GH4 [G7] 4K Shooting G6 replacement

[DLD]

According to 43Rumos, B&H confirms the HDMI (Type D) but has no idea on if it's 4:2:2 or 4:2:0.

In that case, one should be 95% certain that it is not 10-bit or 4:2:2.

Still, it's a pretty nice buy. Supposedly, the new processor - and Venus 9 was her name - is more powerful than the one in GH4, so maybe some firmware upgrades can up the functionality down the road (i.e., by 2016, when GH5 is out).

The Panasonic management also gave an interview to some photo mag where they gave a road map to 8K. They say they want it out - in a consumer market, I assume -before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. And, for that, they'd need some 50 MPX in a 4:3 aspect sensor. To me, this strongly suggests a move toward the s35 lineup (in the very least).

 

[roxics]

To me, this strongly suggests a move toward the s35 lineup (in the very least).

I don't know. That sounds more like full frame territory to me. At least if you are trying to keep any sizable photosites without defraction.

 

[yslee]

The Panasonic management also gave an interview to some photo mag where they gave a road map to 8K. They say they want it out - in a consumer market, I assume -before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. And, for that, they'd need some 50 MPX in a 4:3 aspect sensor. To me, this strongly suggests a move toward the s35 lineup (in the very least).

44 megapixels, really.

I don't know. That sounds more like full frame territory to me. At least if you are trying to keep any sizable photosites without defraction.

I'm pretty sure they'll stick with 4/3 sensors. Should be fine at f/4.

 

[DLD]

44 megapixels, really.

What's 6 MPX between friends?

I'm pretty sure they'll stick with 4/3 sensors. Should be fine at f/4.

IMO, they'll go with s35 at around $5,000. Below that? Who knows.

For the reference - Sony RX 100 III has ~ 21 MPX on an 1 inch sensor that has 116 mm2 of the surface area. MFT has 225 mm2 or 1.94 the size of 1".

Going further down in size, Lumix FZ70 has ~ 17 MPX on a 1/2.3" sensor, which is 28.50 mm2.

To compare light sensitivity - FZ70 is rated at 3200 with its BSI sensor, RX100 III, also BSI, at 12,800.

Canon 5Ds/r is 53 MPX (50 active) on a 36x24 full frame sensor for 864 mm2. It's rated by Canon at 12,800.

s35 is 464 mm2.

 

[yslee]

And what're they going to do with the m4/3 system? If they do 8k in S35 it'll be a different product line.

 

[DLD]

And what're they going to do with the m4/3 system? .

If someone wants a super high resolution in a lower cost camera, then it should be possible with even today's technology to place a 16K resolution/133 MPX onto an MFT size sensor, if one is willing to live with the FZ70 performance otherwise. With an 8K BSI sensor, they should be able to get ISO similar to RX 100 MK III.

As a side note, NX1 is a $1,300 camera that reads its entire 6K sensor and theoretically could provide a 6K recording right now.

 

[roxics]

I'd be alright with something between 4 - 5.5K, reading off the whole full width 16:9 area of the 16MP sensor. Downsample to 4K for a tighter image and improve the dynamic range and lowlight by keeping the photosites the same size they are now. I don't see a ton of reason to go beyond that resolution. But then I'd be thrilled if they lowered the resolution below 4K but gave us an Alexa-like image on the next camera. Quality over quantity.

 

[Driftwood]

Some test footage of the new Lumix G7 / G70 (Germany) 4k mp4 and 4KPhoto aspect ratios I took in Mallorca. Pause frames to see 4Kphoto quality. Download the 4K version if you need.

 

[bumkicho]

4KPhoto mode is what attracts me the most. I think I heard it would continue taking jpeg images as long as you hold down the button, is this correct? What would be bit depth on these images? 10bit? 12bit? Of course, no sound, but who needs sound? Ha ha.. if I can trigger audio recorder at the same time, problem solved.

 

[yslee]

JPEGs are always 8 bit.

 

[bumkicho]

Oh I didn't know that. So are these jpegs 4:2:0 like its video or 4:2:2? Would there be benefit to shoot a video in 4KPhoto mode rather than 4K video mode?

 

[roxics]

Some test footage of the new Lumix G7 / G70 (Germany) 4k mp4 and 4KPhoto aspect ratios I took in Mallorca. Pause frames to see 4Kphoto quality. Download the 4K version if you need.

Awesome! I especially like the fact that you confirmed clean HDMI output at 8bit 4:2:2. That's a pretty big win for such an inexpensive camera.

