I’ve been utilizing the very good Panasonic Lumix G9 Micro-four-thirds digital camera for my wildlife images since I reviewed it right here on the positioning again in 2018, not lengthy after its launch. It was… and certainly nonetheless is… a improbable digital camera for wildlife. With the announcement of the Lumix G9II in late 2023, Panasonic introduced its flagship Micro 4/3 stills digital camera bang updated… however how does it carry out within the discipline for wildlife images? Let’s discover out.
Execs: Blistering all-round efficiency with extremely quick burst taking pictures and substantial improve in buffer measurement. A brand new phase-detect autofocus system (now with chook/animal eye-detection) detects and locks on to topics sooner and extra precisely than ever. Excellent picture high quality for a smaller sensor, with nice dynamic vary. Increase to equal focal size with the 2x crop issue of the M4/3 sensor is a boon for wildlife. Excellent Lumix and third occasion lens choice. Higher noise efficiency at larger ISOs than its predecessor. If video is your factor the G9II comes with all of the bells and whistles.
Cons: Whereas noise is dealt with higher than within the authentic G9 (which wasn’t unhealthy by any means), there’s no getting round the truth that smaller sensors get noisy at larger ISO settings. The omission of the LCD prime show of the G9 is disappointing, and one thing I missed greater than I anticipated to. Battery life is okay, however does appear to empty extra shortly than on the G9 — so for all-day taking pictures you’ll need to carry a spare — and for those who plan to shoot video, carry a number of. Whereas the management dials are massive and tactile, and work nicely, they don’t lock, like on the unique G9, and I had a number of cases the place both the mode dial, the taking pictures pace dial or each had “slipped” to a special setting whereas carrying the digital camera round. There’s a noticeable power-up lag when the digital camera has entered “Deep Sleep” mode that may be irritating if you wish to get a shot shortly.
Lumix G9II Full Overview
Rumours of the loss of life of Micro 4 Thirds as a format in 2023 had been drastically exaggerated, and had been put to mattress conclusively in late 2023 and early 2024 with the announcement of two new flagship micro-four-thirds fashions within the Panasonic Lumix G9II and the OM Techniques (previously Olympus) EM1 MkII (which I hope to be testing/reviewing right here on Eire’s Wildlife in the end).
As an avid Lumix G9 person, when the G9II was introduced, with the a lot requested phase-detect autofocus improve over it’s predecessor’s proprietary Depth from Defocus contrast-detect autofocus, I knew I needed to strive it out. It’s not that specializing in the G9 was sluggish. Actually, when it was launched it boasted the quickest digital camera autofocus available on the market, nevertheless it struggled in some conditions… like in low gentle, with cluttered foregrounds or backgrounds, or buying and sticking to a shifting topic. These are all conditions you encounter virtually most of the time when photographing wildlife.
Mix the revamped autofocus with the next decision, excessive dynamic vary micro-four-thirds sensor, and sooner taking pictures speeds with a considerably bigger buffer to accommodate them, and you’ve got a really compelling package deal.
First Impressions
One of many criticisms typically levelled on the Lumix G9 was that, for a small-sensor digital camera, it was a reasonably chunky beast, not a lot smaller than many full-frame cameras, and bigger than a few of them. That very same criticism could possibly be levelled on the G9II as nicely, because it makes use of a just about similar chassis and management format to Panasonic’s flagship full-frame mirrorless providing, the Lumix S5 Mark II. Nonetheless, I discovered that criticism was largely unfounded with the G9, which was (and nonetheless is) one of the ergonomically seamless digital camera our bodies I’ve ever used, and balanced completely within the hand with the longer lenses sometimes crucial for wildlife and chook images.
Precisely the identical applies to the G9II. The truth that the newer physique is an actual copy of its full-frame stablemate is a plus, not a minus in my e book, and it has a premium really feel and reassuring weight with out being heavy. You must keep in mind that it’s typically not the scale and weight of the physique that’s the limiting issue for wildlife photographers — it’s the scale and weight of the required long-focal-length lenses. That’s the place micro-four-thirds actually comes into its personal: in comparison with full-frame lenses with equal attain, optically very good lenses just like the Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f4-f6.3 are tiny, light-weight affairs that may be simply carried round all day and ship excellent outcomes hand-held.
Menus and Controls
Just like the G9, the G9II has a really in depth menu system that has choices for just about no matter you would consider. All the pieces, from the management dials to the perform buttons to each little characteristic provided by this cutting-edge up to date digital camera physique, is configurable. The sheer extent of menu choices may be overwhelming, however Panasonic has laid all the pieces out in a logical, categorised and simply navigable person interface that makes discovering and altering the setting you want comparatively painless. As with all new system, there’s a studying curve, nevertheless it’s actually not that steep, and when you get used to it you’ll be capable of fine-tune this digital camera to function precisely the way you need it to.
