GH5 What's your experience using the Panasonic Image app with the GH5?

BobKo

Well-known member
The past few days, I've controlled the GH5 using Panasonic's Image app, which is a free download. I have an Android phone (Motorola G7), and when the app and connection work, it's fantastic. It is excellent for getting wildlife shots in my backyard, where the animals would never let me be that close but they quickly get used to the camera being there. However, I find that the WiFi connection between the GH5 and my phone is fragile and it breaks often. I can usually reset it remotely, which is okay but an annoyance. Sometimes I can't reset it remotely and have to go out and twiddle with the camera. One day, nothing I did would let the phone connect to the camera. This is with the camera & phone being 8-10 feet apart (2.5-3m), the camera on a tripod and the phone on a table or windowsill -- neither the camera nor the phone is moving.

When the app works, it is a joy to use. But the frequent disruptions temper my pleasure.

Have any of you used it? What has been your experience? Any tips on making it work more reliably?

Here's a video I shot in my backyard with this setup, with the GH5 shooting 1080p at 180fps: https://youtu.be/QKUiXIVuFAI
 
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That blue jay is a celebrity. Are you using your phone's WiFi or regular service signal?
 
That blue jay is a celebrity. Are you using your phone's WiFi or regular service signal?

My understanding is that the phone and the camera connect together via WiFi, with no other nodes on the network. I could be wrong about that, however.
 
I use it regularly. My only complaint is when using it with two cameras, as it can be difficult to switch between my GH5S and my S1H.
 
I use it regularly. My only complaint is when using it with two cameras, as it can be difficult to switch between my GH5S and my S1H.

Is there anything in particular that you do? Do you do the same steps to get the system working every time? If so, what are those steps?

I can usually get it to work, but sometimes I can't get it to work at all. Once I get it working, there's a pretty good chance it will stop working at some point. And that's with the phone and camera within 10 feet (3m) of each other.
 
Is there anything in particular that you do? Do you do the same steps to get the system working every time? If so, what are those steps?

I can usually get it to work, but sometimes I can't get it to work at all. Once I get it working, there's a pretty good chance it will stop working at some point. And that's with the phone and camera within 10 feet (3m) of each other.

The only kinda crazy thing I do is I always use the app with my camera turned off. Other than that I stay connected for over an hour. I made a little video from my phone, and notice when I go to connect, it clearly states that you should hit Cancel if connecting over Bluetooth. The Bluetooth connection then passes all of the Wi-Fi connection info to the app from the camera and you can easily connect from there.

Note: If you are on your home Wi-Fi connection, the phone may have to be manually connected to the camera first before starting the app.

 
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