Housekeeping/Bias/Reviewer History
First off, I am most interested in video and short films. I am also into photography, and have shot with Nikons and Canons, but have always preferred Panasonic for video (No record length limit is critical for events). Canon video is nice, owing mainly to sensor size, but I've always felt all the way back to the GH1 that Panasonic video was superior, though I felt the stills capabilities were drastically unimpressive. The GH2 was a massive improvement for video, and a small still upgrade, but still nowhere near a Nikon or Canon. I skipped the GH3 because the video of the GH2 was so good I really didn't see a need to upgrade. I've been missing a good stills camera, and though I have always preferred Nikon, their late tendency to increase MP size has left me incredibly unimpressed with ISO performance. Canon's tendency to keep MP constant with new generations of sensors is REALLY attractive, because that means the ISO performance and noise is getting better (One can either make smaller pixels with less sensitivity or keep the pixel count steady and increase the sensitivity). I was set to buy a Canon 6D when I heard rumblings of the GH4. I waited, and everything seemed to be pointing to leaps and bounds in performance... new engine, same MP count, etc. I'm VERY glad I did.
The Body/Control Layout
Having not had a GH3, I'm not sure of the changes, but over the GH2, it's an incredible difference. It IS a little larger, in all three dimensions, but the weight is not noticeable. It's noted as "splashproof"... a claim I have no intention of testing, but I do like the ergonomics better. One of the BEST improvements of the GH4 is the layouts. I'm used to having buttons (from the Pro Nikon and Canon worlds), but on the GH1 and 2, there was only one forward dial, and it required a button push to switch from SS to A settings. This is remedied. There is a FORWARD dial, a REAR dial and an additional wheel dial on the control pad by the LCD. There are BUTTONS for ISO, WB, Exposure Compensation. While these might sound like non-issues, The control layout is EXCELLENT. I recently had to shoot with a Nikon D5200 and I couldn't believe how piss-poor the layout was for the dials. OOPS, DIAL, singular. It made the shooting experience miserable and I couldn't believe THIS was a NIKON and how far the mighty had fallen. I was shocked at having pulled the GH4 out and shot a few simple test pictures. The quality of the stills are a massive improvement over the 1 and 2... does it compete with a Canon 6D? Doubtful, but they are good enough I'm not worrying about getting a 6D anymore...
The LCD
Much has been made of Panasonic DOUBLING the resolution of the LCD. It seem like a small thing, but it really is a gorgeous screen. When you add in some of the touch features and how responsive they are, I no longer miss having a through the lens system instead of an LCD viewfinder. I HATED it in the GH1 and 2, and was a major reason I despised the Pannies for stills. The touchscreen functionality is incredibly responsive too, and when you are in focus, you are IN focus... it's razor sharp and the additional features really take advantage.
Video
Wow. I haven't tried 4K, but let's be absolutely clear about this: VFR is CLEARLY going to become an overused function in the future. Why? Because it is GORGEOUS in this camera. GORGEOUS. Here are the breakdowns of available modes:
AVCHD:
24Mbit/30p: 2, 15, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 45, 60
24Mbit/24p: 2, 12, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 36, 48, 60
MP4 or MOV:
100Mbit/30p: 2, 15, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 45, 60, 75, 90, 96
100Mbit/24p: 2, 12, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, !!!96!!!
Personally, I do not understand why anyone would choose to shoot in anything but 24fps... but I am a filmmaker at heart. I don't shoot sports. I want everything to look as much like a film as possible. Having said that, following the 180shutter rule as closely as you can and shooting in 96fps MP424fps is GLORIOUS. What's more is the fact that it is instantaneous. You set the VFR, you record the footage (it will tell you "25%" on the viewfinder), you hit record, you stop recording, you hit play and you get to see unbelievably high quality sharp, full 1080 HD slow motion. It's incredible. Slower Frame Rates (Time Lapse) will require some time to compose the image, but Slow Motion is instant, Crisp, Fluid, and incredibly impressive.
The rest of the video is also improved. It's actually mindblowing how good it looks, but the VFR is reason enough to buy this camera. It's a gamechanger for anyone who shoots anything. This is the NUMBER ONE reason to buy this camera, I'd argue a bigger advance than the 4K. As impressive as the ability to shoot 4K is, there are other cameras on the market (albeit at a higher price point) that shoot 4K. Slow motion of this quality is an incredibly useful tool. Note that you can't use the VFR in the 200Mbit settings. This is not even approaching the reasonable limits of a downside. 100Mbit at this quality is incredible.
Tools
There are a variety of features that deeply improve the shooting experience. Focus peaking is brilliantly used, and it also makes the LCD sharpness that much more apparent. Zebra Levels are also available in all modes. Hitting the display button will toggle through modes of the LCD, including a built in tilt and level sensor. Manual focus assist is also massively improved, allowing you to select the size of the magnified area and where it appears on screen. Working in concert with the focus peaking makes manual shooting like I prefer top notch. The modes and ability of the AutoFocus is also impressive, but like 4K is so over-reviewed that I do not wish to beat that particular horse. The AF is great, but the takeaway is that the MF features are equally improved.