After you have all the pieces arrange the way in which you prefer it, chances are high that you just’ll not often must enterprise into the menu system in any respect, because the G9II has a bunch of logically positioned, configurable bodily controls you'll be able to set as much as provide you with fast entry to the settings and options you want with out going close to a menu.
LCD and Viewfinder
The flip out, absolutely articulated LCD display screen on the Lumix G9II appears and behaves the identical because the on the unique G9 — which is to say it does all the pieces you would presumably need it to do. Nonetheless, the newer mannequin sees a decision increase to 1.84M dot over the unique 1.04M dot model on the G9. It is rather versatile and is nice for those who’re seeking to video or {photograph} your self (preferrred for content material creators/youtubers), for instance, or to get low-angle photographs that may in any other case be very tough to attain.
The digital viewfinder sees no such decision increase, with the identical 3.68M dot decision as the unique G9. It really works nicely, and is completely serviceable… however is probably just a little disappointing in a recent flagship digital camera physique, and lags just a little behind the likes of the OM Techniques OM-1 Mark II’s 5.76M dot viewfinder. Whether or not or not you’d discover a distinction within the discipline is debatable, and I haven’t had an opportunity to strive the 2 side-by-side (but) — however I definitely by no means discovered the viewfinder on the G9II wanting in the course of the overview interval.
Utilizing the digital camera
Ergonomics and dealing with
I discovered the truth that the G9II makes use of the identical physique, basically, because the Lumix S5II, to be a boon. It has very good steadiness, and glorious grip that sits comfortably within the hand, and marries completely with the Panasonic Leica 100-400mm and 50-200mm lenses I paired with it. Even with smaller lenses just like the Panasonic Leica 12-60mm package lens connected, it by no means felt overly cumbersome or cumbersome.
For wildlife, I at all times really feel having a physique that gives a little bit of counterbalance to the inevitably longer and bulkier lenses you’ll be utilizing is a profit. The actual great thing about micro-four-thirds for me is within the decrease weight and bulk, to not point out the decrease price, of these high-performance lengthy lenses in comparison with their full-frame counterparts.
Once I’m out with the digital camera I’m typically birding, guiding a wildlife group on one among our Uncover Wildlife Experiences, or travelling. In all of these situations, I must hold my images package as small and light-weight, but as versatile as potential. Once I’m guiding I’m carrying binoculars, a recognizing scope and different paraphernalia in addition to my digital camera gear; once I’m birding I would like to remain nimble and cellular, but be able to seize a document shot of something uncommon at a second’s discover; once I’m travelling, I don’t have house for plenty of images gear, but nonetheless must pack gear that may ship distinctive efficiency. The Lumix G9II, paired with the Lumix 100-400 (200-800mm full body equal) and 50-200 (100-400mm full body equal) delivers in all of these situations.
One factor I did miss from the unique G9 was the highest LCD panel. I’d grown used to checking it shortly when turning the digital camera on to confirm shutter pace, aperture and different settings. With the G9II, as a substitute of simply glancing down, I now should bodily look into the viewfinder to confirm settings, or flip out the LCD again panel to examine. And checking IS essential with the G9II, as the highest management dials don’t lock, and I had a number of conditions the place the settings had modified between photographs simply whereas carrying the digital camera slung over my shoulder.
Ergonomically, I discovered the G9II to be a pleasure to make use of within the discipline… if something higher than the G9, and on the time I feel I professed that was essentially the most comfy digital camera I’d ever used within the discipline.
Pace and Responsiveness
The G9II is scarily fast — fast at focusing, and ludicrously fast at burst taking pictures — providing a decent 10fps from the mechanical shutter, all the way in which as much as a daft 60fps with the digital shutter with steady autofocus and monitoring. There’s additionally a pre-burst taking pictures mode (a extra succesful evolution of the 6K Picture pre-burst on the unique G9) that repeatedly loops as much as 1.5 seconds value of buffered RAW photographs earlier than you press the shutter launch — good for capturing vital motion like birds taking off, or leaping whales and dolphins.
Coupled with the spectacular efficiency is a a lot bigger buffer — from studying different evaluations what seems to be one of many largest picture buffers at the moment obtainable — which lets you take a formidable variety of photographs with out the digital camera slowing down or lagging in any respect. Nonetheless, when/for those who do hit the buffer restrict (which is well achievable for those who go for the 60fps taking pictures) the digital camera appears to be sluggish at writing to the SD playing cards (even the very best efficiency playing cards obtainable), and also you’re restricted from taking pictures whereas the buffer clears, which may be irritating.
In day-to-day taking pictures it’s by no means a problem, however ought to that that once-in-a-lifetime taking pictures alternative crop up, the very last thing you need is an incapacitated digital camera because it struggles to dump a full buffer to the reminiscence card. Hopefully that is one thing Panasonic can addressed in a firmware replace.
