GH4 Panasonic GH5 coming in 2017

Coming back to what I'd like to see in a GH5, honestly for me all I really need is lower noise when shooting at higher ISO. If they can make ISO 3200 look like what ISO 800 looks like on the GH4, I'd be thrilled. Even if that were the only improvement and everything else stayed the same as on the GH4, it would make me want to buy a GH5.

Agreed, I think other cameras better retain colour accuracy and DR range as ISO pushes up too (thinking C100 examples I've seen) and would love it if a GH5 could handle higher ISOs better. However, there is one other feature I'd want on my GH5, the one feature I'm dying for and would aid my event filming more than any other would be 1:1 punch in WHILE recording so I can nail critical focus every time whatever lens I have one. Praying to the gods of Panasonic for that one.

If I were being greedy, I would also like an extra stop of DR in the GH5, but when don't we want more DR.

Will be very exciting to see what they deliver.
 
I won't buy a GH5 unless it can achieve at least 6400 ISO really clean like my A7s.
The other thing I want (probably don't need) is clean 1080P120 at 6400 ISO.

Why not just get a A7sII?
1. I sent mine back mostly because the 180P120 was so lousy in low light.
2. The GH4 is so much nicer to use.
3. Heavier? Not with a lens. My entire 3 Lumix lens outfit fits in my smallest bag.
4. Batteries last almost 3 times as long as any A7.
5. I can record continuously and the camera does not overheat like the A7sII.

The GH4 has come a long way in focus speed and accuracy especially with Lumix lens.
AutoFocus for stills was the main reason I upgraded from the GH3 and I expect the GH5 to be better.
 
I won't buy a GH5 unless it can achieve at least 6400 ISO really clean like my A7s...
That is a tall order. The Back Side Illuminated sensor may add as many as two stops but, to get to the 6400, it'll need both the BSI and the Clear Pixel tech. And I am not sure if Panasonic can develop them in house, though they may be able to buy them from Samsung (now that Samsung has folded its camera operations). Clear Pixels has its own drawbacks, however.
 
So, what is the general consensus re the debut and release?

The big contenders seem to be the following (IMO): (please post yours)
Debut at NAB and release early Summer
Debut/release(shortly after) Photokina

Edit: The Nov-Dec 2015 price drop on the GH4 makes me think the NAB debut is looking more likely.
 
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Mirrorlessrumors and 43rumors are pointing to Photokina.

If it's that far out, Panasonic will have to pull out all the stops and deliver something cutting edge.
 
It depends on their GH-4 sales, which are still going strong while their manufacturing costs are dropping significantly. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they had both GH4 and GH5 in the same lineup. And it also depends on whether Panasonic might introduce a full frame camera similar to the latest Leica (which has a lot of Panasonic inside, including the V-Log). That one is much more likely to be a pro quality hybrid or even a camcorder, style-wise closer to AF-100 than to a GH-4.

In any case, PhotoKina is September 20-25 in Köln. PhotoPlus is in October in New York. That makes it a pretty decent time frame to drop a consumer/enthusiast tier camera for the masses.
 
Don't know how to describe this - language barrier isn't helping either.
I'm sure you've seen something like this before, but I don't know how to describe
it to a local producer here, or know what to call it so I can search for an example clip to show him.


It's most likely green screen, but the scenery and clothes change while the actor remains constant.


For instance, here's the trailer I want to shoot for my film. All the following takes place in one room while voice over sheds light on what's going on, everything is dynamic except the subject, lighting changes and everything:


IMAGERY
1. A man, sitting on a chair, hands a sack of money to a friend who puts on a burglar mask and runs off.


2. Pretty girls come in and ply the sitting man with alcohol, drugs and fruit and give him a lap dance. Girls leave.


3. Another man hands him a steering wheel, then snatches it away and gags him, binds him to the chair. Kicks his chair over and water-boards him.
 
Maybe at/before CES in January 4th we will hear an announcement from Panasonic?
There may be a compact GX7 with 4K announced soon. Otherwise, the rumor mill is pretty quiet on Panasonic.

After the Vegas based CES in early January, there's a CP+ show in February. It takes place in Japan, so the photo-video manufacturers may reserve their top announcements for their homeland.
 
* CES is in Los Vegas NV Jan 6th 2016
Imaging USA, Atlanta GA Jan 10th
PICEX, Hong Kong is Jan 29th
Photo Pro Expo Corinton Kentucky is Feb 4th
*CP + in Yokohama Japan is February 25th
The Photo Show, Birminham UK is Mar 19th
*NAB, Los Vegas is April 16th
*Photokina, Cologne Germany is Sept 20th
Photo Plus, New York is Oct 22nd



The GH3 was announced Sept 17th 2012 at Photokina
The GH4 was announced February 7, 2014 at CES but not available for two months.
I expect the GH5 to be announced at either CES or CP+
 
Here's something that may be nothing. GH3 is now $500. Is something else going to slot in that ~ $800 range besides the G7 kit? GF7? (I called it GX7 ... apparently, it's F, not X) GX8? Or will they slide GH4 downward? Or all of the above?
 
According to the Head of Technology at Holdan (a UK distributor)...

The new series of Top Gear (Chris Evans) recently purchased 9 GH4s for on-car filming.
The new Amazon Jeremy Clarkson series have bought 6 GH4s.

It goes to show how relevant and usable the GH4 still is!
 
Here's something that may be nothing. GH3 is now $500. Is something else going to slot in that ~ $800 range besides the G7 kit? GF7? (I called it GX7 ... apparently, it's F, not X) GX8? Or will they slide GH4 downward? Or all of the above?

