Lumix G9ll Hopes to Catch Olympus OM-1’s Accurate Autofocus
The Lumix G9ll Finally Announced
Finally! Panasonic is getting serious about a quality autofocus camera in the world of Micro Four Thirds cameras. They’re proving it by announcing the Lumix G9ll with much-improved autofocus. Or at least that’s what the initial hype suggests. I’ll reserve judgment for three significant reasons.
Reasons to be skeptical
The first is my five years of experience as a Lumix Ambassador and being disappointed every time a new camera was announced. The GH5 was the first to disappoint, and the G9 was the second. Add to that firmware updates that promised drastically improved AF that never came to fruition. Combine these issues and you can understand my lack of trust. I did a video comparing Lumix, Sony, and Olympus, and it ended up being the last straw for me. After that, I decided to move on from the Lumix brand and sever my Ambassador relationship.
My second concern stems from what I’ve read about the Lumix S5ll. This camera was the first Lumix to adopt Phase detection autofocus, the type of AF virtually all other manufacturers use some form of. The Lumix S5ll autofocus is better than the Lumix G9 and GH5 but far behind Sony and Canon’s autofocus capabilities. For years, Lumix tried desperately to stick with its Depth From Defocus (DFD) system and could never make it work effectively. They have now changed their mind with the release of the S5ll and the G9ll.
Finally, I wonder if the new G9ll will be any better at autofocusing than the last Lumix camera I tested and reviewed, the Lumix GH6. Lumix sent me the GH6 back in February 2022. I shared my thoughts on this camera in the blog post – Lumix GH6 Has Much Improved Autofocus. The GH6 was better than the G9 but still substantially behind what I’ve experienced with my Sony A9. For details on the AF capabilities of the Lumix GH6, look for The Speeding Pooch Test results in the blog post I’ve linked to above.
Sorry No New Camera to Test
Unfortunately, I’m unable to give my two cents on how the new G9ll camera’s autofocus stacks up to other brands since I no longer have any connections to Lumix. But I’m hoping it’s as good and even better than all the hype suggests since it helps prove Micro Four Thirds is still alive and well. Although I gave up on Lumix, I’m still a huge fan of Micro Four Thirds cameras and have been shooting the Olympus system, now known as OM Solutions, for over three years.
Mixing and Matching between two systems
One of the many benefits of the MFT category of cameras is the ability to mix and match cameras and lenses between Olympus and Lumix. This key feature was always one of the reasons I was so positive about the Micro Four Thirds category of cameras. Being able to jump from one brand to another without giving up all your lenses has always been one of the significant benefits. Can you imagine having this same option between Canon, Nikon, and Sony? Imagine one company leapfrogging all others with a new camera and you being able to buy that camera to use with all your current lenses. Without having to buy into a new and different brand. What a novel concept.
My Move To Olympus
Since Lumix and Olympus are both part of the Micro Four Thirds consortium, I could use all my Lumix/Leica lenses on the new Olympus bodies I was moving to. I first bought the Olympus EM-1X and eventually the OM-1. Both cameras accepted the Lumix lenses with a few minor hitches. I won’t get into all the details on those issues, but I started with all Lumix lenses on two Olympus bodies. I’ve since migrated to all Olympus lenses since most are more in line with what I need, like the 150-400mm. And all are better weather-sealed and equal to or sharper than the Lumix equivalent.
Final Thoughts
It’s been six years since the release of the Lumix G9. To say that is light years in the world of digital photography would be an understatement. But thankfully, the new G9ll suggests that Lumix is still in the game of Micro Four Thirds. That’s good news for all of us who have found these smaller cameras to be more than sufficient to produce truly professional results. I’m thrilled the G9ll is on its way.
LucasOn Dec. 17th, 2023
Hi Dan,
Mathieu just released a thorough review of the new G9-II (https://mirrorlesscomparison.com/om-system-vs-panasonic/g9-ii-vs-om-1/) and in his tests the new Lumix camera is close on the heels of the OM-1 with regard to Continuous AF. Maybe Panasonic will be able to tweak it even further, but this is already a huge step for Panasonic. In video it surpasses the OM-1.
I hope Panasonic will still provide you with a G9-II or maybe you will be able to borrow or rent one. The test by Mathieu is already very thorough, but I would love to hear your findings too. I prefer his and your honest reviews to all the marketing babble of the more commercial sites.
Daniel J. CoxOn Dec. 19th, 2023
Thanks for your trust Lucas. I’ll be deciding on testing the new G9ll in a couple weeks.
Abraham RossOn Dec. 13th, 2023
Daniel,
I love your work. Your technical blog posts helped me understand and maximize my time with the GH3 and GH5. Those were great cameras and I pushed them to the very limit of their capabilities. When I realized I was running up against the limits of my gear during of my wildlife shoots, I dipped my toe into full frame by buying a used D4s from Nikon. The weight sucked. The lack of video performance was frustrating (which is why I kept my GH5). The lenses were big and expensive. But the performance knocked my socks off. The autofocus, rate of fire and low light performance blew my mind and that camera was 6 years old when I got my hands on it. I bought my Z9 when it was released in advance of trip a to Africa, September 2022, got it in my hands a day before our flight and read the manual on the plane. I understood 80% of what that camera could do and made images I wouldn’t even fire the shutter button on with my GH5.
My point is that you compared the GH6 to the A9. No way is that a fair fight. One A9 or Z9 costs the same as three GH-6 cameras. Lumix has prioritized professional video production. The GH6 is the MFT standard bearer high end filmmaking even if the autofocus is subpar.
I kept my MFT gear. I hiked it up to the top of Mount Whitney here in California and made great memories with it. I will probably invest in a G9ii as my lightweight action/adventure cam. But I would never expect it to perform on par with the top end Sony, Nikon, or Canon sports/wildlife cameras. They are different tools. You pay to play at the extreme margins of performance. I’m sure your OM1 makes great images, but there was obviously a 5k hole in your bag that you filled with an A9.
