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Introduction

Following in the sturdy footsteps of the ground-breaking GH5, the new G9 from Panasonic, taking stills photography to the next level, and offering exceptional video options for a mirrorless camera system. Driven by the Venus processor system, the G9’s 20.3 four thirds MOS sensor delivers breath-taking images with fantastic colour range, exceptional contrast, and low interference.  Even when focusing on tricky subjects such as backlit animals, the G9 handles the conditions with professional ease to reduce ghosting and flare via a special anti-reflective (AR) coating applied to the sensor. 

The G9 makes the most of its 20.3-megapixel sensor by synchronising eight images together to form a whopping equivalent 80-megapixel image, making it ideal for macro work and landscape photography.  Obviously, a tripod and possibly an auto-fire system optimise this feature, but it gives the G9 the potential to create pheromonal images in both JPEG and RAW modes.  

This feature is enhanced by Panasonics in-body image stabiliser (IS) system, which allows you to shoot with a range of shutter speeds – and as much as six points slower than you would usually for a shot – and still turn out with a sharp and blur-free image.  Now you can use a long telephoto lens on far objects with only minimal stabilising, and still get exceptional photos.

Autofocus and Fast Frame Rates Give Good Shots

Action and nature shots are the well-deserved recipients of the difficult shot awards, were they to exist, but the G9 handles these with ease thanks to the cameras well-balanced auto-focus system, together with a shutter release lag of just 0.04 seconds.  With the camera set in continuous auto-focus (AF-C) setting, the G9 can shoot full-resolution at 20 frames per second (fps), but this can be boosted to an astonishing 60 fps if the camera is set to the first frame (AF-S) mode, so you can be assured of getting the perfect picture even when going for that great action shot.  Added to that, the G9 is able to deal out both 4K and 6K photos too at 60fps and 30 fps respectively, allowing you to pick out the best capture from the throng.

The G9 comes with plenty of focusing modes to choose from too. If you want to keep things simple, opt for the 225-Area mode in single AF and the camera will do much of the hard work for you, intuitively choosing which part of the frame it thinks you want to focus on.  If the camera doesn't get it quite right, or you want to move the focus you can always use the joystick to toggle to your desired point of interest. The G9 also has a very acceptable Face and Eye Detection mode, so if you're going to be shooting a lot of portraits, you have a one-click option to getting the optimal settings.

The G9 deals with “noise” exceptionally well up to ISO3200 when shooting in the RAW mode. At this sensitivity, as well as luminance noise being that bit more noticeable in shots, chroma (color) noise is also becoming more apparent. At ISO6400 the chroma noise is starting to become quite pronounced, but overall the detail in RAW files is very good for a camera of this overall specification. When shooting JPEGs, the G9's noise reduction system does a decent enough job, controlling noise pretty well without sacrificing too much detail, and you will get some great shots.

The G9 also features one of the best and largest viewfinders around too so you will be able to spot and focus on the subject with ease.  Offering a magnification ratio of x0.83, it is equivalent to 35mm, and the Live functionality comes with zero blackout, even when shooting at a high framerate.  Giving the user a 100% view via its 3,680k-dots, it will always show you exactly what you will get in the shot.  The system also includes an autofocus Point Scope and a night mode to for the best low-light shots.

If you don’t gel with the impressive viewfinder, there is a 3-inch moveable/settable LCD screen with a 1040k touch-sensitive surface that helps you get the right shot, and helps set up some really artistic and unusual shots.  The rear LCD also has night mode for low-light shooting, just like the viewfinder.

Up to date design

The G9 has been designed to maximise both functionality and durability, and that becomes obvious when you first pick it up.  The large status LCD on the top face is the largest around on this sized camera and gives you all the information that you need to know about the current shot settings.  This type of feature is common on most high-end DSLRs and is a nice addition here.  While many camera designs have largely shunned the top-plate LCD it's nice to see one on the G9, making it easy to have a quick glance at all the key shooting settings.

If you need to change those settings, a function lever allows you to rapidly update those settings and a useful joystick lets you quickly change the point of focus without the need to take the viewfinder from your eye.  It is this kind of intuitive detail that epitomises the G9 and its controls have been sited just where you want them.  The top and back areas are also home to a handy selection dial and a series of customisable buttons too.

Panasonic have decided on a sturdy die-cast magnesium alloy front and rear, which gives the camera a solid feel while not piling on the pounds, allowing you to carry it around all day without feeling the weight too much. It is also dust and splash proof and will operate happily at mild sub-zero temperatures, so has been designed with the outside enthusiast in mind.  The G9 features a decent-sized handgrip, while the rear thumb rest is a bit more pronounced compared to the GH5, enabling you to get a firm and comfortable grip on the camera and that makes it relaxing to hold and use.

In a first for the Lumix G range, on the side is an openable hatch covering slots to stow two SD cards, both of which are capable of taking the super-fast UHS-II format cards which is handy for high FPS shooting.  They are configurable so that you can use each slot for different functions, such as one for photo and another for video, or back-up, and also allows for fairly fast changing if you are shooting a lot of pictures and video or using the camera on extremely high image size and are in danger of running out of storage space.  If you want to share you pictures or videos – cloud storage is fast becoming the default location – then the G9 has both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi built in.  If you have the Bluetooth option switched on then you have a low-powered connection that can be used to continuously upload, saving on the need for SD cards, but you do need to ensure that you have a good connection.

Accessories

It is sad to see a good camera let down by a mediocre lens, but that hasn’t been the case with the G9, which is perfectly partnered by the new Leica DG Elmart 200mm f2.8 Power OIS lens, offering an equivalent 400mm shooting at fantastic shooting speeds.  This is a lens that is perfect for those wildlife shots but also works exceptionally well in fast action environments such as sporting events.  

The lens itself is an impressive design, and includes two Ultra Extra-low Dispersion (UED) lenses that help capture high resolution, high contrast images with minimal lens distortion or chromatic aberration.

 

There is also a 1.4x teleconverter – the DMW-TC14 – which comes with the lens as a bundle and effectively boosts the focal length to 560mm, which will allow the nature photographer to get a good shot on their target with having to be too close and spooking it.  If you want more, then the DMW-TC20 is a 2.0x teleconverter that will deliver a focal length of 800mm!!

Capturing both wildlife and sporting shots is further enhanced on the G9 by the Power Optical Image Stabilisation system (OIS), which compensates for hand shake and helps get a sharp image on any setting, and helped even more by the superfast F2.8 aperture.  This truly is a camera for those action pictures, even without the use of a tripod.

Verdict

Panasonic has hit the right notes with the Lumix G9. The Lumix GH5 is a fine camera but still perceived as very much a videographer's camera rather than one for serious photographers. The G9 offers lovers of the Lumix system the option of purchasing a feature-packed high-end professionally packaged camera without necessarily feeling that they're paying for a load of advanced video technology they may not need or want.

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