Panasonic Lumix GH4
Announced February 7, 2014
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Exceptional
The Panasonic Lumix GH4 is a versatile hybrid camera that delivers professional-grade 4K video recording and high-quality stills in a compact, weather-sealed body. While it excels as an all-in-one tool for creators, the smaller sensor size presents limitations in low-light performance and depth-of-field control compared to full-frame alternatives.
Weighted from 41 reviewer scores
Pros
- Industry-leading 4K video capabilities and high-quality stills
- Fast, accurate autofocus and burst shooting performance
- Durable, weather-sealed build with ergonomic controls
- Highly functional electronic viewfinder and vari-angle touchscreen
- Extensive professional video features including focus peaking, zebra patterns, and audio monitoring
Cons
- Limited low-light performance and high ISO noise due to smaller sensor
- Lacks in-body image stabilization and built-in neutral density filters
- Complex menu system and occasionally awkward button placement
- Rolling shutter issues and crop factors when shooting in 4K
- Inconsistent subject tracking in continuous autofocus modes
- Launch price $1,699 (USD)
- Sensor 16.05MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS
- Video 4K 30p
- Stabilization None
- Burst 12 fps electronic 12 fps mechanical
What the Reviewers Say
All 41 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 85/100
Despite increased competition, the GH4 remains the most complete stills/video camera on the market.
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In what is most assuredly one of the best Micro Four Thirds cameras on the market today, the Panasonic GH4 is an easy choice for a Dave’s Pick.
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The Lumix GH4 is Panasonic's flagship mirrorless camera, and the first of its kind to offer 4k video recording.
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Panasonic’s GH4 is one of the best ILCs you can get these days. Even if you don’t expect to shoot 4K, its 1080p video is stunning.
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With the GH4 Panasonic managed to create a very unique and extremely affordable working tool.
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Panasonic’s Lumix creators are keen to appeal to professionals as well as enthusiast image-makers with this camera, so with those aims in mind they’ve developed a camera that really tries to do it all.
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I’ve taken the prototype from firmware 0.4 to 1.0 and am now confident this camera is for me and you get an insanely capable camera for your money.
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The GH4 was released about a year and a half after the GH3, and it’s been a solid performer ever since.
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It's an amazingly full-featured professional video camera at that point. Honestly, the closest thing to it spec-wise would be a Sony F55 at $25,000; it's really an amazing value.
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This would make an excellent choice for those that want high image quality, but want a DSLR styled camera, with the improved (electronic) viewfinder making the camera enjoyable to use in a variety of conditions.
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Designed to appeal to both photographers and videographers, the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 is a veritable tour-de-force, offering excellent stills and outstanding video quality in a small, compact package at a very attractive price.
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The GH4 is a very impressive CSC, offering some of the best video capture performance available in a mirrorless camera.
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The GH4 has some of our most sought-after features; a high-resolution EVF, a vari-angle screen that's touch-sensitive and Wi-Fi connectivity.
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It's the best of both worlds.
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It is impossible not to give the Lumix GH4 a glowing review. It is the most complete mirrorless camera you can find on the market.
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All in all, a fantastic job by Panasonic delivering a great, great camera.
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The Panasonic GH4 performs exceptionally well as a flagship Micro Four Thirds camera.
- Photo Review 9.0/10
From the start we felt the GH4 could be the most significant camera Panasonic has released so far, and after using it for almost two weeks we believe it will be a genuine game-changer.
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The GH4 sees the GH series finally land with a bang. It's not a budget device, but there are points of brilliance throughout all its important areas.
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You could even argue that professionals will find the GH4 of use if they're sick of lugging around a much heavier and bulkier DSLR, and don't actually need billboard-sized pictures.
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We were really looking forward to getting our hands on this camera, but it still surpassed our expectations, particularly in the benefits it delivers for 1080p video production.
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It’s not cheap, and it’s not particularly compact, but if you’re looking for a versatile, hardy camera to accompany you on and document your travels through both stills and video, we can think of few better choices.
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This camera is truly a hybrid, making the video experience much more enjoyable for the camera operator, and the horsepower on the Panasonic Lumix GH4 in terms of resolution and capture bit rate is just insane for such a small package.
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In my 30 year’s experience of working with video cameras, I can say with hand on heart that the GH4 is the first camera I would trust for both stills and video.
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The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 certainly has one of the most extensive feature-set of any digital camera to date. It may not have every possible feature, but it comes really close, particularly with regards to video.
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To run things up, Panasonic Lumix GH4 is the camera I would not object only myself. The thing that makes it special is simply the way all the important factors come together like ergonomics, operation speed, autofocus speed and high image quality.
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I may be a little old fashion, but I love to use a viewfinder. The Panasonic GH4 EVF is amazingly bright and accurate.
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I already knew the GH-4 was an excellent choice for video capture. But in my humble opinion it’s also an excellent choice if you’re looking for a stills camera.
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The GH4 is a great choice if you are looking for high-quality video and stills in one complete package.
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This review has gone on for way too long, and I barely scratched the surface. I’ll try to get right to the point with my final thoughts here.
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All I really want to tell you is this camera is the first DSLM I’ve used to earn full marks.
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[T]he GH4, the best video camera with an amazing still mode or vice versa, it currently sits at the top of my listings for interchangeable lens mirrorless cameras.
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All right, so there are my thoughts on the Panasonic Lumix GH4, really a spectacular camera.
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[P]rofessionally, if you don't already have gear, I would again 100% recommend this, and if professionally you're going we want 4K, we want 16 megapixel images, we want fast frames a second, we're shooting sports and all that kind of stuff, it's absolutely fantastic.
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As a filmmaker who likes complete control and to shoot without complicated rigging or large crews I find the Panasonic GH4 perfect for my needs. If you consider the upgrade path beyond to the GH4 things get much more expensive.
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In the end, the Panasonic Lumix GH4 is a photographic machine as much as a Micro Four Thirds camera. State-of-the-art stills and state-of-the-art video in one package.
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The GH4 brings a new, higher- quality video possibility within the reach of serious amateurs while also providing top-quality technology for stills photographers.
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So I think by far this is the best run-and-gun stealth shooting machine out there, and it's less than $2,000.
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This is the Micro Four Thirds camera that really got me into video. Packing so much into a small camera like this got me hooked.
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If you’re considering treating yourself this Christmas or you’ve plans to invest in some camera equipment to take on your next adventure, I can’t recommend the Lumix GH4 highly enough.
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[H]ere you have the option to use the Olympus lenses because you have the internal stabilizer together with the external and the lenses, so if you're talking only about photography, I think you don't have to buy the Panasonic Lumix GH4.
