Camera review
27
RAW
JPEG
IRESOLUTION EXTENDED
IRESOLUTION LOW
IRESOLUTION STANDARD
IRESOLUTIONHIGH
Image quality and iResolution
camera sharpening that can be set to several different levels. The effect of this was hard to see in these images, even when they were viewed at full size. Only the highest setting seemed to make any significant difference, and at this level it also introduced some artefacts.
Panasonic’s Silkypix software supplied with the camera. The most recent update to Adobe software didn’t include compatibilitywithGH4 Raw files, so this supplied software is currently your only choice. Designed to improve resolution in JPEGs is the iResolution function, which seems to effectively be in-
At base ISO levels of 100 or 200, detail in GH4 images is largely very good. That said, there were images where some detail was a little blocky, and occasionally fine detail appeared smudgy and indistinct. Unusually, JPEG files from the GH4 generally appeared better than Raw files converted with default settings in
The verdict
All in all, there’s very little about the GH4 to criticise. It feels like a big step up for Panasonic, with the very impressive focusing system, top- quality viewfinder and fast shooting capabilities. What’s more, with Panasonic, Olympus and some third-party manufacturers in the Micro Four Thirds frame, the system is well established and includes some exceptional optics. But there’s a niggle. For a Micro Four Thirds camera, it’s big. So big in fact, that the main advantage of a CSC, namely the size, is almost negated. It’s true that the lenses are more compact, so there’s a saving there, but the body itself is barely smaller than some DSLRs and with them you’re likely to get better image quality and ISO performance from the bigger sensor, and better focusing capabilities when it comes to moving subjects. What’s more, all APS-C DSLRs are cheaper than the GH4, so the balance is a fine one.
ISO 100
ISO 200
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
PANASONIC GH4
24/25
FEATURES
It’s packed with impressive specs HANDLING High quality, intuitive, flexible PERFORMANCE
24/25
ISO 6400
ISO 12,800
ISO 25,600
22/25
ISO performance
Very good all round VALUE FOR MONEY
22/25
More than a DSLR with an APS-C sensor
grain, and I’d avoid anything above ISO 1600. In JPEG files, the grain is smoothed out, at the expense of a large amount of detail and unusually there’s no control over the level of noise reduction. Noise reduction in the Silkypix software has a similar effect, although you have finer control.
To look at noise performance, Raw files were processed in Panasonic’s Silkypix editor with all noise reduction parameters set to zero. Up to ISO 400, image quality remains largely unchanged, although at 400 some grain starts to appear. From ISO 800, noise becomes obvious as coarse
OVERALL
92/100
Impressive, but quite an investment
PROS Handling, AF speed, shooting rate, viewfinder, 4K video CONS Image quality and ISO performance could be improved, expensive
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Issue 9 | Photography News
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