Panasonic G9 II - The PERFECT Camera (for me)

[@dvdaltizer]

buy the Panasonic LUMIX G9 mkii here: bhpho.to/3PniwBk

[@ismetdere]

Dave, you are one of the best on youtube, just be steady and persistent, build this shit to a million subs.

[@CallMeChato]

Well, this was a surprise. I've been using my G9 for stills and video since it came out. I poked around Sony, did not like the lack of firmware updates. Considered moving over to the S5 II but hemmed and hawed over the fact I have a lot of M43 lenses that I love. AND, other than auto-focus, none of the other cameras were giving me a better picture than what I got from the G9 with V-Log. Apart from new toy lust, there was no logical reason to dump my G9. Now this comes out. Had no idea. Looks ideal for me. Lumix with its many firmware updates has built my trust in them. Thanks as always for your videos.

[@dvdaltizer]

Amazing comment and my sentiment exactly. I’m a micro 4/3 nerd (which is a real thing) and I could never go full into s5 or the Sony stuff. I’m a big fan of this camera. Excited to see more from lumix over the years. Need to dust off my micro 4/3 gear.

[@SpruceUp612]

I loved my G9, I really had no complaints with the autofocus except for wildlife or sports. My biggest issue with the G9 was the image preview when trying to shoot long exposures. It would show the live frame rate of say 5", meaning it would update the preview every 5" as if I was shooting video, so weird. I'd have to map a button to stop exposure preview on the LCD and just using the meter, which is fine, but also the histogram doesn't actually work on the G9 either, making landscape long exposures just that much more difficult. ALSO, the shutter doesn't go past 60" like in Fuji, but that is kind of a Fuji only thing. With my Olympus I can do live bulb mode and just let it go for 2 minutes and then press the shutter when the exposure looks complete. I might switch to G9ii when prices go down. Love my Olympus but I love new gear.

[@urswuergler3969]

Sounds very familiar to me. Sony's lens eco system is amazing. I am, however, less impressed with the camera bodies. Resisted the temptation to move to Sony or to one of the S5 cams and I am blown away with the visual quality of my G9M2 shots. Thank you Panasonic. Ah, one more thing: the camera is now roughly 25% cheaper in my market than when it was realized a couple of weeks ago. Impressive and not unusual for Pany. Add the very affordable (prime) lenses and you have a winner.

[@KONDORBLUE]

G9ii cage coming soon!

[@dvdaltizer]

Wooo

[@andersistbesser]

Lol g9 has s5 body, s5 cage and battery grip work for s5 and g9

[@dvdaltizer]

@@andersistbesserS5ii cage from Kondor blue doesn’t fit the G9 because of the lens mount

[@13_cmi]

You gotta go and make one that fits both. Come on. Wouldn’t it be easier to just have the one?

[@artistjoh]

Like you, I love the lens size for MFT. Moved to Lumix and Olympus three years ago from Canon, and couldn't be happier.

[@karikaru]

I don't know what sort of degrading things Panasonic had to do to finally get PDAF - but I'm glad they did. I'm rocking the s5ii but am definitely envious of the smaller mft lenses and the 4k 120 and 1080p 300fps. Had this camera come out before the s5ii - I'd probably be shooting it right now instead. Love my s5ii - won't be selling it anytime soon, but I'm definitely happy for my MFT comrades who got a beast of a body in the lineup now.

[@dvdaltizer]

A great b camera for you when this inevitably goes on sale!

[@martingreenberg870]

@@dvdaltizer It is no accident LUMIX used the same body of the S5ii for the G9ii. As you point out, the G9ii is a great b cam for the S5ii. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)

[@RobbyHuang]

Been shooting full frame and micro four thirds since maybe 2015 and after extensively using both, micro four thirds is just miles better for run and gun shooting for me. Both have their place in my shooting scenarios and this is looking very nice!

[@dvdaltizer]

totally agree! i love the little lenses and actually love the little sensor

[@SpruceUp612]

I walk around with a messenger bag with the full frame equivalent of 16-800mm on tap. I’ve owned every full frame brand mirrorless over the years because I love shopping I guess. But Olympus and Panasonic micro four thirds have been my main cameras for over a year now. When I want full frame I use my Leica, also small lenses as you mentioned. Oh and people also never praise Panasonics amazing time lapse features, but that’s kind of niche.

[@dvdaltizer]

So you’re saying even with a full frame kit, you choose micro 4/3? So many people don’t understand that but it makes sense to me

[@SpruceUp612]

@@dvdaltizer yeah I sold my Nikon Z7, Fuji XT3, Canon R, etc. The extra depth of field with m43 with landscapes is great, and the unique long exposure modes on them come in very handy. Also the starry sky autofocus with Olympus is so handy when I do Astro. I don’t think m43 is perfect but for me is great and probably for many people if they were open to it. It’s funny that going to a smaller sensor became hip if someone bought a Fuji, but going for 2x crop factor is some how just too much for people. My biggest request for m43 is they just go ahead and make the sensors square! That would be the easiest way to give the biggest boost to m43.

[@AguilaDeOnix85]

This is good. I'm pretty invested in the system already as far as the lenses, so yes. Also, I personally believe it's a better wildlife camera than the S5II because of the pre-burst and long lens options (300f4, 200f2.8, the two 100-400, etc) for MFT, which is up my alley.

[@dvdaltizer]

100%. With wildlife this thing is awesome. And at its native ISO (100) the image actually holds great dynamic range and has great noise performance. Perfect for outdoor shooting. So yeah… sounds like a solid choice for your needs

[@AguilaDeOnix85]

@@dvdaltizer that, and it's a fun system to use. Hell, there's too much fun to be had with any camera system to dunk on any of them. To your point about shallow DOF, it's nice sometimes, but then ppl forget why they picked a certain place to shoot photos lmao

[@bradleyanderson247]

I agree. To me it's stuff like wildlife photography where m43 has distinct advantages. With long lenses you often want deeper depth of field than shallower depth of field. A 300mm f/4 is giving you the field of view and depth of field of a 600mm f/8 and you can now use a combination of faster shutter speeds and/or lower iso. Overall weight will be considerably lower. Plus stabilization doesn't really get better than the OM1 and by all reports the G9ii is pretty much in that same category. A lot of those advantages apply to macro photography as well.

