The Panasonic Lumix G9 II is on its way with phase detection autofocus
There are reliable reports about the announcement of the Panasonic Lumix G9 II, the old flagship of the more affordable mirrorless camera line.
When you think of the Micro Four Thirds sensor lineup, you quickly come across the Lumix GH5 II and Lumix GH6. These are two models, especially the GH6, that focus on filmmaking and are also suitable for photography. With these models, you wouldn’t expect Panasonic to go back to a camera that focuses more on photography, but it seems different.
The Panasonic Lumix G9 is a camera from December 2017, and the G9 II could benefit from years of innovation. Of course, phase detection, which made its appearance in the full-frame Lumix S5 II, could be part of the new G series.
Lumix G9
This could also make it the first Panasonic MFT camera to move away from the poor contrast detection system. That’s a good step forward for both filmmakers and photographers. However, there are no details available about the camera, so it’s still a guessing game.
For the low-budget shooter
The idea of the G series is that it’s made for videographers and photographers working on a smaller budget. At the moment, a camera like the OM System OM-1 Panasonic is far ahead, so it’s definitely time for an update.
Higher resolution
It seems logical that the G9 II will come with new technology, considering its predecessor is already five years old. The mirrorless camera can adopt various techniques from the GH6 on a smaller scale to keep it affordable.
The Lumix G9 has a resolution of 20.3 megapixels on the MFT sensor, while the GH6 uses 25.2MP. It seems more than logical to update this old megapixel count. A sensor around 23-26MP is perfect for photography and can handle higher video resolutions as well. Currently, the Lumix G9 can already shoot 6K 30fps footage.
New processor
A new processor also seems like a logical step. This will result in a faster camera, more frames per second, and higher film resolutions.
Improved EVF
Users of the Lumix G9 desire an electronic viewfinder with higher resolution. Since the G9 and G9 II are also suitable for sports and wildlife photography, a viewfinder with higher resolution and refresh rate is always desirable. Currently, you can capture 60 frames per second with the Lumix G9, but that’s still with the old AF system, which doesn’t work at 60fps.
The key features of the Lumix G9:
- Digital Live MOS (MFT) sensor
- 20.3 megapixels
- HiRes Mode up to 80MP
- Venus Engine Image Processor
- 5-axis image stabilization: Dual I.S. 2
- Focus in 0.04 seconds
- Two SD card slots
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
When can we expect the Panasonic Lumix G9 II?
According to rumors from 43rumors, the Lumix G9 II could be announced as early as this year.
Today’s prices for the Lumix G9 sports camera:
Amazon.com
Adorama
Walmart.com
Yoreh
Yoreh Schipper started his film career in 2009, shooting a documentary in India. After that, he rolled into the documentary and commercially filmmaking. He got his bachelor degree in Communication & Multimedia Design in 2012 and hasn't left the film and photo industry since. Now, he strives to build an international Camera Deals Online network, with reviews, news, rumors, top-lists and blogs!
