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Thegenius of Gseries The man behind the legendary Panasonic LUMIX mirrorless cameras answers our questions A s chief of product planning for the Panasonic LUMIX line of mirrorless cameras, Masanori Koyama’s role is to identify market trends, understand what customers need, then create a strong product they will love.
To understand the whole process of building such a high-spec machine, Masanori gave us a unique insight into this exciting new camera. Pro Moviemaker: Who is the new LUMIX GH6 aimed at? Masanori: Our core targets are professional video creators working on promotional videos, commercial content and short films, as well as documentary films and events, such as weddings. But I think it will be widely used by people who want to create cool images and video, that are a step above others that you see on video streaming sites such as YouTube. The GH6 also enables beautiful photography. We hope that hybrid creators, who will take photos and videos with this one device, will also love the product. PM: As Panasonic’s mirrorless range now has many full-frame cameras, what are the benefits of Micro Four Thirds? Masanori: The advantage is mobility with the compact size of the entire system, including the interchangeable lenses. Plus, the camera enables fast speeds and optimum depth-of-field. MFT is a well- balanced format that can be used in a wide range of shooting, from professional work, to more casual scenes that YouTubers often film. We believe that the needs for full-frame and MFT users do not overlap in many areas. LUMIX has both formats, so we can cover a wide variety of creators’ needs. Of course, we are still developing newMFT lenses, too. Masanori: It’s difficult to narrow it down. The GH6 has a variety of features worthy of the GH name, such as 5.7K ProRes HQ, high frame rate shooting in 4K/120p and FHD 240p, and slow/quick motion with VFR in FHD at 300fps. Reliability, heat dissipation and robust design are also important factors. PM: What are the most important new features or specs in the GH6? HYBRID THEORY The latest LUMIX has a second red REC button on the front for filmmaking ease, but is equally at home shooting stills. It is ideal for the new generation of content creators who demand amazing quality
departments is paramount. And the most important task is to lead the project with respect and passion, while keeping in mind the clear direction that I want the project to follow. “The most rewarding thing is when we get good feedback from customers. It is a pleasure when our ideas have contributed to improving someone’s shooting life exactly as we intended.” So, in the case of the Panasonic LUMIX GH6 – that has already been widely praised by independent testers –Masanori and his team have done an incredible job.
A former engineer in the compact camera division, he started with the G series, then the GH cameras, which obviously includes the new LUMIX GH6. “Product planning cannot be done by one person,” he says. “Gaining the trust and cooperation of all relevant
RIGGED FOR ACTION The needs of professional filmmakers were a priority when the Panasonic LUMIX GH6 was designed – and it’s right at home with pro accessories like a matte box and mic. Audio has been significantly improved, too
“We believe that the needs for full-frame andMFT users do not overlap inmany areas. LUMIX has both formats, sowe can cover a variety of needs”
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