There are updates to the Phoblographer’s Panasonic GH6 review, which we did back in 2022. With it now being 2024, we’re kind of scratching our head about this camera. It still is very capable, but we truly expected more from it over time. At least, from a photographer’s point of view, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot if you’re buying it specifically for photographs. Otherwise, Panasonic has much better cameras available on the market. We explore this a bit more in our review update.
Here’s the updated text in our review. To read the entire thing, please click here.
Update November 2023
It’s been over a year since we published our review of the Panasonic GH6. Since then, the company has provided a number of firmware updates. But the updates pertaining to photographers have more or less been non-existent. Here’s what we’re talking about:
- Live Composite: it’s not within the GH6. However, this camera is said to be Panasonic’s flagship in Micro Four Thirds.
- Multiple Exposure: This has been missing from Panasonic cameras for some time now.
- Autofocus enhancements for photographers: They’re not here. Yet the S5 II has them.
- Real Time LUT; A huge reason why you’d buy a Panasonic camera is the Real Time LUT feature. But it’s not in the GH6.
While Panasonic has put most of these into the G9 II, the GH series has always been more of a hybrid with a minuscule more emphasis on video for a few generations. But in this case, it truly might as well just be a video camcorder in the body of a mirrorless camera designed for still photography.
Overall, our thoughts on cameras like those are that they’re now antiquated. In 2023, we don’t need to shoot like we’re using the Canon 5D Mk II anymore. I understand the need for hybrid bodies when working out in the field. But I also, even more so, understand the need for better ergonomics. Why cant a multimedia shooter have something like a Panasonic HC-X2000 with a Four Thirds sensor right next to the G9 II? The truth is that you’re rarely doing both photo and video with the same camera. If you’re shooting video, then you’re fully speccing your camera into video. And when you need to shoot stills, you’re going to configure it for stills shooting.
The two need to separate because there are very big differences in the needs for video and photo. And over the long run, we’re not sure the GH6 is worth it for a serious working photographer. Panasonic instead had other, much better options.
update November 2023
Something that saddens us a bit is how the GH6 renders skin tones at higher ISOs. OM System, and Panasonic’s full-frame cameras do a better job here. But otherwise, without Real Time LUT, the colors are a bit sad and muted. They’re so incredibly muted that it would make for a great Halloween camera because everything is just so dreary looking.