[@ryankwan1934]

The other point is that, and I know everyone is willing to shop used, the used market is huge on m4/3. Like, I picked up a Panasonic-Leica 200mm f/2.8 with the 1.4x TC in like new condition for 1k Euros. That's a lens that is optically better than the new Nikon Nikkor Z 400mm f/5.6. That's crazy. There's still no answer on any mount to the Olympus 12-100 f/4 Pro. There is still no competitor to the Olympus 60mm f/2.8.

[@qdaniele97]

For wildlife Olympus (now OM-Systems) is probably still a little bit better with the new OM1 Mk2. But for an all-rounder camera that is also pretty good for wildlife but amazing at video as well look no further than the G9II

[@PabloRayHere]

Hello, I request you to make a video on Lumix g9 ii autofocus with adapted lenses and the best adapter for them. With the introduction of PDAF I really wonder how sony, nikon, or canon ef lenses would act when adapted. I have recently purchased the camera but don't have the budget to do the comparison myself and try out a variety of adapters, It would be of great help since no one has done such a video. Thank you so much!!

[@johnalmberg7512]

Even the original G9 is more than most people will ever need, and it’s the most ergonomic camera ever built, IMHO.

[@dvdaltizer]

@@johnalmberg7512 i love that camera. great sensor. great images

[@Princeton_James]

Yup. The grip is actually better than the G9ii.

[@TechnobikerID]

one of the best youtube personalities in camera space. Would love to see more videos from you

[@dvdaltizer]

Wow one of the nicest compliments. Really appreciate it. I took a break these last few years because I got tired of reviewing gear I didn’t care about. I also really want to tell bigger stories in different niches. That being said, I really enjoyed making this video and will certainly do more. But every video will be about a topic I care about tremendously or I just won’t do it.

[@BrentODell]

I'm a stills shooter and only rarely shoot video, so my reason for coming back to MFT is the size and weight of the long lenses. Even compared to other 100-400 lenses(before we even consider the extra reach a 2x crop gives), the Pana-Leica is smaller and lighter than everything except the new-ish RF 100-400, but the Leica is 2/3 stops faster at 400mm, and weather sealed. That last bit is the main reason I sold my R6 and other Canon RF gear: I either had to go without weather sealing, or I had to spend a LOT of money.

[@dvdaltizer]

that's amazing! did you order the G9ii?

[@BrentODell]

@@dvdaltizer not yet! It's certainly on my wish list, but the original G9 is doing what I need it to do, so I'm going to let the price come down a little first and/or save up some money.

[@TerryD23]

Do all the Olympus Pro lenses work perfectly well with the G9/2??? I'm wrestling between the OM1 and G9/2... Thanks!! (Birder here)

[@fredio54]

M43 will only die when I do, or later. Hooked since the GF1. Tempting, but saving for the GH7 instead for a rew reasons :-)

[@gcprost]

I am stuck on the M43. I have two GH5s, one GH5 Mk2, and a GH6. The lenses are interchangeable and I shoot live theatre, concerts and dance shows where shallow depth of field is actually not a benefit.

[@dvdaltizer]

micro 4/3 is still great! i hope panasonic keeps making cameras! something small would be awesome

[@oregonduc]

I definitely haven't moved to FF yet. I still live in the APS-C and M4/3 apartment. The FF lens sizes have pushed me away since I already travel with too much stuff in my backpack. The smaller lens helps keep the packing easier.

[@dvdaltizer]

yeah i love the small lenses and the simplicity of the smaller sensor! i hope OM Systems and Panasonic keep making more cameras

[@ryankwan1934]

BH and MPB are running a sale on the G9 II now. $500 bonus trade-in credit towards the G9 II. It's incredibly affordable now.

[@dvdaltizer]

whoa! thanks for the heads up

[@Princeton_James]

It's 600 now. Just got a second body for a little over 1k. Excellent price.

[@raizt1596]

@@Princeton_James What was your final price? I'm seeing $1180 after tax with no trade-in at BH.

[@Princeton_James]

@@raizt1596 that's very good. I didn't remember the exact amount. Maybe around 1080. It was right under 1100. Technically you are correct. You check out with that price and once they receive your trade in you get the trade in value in a check or gift card etc.

[@martingreenberg870]

@@raizt1596 Last month I paid $899 at a store event. About $1050 after taxes. Even had the LUMIX rep download the newest firmware update. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)

[@jasonstreet_art]

My g9 ii arrives tomorrow!! Big upgrade from my canon t3i I bought in 2011.

[@dvdaltizer]

heck ya! you’re gonna love it!

[@FierceSleepingDog]

Great ecosystem of MFT lenses....from entry level...to fast tiny primes....to pro grade lenses. All fantastic.

[@dvdaltizer]

Micro 4/3 isn’t dead yet!

[@AlanChunkyMunky]

Awesome to see this g9ii! But… hoping they can release the compact body that Carrie’s a lot of the features.

[@dvdaltizer]

Same! I want a tiny little micro 4/3 camera as a daily carry. Have you used any of the older ones?

[@AlanChunkyMunky]

@@dvdaltizer not yet! Relatively new to photography. I have the gh6 but thinking of selling as I grew to find it a bit too bulky, autofocus is quite terrible especially for video, and I learned I don’t need ALL of its features. Plus, if I can get a tiny m43 with all the modern conveniences, it’d fit in my satchel so much easier on the daily

[@安田源]

maybe om-5 can meet your needs @@AlanChunkyMunky

[@natessliceoflife]

GX85 with the phase detect would be my dream for a daily carry

[@13_cmi]

@@natessliceoflifethat’s the itty bitty pocket camera isn’t it? That thing with this autofocus would be beautiful.

