GH5 How interested are you in a GH6 anymore?
- Thread starter filmguy123
- Start date
Bassman2003
Veteran
Sold if it was already announced. That spec sheet is not far away from the FF Sony a7SIII that has already been released. Yes, $1,200 more money but in a year from now that list will be less impressive.
NorBro
Major Contributor
Any camera would sell with that kind of list, but just would never happen.
You'll have to take away at least two big features if a Japanese company is making it (maybe four from your list).
markoconnell
Well-known member
I would gladly pay more for something like this. If only...
filmguy123
Veteran
That's my thought too, except, I'm wondering with how intense the competition is if Panasonic may push the boundaries further in order to maintain some interest in the m43 ecosystem. I mean, I just don't think they can release something similar specwise to the S5 or A7S III.
So it's either grab headlines by making m43 once again offer next gen features with a "compromised" sensor size, or cut the price in half.
filmguy123
Veteran
Actually, I am wondering if the GH6 launch is delayed and is where they will debut the many-years-coming organic sensor tech they have been working on. And if so, we may see a sensor level, electronic pixel dimming form of internal ND. And while not global shutter, perhaps a sensor readout so fast its basically equivalent.
NorBro
Major Contributor
It really depends on if you believe in camera cartels or not...
If you do, at this point in time Panasonic would have to be a non-Japanese company to offer the best, IMO. I think those days of the GH popping headlines appear to be finished as specs, demands and expectations were different even 3-4 years ago. (And of course sales.)
If you don't, every specification would be discussed by all parties involved (IMO)...and hope is a good thing to have.
Peter C.
Veteran
The only reason Panasonic would release another model in this series would be if they could incorporate tech from their other cameras like better focus or software etc that could extend sales for a couple of years before they discontinued it. It wouldn't make sense to make any significant change that would require a redesign of the body or the internals such as the sensor. There are software things like streaming, wireless file transfer, wireless mics/headphones, maybe even something like Apple uses to blur background. Or simply cutting the price.
Last edited:
ahalpert
Major Contributor
Oh I dunno. If they just took the GH5 and gave it 8K60p and everything else stayed the same, that would be something. The greater DOF could be an unmitigated win if you're trying to manually focus in 8K. If all you want is gobs of detail for your landscapes or conference panel group shots or what-not, well - all that detail is blurred out at shallower DOF anyway.
I feel like there are numerous reasons for m43 to remain relevant and if it does then a GH6 could sell.
Peter C.
Veteran
Currently the GH5 sells for $1,400. I think it's value is closer to $1,000. At that price it could continue to sell well unchanged for a couple of years. 8k is unfeasible for sensor that small but I don't deny it would boost sales. People's mouth water when they hear 8k, this has been scientifically proven.
ahalpert
Major Contributor
The Samsung isocell gh1 is an 8K phone sensor. If an M43 sensor had the same size photosites, it would be 25.7K
https://www.google.com/search?q=sma...msung-gj-rev1&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8
https://www.google.com/search?q=sma...msung-gj-rev1&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8
filmguy123
Veteran
8K is one of the last thing I want. Storage and bandwidth hog, poorer editing performance and/or need for proxies and thus complicated workflow, and reduction in light gathering at the hardware level.
4K looks spectacular even blown up on giant screens. With people watching so much on mobile devices, and with AI upscaling becoming more of a thing, I have no idea why I would want 8K anytime soon for the vast majority of content. I see no pragmatic value when there are already a number of cameras that can shoot close to 6K raw (EVA1, S1H) on a larger sensor, plenty for recropping/framing. I just think 8K is a niche thing, or reserved for workflows like RED with vfx, cinema production, massive sensors and workflows, etc. It seems like a completely backwards fit for the sort of demographic a GH6 would appeal to.
Give me native 4K at a 1:1 pixel ratio, or downrezzed 6K at most for a cleaner 4K like Panasonics other cameras, but if the selling point of the GH6 is 8K I will be severely disappointed. No, annoyed. I will be severely annoyed.
4K looks spectacular even blown up on giant screens. With people watching so much on mobile devices, and with AI upscaling becoming more of a thing, I have no idea why I would want 8K anytime soon for the vast majority of content. I see no pragmatic value when there are already a number of cameras that can shoot close to 6K raw (EVA1, S1H) on a larger sensor, plenty for recropping/framing. I just think 8K is a niche thing, or reserved for workflows like RED with vfx, cinema production, massive sensors and workflows, etc. It seems like a completely backwards fit for the sort of demographic a GH6 would appeal to.
Give me native 4K at a 1:1 pixel ratio, or downrezzed 6K at most for a cleaner 4K like Panasonics other cameras, but if the selling point of the GH6 is 8K I will be severely disappointed. No, annoyed. I will be severely annoyed.
Thomas Smet
Veteran
Yes.
In fact I'm very close to finally upgrading my GH4 to a GH5S.
I like m43 and it was never about cost or the body size. In fact many were glad when the GH cameras got larger and were taken more seriously for their solid build.
I honestly don't really see the appeal of FF for video. APS-C/S35mm is the standard I strive for and that's something super easy to do with m43.
