Most Underrated Camera of 2018 :: Panasonic G9
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ส.ค. 2024
- The Panasonic G9 is a mirrorless, micro four thirds camera aimed at still photography with some surprising video features.
Panasonic G9 on B&H goo.gl/Z3r9aF
Lenses used in this video:
Panasonic Leica 42.5mm f/1.2 goo.gl/kcuqeB
Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4 goo.gl/qvEURb
Panasonic Leica 12mm f/1.4 goo.gl/71xnRJ
Panasonic have delivered an amazing camera with the G9. Its quite possibly the sleeper camera of 2018. It features a 0.83x magnification 3.68 million dot OLED viewfinder. Its a 20 megapixel camera that features 5-axis image stabilization, 4k6-p and an 80 megapixel high-res shot mode. There is also a flip screen and joy stick for fast and easy navigation.
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Panasonic G9 Features:
• 20.3MP Digital Live MOS Sensor
• Venus Engine Image Processor
• UHD 4K60p Video
• 80MP High-Res Shot Mode
• 5-Axis Sensor Stabilization; Dual I.S. 2
• 0.83x 3.68m-Dot OLED Viewfinder
• 3.0" 1.04m-Dot Free-Angle Touchscreen
• Top Status LCD
• Rear Joystick
• Advanced DFD AF System
• 4K and 6K PHOTO
• ISO 25600 and 60 fps Continuous Shooting
• Dual UHS-II SD Slots
• Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
Check out my other videos:
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• Panasonic Lumix LX10 • PANASONIC LUMIX LX10 :...
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• Panasonic G7 • BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PAN...
• Panasonic GH5 • GH5 HAS ARRIVED!
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* FTC - B&H were kind enough to loan me the G9 and 2 lenses for this review. No financial compensation was made other than the use of affiliate links. The opinions in this review are my own.
Ted Forbes
The Art of Photography
2830 S. Hulen, Studio 133
Fort Worth, TX 76109
US of A
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I posted this over at one of the Northrup videos. They were bemoaning how so many of the new cameras were missing a feature or two. They asked why can't manufacturers give us a camera with all the stuff we want? IBIS, fast and accurate focus, flippy screen, dual card slots, 4k 60p, great battery life, eye-detect focus in both stills and video, fast lenses with lots of choices, 12fps single and 9 fps AFC, and at a good price? My response: Oh wait, they did. It's called the Panasonic G9.
X-T3 no IBIS, Panasonic G9 check (best in the industry)
Z6 no flippy screen, Panasonic G9 check (and fully touch capable)
EOS R no dual card slots, Panasonic G9 check (and both UHS-II)
A7III for $2,000, Panasonic G9 a lot less (and affordable lenses, too!)
Seems to me that everyone is aiming for the G9 and missing!
For you naysayers, if you insist on phase detect, you should really test the G9 with DFD. Seriously. Better than even the GH5. If you insist on FF, you should do a side by side comparison test of 17x22" prints. I did, comparing a Sony A7RII (a friend has one) to my G9 - no visible difference in a 17x22 print. None. If you insist on ISO 12,800, you should try Mean Stack noise removal. Most importantly (IMHO) you should see what the 6.5 stop Dual IS2 can do - as Ted emphasizes here. Amazing. I'm not a fan boy, but I am a pragmatist.
Perhaps a peek at Panasonic's thinking about CA DFD: I also own both the G85 and the G9. There is a huge improvement in video auto focus with the G9. Huge. Maybe not quite up to PD levels, but huge improvement. And I speculate that's the point with Panasonic's insistence about DFD - they can improve it via software. PD is baked into the sensor. I won't be surprised to see Panasonic get CF up to current PD standards soon. The G9 is damned close. I also won't be surprised, however, to see them fight a long uphill battle to convince everyone. Even in this well-done video, Ted, you assume the G9 auto focus performs like the G85 - sins of the father onto the son sort of thing. Do more (and side-by-side) testing and you'll see what I mean. The G9 performs almost flawlessly - in my tests, 95-98% keepers in still mode AF tracking; absolutely zero instances of hunting in video mode. Not one. It will be hard for Panasonic to overcome that reputation - which is one reason the G9 will probably remain the most underrated camera of 2018.
And finally, last year I made an 8-foot print using my G85. OK, I stitched 8 overlapping images into an 8-foot panorama, but it's stunning and as tack sharp as a contact print from an 8x10 negative. Every camera has limitations. Every limitation has a creative work-around. It's always been this way in photography.
(im exclusively going to talk about video, i dont care about stills)
g9/gh5 are both very good video camera in a studio/controlled environment or if you have a skilled camera man who can manual focus but it sucks so much for run and gun scenario and for 1 man crew (like most youtuber) because of the inconsistent AF + the shitty ISO performance. For exemple those pics in the video turned out fine because of the super slow shutter speed but you cant do that in video.. you can just crank the ISO and those tiny sensor get noisy very quickly and then its just unusable. I am aware that this is like worst case scenario but the A7III wouldnt have any problem with that ... or any scenario actually. My point is that, the perfect video camera certainly doesnt have a tiny sensor.
@Benoit: Maybe that's why Panasonic introduced the new cameras. All the People saying "I like the GH5, but the A7 is much better at high ISO".
Panasonic now: Here you are, Full Frame GH5.