[@SakaphotoGraphics]

Are you sure that silver lenses work on black bodies? I missed my GH4 but I was close to buying the G9 Mk II with the trade-in . I ended up with the S5 Mk II, which is the first 135 Format equipment I've had for decades.

[@AllThingsFilm1]

The G9ii (as well as the S5iix) have made me look at Panasonic, again. While I am now shooting with the Sony FX30, I've always liked the skin tones out of Panasonic cameras most. Add the fact that the G9ii can record to an external SSD is huge - for me. Plus, with very reliable PDAF, the G9ii is looking pretty tasty.

[@urswuergler3969]

Absolutely. When not using a tripod I attach my Samsung T7 using 'Command' strips by 3M below the camera. Rock solid and it really does the job. Would prefer the remarkable handle by KondorBlue but that one only accepts a very slim SSD by SanDisk. Looking even a bit further, I might use a cage + BDM VideoAssist, which supports 4TB 'drives'.

[@friedpicklezzz]

I have a bunch of high quality lenses and a broken GH5. I also have the S5II but for some reason I connected more with the GH5. I might want to replace the GH5 with this camera so that I can use my lenses again. However, not at this price point. They’ll have to price it lower considering the mount and today’s focus on full frame. Perhaps in a few months!

[@dvdaltizer]

they have been showing up renewed on Amazon for around $1600 but I'm sure they will continue to plumit. Sales haven't been great I've heard

[@awangnurrani8549]

I love small lens to..Like sigma 18-50mm f2.8 for zoom lens (apsc)..can we got f1.4 zoom lens in the future with small size..🤔

[@dvdaltizer]

Would be amazing! Some new aps-c RF primes are rumored to come out soon! Really exciting stuff

[@jonathanscherer8567]

Lens options are better for M43 when compared to Panasonic's FF mount. I love how you can just keep adding to your M43 lens collection and graduate from one camera body to the next. A good lens from 10+ years ago will still work, and often be very good, on a modern M43 body. I love that about them. It's really hard to give up having 6-800mm FF equiv. options where the lens/body combination weigh 3-4 pounds total. At the most. I bought an OM-1 last year to replace my aging G7. So I'm not sure if it's worth getting a G9 ii. They're very comparable, at least for my use case as a photographer first. I have three pro lenses from Olympus that work very well with the OM-1. At this point, it might be best to wait a while. The G9 ii isn't actually available yet anyway. It's got some advantages, but then it's coming out close to 2 years since the initial release of the OM-1. So that makes sense. Either camera would seem to be a great choice. We live in a good time for M43. It's been a while since we could say that. Things seemed to stagnate for a good while.

[@dvdaltizer]

Totally. I was a big fan of the OM-1 and honestly miss it! But as a video shooter primarily the G9ii now makes more sense. I’m also a big fan of the 15mm f1.7 lumix which works best on Panasonic. But my Olympus primes on the OM-1 were just amazing 🤌

[@kevinreyes6778]

you can adapt ef lenses in s5ii and the af works perfectly

[@SpruceUp612]

For real, when i was with Canon, Fuji and Nikon I was spending $1,000+ regularly for lenes. But with M43 I can get a used f1.2 lens for $400, or a PanaLeica 100-400 for $900. Or affordable f2.8 zooms and the list goes on! New lenses keep my engaged and in love with photography. If I am stuck with the same small kit of lenses I get bored and don't go shooting as much. And all my lenses work great when I switched from G9 to Olympus, and probably back to G9ii someday.

[@huepix]

Whats the widest lens m4/3 has?

[@SpruceUp612]

@@huepix Widest AF lens is 14mm equivalent I think? I use the PanaLeica 8-18 2.8 but not a huge fan of it.

[@GodIsOneNotThree]

I was really hoping for an improvement in the ISO noise performance especially since it is marketed for photographers. The only thing that will make me stick with MFT systems is the lighter weight of the lenses. That S5II looks very tempting though.

[@dvdaltizer]

Yeah… I mean both options are from Panasonic so I’m sure they are fine with whatever option you choose. I personally really love micro 4/3 so I’m gonna probably go back to it with this camera.

[@13_cmi]

Their low light ability is my only problem. If this camera had better low light performance that price would be fine for me. It might even be worse than the g9 I don’t know for sure though.

[@josejaimeferrazmagalhaes335]

Great video thank you! Can you tell me if the continuous autofocus works well while you filming slow motion in 4k 120fps or only works with manual focus mode?

[@dvdaltizer]

Autofocus works in 120!

[@al4video]

You didn't mention tally lights front and rear? or maybe you did.

[@st2400]

Provided that the G9 ii performs similarly to the GH6, another reason to go for the G9 over the S5 ii is the readout speed. The S5 has quite bad rolling shutter. Not a complete deal breaker, but definitely something I'd prefer to be without.

[@dvdaltizer]

good point! it performs better than the GH6. it has a newer processor but similarish sensor.

[@markshirley01]

Dave just commented on your GH7 video about the G9II. Is the stabilization better than the S5II. Plus is the 10-25 f1.7 a heavy lens as that is exactly my working focal range. As a 1080p shooter, would you go for the G9Ii, (I do love the idea of internal 32bit float in the GH7 tho).

[@dvdaltizer]

So for 1080p (and honestly almost every flavor of 4k) the G9ii is more than enough! Same sensor as GH7 and same amazing IBIS. Best in class. It is slightly better than the S5 ii because it’s a smaller sensor and it has more room to move around. the 10-25 is large, but it’s surprisingly lightweight and well balanced. A tremendous all around lens for micro 4/3. you can get 32bit float in many other devices like recorders from Zoom or even the Rode wireless pros or DJI mic 2 so that shouldn’t be too big of a work around.

[@raksh9]

What really attracts me to this camera is the ability to shoot in 10bit C4K 25, 50 and 100p with phase detection. This is way beyond the G9 in terms of video codecs, and combined with v-log, will yield a hugely versatile video camera for most purposes. Pair this with a full frame body like the S5 II and you have a kit that will handle anything short of Netflix quality production and can go in a single backpack.

