Panasonic Reveals GH6 Mirrorless

2022.02.21

Panasonic just officially launched the highly-anticipated GH6. This new hybrid mirrorless digital camera follows one of the most-acclaimed series of all times for exceptional convergence of photo and video features. After the last incremental updated to the GH5, users were uncertain of when the next model would continue the lineup.

The Panasonic Lumix GH6 is a Micro Four-Thirds Mirrorless Digital Camera that boasts the highest-level video specifications of the platform. At its core is a unique 25 megapixels Four-Thirds BSI-CMOS sensor with double-gain simultaneous read-out. On paper this lets the GH6 capture 13-stops of dynamic-range, more than any other with a 2X Sensor-Crop, yet clearly behind larger APS-C sensors. This is a minor limitation for video since even at 10-bit output, 13 EV of Dynamic-Range gets stretched thin and becomes highly prone to banding.

Panasonic improved their highly-capable 5-axis image-stabilization system to compensate for up to 7½ stops of shake. This is now the highest-rated Micro Four-Thirds stabilization mechanism and second globally after the outstanding 8-stops boasted by the latest Canon Full-Frame Mirrorless Digital Cameras. It edges out the OMS OM-1 but a slight margin. Even though Panasonic implemented a Dual IS system in the GH6, its builtin image-stabilization is so good that the Dual IS does not deliver any further efficiency.

With now the highest resolution sensor ever produced for Micro Four-Thirds, the new Panasonic GH6 becomes the first to capture 5.7K video. There is a slight variation in resolution, depending if shooting at 17:9 Full-Width or 16:9 Aspect-Ratio, but in both cases it is possible to reach 60 FPS and encode in 10-bit. Cinema 4K and Ultra-HD can reach 120 FPS, while Full HD video can be recorded at a blazing-fast 240 FPS. Plenty of codecs and bit-rates are available to compromise between quality and file-size.

Similarly to their Full-Frame S-series, the Panasonic Lumix GH6 is designed for professionals with a large body that offers plenty of external controls, including triple control-dials, a drive mode-dial, 8-way joystick and mode dial, plus a dedicated Video-Capture button. The body is fairly large and heavy for a cropped-sensor camera to accommodate a fan that allows for unlimited video-recording. At 823g, it is still manageable. The sturdy body of the GH6 is weatherproof and freezeproof down to -10C too.

Included in the redesigned body are a 3.8 megapixels 0.5" OLED EVF with 0.76X magnification, 100% coverage and an essential Eye-Start Sensor builtin. A rotating 3" Touchscreen LCD appears as expected for a camera that is aimed at videographers. That screen has a 1.8 megapixels and a 3:2 aspect-ratio, leaving a small band where status can be displayed without covering the video preview.

Panasonic mirrorless are feature rich and the specifications released already show this, although the initial info is certainly incomplete. For now, count on 25 megapixels still with a 100 MP Super-Resolution mode, 5.7K video, a 1/32000-60s shutter-speed range, ISO 100-25600 that expands to include ISO 50, Time-Lapse video, Stop-Motion, an Interval-Timer, 7-Frame AEB, 3-Frame WB Bracketing, 999-Frame Focus-Bracketing and more. At this moment, HDR and Multiple-Exposure are not in the press release, yet it is unlikely those would be missing from the camera, as Focus-Stacking.

This camera is expected to arrive late next month for $2200 USD or $2800 CAD. While the price may seem on the high-side, this is a professional-grade mirrorless and is expected to sell-out quickly. Those who are want one should pre-order one soon. Both Adorama and B&H Photo are ready to take on pre-orders.

• Digital Camera