 

[Peter Berry]

Thanks for posting this Nick. I've been very impressed with the GH4's 4K Photo mode, and use 3:2 and 4:3 in event recording to get more photo-friendly closeups.
The G7 takes it to a different level, though, with portrait orientation - still 8.3MP? Are there any in-camera video basic edit features such as cutting/splicing clips?

Here's the full text of your comments that may be interesting to readers:

[h=1]Panasonic Lumix G7 / G70 Launch - 4K - 4KPhoto Modes[/h] from Nick Driftwood PRO 22 hours ago Not Yet Rated

Music by Dr1ftwood.
Every frame is a 8.3 megapixel A3 print size resolution 4Kphoto. Press pause to try.
NOTE: For 4K quality evaluation it may be better to Download the original file (click download)
A look at the new Panasonic Lumix G7 (G70 Germany) 4K Camera in 4KPhoto Modes 4:3 and 16:9 - 4K grabs are random and deliberate to demonstrate photo quality of every frame. The G7 is a fabulous low-priced 4K shooter with the GH4's Venus 9 engine and the GX7 sensor. This camera I swear is the perfect accompaniment to the GH4 as a decent B cam or for those requiring 4K on a budget.
The .mp4 4K modes recording is excellent considering there's no .mov file recording.
I'm very impressed with the 4KPhoto modes which have been enhanced for the G7 and are in some ways more advanced than the GH4 in that you can edit so much more using the internal processing power of the camera and get excellent results. The feature button for 4Kphoto is on the left dial and there is a clever WB/ISO/Shutter/Aperture switchable dial&button on the back of the camera to swap to & thro or customise to your own preference.
The video recording modes also offer the professional gammas Cinelike D and Cinelike V together with an S curve Highlight / Shadow borrowed from the GH4. Not only that, you get the rather cool gizmo feature of Panoramic recording in portrait or landscape, decent Time lapse animation modes, plus, a clean 4:2:2 8-bit HDMI throughput to a TV or hard disk recording/monitor device. Its also lighter and includes improved viewfinder and LCD. Great stuff Panasonic.
All in all, well worth the price and a worthy successor to the G6 and baby brother to the GH4.Release Date: Mid June. Price: £599 Body.
NOTES:
In the 4kphoto aspect ratio examples we start off with a few Standard picture profile shots (with it dialed down on saturation) together with slow shutter speeds (1/50) to show motion blur before getting into overbaked Vivid picture profile at Fast shutter speeds to show motion capture at around 1/400th and above). auto focus with Depth from defocus has been used (James Bond 0.07 speed!) on the majority of shots plus a few random manual focus attempts at the fast-action using the terrific focus peaking as seen in the GH4. Later there are some 16:9 aspect recordings of the Palma de Mallorca Bay with ungraded standard dialed down. Lenses used were mainly the 14-140 stock lens and the 42.5mm baby lens. The 30mm Macro lens was used in a variety of 4kphoto shots you can see on my twitter account/Facebook. Enjo and dpn't forget to PAUSE any frame to get an idea of 4kphoto grabs. This was recorded in G7 mp4 ch264 codec tp ProRes 422 to h264 Vimeo Upload. The original is better quality of which you should be able to download the h264 4k version.

 

[yslee]

Oh I didn't know that. So are these jpegs 4:2:0 like its video or 4:2:2? Would there be benefit to shoot a video in 4KPhoto mode rather than 4K video mode?

4:2:0. There won't be any advantage really.

 

[Ozpeter]

Wow. This seems to me to indicate what the end-use case for 4K is right now (in other words, a way of using 4K without running into issues with editing, distribution and viewing for the average Joe / Jane). I bought a G6 some months back and have barely had a chance to use it - and now this comes along... it may form the basis of an FZ2000 in due course?

 

[smoke23]

I've been reading about the time limits on this. So for an NTSC G7 camera, will it stop recording at after 29 min or will it just span? I would like a third camera along side my GH2 & Gh4 but I shoot long events. Just wanted to clarify for HD & 4K.

 

[Ozpeter]

I bought a G6 some months back and have barely had a chance to use it - and now this comes along... it may form the basis of an FZ2000 in due course?

Today after a little bit of financial good fortune I treated myself to a FZ1000 and discovered that it seems to have the same 4K photo mode features of the G7 already (by a recent firmware update). Nice for those not needing the lens interchange capabilty of the G7.