The higher bit-depth will produce much smoother gradations, something particularly noticeable in areas of very subtle variation, such as blue sky, or subtle highlight gradations. The big news with the Panasonic GH4 in this area is that you can select either 8 or 10-bit output. So-called 4:2:2 is a standard professional digital video format, and is supported by most video-capable ILCs (Interchangeable-Lens Cameras). Very few of these cards are on the market as yet, so be sure you're using the right card, if you want to achieve these very high sustained data rates.Ĭlean HDMI, 4:2:2, 8 or 10-bit output.'Clean' HDMI means straight output of the video stream, without any viewfinder or settings overlays, for recording on an external recorder. The Panasonic GH4 is compatible with the SD UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) standard, which guarantees an uninterrupted 30 MB/sec data stream. Of course, data rates of 200Mbps require a very fast memory card to keep up. High bit rate video can be saved in either MP4 or MOV containers, and standard AVCHD format can be recorded up to 28Mbps. IPB recording can go as high as 100Mbps, at the same frame rates. Where the GH3 was limited to a maximum of 50Mbps (not too shabby in its own right), the GH4 can go as high as 200Mbps in All-Intra mode at full HD resolutions, and frame rates from 24-60fps. We just alluded to this, but a key feature of the Panasonic GH4 is the very high data rates it can record at, as well as pass through its HDMI port (more on that in a bit). High bit rates, multiple container formats. (The processing burden of encoding 4K data means the data rate is limited to 100Mbps the camera can do 200Mbps with conventional 1080 HD imagery.) However the 4K space eventually sorts itself out, the Panasonic GH4 will be fully 4K capable at launch, able to record in both 3,840 x 2,160 and 4,096 x 2,160 formats, recording IPB data at a rate of 100Mbps in either format. Depending on the software involved, it's also quite possible that downsampled 4K video will result in better-looking HD than you'd get shooting directly in HD in the first place.

Whether the improvements will be enough to make consumers reach for their wallets isn't clear, but 4K is potentially useful for many filmmakers, looking to integrate video with conventional film. While 3D was an unmitigated flop with consumers, 4K does in fact bring noticeable improvements in image quality. TV manufacturers are clearly hoping that 4K will revive TV sales, by getting consumers to upgrade their current sets, just as they did with 3D. Around the office, we've been joking that 4K is this year's 3D, given the massive focus on it at this year's CES show. It's safe to say, though, that the Panasonic GH4 is a dream machine for both professional and high-end amateur videographers.ĤK recording. There's a whole host of other features, so many that we're going to just hit them briefly here.

The earlier GH3 was already one of the leading interchangeable-lens video platforms, but the Panasonic GH4 takes its video capabilities to a whole new level, with full 4K video, both IPB and All-I recording in a range of container formats, data rates as high as 200 Mbps(!), clean HDMI output at either 8 or 10 bits, and a super-high full HD frame rate of 96fps for 1/4x slow-motion when played back at 24fps. Panasonic GH4 Video Capabilities A whole new level for video recording in compact ILCs (Regular photos taken with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4) (Thumbnails of all shots, including RAWs, with EXIF data)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Thumbnails page.(Index to all standard test shots, with explanations) Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Sample Images page.(Crops from images shot with the camera's kit lens, if sold as a kit) Check out the links below for more sample images, videos and image quality analysis:

Panasonic frame video camera 1080p