[@PC-oz7tz]

Thank you for your intelligent and informative insights. L&S

[@dvdaltizer]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@ConnorMcCaskill2]

Gotta love Lumix! 👏

[@dvdaltizer]

shutter angle for the win

[@JaredHoyman]

Proof content and delivery is king and not the camera its filmed on. Great click ratio Dave! Keep it up!

[@dvdaltizer]

Thanks for noticing. This was very intentional. My theory is the gear review space is so over saturated with “sexy b roll” and fancy sets that we’ve lost the humanity of KZbin with it. It’s too produced. Even though pros say they want to see fancy footage, I think all people want to do is just connect with other humans. Shooting on a phone in my backyard was an intentional decision to make this video feel more authentic and I really love the tone of it. Will do this more in the future! Thanks for the comment!

[@jimgd4]

I just found your channel. Great vid. You're comparing my two favorite cameras. One minor point- I personally believe that Panasonic/Lumix has relegated the Micro-D HDMI port to the dustbins of their history. The last camera they actually put one on was the DC-S5, released in September of 2020. They've released 3 Micro 4/3rds & 2 full frame bodies since then, and they've all come with Type A HDMI ports. Let's hope this trend continues. I've never bought an Olympus because every camera body they've ever released comes with an HDMI type D port, and I just don't need the hassle.

[@dvdaltizer]

I love that Panasonic doesn’t hold back on the full sized hdmi! Something canon should listen to! Glad you found the channel. What do you currently shoot on and are you considering the G9ii?

[@jimgd4]

@@dvdaltizer I have an old G9 & an S5 MkII. I'd love a G9II, I'm trying to make it happen.

[@damienlambotte8490]

Hi David, thanks for your video. So 9 months later are you always so happy of your G9II ? I'm interested by the Olympus 1.2 prime lens trinity. How about their autofocus speed and accuracy on the G9II for photography ? I've been sitting betwen my G85 and my x-t3 for years now, so i'm trying to choose which system i should keep !

[@dvdaltizer]

oh the autofocus is much better than G85 and the XT3! it’s actually right up there with sonys autofocus now in my opinion. as for the olympus primes, i feel they are some of the most beautiful lenses for micro 4/3 and they work really well on the Panasonic. they would work better on an OM-1 and to be honest, if you are primarily a stills shooter, i’d recommend picking up a used OM-1 over the G9ii. It has much better photography specs

[@Damien2281]

@@dvdaltizer thanks for your answer, really appreciate. Will investigate on your suggestion. Running kids are sometimes a pain to catch !

[@stevenbamford5245]

I would love to go back to MFT, but for me it's the lowlight performance that holds me back, I shoot concerts and events as well as daylight work and currently use the S1 and S1r but they are heavy beasts and put on the pro zooms and it's 4lb plus... I would love the G9ii to perform well at high iso, I would get one tomorrow!

[@ddsdss256]

You said it--it's all about lens size/weight and for people like me, who like having a full quiver (12-800 mm EFL) that fits into a small sling bag that weighs around 5 kg/11 lb, MFT is the only option. It would be absurd to carry all of the glass necessary to replicate that range with any larger-sensor rig. As a long time Lumix shooter (my G9 "I" is one of five), I'm leaning toward the G9 II for its improved low-light performance (I also have Topaz, but find DxO DeepPRIME/XD to be even better) and improved DR over my G9, but I'm curious as to what you didn't like about the OM-1. I find Oly (as well as Sony E-mount) bodies too small and I don't love the ergo of either (Lumix rules in that department), but as a stills shooter who only rarely dabbles in video, my main concern is getting the best RAWs to work from and some say the OM-1 has a slight "IQ" edge over the G9 II, especially in low light. Do you find that to be the case? Also, AF's not a big deal for me as I often use MF (and have some MF-only lenses), but when you need it, it's nice to have an effective system (although DFD works very well most of the time). Re DoF, Ansel's Group f/64 obsessed over getting everything in focus and I agree that's best most of the time. Super-shallow DoF looks ridiculous in many cases and it's easy to get even with MFT if that's what you really want (my f/0.95 helps). "FF" is simply the wrong system for most of the people who have it--they're just too caught up in the marketing hype to admit it. If you regularly shoot moving subjects in very low light with relatively short FLs, then go for it. Otherwise, you're wasting your money and hurting your back and neck unnecessarily.

[@MichaelDBeltran]

Didn't the original G9 also have a full sized HDMI port?

[@dvdaltizer]

Sure did! Most companies don't do this, though. I'm happy Panasonic does it.

[@intellatek]

At around 1:05 you said you're a "huge fan of the Panasonic 10-25mm f1.8" lens... Did you mean the Pan/Leica f1.7 10-25mm??? Or is there a different lens you are talking about here? I am asking, because I really want the Leica 1.7 but it just costs sooooo much money. Is there a different 1.8 out there?

[@Princeton_James]

Yeah it's the PanLeica

[@AlpacoFilms]

This is a fantastic camera. I don't think I'd upgrade to it. The G9ii is still too large for my liking. Even the OM-1 which was literally only couple millimeters larger than the E-M1.2 was enough to get me to sell it off. Plus. I think I've had the E-M1 for so LONG that it's basically an extension of my hands and eyes. It's a great camera though and if I didn't have the E-M1.2 I'd choose the G9ii OVER the OM-1. Regarding the price. I think it's priced right. The G9ii should be marketed as a specialty wildlife/sports photography camera. Fast cameras come at a price. For the last year OM-1 stood tall for being the fastest (when it comes to burst with no C-AF it's still the fastest). Now this comes in with a 60fps burst with C-AF! That's the biggest selling factor for someone like me who does do outdoor sports photography and sometimes Hockey. This would be great for those types of photographers trying to train their eyes and hands to go up to the pro level.