Jochen Kraus oh for sure!! I cant wait for the review, I hope the AF-C is amazing and the ISO performance (of the S1) will probably be on par with the A7iii
Can it shot astrophotography? How well it shot astrophotography? My friend owned old Canon 700d. He desperately wanna upgrade but his current hobby is night photography and astrophotography. I wonder if g9 could be good upgrade that satisfy his needs?
It's a hopeless case. Northrup is completely ignorant towards Panasonics, especially as an option for stills (the GH5 for video is the only thing he would consider). He probably has never taken a closer look at the G9 even though - like you said - it provides so many things he desires and that others don't offer, at least not in one package.
I think a lot of people who are craving a full frame forget how big these cameras and lenses are. I've shot both full frame and I now use micro 4/3 mainly because of the weight. It's such a small and powerful system. And yes the sensor is smaller, but with a great lens like the Panaleica 25mm f/1.4 you can absolutely take beautiful portraits. For street photography it's very good - discreet and quiet.
I honestly think micro 4/3 has hit the sweet spot between size and image quality.
i just saw for the first time in real life a canon 1DX today, and i was amazed by the size of the thing, i knew fullframe cameras were big but not this much! i can't think of carrying that thing everywhere everyday ! too big for my needs.
Yup,I lugged a Nikon F around in the 60s with a bunch o lenses.. growing up on a farm helped- you just do it even if it hurts. But not in my 70s micro 4/3 is just right.
Hey Bogrunberger - i absolutely agree with you - i onw a Nikon D750 with all the lenses i need and shot Portrait Sessions, Wedding and Concerts with it. But to be honest since i made a sidestep into the MFT world i was fascinated. The G9 might not be the best option for low-light. But i just ordered it and it will definately be my camera for the quick walks and hikings. The weight difference is insane.
Plus full frame cameras and lenses are expensive. If you are not a working Professional(even if you are), maybe they are not necessary, at least to most people. And as for low light shooting, I don't do it enough to justify the expense of going full frame. I am, however, tempted to get a used APS-C camera.
that's really not the comparison and or a fair one, the comparison is vs CMOS at 1.6 Crop factor (canon) and Nikon at 1.5x and comparatively speaking, the better bodies aren't much smaller or less weight and yet they make significant trades in battery life, lowlight, and even AF performance at times.
This camera and system is still pretty awesome in 2023, G9 turned out to be a classic, I just picked up another one new from Adorama today, just love it.
Holy mother of god, the picture of the couple entering that jazz club is one of the best street photos I've seen in this year.
Agreed...and at ISO 200
6:38
I have shot one for 9 months. With respect to ergonomics and weather-proofing it is one of the best money can buy.
It’s still underrated in 2022. Crazy how these specs still hold up 5 years later.
love mine :)
Most underrated channel for sure. Great job Ted!
Underated at 500k suscribers? Lol still is very successful for a photography channel.
😂
I've been wondering for so long when the G9 was going to get some respect. It's awesome! And has so many awesome features and great specs. 120fps 3.2kdot evf .83x mag! 4k60! Flip screen! Dual card slots!
Oh and terminator mode
I’ve owned this camera for around nine months now and I’ve pulled out some incredible imagery despite the sensor size.
The ergonomics are what really sets it apart for me though. No camera I’ve ever held feels quite like this one. We’ll see what Panasonic does with their new S1 and S1R. Hopefully this new direction doesn’t spell the end for MFT, but we’ll see.
Yes wherever but the color science is not good like canon color science it sell the cameras just by color science.
I've heard very few complaints about the color science and I myself don't find it to be dramatically behind any of the other major players. Canon's color science is certainly top notch, but Panasonic isn't much behind. To be fair, most professionals are going to be color grading footage and still images anyway, so I can't say that the color science is the end all be all of a camera regardless of what you're shooting on.
@@JHambacker very true. After all most of the pictures are post process so the color pretty much will change. it seems that it matters for JPEG more or less.
I agree, it's what makes me use this camera more than any other. And, the JPG engine is amazing, the best colors and realistic look I've ever seen.
@@ivankiefer3886
Currently fuji and leica have are way ahead when it comes to color science, canon is nowhere near them.
Something I wish people would talk about is the 2X crop and how beneficial it is to wildlife photography. And the 20Fps the g9 has honestly the g9 paired with the Leica 100-400 is the greatest wildlife photo set up.
It's still just 800mm. If they release a 600mm that would be another thing. Most systems now has one or a few 150-600 that are very affordable and good with better reach (960 om Canon).
"just" 800mm????
It's almost literally impossible to hand hold more than 800mm. Not to mention getting a stable shot. Anything beyond 800mm is pretty useless IMO. Image quality also suffers beyond a certain focal length.
This is an excellent review. You hit the nail on the head about Panasonic, MFT, and the reasons to consider it over FF. You pulled no punches, which let me know that you're not a Panasonic ambassador just hyping the G9. It is a fantastic camera whose limitations (namely, low light) are far outweighed by the benefits. Thanks for an honest review that is giving the G9 the credit it deserves.
