Panasonic Lumix GH5 II review

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 II is an upgrade to a filmmaking favorite, but has Panasonic done enough to attract new buyers?

Panasonic Lumix GH5 II
(Image: © Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The clue is in the name. A Mark II version of anything is likely to be a refresh rather than a whole new camera, and it’s the same here. But while the GH5 II might appear superficially similar to its predecessor, it incorporates a large number of improvements and additions that make quite a difference when you add them together – and they are even more impressive given the price.

Pros

  • +

    6.5 stop image stabilization

  • +

    Numerous video enhancements

  • +

    V-Log L included

  • +

    Bigger buffer for stills

Cons

  • -

    Not worth upgrading from a GH5

  • -

    Smaller 3-inch screen

  • -

    Bigger battery but little gain

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The Panasonic 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 the vanguard of a new generation of hybrid stills/video cameras and its 4K 60p recording capability was stellar then and pretty stellar now. 

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Rod Lawton
Contributor

Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com