With a big launch and many promises, the GH5 has made its way into the world of digital reflexes. Let’s get straight to the point, after ten months of intensive use here is the first feedback on all the defects found in this model.

Purchase GH5, decision making

To sell more cases, Panasonic had put up an offer. Two hundred euros refunded for any purchase of a box. But in practice, it’s a real obstacle course.

GH5 versus GH5s

In fact, these two boxes are almost similar, except the S version which must cost a little over 400 euros more. The excellent GH5 sensor is even better on the GH5s. And here, one must explain to me what it is used to buy a more powerful sensor (GH5s) if the sensor of the GH5 is powerful.
Either the difference is minimal, and it is a loss of money, the difference is worth 500 euros, and the GH5 is passable. Well, the answer is in between. The GH5’s sensor is satisfactory, and the GH5’s sensor has just a much better rendering, especially for night shots. But, the GH5 sensor is not very efficient when the weather is very cloudy. That’s what Panasonic calls low light.

Another difference, the GH5s has no built-in stabilizer because it is a tool oriented for videographers who film via a foot or a stabilizer. The purpose of the maneuver is to avoid any correction from the GH5 system. Especially when there is no need to make any stabilization correction.

Photographing with a GH5

The big plus is the agreement with Leica for the design of the objectives. But also a battery life close to 1000 views. If you want to buy additional batteries, know that Duracell makes perfect replacement batteries. And they cost almost three times cheaper. Finally, know that for better grip a grip is available. Nevertheless, it can cause some problems between the case and the grip, especially when the batteries are low. Another small defect the grip can not receive a single additional battery.

The long exposure and the opening speeds of the GH5

The first surprise, in silent mode there is no pose B available on the GH5. Worse, the slowest speed accessible with the wheel on the GH5 is only one second. So if you do not know, you may seek a long-time pose B. Normally on the cover of the case you have a small wheel with the choice of programs. A for automatic, P for program, M for manual. This is the basis, and we find this in all manufacturers except Panasonic. Where the B pose has been removed, and if you ever search the record, it may be very long. It is 300 pages long, and there are quite a few words far removed from the traditional jargon of photography.
Like: 6K or 4K photo mode, gauge, etc.

In the manual, there is a photo of a starry night, but that’s about it. And I can tell you that it’s quite stressful to look for this information especially when you’re about to photograph Northern Lights in Lapland.

The question of photography in low light

The limits of the GH5 sensor are what motivated the positioning of the GH5s in “low light” mode. Moreover, even in the middle of the day when the light is not at the rendezvous, the GH5 is a bit difficult. Against the rendering during the night, the photos are very interesting. This lets me think of a slight defect in the perception of colors on the part of the sensor.

This photo was taken with the style “brilliant”. That is a color rendition that has been pushed. It is certainly possible to do better, but you have to know the settings at your fingertips, and it is never easy to do this during a 2 minutes break on the side of a road. We understand that there is a problem with the sensor in low light.

Purists will require a RAW shot, and then spend hours in front of a PC to recover colors that the sensor may not have seen. At the price where the photos are paid today, it is a waste of time.
The good thing is that it forces the photographer to be very attentive to the sun and the light.

Photos were taken at night

The GH5’s sensor always gives warm colors in night shots and it really adds to that.

The GH5 Test, a device designed to make video

The big plus of the GH5 is obviously to film. This is also the main argument to trigger sales. Today the video has clearly taken precedence over the photo and will have to put so.

The slow motion of the GH5 is just perfect…

The technical characteristics of the GH5

– With its dual slot for SD card, the Panasonic plays the card of efficiency.

– The technical features of the GH5- 4K video and 5-axis stabilized digital sensor.

– Recording in 4: 2: 2 or 10 bits