The camera made its first appearance at CES in January, and now the 4K Panasonic GH4 is finally here. While we weren't sure if Panasonic was going to create a whole new line with the camera, it seems like this is definitely some sort of successor based on Panasonic's wording, and it is building off everything that was good about the GH3. We've got full specs and photos below, as well as the first video shot in 4K on the camera, so click through for more.

[Update]: Pricing will be announced in March (but less than $2,000), and the 4K mode is a slight crop (from 2x to around 2.3x as compared to full-frame). The UHD crop is only slightly more.

[Update 2]: This was shot with the GH4 in 4K by Bryan Harvey:

His impressions:

And more videos:

The Specs

Thanks to 4/3 Rumors for the specs and photos (post will be updated as we know more):

  • 16.05 Megapixel Micro 4/3 Sensor
  • 4096 x 2160 up to 24fps (100Mbps)
  • 3840 x 2160 up to 30fps (100Mbps)
  • 1080p up to 60fps
  • Variable Slow Motion in-camera up to 96fps (not a sync-sound format)
  • 200 Mbps (ALL-Intra) or 100 Mbps (IPB) at 1080p
  • 2,359K-dot LVF (Live View Finder)
  • 3 inch 1,036K-dot Rear Monitor
  • 4:2:2 10-bit or 8-bit External HDMI (4:2:0 8-bit internal)
  • Cinegamma Modes
  • Peaking and Zebras
  • ISO 200-25600 (Extended Mode: 100-25600)
  • New UHS I Class III SD card (min. 30MB/s) format needed for over 100Mbps
  • 1/8" Headphone, 1/8" Microphone, AV Output, HDMI D (Micro), USB 2.0, Wired Remote Port
  • Approx. 50% higher speed signal readout suppresses rolling shutter effect even when using electronic shutter or recording motion image
  • 12 fps(AFS) up to approx.40 (including RAW) / approx.100 (excluding RAW) and 7.0 fps(AFC)
  • Price: TBA
  • Availability: TBA

 

Gh4

Here is the GH4 with the new optional YAGH interface unit:

  • 2 Monaural XLR Inputs
  • Line/Mic Level Switch
  • Audio Level Display Monitor
  • 3G-SDI Capable BNC Connectors
  • Quad-Link SDI Output for 4:2:2/10-Bit 4K
  • HDMI Output
  • Timecode In
  • 12VDC 4-Pin XLR Power Input
  • Price: TBA
  • Availability: TBA

GH4 and YAGH Interface

Panasonic-gh4-4k-interface-unit-both-sides

Panasonic GH4 4K with Base Bottom

More on the 4K GH4

Some interesting words from Panasonic on the image processing:

The image processor Venus Engine is also newly developed dramatically boosting its performance with new quad-core CPU that lets high speed signal processing required for rich video recording such as 4K. The advanced Multi-process NR (Noise Reduction) applies effective noise reduction and edge processing according to each component frequency. Plus, newly added Random Filter granulates chromatic noise to be blended into the image even more naturally.

In the press release, Panasonic keeps mentioning that there is no recording limit, but then near the bottom says it is up to 30 minutes depending on the recording format and where the camera is sold. This means one of two things, either the external recording is unlimited, or the internal is limited only in places like Europe where there is an extra tax for video cameras -- though it says this is a global camera (possibly for the US only), so you should get all the frame rates possible, rather than those limited to where you live (NTSC or PAL).

What's big about this new camera is that the HDMI is capable of being recorded in 4:2:2 10-bit, either through the camera or the optional add-on box. When you want to use the 10-bit, the camera will not be able to record internally (only externally). It seems like this is the case with both the camera's HDMI and the interface unit HDMI. If you want to go right from the camera to a recorder (or monitor) and still record internally, you'll be limited to 4:2:2 8-bit (which is still better than 4:2:0 8-bit, which is all the camera can record internally).

The interface unit (which looks like it requires external power) is also capable of sending out a 4:2:2 10-bit 4K signal through the 4 HD-SDI ports. This means that you can view the output in 4K and should be able to record the output separately for even higher quality than you will get internally. When the interface unit is on the camera, the camera's micro HDMI is no longer usable (so you only get one HDMI output). The HDMI on the interface unit is full-size and is capable of the same sampling as the camera's HDMI, though neither seem to output 4K -- but maybe during playback?

Slow motion is going to be very nice with this camera, as you can get a massive 96fps using the slo-mo mode in-camera. The camera will go up to 60fps at 1080p natively, but you can get all sorts of other frame rates with the variable frame rate mode (click for larger):

Panasonic GH4 4K Frame Rate List Panasonic GH4 4K Variable Frame Rate List

Head on over to the pages below to learn more.

Links:

dslrpanasonic4Kmicro43mirrorlesspanasonicgh3panasonicgh4
Cinematography & Cameras