Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II

The Lumix DC-GH5 II is a mirrorless camera from 2021, built around a Micro Four Thirds sensor paired with the Venus Engine processor. It records 6K video as well as stills.

The body weighs 727 g and measures 139 x 98 x 87 mm, with lenses attaching through the Micro 4/3 mount.

In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake for handheld work, and the body is weather sealed for outdoor shooting. Combined with the video capability, that makes it suited to mixed photo and video use.

Stills come from a 20.33-megapixel CMOS sensor in the Micro Four Thirds format. The optics score of 68 rates as good, which places the camera around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics.

In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake, keeping handheld shots sharp at slower shutter speeds. It counters your own movement, not the subject's, so action still needs a fast shutter.

Burst shooting reaches 12 fps, a maximum rate rather than a sustained-speed promise. Even so, short bursts improve your odds of catching a peak moment in sports or events. Autofocus offers 225 points, though a high count alone does not guarantee speed or tracking performance.

Framing happens through a 3.68-million-dot electronic viewfinder. ISO runs from 100 to 25600, and the shutter reaches 1/16000 s, fast enough to freeze rapid movement.

The GH5 II records 6K video, and the section score of 74 rates as good. That resolution leaves room to crop and reframe footage in editing.

The maximum frame rate is 30 fps. That covers standard playback, but there is no higher frame rate for slow-motion capture. Resolution and frame rate are separate maximums, so check which recording modes you need before a shoot.

Files record in MOV or MP4, so the container can be matched to the task at hand.

A built-in timelapse function automates interval shooting, so you can capture gradual sequences without an external timer. This suits scenes like shifting clouds or a sunset, which unfold over minutes or hours.

The features score of 85 rates as very good. A 3-inch LCD with 1.84 million dots serves as a touchscreen with live view, so you can compose and change focus and settings by tapping, and it flips out for framing from low, high or awkward angles.

The body is weather sealed, which helps when shooting outdoors in dust or moisture.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built in, allowing the camera to connect wirelessly to other devices.

There is no built-in flash, so dim interiors call for an external flash, which the camera supports. GPS is also absent, so in-camera automatic location tagging is not available.

Two card slots accept SD, SDHC and SDXC media, with UHS-II support so faster cards are supported. The second slot means more storage fits the camera at once, reducing the need to offload cards mid-shoot.

The DMW-BLK22 battery is rated at 400 shots per charge. Treat that as a rated figure rather than a promise of real-world endurance, since actual results vary with settings and usage. Pack a spare for demanding days.

Charging over USB is also supported, which simplifies topping up the battery between shoots. The section score of 71 rates as good, and battery life is the main thing to plan around.