My WAG is that the GX8 will have a street price of ~$800 (US) by March 2016. The GH4 will get discounted to possibly as low as ~$1K when the GH5 is released in mid-late 2016.
 
My WAG is that the GX8 will have a street price of ~$800 (US) by March 2016. The GH4 will get discounted to possibly as low as ~$1K when the GH5 is released in mid-late 2016.
B&H has GX8 at $1,000 + $100 gift card + a free download of on1 effects ($60 value, according to B&H) + a free 3-year warranty. In other words, it's basically at ~ $800 right now. 5-star customer reviews too.
 
Hoping it will be out around Summer.. By then it is really about time that Panasonic releases a new one. I read somewhere (maybe here even), that they are just now ramping up sensor research, after not doing too much the last 2-3 years. Not sure if this is true, but if so, the real NexGen sensor technology (unless they use a Sony sensor, possibly?) might still be a bit further out.. In any case, I see some people dreaming about a new sensor that could match the one in the latest Sony FF mirrorless cameras, and that is of course either just unrealistic dreams, or just subtle trolling.

My top in terms of what I would like:
-Global Shutter option like some of the new Blackmagic Cameras.
-Really good 1080p120 and 720p240 modes. Possibly even a crop 720p400+ mode would be fantastic
-6K native sensor & recording mode. (so no crop in 6K recording mode). This would be a differentiator, and I think Panasonic needs SOMETHING. Would be fantastic for editing.
-6K24P
-4K60P
-Higher bitrates
-Retain/Increase Dynamic Range
-10bit for all recording formats (except perhaps slow-mo)
-Some Prores variant, at least for 1080P
-Dual SDXD
-Internal Stabilization. Sony did it, so what gives??
-1 XLR input would be awesome, if not on the camera itself, how about on a reasonably priced battery grip?
 
. In any case, I see some people dreaming about a new sensor that could match the one in the latest Sony FF mirrorless cameras, and that is of course either just unrealistic dreams, or just subtle trolling.

Actually, I never dreamed that Sony could even come out with a Sensor as good as the A7s.
So, why shouldn't I now dream of better MFT, APS-C, and s35 Sensors?
Even really clean ISO 6400 from these smaller Sensors should not be too much to expect soon.
 
Global shutter is the last hold-out for me. For image quality, these are my minimum specs:

- 2K
- 60 fps
- 12 f-stops
- global shutter
- AVCHD

Believe it or not, despite the lowness of most of these specs, there is just one camera that meets or exceeds all of them: Red, and only after you add a $3,900 Motion Mount.

Those are my minimum specs, along with:

- a handicam body style with XLRs, which has been shown in dozens of camera models as far back as the Sony DSR-PD150 about 15 years ago, but for one reason or another was fumbled as cameramakers added better image quality. The large-sensor, interchangeable-lens version I have been waiting for is found in only a few models, like the the JVC GY-LS300, Sony NEX-VG900, and Sony FS5.
- a sub-$3,000 price. Now before you mock me, look again at the minimum image-quality specs I put down above.

I will gladly take better specs, but this synthesis of minimum specs has yet to be met.
 
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. In any case, I see some people dreaming about a new sensor that could match the one in the latest Sony FF mirrorless cameras, and that is of course either just unrealistic dreams, or just subtle trolling.

Actually, I never dreamed that Sony could even come out with a Sensor as good as the A7s.
So, why shouldn't I now dream of better MFT, APS-C, and s35 Sensors?
Even really clean ISO 6400 from these smaller Sensors should not be too much to expect soon.

I wasn't talking about you :) I'm not sure how much it could improve, but I would think that if there is a really good generation shift, you could expect at least 1 stop improvement. I guess nobody knows what sensor or sensor tech will make it into the GH5 yet though.

My point was to people on the Net that says unless it matches the current Sony A7Sii they will rather go for the Sony. Sony puts a good amount of money in sensor development, so at any given point, a Full Frame sensor for them will be quite a bit better than a much smaller m43 sensor. Maybe 5 years down the line, a new m43 sensor can match what the Sony A7Sii does today, but it certainly won't happen now or in 6-12 months. In the end, Panasonic is better at some things than Sony, but for those people that need nightvision practically, they might as well stop complaining and just get the Sony. I have even seen it said that if it doesn't improve on the Sony FS5 in all aspects, they will rather buy a FS5. What an incredibly ridiculous statement... Can anyone really think that a 1500-2000 mirrorless "dslr" will be better than a 5000 camera that only does video, in all aspects?

I like the GH-line because it is hybrid, the camera is reasonably small and the lenses are also smaller. I think the ergonomics and battery is great, and they have very good Image Quality for video especially, as well as many features that are really useful.
 
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we can all dream, eh? :) It's not like most of the items are crazy in themselves, but obviously asking for all of that in camera that will be very reasonably priced compared to other cameras with similar features is optimistic. If you think 6K is crazy, I actually think that would be doable - tough but doable. They have sensors with the correct resolution, the readout wouldn't be particularly fast, but of course there is a lot of data to chug, and compress in real time, so processing is the biggest question. Yet, with an optimized processing unit for it, it could be done, I'm sure. It would certainly give the new GH5 a claim to fame, whether it turns out to be a terribly useful feature - or not. Sony can push low light capability on their A7Sii. They can push a ridiculous amount of pixels for photography for the A7Rii, so it would be good if Panasonic had a standout feature..

PS: Nice demo reel on your site. It's cool you take the time to participate on the forum with amateurs such as myself. :)
 
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