Review on 📷 Panasonic LUMIX G9 4K Digital Camera - 20.3MP Mirrorless Camera with 80MP High-Res Mode, Dual I.S. 2.0, 3" LCD - Black by Travis Carter

After some research I decided this camera was better than its "full frame" and APS-C competition. The high-resolution 80MP RAW mode was a big part of that, and as an artistic landscape photographer, I used this mode a lot. I have one of the custom buttons on the camera set to activate when pressed and I probably took over 90% of my pictures with this camera in this mode. It also creates a 20 megapixel file in case you need it. I'm used to waiting for the leaves to stop blowing before exposing as I shoot a lot on film and long exposures with other cameras, so the limitation of movement wasn't a big deal, nor was the need for a tripod. The ergonomics and menu design of this camera are much better than competing cameras, especially Sony whose menus appear to have been programmed by a drunk engineer after working too much overtime. Compared to the Olympus, they are also significantly better. The menu is very intuitive and easy to understand and configure. You can also customize most of the buttons and knobs on the camera to do what you want, which is great, and you can actually make the camera your own by customizing it exactly how you want it. The size is quite large for a Micro Camera 4/3, but for good reason: it allows the camera to fit in your hand as if it were specially molded for it. I've had a lot of Sony and Olympus cameras, as well as Fujifilm, and they all looked like greased bricks to me compared to this thing. Panasonic seems to have put a lot of thought into control placement, weight and balance, and even grip. The camera is very well balanced and secure in the hand. I feel like I can shoot all day without getting tired, which is a lot more than I can say about most other cameras I've used. Ergonomics matter, design matters, balance matters, and in every category Panasonic has succeeded with this camera. The 4:3 aspect ratio is another thing that people never talk about. I prefer 4:3 to the very wide and almost unwieldy 2:3 ratio found on most other cameras. Again, I shoot a lot on film and this is much closer to the aspect ratio of medium and large format cameras, which were designed for a very good reason: both look more balanced in any orientation and are generally easier to handle. , in both print and framing applications. For this reason I tend to crop images 2:3 anyway, so I would compare the original 20MP to a 24-26MP APS-C or full frame camera. So if you frequently crop to a 4:3 aspect ratio, you'll end up with roughly the same resolution. Regardless, the actual resolution is usually about the same as a 24-26 megapixel APS-C or full-frame camera, as due to the different aspect ratios you're simply cropping the edges of the image while keeping roughly the same vertical resolution when it makes sense. So a 20MP camera is more of an aspect ratio difference than a real resolution difference compared to 24-26MP cameras. I've found that noise isn't a significant problem at high ISOs, although some noise does appear at higher ISOs in low light, it looks quite pleasing, similar to film grain. I usually shoot up to ISO 640 to freeze motion, and many others use it up to ISO 6400 with no problem. Of course, if you regularly shoot weddings in dark locations or similar, you can invest in either a full-frame body S1/S1R (essentially the same camera with a larger sensor) or just get some of the great fast, wide-aperture M43 lenses. The camera does well in low light at high ISOs, especially compared to full-frame cameras from a few years ago, but obviously each tool has its own strengths and weaknesses, so choose the best setting for your intended use case. Auto Focus Speed. I don't use them so I'll refrain from going into detail except that this camera is incredibly fast and focuses instantly even when panning front to back in the scene at a 100mm/200mm equivalent. It's fast. Video capabilities, like the GH5, are best-in-class thanks to a new 2.0 firmware update that adds 10-bit and HDR/HLG support. There is also an activation code that you can use to activate vectorscopes and waveforms. The mic jack is very cleverly placed in a location that allows you to install an L-Bracket or Cage and still access the port without reaching through the bracket. It also doesn't block the display when you flip the screen in selfie mode. It's things like this that set Panasonic apart from many other camera manufacturers who seem to routinely overlook such real-life details. a lot of cameras over the years as a professional photographer and YouTuber with years of experience. I would buy this camera again and can only recommend it.