14 DAY TRIAL // After months of rumors, Panasonic has finally revealed its latest flagship MFT (Micro Four Thirds) interchangeable lens camera, the GH4, which, as of now, is the world's first mirrorless camera capable of recording 4K video footage.
Although lots of information has been leaked in the past few weeks and GH4 might seem to hold no secret, let's take a closer look at what Panasonic has packed in its DSLR-like body.
As you already know, Panasonic GH4 comes with a 16.05MP Digital Live-MOS sensor and Venus Engine image processor with quad-core CPU especially designed for high-speed signal processing required when recording 4K video footage.
The GH4 can record Cinema 4K (4096x2160 / 24fps) and QFHD (3840x2160 / 30fps) in MOV or MP4 formats, but it's also able to capture 1080p Full HD video footage with a 200Mbps (ALL-Intra) bit rate or 100Mbps (IPB) without any recording time limit.
Featuring a high-precision AF system, the Panasonic GH4 also integrates DFD (Depth from Defocus) technology that enhances operability and fast AF speeds up to 0.07 sec. The camera is also capable of capturing up to 12 frames per second in burst shooting mode and 7fps with continuous focus for fast moving subjects.
Apart from that, Panasonic GH4 comes with a 1.04M-dot tiltable OLED display as well as with a 2.4M-dot OLED LVF (Live View Finder) with quick response time and 10,000:1 high contrast for enhanced color reproduction.
Panasonic's new flagship MFT comes with a tough magnesium body and has a splashproof and dustproof construction that allows you to shoot even in harsh weather conditions. Other features worth mentioning include Wi-Fi with NFC, focus peaking, zebra pattern, cinema gamma presets, UHS Class 3 support, etc.
Along with the GH4, Panasonic also announced an optional Interface Unit (DMW-YAGH) that can be used for 10-bit 4:2:2 output with time code. Moreover, the new DMW-YAGH also comes with two XLR terminals for professional microphones.
For the moment, no details have been given about Panasonic's GH4 availability, but it seems that pricing will be announced mid-March. The latest rumors point that the GH4 will be priced around $2,000 / €2,000.