Autofocus
The all-new phase-detect/hybrid AF system is probably the headliner of the G9II. It locks on immediately, and retains monitor of topics with spectacular tenacity, so long as you'll be able to hold them within the viewfinder (discovering and maintaining topics within the viewfinder is commonly the toughest half with lengthy lenses). I discovered it excellent in conditions the place the unique G9 would have actually struggled.
It was additionally actually good at selecting out the topic by way of foreground litter and in entrance of background litter… one thing the unique G9 with its contrast-detect solely autofocus tended to battle with.
You've got all of the autofocus space modes you’d count on, and a few very nice topic detect AF modes, together with animal (and chook) AF that features physique and now additionally eye detection. It does a exceptional job of zeroing in on a chook or animal’s eye, and locking on to it. It’s extremely spectacular and appears to only work.
Monitoring of topics can also be a lot improved, presumably due to a mixture of higher AI smarts and the phase-detect AF areas constructed into the brand new sensor. The G9II tends to stay to the topic like glue… solely shedding it for those who lose monitor of it within the viewfinder. So long as you retain your topic in view (or inside your chosen AF space, for those who’re utilizing one of many space AF modes) the digital camera will monitor it.
In fact, as it is a Lumix digital camera, for those who delve within the menus and you've got all kinds of autofocus settings you'll be able to tweak to change the default autofocus/monitoring behaviour so it behaves as you need it to.
Picture Stabilisation
That is one other space the place the G9II sees a bump in efficiency. The unique G9 was class-leading on this space with 6.5 stops of in physique stabilisation, however the G9II elevates this to a mind-boggling 8 stops of stabilisation. Sometimes that determine drops off as you employ longer focal size lenses, however with the G9II and twin IS succesful Lumix lenses just like the 100-400mm and 50-200mm I used to be utilizing, you continue to get a stupendous 7.5 stops of stabilisation.
This implies you can handhold at slower shutter speeds (so decrease ISO and fewer noise) at longer focal lengths and nonetheless get sharp photographs… so long as your topic is just not shifting. Very helpful.
Battery Life
Battery life on the Lumix G9II is okay normally, though it does appear to make use of up the battery barely sooner than the G9. I by no means managed to get by way of a completely charged battery in a session in the course of the revie interval, however primarily based on the battery utilization I will surely carry a spare with me if I used to be planning to shoot all day, and would possible need a few spares if I used to be planning on doing a lot video taking pictures.
One different factor to notice is that there isn't any battery charger included within the field (though you should buy one as an non-obligatory accent). You cost the battery in-camera by way of the USB C port.
Picture High quality
I’ve been very impressed with the picture high quality from the Lumix G9II. The brand new 25MP sensor with its dual-gain output delivers beautiful photographs with spectacular dynamic vary with loads of scope for post-processing of RAW photographs.
Whereas pixel peepers on the market will definitely see a distinction in picture high quality between a full body sensor and the newest micro-four-thirds providing, in actual world conditions taking a look at a picture printed or displayed digitally, you’d be hard-pressed to inform the distinction, notably with the superior denoise capabilities of latest photo-editing software program.
Video
Whereas I’ve been utilizing the G9II predominantly as a stills digital camera, it might be remiss to not point out its video pedigree. Certainly, it's billed as Panasonic’s stills flagship, but it has skilled video options to rival the corporate’s flagship video mannequin, the GH6, together with as much as 5.8K/30p or 5.7K/60p MOV recordsdata in digital camera, with 5.7K/30p ProRes obtainable when recording direct to SSD.
As I haven’t actually used the video options, I received’t remark additional, however you’ll discover loads on-line in regards to the Lumix G9II’s video chops ought to they be of curiosity to you.
Specs
You’ll discover full specs and particulars for the Lumix G9 Mk II on the Panasonic Lumix web site right here.
Conclusion
The Panasonic Lumix G9II takes all the perfect parts of Lumix’s up to date full-frame cameras and packages them round a superb new micro-4/3 sensor, with nice dynamic vary, distinctive hybrid phase-detect autofocus, blistering pace, and class-leading picture stabilisation. It's undoubtedly top-of-the-line micro-four-thirds choices available on the market at present — and top-of-the-line wildlife cameras obtainable… interval.
I’m an enormous fan of micro-four-thirds cameras, and the portability advantages they provide wildlife photographers preferring to journey gentle, and keep cellular and nimble. I’ve been fully proud of the Lumix G9 for the final 6 years… however the G9II could have satisfied me it’s time for an improve.
Picture Gallery
A choice of photographs taken in West Cork, Eire with the G9II over the overview interval.
Acknowledgement
I’d wish to thank the Panasonic/Lumix UK crew for sending the Lumix G9 in for overview on the Eire’s Wildlife web site.
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