..AND HAS THE GH6 ON THE WAY
AS IS THE way with product development announcements, details are few, but the idea is to keep existing users in the fold when there’s a chance they might be seduced by more attractive offerings from rivals. The Lumix GH6 will be Panasonic’s new pro-level Micro Four Thirds format flagship, with appeal for both photographers and video-makers. It will have both a new sensor – with a higher-speed readout – and the next-gen Venus Engine processor.
The details revealed so far all relate the camera’s video capabilities, starting with 4K
DCI or UHD recording at 50/60p in 10-bit 4:2:2 colour and with an unlimited clip length. The GH6 will also record 10-bit 4K video at 100/120p with High Frame Rate (HFR) and Variable Frame Rate (VFR) modes for slow/quick motion clips. Additionally, it will be able to record 5.7K video at 50/60fps, again with 10-bit colour. Panasonic says more feature teasers will be coming, and the GH6 will likely be launched around the end of the year. A major firmware upgrade for the GH5S – which will add a ProRes RAW output via HDMI and all the AF enhancements from the new GH5 II – may keep everybody happy for the moment.
Also in the pipeline is a new Leica DG series lens, the Vario-Summilux 25-50mm f/1.7 ASPH zoom (equivalent to 50-100mm) which will join the existing 10-25mm f/1.7 model. The new lens will be the same size and design – as well as sharing the same constant maximum aperture – so the two can be easily interchanged in a video rig. It will also have the option of de-clicking the aperture collar for seamless exposure adjustments. Another planned firmware upgrade will be available for selected Leica DG and Lumix G lenses to provide the option of linear control over the focusing ring in concert with the new Lumix GH5 II body. With linear adjustment, the focus is shifted according to the rotational quantum of the focus ring (i.e. the response related to the rotational speed), and the sensitivity can be varied from 90º to 360º in 30º increments. With normal, non-linear adjustment, the focus is shifted directly according to the rotation speed of the focus ring. A total of 12 models will be compatible with the upgrade.
For more details go to https://av.jpn. support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/ dsc/download/index.html.