[@dvdaltizer]

dude, so glad you found this video! thanks for your comment. i agree man! the cool thing for me is the G9ii does give me the video features i always wanted on the OM-1 or EM1mkii. i sure hope panasonic makes smaller cameras.. would still love to give the new OM-5 a try. still haven't tried that

[@AlpacoFilms]

@@dvdaltizer dude to be honest I kinda had to search for it. It never came up on my feed but after watching a few reviews I thought “hey Dave and Connor probably got this camera” and I literally had to type it your names on the search bar.

[@prophetseven728]

I love my Pancake Lens on my GH3 which I put the whole camera in my pocket and go. Which I will keep using, once I decide GH6 or G9 ii agggg.

[@03chrisv]

MFT is definitely better than full frame for wildlife photography. It's also better for product photography/video since you can keep more of the image in focus, especially in smaller macro shots. If you want beautiful bokeh you can still achieve it with a MFT camera if you understand the basics of how lenses work, you don't need full frame.

[@dvdaltizer]

100%. i kind of love the look of deeper focus too. so it all works out for me

[@03chrisv]

@dvdaltizer @dvdaltizer I shoot miniatures so MFT is my only real option. Sure I can achieve similar looks on full frame but I'd have to spend so much more money. I don't want to have to buy a 300mm FF lens with tilt functionality just to get the macro shot that I want all in focus. MFT is actually really versatile, especially nowadays as sensors and processors are better than before. Sure FF still has the low light advantage, but the gap is smaller now. You can definitely get good low light performance "out of the hox", and as you mentioned in the video AI denoisers are so good that it's really a non issue.

[@Superz3ro]

Being heavily invested in the µ4/3 system, the Lumix G9II seems like a good choice, however, it will suffer in the beginning because the original G9 dropped in price two or three hundred, just like the Lumix S5II has. The Lumix G9II probably should release at $1599, which would see a price drop a year later to $1399, and that is when everyone will ultimately buy into the system or upgrade from earlier models of µ4/3… 🤔

[@dvdaltizer]

Good point. It’ll probably go on sale as early as this holiday season and over the years I’m sure it’ll get down below the $1,500 price point.

[@13_cmi]

With that price it seems better for me to get the original g9. Most of the stuff this camera can do is more than I’ll ever use. I don’t feel like paying 600 bucks more for features I won’t use. I also just drool over the design of the original g9. Love the sort of dslr imitation look. I wish they kept that.

[@susanorourke6868]

I will keep my Canon 80d s for studio work but I bought (and am learning to use) a used canon G9 for travel in Europe. I don't need full frame. I don't need much video. I do need a very wide (7 to 14) lens for architecture and a long 100 to 300) lens for architectural detail. I will use a "battery pack) for longer walks in European cities. At 76, I can't walk 3 to 5 Km with an extra 5 kilogram of lenses and bodies over my shoulders....and knees

[@mjpm7888]

Now we want a stack sensor and 8k recording for the GH6 II 🙂

[@FalloutUrMum]

I got my start with a Canon M50 that I still use for my personal work, it does what I need and has great lenses for me. I've handled full frame cameras provided by employers and am not a fan of the bulk, nor do I see a realistic difference in image quality outside of very niche scenarios. If I were to upgrade or, really, add a camera for my M50 to take the back seat to it would micro 4/3 or a fujifilm apsc camera. Probably micro 4/3 because it's really annoying that my EF-M lenses can't go anywhere with me in the future. I do not trust the canon R mount or like the direction Canon is heading.

[@darinl848]

i didn't hear you mention how m4/3 is so much better than full frame for wildlife because of the 2x crop factor and light 1000mm lens (equiv).

[@dvdaltizer]

that is true!

[@dccoletrain]

One of the reasons I got the X-S20 was the size when paired with the pancake lenses. Fuji’s F2 series are also small. For wildlife tho my 150-600 is about the size of Sony FF. This is where those small lens really payoff

[@dvdaltizer]

Totally! Do you feel Fuji is the better option over micro 4/3?

[@dccoletrain]

@@dvdaltizer I’ve never used one so I can’t say for sure. I do love Panasonic’s stabilization over everything else. For general photography (minus wildlife) I really do like shooting with film simulations. I do think the price is high. I was close to getting an original G9 used for $700 not that long ago

[@paprhat]

@@dvdaltizerI’ve been a Fuji user since the x-pro1 and have had every APSC body and lens from them. I was loaned an EM1mki by chance just last week and was amazed by it. So much so that I sold all my Fuji gear and picked up a mk2 and Summilux 25f1.4. The size alone floored me. The 9ii looks like it’s next on my list for the overall hybrid use.

[@johnchavez8386]

​@@dccoletrain​this video doesn't mention this but the g9ii has real time LUTs, allowing you to bring in I think 10 custom LUTs that you can apply to both photos and videos.

[@BrentODell]

I shot with an X-T3 for a while, and I really liked it. After some swapping around, trying different things, I ended up back at MFT because the wildlife lense(100-400 specifically) are so light and compact. What I REALLY wish they had, however, are some small, weather resistant primes like the Fuji f/2 series. In MFT you can have small(I mean... they're all pretty small, but REALLY small) OR you can get weather sealing, but you can't currently get both. I realize that weather only comes up once in a while, and I know that even a cheap lens will probably be ok if you take some basic precautions, but... I'm paranoid, I guess.

[@martagalanoficial]

I luckily found you video, many thanks! Did you mention that Oly 17 1.2 is buggy? You mean AF wise? 😕

[@dvdaltizer]

Yes I have it! It works fine, but this is early firmware and I think there may be a bit of an issue with autofocus and ibis compared to lumix glass. It’s just a bit more wobbly than the lumix glass. I don’t know how else to explain it. Again, the unit I have is pre-release so it may be fixed soon!

[@martagalanoficial]

@@dvdaltizer ok I see, but you would say is something about the camera firmware and not the lens being too “old” right?

[@vermontmike9800]

Does the G9 II have the 65x24 aspect ratio like the S5?

[@raizt1596]

@@vermontmike9800 4:3 I believe. Unless you're talking about selectable recording options.

[@vermontmike9800]

@@raizt1596 for stills. The S5ii has it.

