Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera

The 16.05-megapixel Digital Live MOS sensor delivers high-quality images with high sensitivity and quick response times. The increased signal speed readout helps to suppress the effects of rolling shutter. In conjunction with the quad-core Venus Engine image processor, you’ll enjoy dramatically improved sensitivity (maximum ISO 25600), gradation performance, resolution, and color reproduction.

The DMC-GH4’s 4/3″ type sensor is large enough for shallow depth of field and yet small enough to take advantage of lighter, more compact lenses than a larger format camera would require. Plus, the short flange focal distance of the Micro Four Thirds Lens Mount makes it possible to add optional adapters (sold separately) to use a wide range of lenses, including PL-mount cinema lenses.

High-speed, organic LED displays are used for both the Live View Finder and the rear monitor. The 3.0″ monitor features a 1,036K-dot resolution and a touchscreen interface for intuitive control, while the LVF features a 2,359K-dot resolution. These displays feature 100% coverage and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. An Eye Sensor automatically switches between the Live View-Finder and the rear monitor, for easy shooting with both.

The DMC-GH4 features a magnesium alloy full die cast front and rear frame. A splash and dustproof design is achieved by tightly sealing the joints and control components. To further meet the demands of professional use, the shutter is rated for approximately 200,000 releases.

The DMC-GH4 integrates Wi-Fi connectivity with NFC, letting you use the Panasonic Image App for remote photo and video shooting with compatible smartphones or tablets. The app also lets you embed location data to an image after shooting. If your mobile device isn’t NFC compatible, you can still connect to the camera by scanning a QR code displayed on the GH4’s monitor.

The newly developed AF system features 49 points, giving you more flexibility when composing shots. The Custom Multi mode extends that flexibility even more with the ability to freely select what blocks to focus out of the 49 possible focusing areas.

The high-precision Contrast AF integrates DFD (Depth from Defocus) technology to achieve AF speeds of approximately 0.07 sec in AFS mode. This enables the camera to shoot bursts of 12 fps in AFS mode.

The Silent mode switches the shutter from mechanical to electronic and turns off sounds, while suppressing the AD assist lamp and flash with just a single setting. This is useful when capturing photos in situations where noise and light from the camera would be a distraction to performers or people around you.

Shoot RAW photos and process the images in-camera to create JPEG images, instead of relying on post-processing. You can adjust the color space setting (sRGB / AdobeRGB), white balance, noise reduction, sharpness, and hue. Lumix’s Photo Style, Intelligent D-Range Control, and Intelligent Resolution can also be applied.

Choose from a range of Photo Styles and Creative Control modes. Photo Styles for stills or video include Standard, Vivid, Natural, Monochrome, Scenery, Portrait, and Custom. Contrast, sharpness, noise reduction, saturation, and hue parameters can be adjusted for each mode and even set into the camera’s memory.

The DMC-GH4 brings the GH-line into the 4K age by offering both 16:9 UHD 4K 3840×2160 video at 23.98p, 24p or 29.97p, and 17:9 DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) 4K 4096×2160 videos at 24p. 4K resolutions can be recorded as MOV or MP4 files in high bitrate 100 Mbps IPB codec. When recording at 100 Mbps, you will need an SDHC/SDXC memory card capable of handling the transfer speed.

Please note: For better quality, 4K recording modes use a 1:1 pixel map of the sensor. This yields a slight crop of the sensor, resulting in approximately a full-frame crop factor of approximately 2.3x when shooting DCI 4K resolution.

The DMC-GH4 is a true global camera, with system frequency switchable from 59.94 Hz (23.98 Hz) and 50 Hz. You can also select 24 Hz frequency for true 24 fps cinematic video.

The VFR mode enables Full HD video recording with slow/fast motion, depending on the video format and system frequency selected.

59.94 Hz
MOV/FHD/100 Mbps/29.97p, MP4(LPCM)/FHD/100 Mbps/29.97p:
2 fps, 15 fps, 26 fps, 28 fps, 30 fps, 32 fps, 34 fps, 45 fps, 60 fps, 75 fps, 90 fps, 96 fps
MOV/FHD/100 Mbps/23.98p, MP4(LPCM)/FHD/100 Mbps/23.98p:
2 fps, 12 fps, 20 fps, 22 fps, 24 fps, 26 fps, 28 fps, 36 fps, 48 fps, 60 fps, 72 fps, 84 fps, 96 fps
AVCHD/FHD/24 Mbps/29.97p:
2 fps, 15 fps, 26 fps, 28 fps, 30 fps, 32 fps, 34 fps, 45 fps, 60 fps
AVCHD/FHD/24 Mbps/23.98p:
2 fps, 12 fps, 20 fps, 22 fps, 24 fps, 26 fps, 28 fps, 36 fps, 48 fps, 60 fps

50 Hz
MOV/FHD/100 Mbps/25.00p, MP4(LPCM)/FHD/100 Mbps/25.00p:
2 fps, 12 fps, 21 fps, 23 fps, 25 fps, 27 fps, 30 fps, 37 fps, 50 fps, 62 fps, 75 fps, 96 fps
AVCHD/FHD/24 Mbps/25.00p:
2 fps, 12 fps, 21 fps, 23 fps, 25 fps, 27 fps, 30 fps, 37 fps, 50 fps