Additionally, there are options for Luminance, Pedestal, SS -> Shutter Angle, CineD (Increased Dynamic Range) and CineV (Increased contrast), and a lot of other settings that I'm just not going to cover at this point. The larger point behind it is what's critical: There have been MASSIVE upgrades to the ability to tweak your video, and it's a very capable and impressive piece of hardware.
Batteries
This is an oversight to a lot of people/companies, but this vital to people like me. I am used to having to buy AC adapters and power couplers to shoot events, as with the GH1 and 2 you couldn't feel too confident after an hour... but last night I shot a band with a GH1, 2 gh2's and my GH4. I was unable to procure an AC10 adapter for the GH4. After shooting 2 hours and 44 minutes without stop, I noticed the battery level indicator still had 3 bars. I had bought Third Party batteries (Wasabi BTR-BLF19-JWP) beforehand to have spares, and figured the power level indication just didn't work. I paused the recording between songs and started immediately again, figuring I'd rather not lose it all if the battery suddenly died. I recorded an additional 48 minutes and still had 3 bars. I went to a pizza place and was recording some stuff for slomo and low light and after 20 minutes of that, the battery dropped to 2 bars. I was SHOCKED. So apparently, you can shoot roughly FOUR HOURS before the battery drops a SINGLE bar. This makes me want to sell every other camera I own and buy several of these. I never have to look for another outlet to shoot events or long time lapse shots (which can now also be done in camera).
The Memory Cards
I am shooting with the Sandisk 95MB/s ExtremePro's. I have not shot 4K yet, but have shot a good bit of MP4 (24fps, 100 Mbit) and have had NO issues, even running at 96fps. 4K may be the decider, but if you are shooting HD this seems to be a non-issue.
Wifi Too?
Yep. If you have an android or iPhone, the camera has an app that works incredibly well... so if you want to shoot from a crane or bucket truck or remote control vehicle, you can, and retain recording control as well as focus. Wonderful addition.
Overall.
It's simple. It's as if the Wright brothers got done with the flight at Kitty Hawk, went back to the drawing board, and rolled out a P51 Mustang 3 years later. It's difficult to overstate the difference in value this camera represents over previous versions, which were themselves great values for the video capabilities. It's as if Chevy decided to give free upgrades on Cobalts to Corvettes.
Add to your order
- NO ADDITIONAL COST: You pay $0 for repairs – parts, labor and shipping included.
- COVERAGE: Plan starts on the date of purchase. Drops, spills and cracked screens due to normal use are covered from day one. Malfunctions are covered after the manufacturer’s warranty.
- EASY CLAIMS PROCESS: File a claim anytime online at www.Asurion.com/Amazon or by phone. Most claims approved within minutes. If we can’t repair it, we’ll send you an Amazon.com Gift Card for the purchase price of your covered product or replace it.
- EXPERT TECH HELP: Real experts are available 24/7 to help with set-up, connectivity issues, troubleshooting and much more.
- MORE DETAILS: Additional information about this protection plan is available within the “Product guides and documents” section. Simply click “User Guide” for more info. Asurion will also email your plan confirmation with Terms & Conditions to the address associated with your Amazon account within 24 hours of purchase (if you do not see this email, please check your spam folder). Contact us if you cannot locate your plan confirmation and Terms & Conditions via email at AmazonFeedback@Asurion.com.
Added to Cart
An error occurred when processing your request. Try again
Buy it with
- +
- +
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Customers also search
Page 1 of 1Page 1 of 1
Compare with similar items
 | Panasonic LUMIX GH5 4K Digital Camera, 20.3 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera with Digital Live MOS Sensor, 5-Axis Dual I.S. 2.0, 4K 4:2:2 10-Bit Video, Full-Size HDMI Out, 3.2-Inch LCD, DC-GH5 (Black) | Panasonic LUMIX G95 20.3 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera, 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 Micro Four Thirds Lens, 5-Axis Dual I.S. 2, 4K 24p 30p Video, Pre-Installed V-Log L, 3” LCD Touchscreen - DC-G95MK (Black) | Sony Alpha A6100 Mirrorless Camera | Panasonic LUMIX G9 4K Digital Camera, 20.3 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera Plus 80 Megapixel High-Resolution Mode, 5-Axis Dual I.S. 2.0, 3-Inch LCD, DC-G9 (Black) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Rating | (253) | (393) | (171) | (595) | (338) |
| Price | $799.00 | $1,297.99 | $797.99 | $748.00 | $1,097.99 |
