Panasonic has swapped the 3.2-inch screen on the GH5 for a slightly smaller but allegedly more visible 3-inch display on the GH5 II. (Image credit: Panasonic)

There's a virtual laundry list of formats and compression levels to choose from when recording to a card. The MP4 format is an option for casual use and projects without heavy edits. The MOV container format opens up more options, with 150Mbps Long GOP and 400Mbps All-I codecs. How you react to the GH5 II probably depends on what you think 'Mark II' should denote. If you're expecting a Canon-esque complete reworking of the camera, it might seem a little undercooked. But if you see it as a genuine mid-life refresh, with a few spec enhancements and enough processing power to leave room for further firmware updates, then it looks pretty competent. Professional photo and video performance with 20.3 Megapixel micro four thirds sensor with no low pass filter to capture sharp images with a high dynamic range and artifact free performance

Refreshes GH5 Design

Panasonic puts the GH5 II's sensor on a 5-axis stabilization (IBIS) system, beneficial for both still imaging and video. It's a common feature among mirrorless cameras—most competitors have IBIS, including the Fujifilm X-T4 and Olympus' Micro Four Thirds cameras, the E-M1X and E-M1 Mark III. Olympus M.Zuiko 100-400mm, 400mm, f/6.3, 1/500-second, ISO 1600 The menu system is excellent, and a model of clarity both in its organization and its appearance – the menu text is big and easy to read. There are a LOT of video permutations to get your head around, however, and some features are unavailable unless you’ve selected something else first, e.g. VFR mode needs the MOV format, which is set in another menu. The interface might be very clear, but you’ll still need to spend some time working out where the options are and what they do. Then, of course, there's the autofocus. Chris and Jordan's tests show it does well in 60p mode, but that 24p still lags behind the best of the competition, which limits the types of shooting the GH5 II can adapt to. There's a wide range of lenses for the Micro Four Thirds format, one option being the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4 (24-120mm equivalent). The GH5 II is capable of capturing huge dynamic range at lower sensitivities, though as ISO sensitivities rise, its sensor limitations start to become apparent. At ISO 1600 and above, the GH5 II starts to trail its rivals, capturing as much as 2 stops less dynamic range than the full-frame Panasonic Lumix S5 when you reach ISO 25600.

The GH5’s sensitivity range improves on the GH4’s by a stop at the bottom end of the range, running from ISO100-25,600 compared to 200-25,600 on the GH4. The increase in base sensitivity is welcome, especially if you want to take advantage of some of those fast Micro Four Thirds prime lenses in bright conditions, where an extra stop can be a help. The sensor is essentially the same one that Panasonic has been using across its Lumix G camera range for some time now, though it’s matched up with a new, faster Venus processing engine which brings new and enhanced video modes and contributes towards this camera’s burst shooting abilities.If the GH5S was solely a video camera, we wouldn’t be reviewing it. In fact, it’s a fascinating crossover camera of a type that could become increasingly common as the boundaries between the stills and video markets continue to blur, though its video-first approach at the expense of stills makes it hard to recommend as one of the best cameras for filmmaking. The Bluetooth Remote Control function can be used with Image App, which will also be updated at the same timing with the GH5 firmware release.

On the top of the camera there is a record button clearly marked in metallic red but not so easy to find by feel – a raised ‘pimple’ would have helped here, as it’s closely surrounded by four other buttons for different camera settings and pressing these by accident is really annoying.

Centered EVF Design

Level Gauge, Real-time Histogram, Guide Lines (3 patterns), Center Marker, Highlight display (Still image / motion picture), Zebra pattern (Still image / motion picture)