[@bigrobotnewstoday1436]

DXO Deep PRIME is the best noise reduction. Also its the only noise reduction that restores loss color due to high ISO.

[@dvdaltizer]

Cool! I’ll take a look

[@jos_t_band3912]

Full frame Panasonic lenses are also pretty small. Some not all.

[@dvdaltizer]

You’re right. They are pretty small… just not small enough. And the 12-35mm zoom is tiny compared to a full frame 24-70. I’m just a stickler for tiny lenses

[@VlogCity]

Making me want to get Panasonic next!

[@dvdaltizer]

it's honestly a solid all around choice if you don't need super good lowlight

[@imagenatura]

The question for me is: 1899 euros G9 ii vs my current e-m1 ii. Is the image that much better on the the G9? I don't do much so-mo. What do you think?

[@dvdaltizer]

i think from that camera yes, you will see an upgrade with dynamic range and minor low light improvements. for that price though, may be worth considering the S5ii for full frame... unless you really love micro 4/3 like me. TBH, i miss my OM-1 still. found that camera to be really great for photos

[@imagenatura]

@@dvdaltizer Thanks for getting back to me.

[@didriketholm6852]

does L mount glass fit on this camera?

[@dvdaltizer]

No only micro 4/3

[@TurningUs]

Will the autofocus on the G9 II work with my Olympus prime lenses, and will it work with my older 100-400mm Panasonic lens? (oops, I now see that you answer that later in this video!) Thank you.

[@TurningUs]

What do you mean when you say the "software is a little buggy" when using the lenses from the Olympus lenses?

[@dvdaltizer]

I noticed the IBIS wasn't working well with the pre release version I had and the autofocus wasn't as responsive.

[@dijon-visuel]

Pourrais-tu faire un test autofocus avec le 25mm f1.2 ?

[@dvdaltizer]

I’ve done some tests and it performs well, but I think Panasonic needs to add better support for Olympus lenses. The IBIS doesn’t seem as good as it does on Panasonic lenses

[@whereismylife]

@@dvdaltizer their individual ibis+lens OIS systems don't chat, so you lose one if you mix/match body to lens. all good when the internal ibis of the g9II is like 5 stops or something. pretty sure you can pick and choose if its using ibis or OIS when it's the one or the other scenario, but usually IBIS is the better option and default. not 100% its the default, or if its the best option depending on lens focal length, so i would double check and make sure

[@midiplaybox3453]

There is no color science in the camera, but color aesthetics.

[@JeffBourke]

Well the MFT cameras have more 60p modes and resolution and the S5ii crops to APSC at 60p.

[@andersistbesser]

For someone who films a lot the g9 is a much better option thwn the s5 . I film everything in 4k50 with the 1.5 crop in the s5 i dont have any zooms with decent wide angle. S5 has not half of thr g9/gh6 video specs. G9 is the perfect hybrid camera for me

[@dvdaltizer]

yeah, the g9ii gives you everything with no compromise. you can use native lenses to their full ability in any frame rate and up to 5.8k open gate. really incredible. curious what GH7 will be

[@barrylyon6074]

Great review. Totally agree

[@dvdaltizer]

Awesome! Glad you found the video! Thanks for the comment. You a micro 4/3 shooter?

[@barrylyon6074]

Yes it was very thorough and objective. Have a Gh5, and Gh5 ii. Love 'em! Came from Canon and never looked back. Will get a G9 ii in due course, looks like the perfect camera for me too, although the two I've got are also excellent. Mainly shoot video. Thanks for the review! @@dvdaltizer

[@ÁzsiábaSzakadtam]

The same price is a well calculated marketing tactic. This cam is targeting those with m43 lenses in the drawer. Who would want to buy the full frame that has very limited lens selection of very expensive lenses if the drawer if full of m43 gear from the past? Like myself... I'm a little disappointed that this new camera has a big body, they should've come up with a smaller body instead of saving on the body production.

[@dvdaltizer]

To be fair, it’s roughy the same size and weight as the G9 original… but I hear you! Hopefully this won’t be the ONLY m43 camera they make. I’d expect the smaller versions to come over the years. I’m with you. I love the m43 system and have a bunch of small/great glass. Excited to put them on a worthy body.

[@marin_real_estate_photography]

On the other hand, the larger body allows for better IBIS and better heat dissipation.

[@reeshmalms6686]

A better lumix body that can go with the tiny lenses of mft system is gx lineup. A gx10 with PDAF, That 25 MP sensor, same ibis, REAL TIME LUT feature with lumix lab support, weather sealing will be a tiny everyday carry compact fun setup which is capable of producing hugh quality photos.

[@BetterOverseas]

I agree the full frame and micro 4 /3 is similar price but for lenses are more affordable and the weight is better for the micro 4/3

[@werem369]

if someone have good m43 lenses its no brainer I'm waiting fo speeboster and focus performance test with sigma 18-35

[@dvdaltizer]

Good idea! I still have a speedbooster laying around. Could use it with some EF glass and see how it does.

[@nolannatashaTV]

I switched to sony full frame and I'm shocked at how much i miss my G9. There are moments when that big sensor looks gorgeous of course. But I actually miss the practicality of the smaller sensor, not just because of size, but also depth and stabilization. when I shot MFT I was almost never thinking, "I want more bokeh". but not I'm often bummed out by the sony stabilization and even with my super convenient 28-200 tamron lens, I feel the weight difference over my MFT set up. I may just sell off my sony stuff and lease a g9ii and couple of lenses.

[@photogenic2010]

Don't forget, the lenses on G9ii are so much easier to carry in a wedding or a long trip. Yet just as sharp!!!! (or sharper). I buy the top end of Pana/ oly/ Sigma lenses, such a joy. And we can record to a cheap SSD (which other camera can do this?) The other bonus is everyone is in focus due to G9ii deeper depth of field.