Great review Ted! Totally agree. I tried the GH5 earlier this year - fantastic camera, though filming in 10-bit was pretty impractical for most jobs I was working on, and sometimes more noisy in low light than 8-bit. So the nearly identical 8-bit recording modes in the G9 along with improved IBIS and slightly better AF than the GH5 made it an easy choice for me. Stoked to begin sharing some of what I've captured with it soon... feels like a huge step up from the GX85 in every regard, and it's become a welcome addition to the gear lineup for client work :)
The eye point modes!! I'm new to wearing glasses and have just discovered how different it is looking through the view finder of my d810 with them. Genius. Great review, been enjoying your videos each day. Thanks Ted
I bought a G9 in september, and i love it... i own a lot of cameras from mft to medium format, even 4x5 and 8x10 film cameras, and now every time i have to shoot, i pick up the G9. It's just fit in my hand like a glove, like you said the viewfinder is amazing reminding me some good ones from film cameras, the ergonomic is just perfect for me.
Yes, it's not a FF sensor but, in the end of the day, what is important is to get the shoot and much more important is how fun it was... I own a sony A7 and it's a nightmare for me, every time i need to use it
I can't wait to get the leica 10-25mm f/1.7 lens for landscapes!
Same here...it's on my lens list
I have owned a G9 for about 3 months now. I mostly use it with 35-100mm 2.8 and 20mm f1.7. I managed to snap one full second at 100mm (200 FF). I would say it's super impressive. The 4K video is noticeably sharper than my previous GH4. I think this is due to the 6K down sampling and removal of the AA filter. It also does 4K 60fps. Super killer for photo oriented camera
MFT will stay. It has applications for wildlife photography. Their longer lenses are smaller and brilliant,i ABSOLUTELY LOVE the PanaLeica 100-400mm. 200-800mm equivalent but relatively small and carry friendly. Not to mention the compatibility with Olympus lenses,their 300mm F4 pro lens is awesome for portrait work
Yeah, that's the reason I sold my Nikon and got a G9. I don't have the 100-400, yet, but the 100-300 is great, and smaller/lighter than my old gear.
Yes, the 100-400mm is a great lens on my GH5 too. The handheld shots one can capture are amazing. Surf photography too.
The question is, can wildlife shooters and GH5 cinematographers sustain an entire camera system if 90% of other users jump ship for other mirrorless systems? Unfortunately, my guess is probably not
Matter Graffika Video is the backbone that will keep MFT alive and well, and then pros like sensor choices for sport and wildlife (like you and I), we like to shoot both Full Frame and crop sensor bodies in the bag. MFT is a great sensor size for video. The GH5 is a great camera because the sensor size is small enough to do high frame rate processing in a small camera, while big enough to get good creative choices with lenses, but the light weight of the long lenses is a huge factor. My Canon 800mm weighs a ton, while my MFT 100-300 is tiny in comparison.
Also its great for Travel ... 1-2 KG and you have all the lenses you want.
I had a G7 and traded it in for a G9. Right to the point: I'm VERY happy with the G9. You didn't mention it, but Panasonic's color science got much better in the G9. They OOC JPEGs are great! It's a tremendous improvement over any previous Panasonic G series camera.
I get great photos with my GH5 so, I can only imagine the G9 would be great too. Not having to always lug around a tripod is nice too.
Gggg
Pro trick: you can watch series at flixzone. I've been using it for watching all kinds of movies lately.
@Luciano Case Yup, I've been using flixzone} for since november myself :)
@Luciano Case Yea, I have been watching on Flixzone} for since november myself :D
@Luciano Case yea, have been watching on flixzone} for since december myself =)
When you take m4/3rds camera and add a good focal reducer adapter and a film era lens...You would be amazed at the bokeh and getting an extra stop of light...plus you have in body IS which is awesome.
The IBIS of G9 is actually amazing! One of the best imo.
I heard it is..but I'll keep EM1..LOL!
@@jackmckechnie5801 ofc. Also a masterpiece of a camera.
I agree, I've bought a Viltrox speedbooster for £130 and can now use all my canon EF glass on my EM1 ii, with full auto and fast AF giving very nice results indeed, regarding bokeh, dof etc
I recently moved to M4/3 because I was tired of lugging big cameras and lenses about. My camera bag was as heavy as Santa's sack.
M4/3 gear will sell as long as there are people like me to buy it.
And as peoples age goes up, their tolerance for weight goes down. M4/3rds offers a compelling combination of high quality images, compelling lens lineup, in a smaller, lighter, easier to pack and carry package than the bigger sensor based offerings do.
i finally got the g9..the grip alone makes me love it
A1Bokeh - I expect you will love it!
I currently own the G85 and I'm thinking about buying the G9. I love the portability of the MFT system. I can load all my gear in my backpack without worrying about my eventual back fatigue. Last summer I rode through 9 countries in Europe using a cheap point and shoot. Yes the images could've been better quality but the artistic essence was there. For my next solo tour I will carry my MFT camera and multiple lenses. I wouldn't even consider a heavier full frame camera.
Another great video, Ted! Looking forward to the late October firmware update.
Best camera for travel. Hands down.
The G9 is indeed a great camera which really deserves a much higher profile (so thanks Ted!).
As soon as I picked one up, I knew this was a well thought out photographer's camera. Note the tiny details like the WB/ISO/+ - buttons which are ever so slightly stepped in height (and the tiny 'pinheads' on the ISO button) for aiding use by feel...
Sony and Fuji seem to get a lot of the mentions, but Panasonic (too) quietly get on with the business of developing amazing cameras. I'm fully expecting the forthcoming S1/r to be very G9 influenced, which bodes very well.
