PANASONIC LUMIX GH5 II

An upgrade to a film-making favourite

www.panasonic.co.uk £1,499/$1,699

The Lumix GH5 II is a new version of the GH5, a camera that was ahead of its time when it was launched in 2017. The GH5 was in the vanguard of a new generation of hybrid stills/video cameras; its 4K 60p recording capability was stellar then, and remains pretty impressive now.

So the GH5 II has a tough act to follow, and inevitably there will be those who feel that Panasonic hasn’t gone far enough – although to be fair, the original GH5 didn’t leave it much room. Not only that, but the upcoming GH6, still in development, is likely to be the new flagship powerhouse in the Lumix G range.

What Panasonic has produced with the GH5 II is a camera that keeps the GH5 concept fresh and current. There’s probably not enough here to tempt a GH5 owner into upgrading, but any new buyers looking for a powerful 4K hybrid camera without the cost and weight of a full-frame system may just have found the ideal candidate.

The Micro Four Thirds sensor used by Panasonic’s Lumix G cameras doesn’t usually get a lot of respect from the full-frame crowd, but it has a lot going for it. The 20.3MP sensor has more than enough resolution for oversampled 4K video and enough for most kinds of stills photography.

In addition, it means smaller cameras (admittedly, not here), smaller and lighter lenses, and a lower price point.

1 The GH5 II has a big, chunky grip, and it’s a pretty big and chunky MFT camera all-round.

2 Would you upgrade to the GH5 II if you already had a GH5? Probably not.

3 Panasonic’s Lumix G cameras have a good range of professional-caliber lenses.