[@dasaen]

The price vs ff is not that much of a problem because if you need your lenses to reach 2x longer it is easier to justify mft than a very much expensive lens. this wouldn’t matter if ff cameras were 80mp and you could crop to 20mp, but they are not. For me panasonic’s product lines make sense because you get the 2 systems for 3k instead of one single camera that aims to do everything with 60mp to work in crop mode.

[@boyantrifonov]

I have the S5 Mark I and will be getting the S5 II X I want a 2 camera setup for my KZbin channel. In addition I am a social dancer (Salsa Bachata Kizomba) and I want to be able to take pictures in a night club environment. So naturally full frame is the choice for me. With this G9 II I am happy Panasonic is not leaving M43 behind. Now I want a Panasonic retro inspired rival to the Fuji x100v! Make it Panasonic! Unless you dislike money!

[@Carlosconversa]

❤ Excellent!

[@dvdaltizer]

Thanks!

[@ariruishalme4403]

Very good points .. like you said the tools we have example for cleaning the lowlight it's awsome .. I believe this sell better than Ggh6

[@dvdaltizer]

I think you’re right. Although, it could be a little late to the game. So many people have moved on from micro 4/3. Though… I still think there is a need for it.

[@danprocaccio]

dude, gotta get the panny 20mm and 14mm - SUPER small pancakes if you’re into small m43 lenses.

[@dvdaltizer]

Heck yeah! I’ll pick those up too!

[@AlexSegre]

MFT is not noisier than full frame if you want more depth of field. You say you like around f5.6 of DOF (on FF) right? Well on MFT you'd be at f2.8 which brings your ISO down by 2 stops, giving about the same amount of noise as on FF. Example: on MFT shooting at f2.8 with 800 ISO, to get the same amount of DOF on FF you'd need to stop down to f5.6 therefore requiring 3200 ISO.

[@dvdaltizer]

fair enough, but every sensor is truly different and this particular sensor favors lower ISO over higher. ISO 100 is its base for photos and ISO 500 is the base for vlog

[@AlexSegre]

Ok well it would be interesting to test it. Comparing say, 800 ISO on the G9 II to 3200 ISO on the S5 II. If you're right then the S5 II would have noticeably less noise with 2 stops higher ISO@@dvdaltizer

[@ubacow7109]

They need to put this into the Gx9mk2 cause the previous gen GX was an embarrassment.

[@dvdaltizer]

Seriously! Would love to see this sensor in cheaper/smaller micro 4/3 bodies soon

[@earlteigrob9211]

MFT Lives!!!… and my be gaining steam!!! I’ve owned the GH5 but as a purely still shooter, OM has so much to offer me that Panasonic did not. Panasonic is simply more video centric. OM really excels in the nuance details more than the headline features. For stills photography With that said, the GH9ii links like an excellent hybrid camera!!!

[@dvdaltizer]

totally. the OM-1 is actually really affordable on the used market now

[@MrVara411]

Call me old-fashioned but I'm really sad they axed the upward-facing LCD backlit display and huge electronic viewfinder found on the original G9. It's also a good deal pricier than the G9. ... But man. The performance of this new kit is pretty amazing.

[@dvdaltizer]

I totally agree. Wish they kept the original lcd on the top. This evf has the same pixels but not as much magnification

[@alandargie9358]

It's cheaper than the G9 when it (the G9) came out. Significantly.

[@skepsys]

g9 original is like $500-600 used.. hard to get a $1800-1900 g9ii just for the phase (and other useful features, but phase might be the main). at least if it had dual native iso.. i see 1600 is still highest usable iso, which is disappointing like 5 yrs later..

[@dvdaltizer]

I agree, the price difference between the original G9 and the G9ii is quite significant. It can be tough to justify the upgrade just for the phase and other features.

[@erwinphillips4412]

It sounds like Panasonic is going to discontinue the GH line of cameras. It makes more sense to make one camera instead of two.

[@dvdaltizer]

interesting perspective! unless they are reserving the "top tier" features to that camera line like 8k or other higher end cinema features?

[@erwinphillips4412]

Thanks for the enlightenment. I got excited about all the features I thought that would be good for photography.

[@eltinjones4542]

With my poor eyesight the loss of the top LCD instruction panel is a big deal So I won't be trading up my G9 any time soon. I don't do video or shoot fast objects, the contrast detect works fine for me

[@dvdaltizer]

The original has a great design and I wish they kept those things. But this body is good and it’s a nice video camera now

[@PaulChoate-s4v]

We don’t by mft because it’s supposed to be cheaper. We buy it because the lenses are way smaller/lighter

[@lmauro]

that lens+body combo reminded my of the folks that use M lenses with their SL bodies.

[@dvdaltizer]

Yes! I love it. It’s my poor man’s Leica 🤣 Would you ever use micro 4/3?

[@lmauro]

@@dvdaltizer no problem at all with m4/3. I think each sensor size has their own strengths, and portability and affordability are huge for m4/3.

[@bjnslc]

I'm sure Panasonic will have plenty of existing MFT system users buying at the initial price. As with the G9, the price will later drop with discounts and deals initially and reduced retail prices later on. I'm a G9 and Nikon Z user and would love to ditch the Nikon and have two Lumix formats with seamless handling and interface logic.

[@dvdaltizer]

Will be nice when it drops in price. That’s it’s biggest hurdle

[@13_cmi]

I can wait until it drops. I’ve waited for the g9 for a little too long and they released a successor.

[@javierruizamado]

Good video and great camera. I understand that there are still people saying that Micro4/3 is worse than other systems and that it is dying. They are influenced by people who barely know how to hold a camera. Possibly they also listen to the music that is in fashion (not necessarily good), watch the trendy trash TV shows and go to eat at the places where some influencers who don't know how to cook tell them to go. Just kidding... although there will be some of those. Someone who uses or has used the Micro4/3 system would never think that it is a worse system than others. Every system has its advantages and disadvantages. And the ISO sensitivity argument is still being used. For photography, in Micro4/3 it is not necessary to increase the ISO sensitivity so much due to the great stabilization of its sensors. And for video it has the advantage of having more depth of field with brighter lenses that allow you not to raise the ISO sensitivity so much. If you want to do action photography or indoor sports choose another system. Micro4/3 is not the best for that. For everything else, it is a perfectly valid system and sometimes better than others. Full frame is a great system also. And APS-C as well. There are great options in all of them.