Ted, who really needs resolution higher than 20 Megapixels! Not everybody out there is making prints poster size. One can still argue that he can better crop his image for a better composition but that point can still be valid for a 50 or 100 MP camera. So where’s the limit. I think that for most amateurs the 20 MP range is more than satisfying. If not, then it’s probably because people don’t get close enough or don’t use the right lenses.
If people are consistent with what they really need in a camera, the M4/3 is there to stay. Low light situations can sometimes be a problem but I don’t find it that restrictive for outdoor shooting at night. Like you said, many M4/3 are equipped with great in-camera image stabilization that compensate for noise reduction if you lower ISOs and shutter speed accordingly. Noise reduction software are also quite amazing nowadays.
But the real question is who (which manufacturer) will still offer M4/3 cameras?
I think it’s those who already own that market and already have a wide range of lens to offer. I would be surprised to see new parties entering that market, the pressure and investments (marketing new lenses) will push them towards making cameras with larger sensor size. And that’s what worries me!
Who will have the last word in deciding if M4/3 will go on? The manufacturers or the consumer!
Consumers will also feel pressured by the trend to move beyond a M4/3 even if he doesn’t need it. One has just to look around his house to find things he bought but didn’t need.
But going a step further, I think the Golden Age of digital cameras is about to end because of the large diversity of camera models that are in the market. I’m sure that there will come a time when many camera model won’t cover the investment expected leaving manufacturers at a loss. Manufacturers won’t be able to keep that pace for long. It’s a WAR right now!
The ones who will survive will probably be the ones who offer a lesser choice of camera models as well as packing the best features in that lesser range. Strategy will determine the outcome - not necessarily aggressiveness.
Keep on the good work Te, it is much appreciated!
Rejean Nantel honestly 20mp is not enough for a lot of photographers. I shoot with the k1 and k3. The first is full frame 36mp and the second is like 26 I think. There is a huge noticeable difference between the two
I’m surprised that you see much difference Ayush!
Sure enough if you zoom in to the pixel level you will surely see one. But that’s generally not the way pictures are meant to be seen. They are either seen on a screen where more than 75 dpi resolution is unnoticeable or they are meant to be printed. And when printed, you really need to print them on a poster size format to see any real difference (unless your cropping factor is surprisingly high).
I doubt many people with see any difference between both when viewing images on a digital monitor or having them printed on an 8x10 inches format.
Still one must not be fooled to think that the only factor that’s got to be taken into account is the number of megapixels, different camera models may have other variants that can cause images to look better. Just using a quality lens can produce a significant difference in image quality.
But I still believe that 20 MP is enough for most amateur photographers (and some pro-photographers). But I still respect your opinion Ayush - and maybe I could be wrong.
Rejean Nantel hmm. I do photo manipulation so maybe that’s why the difference is noticeable. And there is something about having that extra crop factor that I can’t explain. Maybe I’m a bandwagon. But I shoot with a k3 and a k1. So the colors are similar. I shoot with the 50-135 on the k3 which basically makes it a 70-200. And I shoot with a 24-70 on my k1 Incase you were wondering. Having 10-12 extra megapixels makes a big enough difference especially in creative work. Maybe not for amateurs, but I still consider myself one
I also do some photo manipulation Ayush and I have found that combining certain effects, like using cross-processing along with a diffuser, can really mess up the pixels. While I know that I sacrifice sharpness when using those, the results may be too drastic if you have lesser pixels. So I can understand your point Ayush. Have a nice day!
Both Panasonic and Olympus have stated that they are still committed to u4/3, and Olympus has no intention of going FF. Nikon has not abandoned APS-C (and neither has Sony or Pentax), just because they are doing FF. Perhaps Panny will put more of their PRO effort into FF, but they won't be leaving the prosumer-beginner markets, and u4/3 is where they will sell into that.
Great video, as always. One clarification, in case it hasn't been mentioned. The max burst rate in SH2 shooting mode with AF-S is 60 fps, full rez RAW. Since the buffer is only 50 shots deep, it becomes 50 shots in... 8/10th of a second, or something like that. I have had people try to argue about this, thinking it's the 4k/6k mode, but that's different. Those modes allow you to take long series, not worry about the buffer, and then pull out stills later. SH2 in single focus is full 20mp, but a very short time.
I really like my G9, capable to shoot nice still photos while can also record some 4k 60p.
Though the price of G9 dropped kinda fast which makes me feel a bit sad.
However, the G9 on sale is really a good buy if you are into photography while want to shoot some high quality video, would not regret buying it.
I remember that back in '16, when I started my research about my next camera, I was looked after the G7 too. I didn't bought it, because it looked toy-like for me, altought I liked the small body and all the features. And now here is the G9, which looks serious as hell.
My 80D serves me perfectly, but if I had to buy a new camera new, I might won't overlook the G9.
@@funkymoped537 , Yeah, I also noticed that the xxD series lost the massive, sturdy build that defined the predecessors. Luckily I find the camera's other abilities fitting to my needs, so I don't really mind it. I never planned kicking the camera through a mountain anyways. I never denied that a couple of m4/3 body are more rugged than the 80D, e.g. the OM-D E-M1 mkII, but that camera costs nearly the double than the 80D (here in Hungary, at least).
