By Yadira B. Arnold 
Panasonic’s GH5 was such an iconic vlogging camera that Panasonic unveiled two Micro Four Thirds successors to replace it. The 2,500 GH6, which is expected to be released after this year, has major upgrades such as 4K 120P and even 5.7K video. The other is the model I’m reviewing today, the 1,700 GH5 II.
As the name suggests, the GH5 II is more of a refresh with the same 20 megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor. However, it has a brand new processor that offers significant improvements in terms of speed, video quality and artificial intelligence. The best part is that it costs 300 less than the GH5 at launch.
The big question is whether it is worth buying This model, waiting for the GH6 or even buying an older GH5 that is now heavily discounted. To find out, I tested the new features, video quality, autofocus and more of the GH5 II — here’s what I found out.
Construction and handling
If you are already familiar with the GH5, you will feel very comfortable with the GH5 II — the bodies are almost identical. This is a good thing, because it still surpasses many newer cameras thanks to an excellent grip and logical operating positions.
However, there are some important changes. While the rear screen is a little smaller at 3 inches instead of 3.2 inches, it has a little more resolution and is noticeably brighter. This solves one of the biggest problems of the GH5: its relatively weak screen.
The electronic viewfinder (EVF) has the same resolution of 3.68 thousand points and .76x magnification, but has double the refresh rate at 120 Hz. This makes a noticeable difference in the image quality; more than an increase in resolution in my opinion. However, it also dis-powers the battery a little faster.
Another nice improvement is the additional USB-C PD compatibility which allows the battery to repower faster. And it comes with a more powerful DMW-BLK22 battery, which is also included in the company’s full-frame S5 camera. Although it is still classified Cipa for 410 recordings like the GH5, it still offers a few minutes of video recording.
The GH5 II has superior menus than the GH5 and wins over those introduced on the GH5s. It is a color coded menu system with tabs and hints to find the Option you are looking for. It also has the information panel of the PRO Varicam models from Panasonic (also available on the GH5) which displays the important parameters at a glance. Another feature for professional strikers is two Zebra controls that allow you to check two layers at once, such as highlights and skin tones.
Like the GH5, the new model has two UHS II card slots, but they now support the maximum V90 speeds (300 MB/s). This ensures stable striking when using the new All-I 4K video settings up to 400 Mbps, or allows the buffer to clear faster when taking photos.
Video performance
There are some subtle but important changes in the video capabilities of the GH5. One key is an update to the image stabilization system. It now offers anti-shake protection of up to 6.5 EV, an increase of 1.5 EV compared to the GH5. When working with compatible lenses and using the is Boost mode, it offers more stable strikes even when walking or moving.
No in-camera stabilization system will ever smack a gimbal. However, the GH5 II does a superior job than most mirrorless cameras I’ve tried at smoothing out walking or running, assuming you’re reasonably careful. More importantly, it makes panning the handheld camera and other movements smoother than the GH5. If you need additional stabilization, there is an electronic mode that helps, although it cuts slightly.
Another important change concerns the autofocus system. In general, continuous autofocus for video is faster and smoother than before, although you will still see a tiny bit of inevitable chasing or wobbling with a pure contrast detection AF system. As before, the system works superior at higher frame rates if it has more information to work on.
The GH5 II also brings a certain AI autofocus intelligence that could not be added to the GH5 by Firmware due to its relatively old processor. It offers twice the speed of face and eye tracking and can capture focus when a face is tilted away from the camera. It can detect human heads and bodies, making it easier to track when a person turns or moves towards or away from the camera. It adds new animal tracking features that can also handle most pets and some types of wild animals.
When these features are enabled, it’s easier to keep someone focused when he or she is moving. Again, it works superior at higher frame rates, but overall, the improved focus rates make the camera more convenient for vlogging or running work, especially for solo operators. Animal tracking is also very useful, especially if pets and/or children are walking around.
Is the tracking of the subject on the GH5 as good as on Canon, or in particular on the recent mirrorless cameras from Sony? No, because both brands use phase detection systems that can focus the focus directly without flickering. The recent models from Sony, in particular the A1 and A7S III, also have incredibly fast tracking capabilities that Panasonic has not yet achieved. Still, the new model is a big improvement over the GH5 and certainly good enough for many types of projects.
Video quality
The video made the GH5 popular because it was way ahead of the competition for the price when it first arrived. Five years after, however, it is getting quite old and a new processor has helped Panasonic adapt the specifications of the GH5 II to those of full-frame models like the S5.
To this end, the new model now offers 4K and C4K 10-bit 4:2:0 (4,096 x 2,160) videos up to 60 fps, rather than 8-bit videos at 60p as before. this makes it superior for slow motion or high frame rate videos if you want to use video settings Like the GH5, it can also handle anamorphic 6K 30P (4,992 x 3,774) with 10-bit color settings, 4:2:0. And where the All-I recording on the GH5 was limited to 24/25 FPS, the GH II can now do it up to 30 fps.
Although the GH5 II comes standard with VLog-L striking, it is limited to 12 levels of dynamic range instead of 13 levels like the Panasonic Bgh1 Box camera and other newer models. Panasonic has also introduced two new video modes, Cinelike D2 and Cinelike V2, which allow you to record diary-like videos with less effort. These offer slightly more saturated colors and improved skin tones than the original Cinelike D and V modes.
As with other newer models, the GH5 II displays a red frame around the screen while striking, as well as aspect ratio guides and a TikTok-style Portrait video mode. With the same sensor, the GH5 II has about the same read speeds, so the rolling shutter is still present but well controlled.
The GH5 II, unlike the GH5, can now record videos simultaneously via the HDMI port with an external recorder. However, it cannot record raw video like the S5, for example. Hopefully, this and the limited dynamic range of VLog-L will be fixed in future firmware updates.