The Panasonic GH4 DSLM Mirrorless camera was first seen a while back at CES 2014 and officially announced last week. The GH4 is the fourth camera to be released in the GH line and has a very similar form factor to the GH3. It’s obvious from looking at the specs that the big focus of the GH4 on improved video, in doing so Panasonic as truly blurred the lines between consumer and professional video for the first time.
Getting into the numbers, the first figure you’ll notice is the price. Coming in at under $2000 it’s an absolute steal once you see what you get for your money. Features include an all-new, quad-core Venus CPU allowing the camera to record 4K in 8-bit 4:2:0 color space. An optional add-on, called the DMC-YAGH Interface Unit, pushes up the color space to 10-bit 4:2:2. 10-bit color offers the following advantages: less banding (less choppy color gradients) and more accurate chroma-keying.
You can record at up to 200 mbps with the interface unit or at 100 mbps in camera. Most cameras in this price range only record a max of 50-75 mbps. The higher the bit-rate, the better the image will appear after you edit it. In 1080p mode you can also capture super slow motion (up to 96fps). When you playback that 96fps footage in a traditional 24fps timeline you will see the video play back four times slower.
So what are the limitations? The GH4′s micro four thirds sensor does limit photographic and video capture in two significant ways. Wide-angle shots aren’t as easy to get and out-of-focus, depth-of-field effects won’t be as dramatic. Yet, workarounds are available including the ability to shoot with ultra wide angle Lumix G lenses. Focal adaptors such as the Metabones Speed Booster also help to make the GH4 sensor a bit sharper, wider and brighter.
Click for more on the GH4 including full specs
Panasonic GH4 Digital Camera: 4K Video, New Sensor, and Ultra SloMo Among Features
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