Panasonic has really been improving their cameras lately (although they've been great for ~10 years with MTF), and it seems the G9 is quite universally loved. MTF will stay, but if this would be one their last cameras to be released, they would surely end this era in a very high note. Great stuff!
Your observations are on point. I was a little skeptical but very hopeful after reading the claims of vast improvements in quality (sharpness primarily for me) over my GH4 before I bought the G9. But much to my satisfaction the claims are true. Paired with my 12-35 f2.8 and Nocticron, I'm loving the experience.
When I shifted to Digital cameras back in 2003, my first choice and best to date, was the Olympus E-Volt 300. The amount of fun, creativity, and quantity of pictures I took in the next 3yrs out does till this day, anything else that have followed since, from my next acquisition Canon 5D, to my latest and greatest Hasselblad H5D. My only regret, I was not able at the time to get all of the high end Zuiko lenses out there, and keeps me wondering till this day, what I might have made with those in my position.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for this really good review!
Agreed. Love this camera and it kind of got lost in all the other full frame hype. Def would be my one choice for micro four thirds
Different format has different place, people should look at the whole picture rather then only choosing one or two specific things and then say one format is bad.
I own the G9 so I'm a bit biased, but in japan a G9 + leica 12-60(a 800+usd lens) comes in at 2000usd and around 900g. Thats really the heavy end of MFT. While a a7r3 with a 24-105GM is 3000usd and 1300g, for a very light somewhat eqvivalent FF. That 400g difference, and also a VERY apparent increase is size, makes it exponentially less likely for me to bring the camera anywhere outside my home. So I think MFT definitely has a place even after S1 and S1R..
The crop is no joke though, if you plan to shoot low light and low DoF, you need to understand that the 12-60F2.8-4 will perform closer to F5.6-8, with peak performance around F11.2 when comparing with FF lenses. Also anything above iso800 gets really noisy. You need to be aware of what shots you can expect.
I found the ergonomics of the G9 far superior to the Sony. Sony cameras have a long way to go for ergonomics and controls. They get great images, but aren't personally very comfortable to use
@@bigdhav I fully agree, I got the G9 for 4K60, IBIS and the flippy screen, so I didn't really have any other choice, but trying other cameras in camera stores I find it more ergonomic than any camera I've held..
@@nilssab now looking at whether the new Leica 10-25mm f1.7 will cost as much as the new S1 or SR1 as I've been wanting a decent wide angle for ages. And it has 77mm filter thread I have loads of filters for from my DLSR.
Personally, I don’t care about mirrorless vs. DSLR, as long as it’s a full frame sensor. I just haven’t been able to get the result I want with anything else.
That being said, this camera has a lot of innovative features that really do show Panasonic is constantly focused on revising and fine tuning.
For people with a tighter budget, the GX9 is also a fantastic camera. Former GX1 and GX80 use here, fantastic little cameras that can do almost anything you throw at them. And for me, the compact size is brilliant, G9 looks much too DSLR-ish, whilst the GX line better emphasizes the MICRO in Micro Four Thirds :)
Hey Ted - thanks for your video - i am a NikonFullfram-Guy and have a lot of good glass for this system. But i wanted something lighter an more compact. So i added a little Olympus OMD-EM10II to my gear. And since then the MFT-System got me hooked. Now your video here simply moved me to invest myself more into the MicroFourThirs world. I just ordered my G9. Thanks for that. And i totally agree with you. Since i tested it on last years Photokina here in Germany i think this Beast is totally underrated.
I can't wait to get this into my finger.
Thanks for your videos and opinions - keep up the work
Rouven Markovic do you like G9 so far ?
@@mvhan911 i really like it so far - there are some points i still wasnt able to figure out for myself but the learning curve is always steep in a new system. What i really like is the ergonomics and the big viewfinder as well as the stabilizer. The function set is very big and i am currently struggeling to find out what settings work the best for me
Ahhh Scat lounge! Just went there in December 2018. Great place love downtown FtW. Love the video. I am entering photography and I believe this is the first camera I will get. I like how detailed you are and how fast you speak. Lot of info in a quick manner. Thanks!
The major idea of keeping the MFT is that it is small, light and EXTRE-E-E-EMELY handy! And it delivers the quality which is more than enough tor 99% of the situations we're getting every day. Of course, I do have a FF CANON camera and some of its lenses for more than 10yrs now, but every time when I realise I HAVE to go out with FF today - then right away I recall all of the sudden that there's no spare parts for the bones in my spine... etc... And - when I need speed and go-everywhere-shoot-fast cam - then I take an MFT and 150% happy as with the pictures taking process, as with the results!
I'm sure there is a lot of perspectives for MFT technologies in the future. In both - stills and video.
I love my G9: it performs flawlessly in the studio for portraiture, with both studio strobes and continuous lighting. The lenses are phenomenal! I love it so much that I'm getting a buddy for it tomorrow. For £899 with a battery grip, a 25mm f1.7 lens and two batteries, how can I go wrong?
A D750 with a 50mm f/1.8 would cost the same and provide much better quality results.
@@youknowwho9247 It won't actually. I sold my D850 because it became redundant for my studio work. I much prefer the G9.
