As capable as it is as a stills
camera, video is the GH5’s star turn and its extensive capabilities in this area could fill a whole article by themselves so this is merely an overview of the key capabilities.
As noted in the main text, the GH5 can record 4K video in 10-bit 4:2:2 colour to the internal memory card, which delivers a big improvement in image quality due to the extra information, and there are also various benefits in postproduction. Importantly, a 10-bit 4:2:2 output is simultaneously available from the camera’s HDMI terminal (which, incidentally, is now a full-size Type A fitting). At the Ultra HD (UHD) resolution of 3840x2160 pixels, 4K footage can be recorded at 30, 25 or 24 fps with a bit-rate of 150 Mbps for 10-bit 4:2:2 colour and 100 Mbps for 8-bit 4:2:0 (when the 60 or 50 fps recording speeds are also available). It can also record at the Cinema 4K resolution of 4096x2160 pixels at 24 fps, again with a bit rate of 150 Mbps with 10-bit 4:2:2 colour or 100 Mbps with 8-bit 4:2:0 colour. These bit rates are with Long GOP compression (Long Group Of Pictures) which is IPB interframe coding; but via firmware upgrades, All-Intra (ALL-A) intraframe coding will deliver 400 Mbps for 4K video at 30, 25 or 24 fps and 200 Mbps with Full HD footage at 60, 50, 30, 25 or 24 fps.
The upgrades also give a 6K Anamorphic mode at 4:3 and 24 fps with 10-bit colour, and some additional profiles including 4K Hybrid Gamma for compatibility with 4K HDR displays. The standard video profiles are Panasonic’s ‘Cinelike D’ and ‘Cinelike V’, but ‘V-Log-L’ – which matches the GH5 with the company’s pro-level cinematography and broadcast cameras – is available via a purchasable software upgrade and extends the dynamic range to more than 12 stops.
There’s the choice of MOV, MP4, AVCHD Progressive and AVCHD formats, depending on the resolution and frame rate. Additionally, the system frequency can be set to 59.94 Hz, 50.00 Hz or 24.00 Hz, depending where the camera is being used around the world. Panasonic has stuck with the H.264 codec for the GH5’s video recording, but it is using the more efficient H.265 for the ‘6K Photo’ modes in order to deal with 30 fps shooting at 18.7 MP per frame. There’s a big selection of variable frame rates from 2.0 fps to 48 fps (C4K), 60 fps (4K UHD) or 180 fps (Full HD).
The GH5 uses the entire area of the M43 sensor when recording 4K video (and then downsamples the footage in-camera) so there’s no focal length magnification factor.
There’s also no time limit on either 4K or 2K footage beyond that imposed by battery life as the relay mode for the dual memory card slots allows for a full card to be swapped while the camera is recording to the second card.
Not surprisingly, the GH5 bristles with pro-level video recording features including a waveform monitor and vectorscope, colour bars and 1.0 KHz test tone, synchro scan, SMPTE-compliant time code (either in Rec Run or Free Run), zebra patterns (adjustable, choice of two), ‘4K Live Cropping’ and a handy ‘Focus Transition’ tool which allows for the presetting of focusing points which the camera then smoothly shifts between automatically (with a choice of five speeds).
On the audio side, the GH5 has built-in stereo microphones – which have been relocated to improve sensitivity – with manual level control over -12 dB to +6.0 dB in 19 steps.
There’s also a wind-cut filter, an automatic level limiter and an additional noise reference microphone which is designed to subtract handling noise.
Both a stereo audio input and output are provided via 3.5 mm minijacks, but pro-level users may want to use the optional DMWXLR1 module which provides a pair of balanced XLR terminals for higher-resolution audio recording.
Video functionality includes continuous autofocusing with subject tracking, the ‘PASM’ exposure modes, adjustable sensitivity and exposure compensation, many of the ‘Creative Control’ effects, and the ‘Photo Style’ picture presets.
As it’s designed for professional video-making applications, the Lumix GH5 is certainly more than up to the job as far as enthusiastlevel users are concerned.
It probably has more features than many non-pro users are likely to need, but the good news is that if you’re planning to do more in video as you gain more experience, this camera can take you a very long way indeed.