stills and video shooters.

Specs Compared

	Panasonic DC-G9	Panasonic DC-GH5	Olympus  OM-D E-M1 II	Nikon D500
MSRP	$1700	$2000	$2000	$2000
Sensor size	Micro Four Thirds	Micro Four Thirds	Micro Four Thirds	APS-C
Sensor Resolution	20.3MP	20.3MP	20MP	21MP
ISO sensitivity (expanded)	100-25600	100-25600	64 - 25600	50 - 1640000
AF system	225-point Contrast Detect AF system with DFD	225-point Contrast Detect AF system with DFD	121-point hybrid AF system	153-point Phase Detect AF system
Max frame rate w/C-AF	20 fps	9 fps	18 fps	10 fps
Stabilization	In-body (+lens)	In-body (+lens)	In-body (+lens)	Lens only
Viewfinder	3.68M-dot EVF (0.83X equiv. mag)	3.68M-dot EVF (0.76X equiv. mag)	2.36M-dot EVF (0.74x equiv. mag)	Optical (0.67x equiv. mag)
Top plate LCD	Yes	No	No	Yes
Rear screen	1.04M-dot 3" articulating touch-sensitive	1.62M-dot 3.2" articulating touch-sensitive	1.04M- dot 3" articulating touch-sensitive	2.36M-dot 3.2", tilting touch-sensitive
Video Resolution	UHD/60p 1080/60p	UHD/60p 1080/60p	UHD/30p 1080/60p	UHD/30p 1080/60p
Mic/Headphone	Yes/Yes	Yes/Yes	Yes/Yes	Yes/Yes
Battery Life (CIPA)	400 shots	410 shots	440 shots	1240 shots
Dimensions	137 x 97 x 92mm	139 x 98 x 87mm	134 x 91 x 69mm	147 x 115 x 81mm
Weight	658g	725 g	574g	760g

The Panasonic G9 has some stiff competition from similarly-priced high-end models from each Nikon and Olimbos. Have a glance at our comparison table below for an in depth breakdown:




The Nikon D500, Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 and Olimbos OM-D E-M1 II square measure all DPReview Gold award winning cameras that, at the time of testing, we tend to felt revolutionized their various category of camera, upping the ante for what we've come back to expect from a flagship small Four Thirds or APS-C body. that is some massive competition to travel up against, however the G9 looks to carry its own. In description terms, at least.