@@Gynra If you prefer working with the G9, that's great. But a D750 with a 50mm f/1.8 would absolutely produce higher quality images, objectively speaking. The resulting photos would have higher resolution, significantly less noise and a lot more creative freedom for depth of field. This quality advantage would be even more pronounced with a D850. Again, if MFT is your personal preference - ok, sure. But don't spread misinformation.
@@youknowwho9247 What misinformation? Have you ever used a G9 with a Nocticron 42.5 mm f1.2 or an Olympus 75 mm f1.8? I have used many Nikons (D500, D800, D810, D850) so I do have a sound basis for comparison. The jump from 20 Mpx to 24 Mpx is not much at all. In the conditions I use my G9 (base ISO) there is very little noise and I really do prefer the images I get to those from my Nikon Z6, though there's not much in it. I might change my mind about that when I get the 85mm f1.8S though. The eye detect autofocus of the G9 is better than the Z6 currently. I still use my Nikon full frame cameras for lower light situations, where they have a definite advantage. As for depth of field, it's true that full frame can give a shallower one at comparable apertures, but this is not always wanted. I am happy with the depth the Nocticron gives me for portraits, which is the same as an f2.4 full frame lens. This provides enough depth, but with a nice melt away to the background. Furthermore, I have never liked the D750 body form, preferring the 8xx series. All I am saying is that the advantages of full frame in many situations is overstated, and micro four thirds has some advantages of its own.
Incidentally, to buy a D750 with battery grip and 50 mm f1.8 lens would cost £1,437 at current prices (Wex Photovideo) so it's far from the same price as I paid for my G9 with grip and 25 mm f1,7 lens.
i too think its by far the most underrated camera of 2018. Im still shooting with it and i am using it prefessionaly for both photo and video . Decided over agh5 and never regret it. Thought that i wont use the display on top. but i use it and its very useful. But ihave to say this camera is not for everyone. But for me its the best despite the sensor size. It makes me feel very comfortable shooting. Its like this camera is made for me.
Thanks for this video. I've never used a 4/3 camera before, but I pulled the trigger on it today and am looking forward to it. LIke the comment below says, it has it all: IBIS, dual SD slots (none of that XQD stuff), good, deep grip, fully touchable screen and a very overlooked feature - top LCD. Put it this way, if I can't have a good experience using this camera - it's me and not the camera. Got the 12-25 2.8/ii to go along with it.
Congrats to everyone that bought this camera a year ago and one month ago got nearly a new camera with the 2.0 firmware.
I am seriously considering this camera as I have been happy with Panasonic so far. I'm not a pro, I wonder what the future holds for those of us who don't want ginormous full frame cameras?
The G9 is one of the most underrated cameras in 2021.
2022!
I recently decided to switch to M43 for apsc. Cameras like the G9 and OMD EM are gorgeous and make me want to shoot and let’s not forget all the m43 lenses offer better optics for cheaper than apsc and full frame counterparts.
And here we are 5 months after you released this, and I still feel this has a place, and this camera has climbed to the top of my "personal camera for Dave" list. Yes, the GH5 and GH5S are amazing cameras, but for the type of shooting that I do (photo), this camera looks amazing.
Excellent review. Thanks for all the valuable information. You updated me on some if the G9 features I forgot or neglected to use.
Great review / update for 2018. Panasonic has also announced that they will release another firmware update in October 2018 for all of the G series cameras. I'm shooting with GH5 andG9...love them both.
im so torn between cameras, just sold my x-t20 mainly because i wanted a better batterylife, better eyecup, focus joystick, dual cardslot, better grip, IBIS. i mainly shoot street, nature, and alot of aurora borealis. im standing between G9- X-t3- X-h1 . I doesnt really wanna go FF because of the prices, and quite big Prime lenses. think ill need to rent a G9 cause it looks so damn nice!
Hey Ted, I’ve been following you since before you were on TH-cam and only had podcasts on iTunes. You helped get me back into photography. But don’t forget to show Olympus some love by reviewing their bodies or lenses sometimes, especially the Pro Lens. Keep up the great work!
Tip: use Silkypix developer SE (download for free) to batch convert rw2 to 8 or 16 bit tiff. Much much better than the adobe raw conversion. Compare both files in LR f.i. and no need to buy a fullframe. No noise with the tiffs.
True. Silkypix SE is awesome :)
Don't forget to mention that the G9 is great with bigger lenses like that nocticron, the 200mmF2.8 and the 100-400mm and still be smaller and lighter than the competition.
I own this camera and it's great I've travelled all over with this camera and I trust it fully, always performs weather sealing is great. It's big for a mft but perfect to hold and you don't need to add a grip like many other smaller camera's, I think really mft has reached its pinnacle and Panasonic full frame is the next step and good move. Great video
OMG... when I first got the camera, I couldn't for the life of me figure out what that V MODE button was. This is the first time I have learned what it does!!!
I bought a G9 and have no regrets. The ergonomics and smaller size are wonderful. The small sensor has limitations, but it does everything I need it to do. For travel it is excellent. I'll keep the Nikon D800 and it's lenses, but it won't be travelling with me as much as it used to.
Panasonic is so underrated
say what the gh5 is literally unanimously agreed upon to be the best video camera in its price range and then some.
