L) / 3264x2448(M) / 2336x1752(S) / 1824x1368 (with 3D lens in Micro Four Thirds system standard)/[3:2] 4608x3072(L) / 3264x2176(M) / 2336x1560(S) / 1824x1216 (with 3D lens in Micro Four Thirds system standard)/[16:9] 4608x2592(L) / 3840x2160(M) / 1920x1080(S) / 1824x1024 (with 3D lens in Micro Four Thirds system standard)/[1:1] 3456x3456(L) / 2448x2448(M) / 1744x1744(S) / 1712x1712 (with 3D lens in Micro Four Thirds system standard)

Since the movie modes also employ an electronic shutter, Panasonic has tried hard to reduce the rolling shutter effect by speeding up the data readout of the GH4’s sensor. I believe it’s better than the GH3, but you can still trip it up under the right – or wrong – conditions. Either way though, I’m pleased Panasonic offer it as an option for stills, as it’s a rarity on other cameras. There’s certainly plenty of situations where the subject is fairly still in a quiet environment, and under those conditions a silent camera is very welcome. The Fn1 button, which as with the other four Function buttons on the rear of the camera and the two soft Function buttons on the touchscreen, can be configured to activate one of 38 settings, allowing the camera to truly be customised to suit your way of working (there are "only" 10 options available for the Fn4 button). The row of white balance, ISO and exposure compensation buttons make it extremely easy to access the camera's key exposure controls, while the dual control dials makes it easy to use the fully Manual shooting mode. In the Multiple Exposure mode the Panasonic Lumix GH4 combines multiple frames to create a single image.

In addition, there's also now a Zebra view which indicates bright areas in the scene that are in danger of burning out. IEEE 802.11b/g/n, 2412 MHz - 2462 MHz (11 ch), Wi-Fi / WPA / WPA2, Infrastructure mode, WPS, Wi-Fi Direct Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Incandescent, Flash, White Set 1/2/3/4, Color Temperature Setting (2,500-10,000K in 100K steps) MOV/FHD/100Mbps/25.00p, MP4(LPCM)/FHD/100Mbps/25.00p:2fps, 12fps, 21fps, 23fps, 25fps, 27fps, 30fps, 37fps, 50fps, 62fps, 75fps, 96fps The first button performs a time-sync with the camera – essential to make sure the recorded co-ordinates match up with the pictures on the card. The middle button then starts the log recording GPS positions, with the default setting being every five seconds.

The Panasonic Lumix GH4's Intelligent Resolution mode makes a standard image look like a higher resolution one by processing the contour areas, texture areas and smooth areas individually. There are three available strengths - low, standard and high - and an Extended option which increase the zoom range. Despite all the clever behind-the-scenes processing, it's fairly easy to tell which image was taken with Intelligent Resolution turned on and which one with it turned off due to unwanted artifacts appearing, particularly if viewing onscreen at 100% magnification. While the difference isn't quite so apparent on a print up to A3 in size, we're not convinced enough to recommend regularly using it. Here are two 100% crops which have been Saved as Web - Quality 50 in Photoshop. The right-hand image has had some sharpening applied in Photoshop. The out-of-the camera images are soft at the default sharpening setting, and benefit from further sharpening in a program like Adobe Photoshop. You can also change the in-camera sharpening level by tweaking the Film Mode, with five different settings available. Once again the UHD and down-sampled UHD crops show a slightly smaller area since they don’t use the full width of the frame, but again even with this taken into account, I think the down-sampled UHD footage simply looks better than the native 1080p footage. There’s more detail and while there’s also more visible noise, it’s something you could smooth out in post quite easily. The native UHD footage inevitably looks noisiest of all in this comparison, but again this is not surprising since the sensor is relatively small and the 4k modes are not benefitting from any pixel-combining – they’re effectively shooting 1:1 with the sensor, and as we know from stills, Micro Four Thirds is not the greatest format at high sensitivities. Auto / Intelligent ISO / 100 (Extended) / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 / 12800 / 25600 (Changeable to 1/3 EV step)/(Up to ISO6400 in motion picture recording) (ISO Auto in M mode)Along the front, you have the same minimal buttons aside from the lens mount release button and flash sync terminal. Like the GH3 before it, the hand grip and left-most front surface are coated in a nice, rubberized grip for a secure hold. Still image: Bulb (Max. 60 minutes), 1/8,000 - 60/Motion picture: 59.94Hz: 1/16,000 - 1/30, 50.00Hz: 1/16,000 - 1/25, 24.00Hz: 1/16,000 - 1/24 (24.00Hz: 1/16,000 - 1/24 (When using Synchro Scan) Level Gauge, Real-time Histogram, Guide Lines (3 patterns), Center Marker, Highlight display (Still image / motion picture), Zebra pattern (Still image / motion picture)

Single Area lets you position a single AF area absolutely anywhere on the frame, even right up to the edge, and also lets you choose from eight different sizes. Finally Pinpoint allows you to position a tiny AF point accompanied by a magnified view for confirmation. In either mode you can reposition the AF area using the cross keys, or by simply tapping anywhere on the screen. I mostly shoot with a single AF area and regularly reposition it between shots, so the ability to do so with a single tap is a huge benefit the Panasonic GH4 enjoys over non-touch models from the likes of Fujifilm and Sony; note Olympus also offers touch-screens, as does Canon on certain models. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 produced images of outstanding quality during the review period. It produces noise-free images at ISO 100 to 1600, with limited noise starting to appear at ISO 3200. ISO 6400 and 12800 exhibit quite visible noise and loss of fine detail, while the fastest setting of 25600 looks much better on paper than in reality.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4's Intelligent D-range feature adjusts the exposure setting to record more detail in the highlights and shadows, with three strengths available - low, standard and high. In terms of the system, Micro Four Thirds is the most established of the mirror-less system camera formats, bringing bodies and native lenses to the market at least one year before its first rival arrived. Being first to market along with having not one but two major manufacturers behind it are two major advantages Micro Four Thirds enjoys over the competition, and it really shows when you compare their respective native lens catalogues. Micro Four Thirds has over 40 lenses available from Panasonic and Olympus along with third parties including Sigma, Tamron, Samyang, Voigtlander and others. So while many rival mirror-less formats are struggling to offer even one lens in every category, Micro Four Thirds typically has two or more options available. Whether it’s Fisheye, ultra wide, fast aperture, macro, super-zoom or good old general-purpose, the Micro Four Thirds catalogue has it covered, and many of them are great quality too – find out more in my Micro Four Thirds lens guide. Panasonic Lumix GH4 viewfinder and screen In terms of manual focusing, the GH4 offers a variety of assistance to make things easier. In an important and long overdue upgrade over the earlier GH3, there is of course now focus peaking which highlights the edges of subjects that are in focus. There’s also a focus distance scale, but it’s more a guideline than the actual distance markings shown on models like the Fujifilm XT1.