| Sold By | 42nd Street Photo | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| Screen Size | 3 inches | 3.2 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches | 3 inches |
| Has Image Stabilization | Yes | Yes | — | No | Yes |
| Item Dimensions | 5.24 x 3.31 x 3.66 inches | 5.83 x 7.56 x 6.14 inches | 9.1 x 9.1 x 9.1 inches | 6.18 x 5.67 x 4.53 inches | 5.39 x 3.83 x 3.61 inches |
| Item Weight | 1.23 lbs | 1.00 lbs | 2.47 ounces | 0.87 lbs | 1.45 lbs |
| Optical Sensor Resolution | 16.1 megapixels | 20.3 megapixels | 24.2 megapixels | 24.2 megapixels | 20.3 megapixels |
| Optical Zoom | 1x | 1x | 0x | 0 | 1x |
| Photo Sensor Size | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | Full Frame (35mm) | APS-C | 17.3 |
| Video Capture Resolution | 2160p | 2160p | 4K 24p 30p Video | 2160p | 2160p |
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic | Electronic | Electronic | Electronic | Electronic |
Videos
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Videos for this product
9:37
Click to play video
Still Incredible in 2022 - Lumix GH4 Review
Luke Kelly | Tech Reviewer
Videos for this product
22:13
Click to play video
DPReview: Changing the Definition of Photography: Part 1
DPReview
Videos for this product
3:47
Click to play video
Panasonic
Merchant Video
Videos for related products
3:53
Click to play video
Panasonic GH5 unboxing + first try
DSLR Tutorial
Videos for related products
9:32
Click to play video
Panasonic LUMIX G85 - Watch Before You Buy
Tech Through The Lens
Videos for related products
1:11
Click to play video
Lumix G7 Video
Panasonic CE
From the manufacturer
Recommended Compatible LUMIX Lenses
 LUMIX H-X012 Lens |  LUMIX H-XA025 Lens |  LUMIX H-NS043 Lens |  LUMIX H-ES200 Lens |  LUMIX H-X1025 Lens |  LUMIX H-X2550 Lens | |
|
Focal Length
| 12mm | 25mm | 42.5mm | 200mm | 10-25mm | 25-50mm |
|
Aperture Type
| 9 diaphragm blades | 7 diaphragm blades | 9 diaphragm blades | 9 diaphragm blades | 9 diaphragm blades | 9 diaphragm blades |
|
Maximum Aperture
| F1.4 | F1.4 | F1.2 | F2.8 | F1.7 | F1.7 |
|
Closest Focusing Distance
| 0.20m / 0.66ft | 0.3m / 0.98ft | 0.5m / 1.64ft | FULL:3.8ft, 3m-LIMIT:9.8ft | 0.28m / 0.92ft | 0.92ft (@25mm)/ 1.02ft (@50mm) |
|
Maximum Magnification
| 0.1x / 0.2x (35mm equivalent) | 0.11x/0.22x (35mm equivalent) | 0.1x / 0.2x (35mm equivalent) | 0.2x / 0.4x (35mm equivalent) | 0.14x/0.28x (35mm equivalent) | 0.21x/0.42x (35mm equivalent) |
|
Optical Image Stabilizer
| No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
|
Dust and Splash Resistant*
| Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Filter Size
| φ62mm | φ46mm | φ67mm | φ77mm | φ77mm | φ77mm |
|
Overall Length
| 70mm / 2.76inch | 54.5mm / 2.14inch | 76.8mm / 3.02inch | 174mm / 6.85inch | 128mm / 5.04inch | 127.6mm / 5.02inch |
|
Weight
| 335g / 11.82oz | 205g / 7.23oz | 425g / 15.04oz | 1245g / 43.92oz | 690g / 24.34oz | 654g / 23.04oz |
Customer reviews
Lovely camera at 3200 ISO and below
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2015
The GH4 is a fantastic little camera! The autofocus is snappy, the continuous shooting is ludicrously fast, and the controls are simple to navigate. This is a fun camera to shoot with and I have gotten great images out of it. All that being said, there is a reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5. While I wanted to absolutely love this camera (and for a bit I did) the noise performance is just not good enough for my needs. Up to ISO 3200 your images will be gorgeous and crisp but as soon as you shoot past that things go downhill fast. I don't think this is enough of a problem to warrant passing this camera up, for most shooters this will be the best camera you have ever used in your life thus far, but for any photographers that are used to the quality of a full frame sensor you will really be feeling the loss.I will say this though, before the GH4 I had an ASPC Canon 60D and this camera blew that canon out of the water! It really is fantastic and while I intend to supplement it with a sony full frame camera I enjoy using it too much to completely give it up.PS. This took me forever to figure out so I'll just share it, to go above 3200 iso the camera has to be using the mechanical shutter. Simple but on day one I set my GH4 to silent mode and left it there for a while.
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2015
Images in this review
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 3, 2014
Color: BlackStyle: BaseConfiguration: BaseVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 20, 2015
Color: BlackStyle: BaseConfiguration: BaseVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Braulio Sánchez
Excelente para GRABACIONES LARGAS
Reviewed in Mexico 🇲🇽 on June 23, 2022Color: BlackStyle: BaseConfiguration: BaseVerified Purchase
Sarahi Carlos
La relación precio, calidad y durabilidad
Reviewed in Mexico 🇲🇽 on June 29, 2022Color: BlackStyle: BaseConfiguration: BaseVerified Purchase