They have great TV's 😂
@Ed Dragojlovic The problem with the G9 is the price tag, too close to the GH5 with much more video features
Thomas Dufresne-Morin Panasonic is only underrated by those who do not use them. The death of MFT and the disdain of Panasonic has existed since the format’s inception. I owned the GH1 so I heard it back then. It is the same with Sony. For some reason there are people who think that consumer electronics companies cannot make good cameras. It is nonsense. Panny and Sony both make great cameras. As a videographer I buy their gear because both company’s seem to make the sort of gear that suits my needs.
in 2023 the G9 is still a lot of camera!
Insightful review. I have the G85 which is about the size of my Olympus- best thing is I have been able to afford many lenses and still choose between two cameras from different manufacturers. The G9 would be a bit bigger than I like, but this gives me an appreciation of its strengths.
One sure way to find out which will be best for you, is to get your hands on them at your local Camera Store. Feel how they handle, and try out a few lenses to see the AF ability, and EVF. Once you feel them, you'll know if they are right for you. Good luck.
you are right - very underrated - fantastic camera
Good review. My first experience listening to Ted. I like his pace. Will watch more.
I carry around a G9 and lenses covering ultra-wide to ultra-telephoto with me virtually all the time. Having a large heavy camera system with slightly better low light performance or autofocus that I keep at home would not give me better photos. If I was a professional photographer going to a prearranged “shoot” instead of reacting spontaneously to something I just happen to see I’m sure the calculation would be different though. It’s horses for courses.
Always enjoy your even keeled approach to reviews and the way you avoid camera bashing, way to much of that these days!
That is an awesome looking camera!! Great review ;)
Thank you very much for the video. I got a G9 and absolutely love it. Panasonic going FF does not make m43 obsolete. Basically, before Panasonic's FF announcement the two m43 companies were the only camera companies with only one mount and/or sensor size supported. My first "real" camera was a Nikon crop DSLR, then moved on to a used Leica M9 and stayed with mirrorless (rangefinder actually have some mirrors ...) ever since. I was an early adapter of the Sony FE cameras, had an a7r and still have an a7s. Really liked it and still like the a7s for its low light abilities. What I soon did not like where the big lenses, bought a 70-200. It was just to heavy for me. That is why I changed to m43. Love it. What totally annoys me is all this FF consumerism talk. Basically, mirrorless FF fanboys including many YouyTube reviewers and vloggers becoming as much an annoyance as CanNikon fanboys always were and still are. m43 is here to stay, as is APS-C. The reason is very simply physics, the lenses are just smaller. And this will not change.
Video autofocus on the G9 is really good still though.
I agree, the G9 has the fastest and most accurate AF I ever experienced, and it does AF in low light very well.
When i moved from Sony to Lumix its really frustating, so i only use manual except when i shoot outdoor or when the lighting is good, btw i use GH5 and now G9
love my G9
I've ordered the G9 with the 12-60mm leica lens which, having spent a while weighing up the pros and cons, I think is the right choice for me.
I do quite a bit of night time light based photography with long exposures and also motion video processing for stills, for which the "6K" option is excellent to make good resolution prints.
Being able to use the lenses from my 16mm Bolex cine camera is an exciting prospect :D
Can you revisit this video with your thoughts on the new firmware update?
Excellent, real-world review. Also, hat tip to B&H; what would we do without brick and mortar stores staffed with fanatical photographical co-conspirators?
Love my G9.
I’m here a year later after this video was posted. G9 can now be had for $1000. It is still the most criminally underrated camera of all time. We are perhaps a few months away from a GH6 and perhaps a G9 successor being announced. Canon totally pissed the bed with video on the R5. The A7SIII is awesome, but still not a true hybrid camera. The door is open Panasonic. It’s time to wow us again!
Glad I found the channel thanks to "The Photo/Video Show". Finally, a really honest look at the G9. You and Gordon Laing (Cameralabs.com) are the only ones to really give this camera the review it deserves. No, I do not own it. I'm retired, and it's a little out of my price range. BUT, with the introduction of the FF Pana's, hoping price will drop. Everything has limitations. But I never leave home without my G7 in my every day bag. Never. I bike, so I can take a lot of gear with me in the backpack. The G9 hits all the right buttons for "me". Thanks!
Did you buy the G9?
Nice review. Very compelling option, especially for those of us who have invested in m43 over the years.
I swear if I see another square space plugin I’m gonna get off TH-cam and start reading books 📖 📚
Micro Four Thirds lenses are small compared to full frame. Even if you get a large body like the G9 I think that is easier to carry. I have the GX80 which is small so I get a really compact package that doesn't break my back. This is worth considering if you need portability and why for sure M43 has a place in the market.
Was waiting for this video 😊
G85 user here, thought about getting the G9 but can't live with the 29.99 minutes recording limit
lol how many times you reach the limit with one recording? I guess 0
+Jog S people use video for remote recording of conferences, bands, theatre, etc.
@@borderlands6606 That's what camcorders are for.
+johannes914 there's no technical reason for a stills camera limit of 29 minutes, it's purely a taxation threshold. In some territories the same camera has no such limit. Few camcorders can also shoot a sharp 30 x 20 photograph.
Isnt the limit only for 4k filming?