[@FourKnown]

Just wait for B&H's Black Friday sale. I bet it will be $200 off. If not then it probably will be for a Memorial Day or 4th of July sale. Just need to be a little patient!

[@intersonic]

M43 ecosystem is cheaper and lighter. This gave me the most attractive way to stay in this system, as I don;t need those Full Frame + F/1.2 portrait style photography.

[@dvdaltizer]

Hoping that LUMIX keeps adding to the lens lineup and makes more M43 bodies

[@carlosmcse]

Would be great if they can shrink the body. Lenses are small but the body isn’t. Sort of defeats the purpose of shooting with a sensor the size of a peanut if you put it in the body of a full frame camera.

[@dvdaltizer]

Well to be fair this camera is actually smaller than the GH6 and the same size as the original G9. I agree though! And I’m sure they will make smaller cameras in the future. Panasonic has a history of making several small micro 4/3 cameras

[@carlosmcse]

@@dvdaltizer I used to have a G7 once. That was a nice size. That and the 25f1.4. Lovely combo. Great lens btw.

[@chainsov]

I will have to wait till pdaf trickles down to smaller m43 cameras. This thing is just too heavy and big for me.

[@JeffBourke]

Well, I don’t think it can do 5.7k60 like the GH6. The GH7 will have more video modes and ACTIVE COOLING.

[@caltari]

The deal breaker for me with the Panasonic G9 is that you weren't able to focus stack using flash, did they fix this fatal flaw in the G9II for macro photographers?

[@dvdaltizer]

not sure on this!

[@caltari]

Can you go into the menu and try focus bracketing using a flash to see if they fixed the issue and get back to me? Regards @@dvdaltizer

[@trulsdirio]

Nice, I will love it when I can find a used one in five or six years lol

[@lamasteve6905]

G9 M4/3 lens are good and less than half the price ! L series in a full frame is better in low light ! Most viewing of images is online not a print !

[@dvdaltizer]

Totally. I think overall you will save money if you go with the G9ii because the lenses can be purchased for so cheap.

[@lamasteve6905]

@@dvdaltizer Cell phones are the king ! Most camera companies won't survive !

[@whereismylife]

@@lamasteve6905 i don't disagree. in a not too distant future, enthusiasts will look at M43 like current enthusiasts view FF. Everyone parrots it dying, but it's going to be the only one that survives save the FF stuff directed niche and hella $$$ at pro pro photogs.

[@jeffgermanich8105]

The m4/3 lenses may be smaller and lighter, but the bodies are getting bigger. Doesn’t this sort of defeat the whole m4/3 idea?

[@dvdaltizer]

Technically this is smaller than the GH6 and the same size as the original G9 but I hear your point! I think for a G9 model it’s fine but I hope they make smaller bodies in the future! For sure!

[@Democratiser]

YES YES SMALLER CAMERA BODIES PLEASE! Bring on the GX9 Mark II!

[@KNAPPAID]

ill be honest , at this price against the s5ii - its a bit of a letdown In a vaccumm its awesome.

[@andersistbesser]

Why? G9 can do many things s5 cant and for someone who has a lot of mft lenses its a much better investment

[@KNAPPAID]

@@andersistbesser and the s5ii can do many things the g9ii cant, its not really a good thing when that happens and both of them share the same pricepoint when one has a fullframe sensor. I love the gx8 , but that dont mean anything when you compare it against even something like the a7iii - bar dimensions and weight. Which even the g9ii cant beat the s5ii much of.

[@andersistbesser]

@@KNAPPAID what can the s5 do? Its better in low light thats all. No 4k60 without crop, no 4k 120 g9 is a much much better video camera and it can take great pictures too.

[@dvdaltizer]

For micro 4/3 users this is a big win! We’ll see how camera sales go

[@whereismylife]

@@KNAPPAID same price point in WHAT universe?! the body? wtf are you talking about. LENSES. have you ever purchased all your dream lenses for a system before?! try purchasing every prime lens for E-mount from 20-400mm (FF equiv) and then do it for MFT. lol. "oh it only cost me 10,000-20,000$ more but the body was a 200$ difference, so f*ck MFT. sit down.

[@JeffBourke]

My favourite tools for lowlight…. Actual Lights!

[@AoyagiAichou]

The ending... yes, it's a hard sell against the S5ii when the only thing you care about is sensor size.

[@janaltizer]

👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@dvdaltizer]

Thanks mom! 😆

[@nadinesmoske1838]

Yes ! Tiny tine small lenses…

[@ourtvchannel]

Its the size of many Sony state of the art full frame cameras and with Sony producing really compact lenses for full frame I have no idea what Panasonic were thinking of with this camera. It's a small sensor, camera in a massive body, not even a APSc and with the new A6700 and A7C ii I have no idea who is going to buy this. I have a lot of lenses for m4/3 and am looking forward to a SMALL phase detect Panasonic so I can use them. This just looks ridiculous.

[@dvdaltizer]

To be fair, this is smaller than the GH6 and the same size and weight as the original G9. So it makes sense in that category. I agree though that they need to make a smaller version!

[@ourtvchannel]

yes and quick because they aren't going to attract any new m4/3 fans when people have the choice of small full frame and high end apsc cameras for less. I am not sure there is a future for Panasonic myself. Their new full frame cameras with phase detect are great but not when compared to Sony and it's AI autofocus and m43 users are not a growing market. I'd love a new very small GX880 wtth phase detect and no crop 4k. I'd buy that in a second. My current GX880 with a 20mm f1.7 is one of my favourite cameras despite having a Sony A7R V its; often the one I take out because it fits in my pocket. @@dvdaltizer

[@MARZILLI]

I thought the S5iix was your ❤

[@dvdaltizer]

Still a great camera, but big fan of micro 4/3