Panasonic Lumix G9 review

The Panasonic Lumix G9 is a great camera for stills, but doesn't skimp on video features either – is this the best Lumix G of all?

5 Star Rating
Panasonic Lumix G9 review

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Panasonic G9 is a very fast and effective camera for both 4K video and fast-action sports and wildlife photography. It’s unexpectedly substantial in your hands, which gives you a good grip, especially with longer lenses, and its image quality is very good, despite the smaller MFT sensor. Initially it was quite expensive, but steady price drops have made the Lumix G9 a very tempting buy for enthusiasts and videographers alike.

Pros

  • +

    20/60fps continuous shooting

  • +

    4K UHD video with 10-bit capture

  • +

    Fast and effective autofocus

Cons

  • -

    Some viewfinder lag in burst mode

  • -

    Smaller sensor than most rivals

  • -

    Lacks DSLR battery life

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Billed as the ultimate outdoor and wildlife camera, the G9 is Panasonic’s flagship photo-oriented camera. It joins the company’s video-orientated GH5 and GH5S at the top of the range, and the latest v2.0 firmware update (November 2019) adds 10-bit internal and external recording. It's getting harder to make a case for the GH5 and GH5S for videography when the G9's video features are this good.

The Lumix G9 v2.0 firmware update adds significant new features and value to the Lumix G9. It adds compatibility with Profoto Air Remote TTL-O/P and Profoto Connect-O/P devices, new AF-ON: Near Shift and AF-ON: Far Shift functions to prioritize nearby or distant subjects respectively, Animal Detect AF mode and enhanced video functions. The Lumix G9 will now offer 4K 30p/25p 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording, 4K 60p/50p 4:2:2 10-bit HDMI output and VFR (Variable Frame Rate) shooting in full HD (2-180 fps) and 4K (2-60 fps) and HDR video recording is supported.

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