I like Panasonic because they almost always do video right. Yeah maybe a bit digital looking but I'm also ok with that. I think Panasonic delivers a more realistic look out of the box without any compromises. I also own a bunch of m43 lenses and like what those lenses can do.
Also the sensor size was never as much about body size as it was about lens size. A good 35-100 f2.8 m43 lens vs a massive 70-200 FF lens is a huge size difference. My bag carrying a m43 kit is vastly smaller and easier to take on trips vs a FF camera even if the FF body is a bit smaller.
Shooting telephoto is also a lot more complex and expensive on FF cameras.
I really wanted to like the Panasonic S series but the lenses are insanely too expensive. I have little to no interest in moving to Sony or Fuji and starting over with lenses. The new Canon mirrorless cameras seem nice but its still Canon and I lost respect for them years ago. Plus if I'm going to invest in a new set of lenses its going to be EF lenses that can be adapted to many cinema cameras.
So yeah if Panasonic does the GH6 right I would totally be interested in it. I don't always need raw and frankly think its an obsession for most people that don't really realize they don't have much more than what ProRes provides unless they are doing some insanely heavy grading. Even then well done ProRes can go a long way. Compression wise ProRes itself doesn't provide a massive advantage over 10bit 4:2:2 Panasonic formats. The Panasonic formats are not as smooth to edit but I usually optimize them anyway in FCPX. I would love if Panasonic could use ProRes instead of h264 or h265 but at the same time love that 150mbps can have most of the visual quality of 700mbps ProRes.
The one thing I wish I could get out of these camera is 4:4:4. Doesn't even have to be raw. Just a 4:4:4 flavor of h265.
There are a lot of shooters out there that have no need for raw. Many that have it don't even really need it. Many fell in love with Panasonic cameras for a lot more than just sensor size. Its the entire eco system and the overall look and user experience.
I considered really hard getting a Pocket 4k instead but I also shoot stills. The Gh5s has much lower resolution stills but they still look very good and as long as they can provide solid 8x10" or 11x14" prints I'm good with it. I tend to prefer to not crop and reframe in post anyway so shooting the image exactly as I need it is not a big problem. Would be nice every now and then to have more resolution but for now I'm perfectly fine with what it can do.
If I do move to FF for stills it will likely be the S5 if Panasonic can produce some good yet affordable L mount lenses. I'm not investing anything into a lens mount I think will die in a few years. Too many darn new lens mounts out there right now. Another reason why I'm going to just stick with m43 for now or tried and true EF lenses that can be used in a lot of different systems. I'm going to wait it out and see where the dust settles once this new lens mount war is over. My current m43 lenses are great and still plenty of great options for me out there. When that isn't enough I know I can move to EF lenses. I also know I can adapt EF lenses to a L mount camera but there are certain compromises to that route right now and don't feel like investing in a system full of compromises.
Peter C.
Veteran
That's interesting. 8k would be big selling point but it be expensive overhaul. I believe camera makers are moving to full frame because it's easier to have one size sensor and build around it cameras at various price points that use the same lens mount and body rather than to support and develop two different cameras in parallel. There are too many choices in the marketplace. I saw that the GH5 was out of stock at BH. It could very well be that even though we have misgivings, the camera might still sell well and Panasonic will leave it as is and produce it as long as there is enough demand.
Last edited:
markoconnell
Well-known member
8K would be of zero interest for me. 422 10 bit for high frame rates and 4K at 120 fps would be killer. Electronic ND would be died-and-gone-to-heaven level great. I don't need internal raw if I can have a solid 10 bit codec.
Sony has had an 8K MFT sensor for over a year.
https://petapixel.com/2019/09/27/sony-has-developed-a-47mp-mft-sensor-that-can-shoot-8k-30p-video/
But Panasonic decided to go full frame. With less resolution too.
https://petapixel.com/2019/09/27/sony-has-developed-a-47mp-mft-sensor-that-can-shoot-8k-30p-video/
But Panasonic decided to go full frame. With less resolution too.
An interesting tidbit from Canon today with its 250 MPX APS-C sensor. One could look at it as a warning shot to Sony, "If you want a cartel, don't mess around with us". Sony must have been pretty angry with R5 updates actually turning it into a reasonably effective working unit and, if rumors are correct, are rushing their response with an 8K 50 MPX camera with no overheating issues. And, with Oly more or less dropping out, Fuji allotted the APS-C and the MF niches, and Panasonic and Nikon struggling with the new mounts, it's Canon vs. Sony in the full frame market and Canon must feel confident that they can survive that battle royal. And that could mean the end of the cartel.
ahalpert
Major Contributor
I don't really need 8K either. I'm just saying that it could differentiate the camera and play to the strengths of M43. someone would want it.
I would like 8K. I shoot now with GH5 and GH5S UHD 60P both fixed on tripods in the theatre. I then edit in HD and create both Bluray and DVD. 8K camera would mean I could shoot with one camera and get closer in for crop/zoom/pan etc which is what I do now but with two cameras at different framing. I have no interest in 8K output.
stoneinapond
Veteran
I think there is definitely a place for a GH6 if implemented properly. I'm waiting to see what develops knowing that if nothing materializes early next year, an S5 is available.