Panasonic Lumix G9 II review

The Panasonic Lumix G9 II is the latest Micro Four Thirds flagship – and shows why it's a format you should still care about

Panasonic Lumix G9 II camera in a hand
(Image: © Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)

Digital Camera World Verdict

Despite its stills-centric roots, the Panasonic Lumix G9 II solidifies the brand's position as the leader for video right now. The G9 II offers a true hybrid camera experience, with well-rounded specs for photo and video that will satisfy a wide range of users. The smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor doesn’t hold back the video, which is simply incredible, with effective in-body image stabilization and hugely improved AF that finally keeps up with the competition. When it comes to stills, if you need more reach for sports or wildlife then the 2x crop factor makes this a compelling option. The G9 II can produce exquisite images, though there are limits to low light performance.

Pros

  • +

    Much improved autofocusing

  • +

    User creatable in-camera LUTs

  • +

    Build & ergonomics top-notch

  • +

    Impressive stabilization

  • +

    Increased focal reach of MTF sensor

Cons

  • -

    No significant size or weight reduction over larger sensor cameras

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It has been almost six years since Panasonic released the original G9, but that was back when six years was a normal time between camera cycles. By today’s standards, that is an age to wait. However, for Panasonic, this means that the Panasonic Lumix G9 II is actually a fully-fledged upgrade from the first model that you can honestly get excited about.

With Panasonic’s recent focus on its full-frame cameras, with the very well-received Panasonic Lumix S5 II and the growing number of L-Mount Alliance members, many were speculating that Panasonic might be phasing out its Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lineup. Panasonic and Olympus were the pioneers of the MFT sensor and mount, pushing it as a solution to achieve high-quality images with smaller cameras like the technical marvel of the Panasonic GM1. However, as market forces moved toward full-frame cameras, it seemed like Panasonic’s MFT ambitions might have been put on ice.

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SensorMicro Four Thirds Live MOS
Effective megapixels25.21
Maximum resolutions5776x4336 (L) / 4096x3072 (M) / 2944x2208 (S) / 11552x8672 (XL) / 8192x6144 (LL)
AutofocusPhase Detection AF system / Contrast AF system
ISO100 - 25,600
Burst shooting14fps AF-S or 10fps AF-C mechanical shutter, 75fps AF-S or 60fps AF-C electronic shutter
BufferRAW+JPEG 160+, RAW 170+, JPEG 200+
Video5.8k30p, 4.4k60p, 4k120p, FHD 240p
Screen1.84m dot, 3.0in LCD
EVF3.68m dot OLED, 60/120fps
Weight658g / 23.21oz (including battery and SD card)
Size134.3 x 102.3 x 90.1 mm / 5.29 x 4.03 x 3.55 inch (body only)
Image

If you are almost sold on the Lumix G9 II but wish it had a full frame sensor, then the Panasonic Lumix S5 II is the camera you are looking for. With the same body and features as the G9 II, but with a bigger sensor allowing better low light performance and depth of field, although this will come at the cost of reduced focal length versus the G9 II.

Image

If you are a MFT fan, but maybe aren’t into the styling of the Lumix G9 II then the OM System OM-1 is a worthy alternative. It comes in at slightly more expensive, but it offers a lot of the same feature set as the G9 II give or take. Plus you can still use any MFT lenses you already own, including Panasonic’s.

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