I've owned both Canon and Panasonic products. I currently own a 5D mk iii and iv. Previously, I owned a G85 and G9. One of biggest gripes with Panasonic after switching to Canon has been image quality, especially with edge sharpness and dynamic range for shadows. It's quite honestly a nightmare. You notice massive fringing and purple outlines for objects when shooting landscapes with Panasonic. I don't know if it has to do with the m43 sensor or what, because I've used Sony/Nikon mirrorless and they were terrific for dynamic range and retaining detail. It's very hard to explain, but Panasonic images just don't feel full. They almost feel like the subjects are in 2D versus Canon/Sony/Nikon/Fuji who've mastered dynamic range and color contrast. Not saying Panasonic isn't good, but outside of video, I can't recommend them. It would be lovely to hear a review that isn't bought on Panasonic from an avid real-world pro.
Edit: NVM! I'll shut up. Your last portion of the video was bang-on! I really feel like all of the m43 are immensely lagging behind Fuji. However, it's hard to justify sticking with Fuji professionally just given it's not a FF (yes, it makes a difference). I just feel like Panasonic is riding this IBIS train a little hard when pro photographers really need great lenses at competitive prices and a body that's comparable with the Sony lineup. You can't keep doing the same thing expecting different results. Also, Fuji, Canon, Nikon and Sony just have an amazing ability to retain most of its value and the gear is typically easy to resell. Took me months of trying to undersell my Panasonic gear before it did.
I just had to retire my Olympus E-30 which I've had for eleven years. I've been using the four thirds format since the E-330 and I have always loved the portability of the camera and the quality of the pics. There is definitely more noise at the higher ISOs than larger sensor DSLRs, but like you said, if you know the work around than you can still take great pics. I just got the Lumix DC-G9 last week after going a month not having a camera because it had been so long since I shopped for one. Luckily, since I've been using the four thirds system for close to 17 years, I wasn't going in totally unprepared. You are so right about this camera, it has so much to offer it will take me some time just to master most of the features I plan on using regularly. Going from the E-30 to the G9 is like jumping from basic math to Calculous, it's that daunting at first. LOL
I came to see what your opinion on this camera was and I subscribed thanks to your awesome suggestion of "Epidemic"!
Great vid and beautiful pics by the way!
Will be interesting to see if they implement the high-resolution mode on the new full frame models!
Hi Ted,
Would love to see some more tutorials/ photo assignments rather than/ as well as reviews. Thanks x
I agree, this is a sleeper camera not many talk about. I'm thinking of adding one to my collection.
Awesome video, i love this camera.
I buy in 2022 with a BGG9 Batery Gripp (it was gift) and i love. 🙂
I liked the enthusiasm you show in this video!
Agree 100% about the future of Panasonic's future moving to full frame. I will definitely wait a good 4-5 years once they do before switching from my G85 to full frame so I can have a bigger variety of glass options. Great video.
I currently use and OMD with a couple of consumer grade Panasonic lenses and I get results that look amazing to my eye and I love the size and ergos of the Oly. I hope m43 stays around for a long time.
Okay, I've had this camera for a while now. It's got a lot of depth. It's a BEAST. I fuckin LOVE IT!
I bought a G9, I carry stuff around a lot. The G9 may be big for an m43, but the lenses are small generally. You can carry a hell of a lot or go very light and get decent results with the camera. I looked at the full frame, it does look interesting, but I won't be switching. At see point I may also include a full frame for certain situations, but the m43 will still be the most used for travel and adventuring. If they considered adding a mount and getting the full frame sensor to crop itself to m43, so you can use both FF and m43 lenses. Then you could take a variety of lenses. That would definitely interest me as you could have the portability of m43, but the option to bring a selection FF glass as well (I believe some Sony cameras allow smaller lenses to be fitted and crops the sensors down automatically).
two SD card slots. TWO. SD. CARD. SLOTS.
This needs to be stressed.
Two SD card slots.
But when do we go to THREE card slots? I can't wait :-)
Radio Żelaza, and ?
nothing, you perv
ur demanding
tyvek05 actually I think it's more of a redundancy thing, you have 2 cards so if one fails you have another.
I have the gh5 and those 2 lenses including the 12mm 1.4....it was fun for a while until i moved to full frame. I just needed more subject isolation for my working distances. I keep it for video.
Great video and I learned new things. Some of those pictures look to have been shot in Fort Worth, which is a great place for photographers.
The dual SD card slots are both UHS-II.
I absolutely love my G9! Even when the full frames come out, I’m not sure I’m going to upgrade. This camera is seriously legitimate, especially for video.
Labor Day weekend on Vancouver island I ended up doing a flying leap off the river bank into my inflatable dingy when a black bear surprised me while photographing eagles eating salmon. The little weather sealed G9 and 100-400 soaking wet with brackish saltwater and tucked under my arm like a football. We cranked the outboard and the curious bear ambled off. Wildlife telephoto with M43 so awesome.
Got into MFT in 2010 after eyeing the system for a year. Never regretted that move. For amateurs that pay for their pictures instead of being paid, MFT delivers incredible quality at an affordable price, and in package that you can travel with while still being able to carry your luggage and pulling your kid along. FF is probably better in absolute terms, but the better camera is still the one you can bring with you everywhere. If only for that reason, I'm absolutely convinces MFT will live on. The true endangered specie out there is APS-C. It's bigger and more expensive than MFT without any obvious advantage.
There are several prophetic statements here ! Now with the release of the S5-II FF in 2023
Now the S1 and S1R are coming out in March. I'm excited!