Panasonic Lumix GH6: Price, specs, where to buy

The new Panasonic Lumix GH6 is the next iteration in the Micro Four Thirds system from the company. Equipped with an increased 25-megapixel sensor, it continues Panasonic’s aim to make the GH range a relatively affordable all-rounder for both photography and video.

What is Micro Four Thirds?

In our camera buyer’s guide, we discussed the different sensors that are available on the different cameras. Micro Four Thirds is a relatively small, but powerful sensor that allows for smaller bodies for shooting with, while not ditching features. The lenses that are within the system are also plentiful, affordable and varied, allowing you to explore different options without any real worry.

Micro Four Thirds came about when Olympus and Panasonic partnered to create an ecosystem that they’d be able to both use when they move to a mirrorless system. Later down the line, Blackmagic Design also joined them with their Pocket Cinema camera ranges, before opting to use the Canon EF adaptor instead for the 6K and above.

What’s new in the GH6?

Other than the beefed-up sensor, the GH6 can now shoot 5.8K footage at 30fps, while 4K has been boosted to 120FPS. For those in the colour grading business, the camera now supports 10-bit internal recording, with all resolutions other than 5.8K supporting 4:2:2 internal, with anamorphic allowing 5.8K to record at 4:2:0 internal or 4.4K to shoot up to 60fps with 4:2:2 10-bit colour.

4:2:2 internal is a major upgrade for the GH6, allowing for people to begin ditching external recorders if they don’t require them and shift to external monitors to ensure colours are correct.

However, those still wanting to use the external recorder will find that they can shoot DCI 4K up to 120fps with a future firmware update that will also include 4:2:2, 12-bit RAW footage.

Outside of video, the photography aspect has been sped up considerably, with the camera now able to shoot up to 14FPS with the mechanical shutter, besting the GH5 II’s 12fps in AFS mode. Where it really comes into its own, the AFS shooting mode will allow for a whopping 75FPS continuous shooting when using the electrical shutter, but a reduced 7 over the 9 in AFC (continuous focus) when using the electrical shutter in the GH5 II.

ProRes on the GH6

ProRes is Apple’s video data format, allowing for compressed data at huge resolutions and when thrown into a video editor, takes off some of the strain.

This is especially helpful when shooting at 5.7K, as you’ll be able to edit a bit more smoothly without major hiccups. Of course, shooting at this high a resolution will still need a beefy PC, but for all intents and purposes, it’s an easier way to work with large video files.

The ProRes included maxes out at 422 HQ, which compresses but doesn’t lose any visual quality when you begin to work with it.

So to break it down:

• The shooting speed is insanely fast at 75fps in electrical shutter mode
• Up to 5.7K ProRes 422 HQ
• 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording up to 5.7K
• CFexpress and SD UHS-II storage options

Lumix GH6 Specs

Here’s the short version for those of you who might have their eyes glaze over when they see the table below:

• 25.2 megapixel Micro Four Thirds Sensor
• Up to 5.7K 30fps Apple ProRes 422HQ
• DCI 4K at 60fps, 4:2:2 internal recording
• 13 stops of dynamic range with V-Log
• UHS-II and CFexpress media storage options
• 5-axis stabilisation
• New Venus engine for better processing

Where to buy the GH6

The GH6 is currently on preorder for a base price of $2197.99 or £1999. This is just the body without a lens.

Meanwhile, if you want an included lens, you’re looking at around an additional 500 dollars or pounds, with it coming it at around $2797.99 or £2599. The current kit lens on offer is the 12-60mm Leica lens.

If you purchase from one of the three retailers above, you’ll also be able to take advantage of Panasonic’s offer of a free CFexpress card, a much-needed card to keep up with the data rates of the highest end video camera can output.