24 Hz
MOV/FHD/100 Mbps/24.00p, MP4(LPCM)/FHD/100 Mbps/24.00p:
2 fps, 12 fps, 20 fps, 22 fps, 24 fps, 26 fps, 28 fps, 36 fps, 48 fps, 60 fps, 72 fps, 84 fps, 96 fps

Choose the video format that is right for each project. The DMC-GH4 is capable of ultra high bitrate video recording at 200 Mbps (All-Intra) or 100 Mbps (IPB). Available formats include MOV, MP4, AVCHD Progressive, and AVCHD at a variety of frame rates. In MP4 / MOV, high quality LPCM (Linear Pulse Code Modulation) sound can be recorded. All internally recorded video codecs use 4:2:0 color sampling and an 8-bit color depth.

Send 4:2:2 8-bit or 4:2:2 10-bit video in real-time to external monitors or recorders via the micro HDMI output. An optional micro HDMI cable is required. When outputting a 4:2:2 10-bit signal over HDMI, video cannot be recorded on the SDHX/SDXC memory card in the camera.

For easy focusing, the GH4 incorporates a Focus Peaking function that shows the peak of focus in MF and AF+MF modes. Users can see the peaking of focus while monitoring the subject in live view. It can be set to HIGH / LOW / OFF and the color can also be changed to blue, white or orange according to the color of the shooting scene during live view. Focus peaking is also available while remote photo/video shooting with smartphone or tablet via Wi-Fi.

In addition to the standard luminance level of 16-235 and 16-255, the DMC-GH4 also offers 0-255.

• Timecode – SMPTE-compliant timecode for synching multiple devices
• Color bars – benchmark for fixing color or brightness
• 1 kHz test tone – benchmark for fixing sound or volume
• Center marker – guide mark for video composition
• Synchro scan – suppress flicker on monitors or from fluorescent lights
• Cine-like gamma – “CINELIKE D” and “CINELIKE V” produce a cinema-like tones
• Master Pedestal – adjust brightness balance ±15 steps based on the color black
• Zebra Pattern – display lines on over-exposed areas

For professional video workflows, the optional DMW-YAGH Interface Unit is available. The Interface Unit attaches to the bottom of the camera and provides 2 XLR input terminals, for line or condenser microphones, with independent volume controls and an audio level display monitor. It also has two 3G-SDI capable BNC connectors and two HD-SDI capable BNC connectors for quad-link SDI 4K video in 4:2:2 10-bit, dual-link 4:2:2 10-bit 1080p up to 60 fps, or four simultaneous 1080p streams up to 30 fps – all with timecode. Power is supplied to the unit by a 12 VDC 4-pin XLR input.

Please note: When using 4:2:2 10-bit output, simultaneous video recording on an SDHC/SDXC memory card in the DMC-GH4 is not possible.

Utilizing the 4K video recording capabilities, a trio of still shooting modes are available for recording continuous 8MP stills at a 30 fps shooting rate:

• 4K Burst: Just as with video recording, this mode will allow you to continuously record 8MP images at 30 fps for up to 29 min. 59 sec., making it ideal for instances where you need a fast frame rate in order to capture the best moment.
• 4K Pre-Burst: This mode is ideal for times when you’re unsure of the critical moment to press the shutter button and will record 8MP images at 30 fps one second prior to and one second after pressing the shutter button in order to give you 60 frames to choose from.
• 4K Burst (S/S): This mode most closely follows the 4K video recording process, and allows you to playback your video, pause at the chosen moment, and use the shutter button to mark a chosen frame from the video and save it as a single 8MP frame.

The DMC-GH4 comes with a variety of connection terminals including 1/8″ microphone and headphone jacks. The camera also features a micro HDMI port, AV output, flash sync terminal, and a 2.5mm remote controller jack.

The DMC-GH4 uses a variety of advanced recording media, including SDXC, SDHC, and SD Memory Cards. The fastest of these cards is the UHS-I Class 3 (U3), which is recommended when using high bit rate video recording modes over 100 Mbps.

The DMC-GH4 allows for high-speed burst shooting at 12 fps in single autofocus mode using the mechanical shutter, for up to approximately 40 RAW or 100 JPEG images, and 7.5 fps in continuous AF mode. This lets you capture fast moving subjects in clear focus. When using the electronic shutter, you can shoot in bursts up to 40 fps.

Highlight and shadow can be separately adjusted with the front or rear dial. Three patterns of settings can be customized in addition to three preset patterns.

For intuitive control, exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity, and white balance controls are positioned around the shutter button to make operation fast and easy while looking at the viewfinder. A programmable function button is also available.

• Post Focus settings allows photographers to pick the in-focus area after the image has been taken
• In-camera time-lapse and stop motion animation
• 1/8000 second maximum shutter speed
• 1/250 second shutter speed sync for built-in and external flash
• Face / Eye Detection AF
• External Flash Burst enables consecutive flash bursts with compatible on-camera units
• Magnification of 1-Area focus point
• Language support: English and Spanish.