I think that for a number of photographers MFT would work great. Olympus and Lumix make great products that make great memories. In the right hands you can make professional grade work. But too many people fall in the trap of comparing apples to oranges in the world of gear review. The OM1’s, GH6’s and G9ii’s are not mini A9’s. They never will be. They do represent cost friendly, lightweight alternatives to photographers who prioritize those attributes over the uncompromised pro-cameras. You’ve been excellent as presenting them as such. Keep that in mind when comparing systems. It helps manages expectations, contributes to the health of the industry and provides options for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Daniel J. CoxOn Dec. 14th, 2023
Thanks Araham, I appreciate your input but I actually take issue with you that the MFT gear can’t do very close and in some cases more that what the A9 or even the Nikon Z9 can do. And in fact the OM-1 has several features that even the Z9 doesn’t have. Such as Pro Capture in Full RAW-the Z9 does only jpegs. Another feature of the OM-1 is it’s 120FPS in RAW. Compare the to the Nikon Z9, a camera costing more than double the price that can only manage JPEGs at 30fps and above. Now lets talk about the OM-1’s ability to shoot Live Time, Live Bulb and Live Composite. Features Nikon, Sony or Canon have nothing even close to. You’re comment “But I would never expect it (OM-1) to perform on par with the top end Sony, Nikon, or Canon sports/wildlife cameras.” is also unfair. I actually have many, many images of Widlife I could have never obtained with the larger systems due to the speed and agility the OM-1 with the 150-400mm allows. A lens and camera combination none of the big three have in any form. Admittedly there are a few situation, low light being one of them, that MFT is less effective at than full frame. But with the todays software, specifically DXO PhotLab and Topaz Photo AI, low light issues are no longer a problem. I personally feel that many people who give up on MFT, due so from lack of knowledge on how to truly make MFT gear perform as good as the full frame cameras. So that’s my two cents. Thanks again for joining the conversation.
TRENT G ANDERSONOn Nov. 14th, 2023
Well Dan, because of you I dumped all my Nikon gear 10 years ago and started with an Olympus 4/3, but soon drifted to a GH4, to GH5, to a G9, and a slew of Lumix lenses. Now (because of you again) I’m thinking of buying the OM-1, primarily because of your enthusiasm for its focusing prowess, compared to Panasonic. You say “Both cameras accepted the Lumix lenses with a few minor hitches.”
I wonder what the ‘minor hitches’, other than weather sealing, they might be? As I’m committed to using my Lumix lenses, my query concerns focusing and stabilization. Would I negate any advantages to the OM-1 system by using my Lumix lenses?
And, as an aside about micro 4/3 cameras, I’m seeing many more of them being used by the professionals who cover politics, sports, paparazzi, etc.. Why not? My shoulders still have a lingering memory of lugging two Nikon’s, an associated gear. Ugh.
Daniel J. CoxOn Nov. 21st, 2023
Great to hear from your Trent. The mostly minor issues of combining Lumix lenses with Olympus bodies and vise-versa relates to the inability of Dual IS. That’s not a huge deal since the both Lumix and Olympus have extremely good in body IS. But it’s improved somewhat by having both lens and body IS woking in tandem with each other. The other issue is the fact that Lumix lenses zoom one direction and the Olympus lenses zoom the opposite direction. When you get used to zooming particular direction it can throw you off when switching from one brand to the other. Kind of minor but something I’ve definately noticed when using my Lumix lenses with the Olympus bodies. For that reason I’ve been slowly replacing the Lumix lenses with the Olympus equivalents or close to equivalents. Prime example is the Lumix 12-60mm, which I absolutely love, has been replaced by the Olympus 12-40mm. I still miss the extra reach of the Lumix but it’s been worth the trade off to get zooms matching across all lenses.
David HuffmanOn Oct. 23rd, 2023
Dan,
You have been hard on Panasonic. I think your criticism has been fair. I have a G9 and OM-1 there are features I like about each camera, but for sports and wildlife, I never touch my G9 anymore. I hope you will get a chance to test the new G9II with the firmware that is released with the first production run. Reading between the lines, I suspect there is a bit of tension at Panasonic when it comes to you. They would be wise to leverage that. It seems like the G9II is making some serious attempts to address some of your issues with Lumix cameras of the past. If you do get one, please test the OM 150-400 on the Lumix G9II body. That lens is a huge investment and if it works well with the G9II, that will be a good thing for Panasonic, OM and micro four thirds.
Daniel J. CoxOn Oct. 23rd, 2023
Great to hear from you Dave. I have no idea what’s up with Lumix. Interestingly they did contact me about three months before the G9ll was announced. The person I was contacted by wanted to know if I used the OM-1 which if they were paying attention it’s obvious I do. The email mentioned they wanted to send me a G9ll to test and asked if I would be interested. I emailed them back and said , “yes, of course. I would love to test it”. That was the last email in the exchange. They never responded and obviously never sent me a camera. Seems very strange. I have no idea why they would contact me and then not respond. Either way, I’ll be getting my hands on one in not too long. I already have plan B.
LucasOn Oct. 7th, 2023
Hi Daniel,
I came across this review on YouTube by Duade Paton who also does wildlife: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUXQvG7zUPo
He was still on a preliminary firmware, so I am curious to see whether Pana will further improve the AF for speed, but it looks as if the MFT system finally has caught up with Sony and Canon. Additionaly there’s a whole array of new functionality that makes the G9-ii a very interesting camera.
I hope Pana will still send you a G9-ii so that you can test it for yourself. Would love to hear your (as always) honest and insightful thoughts on that camera!
Best wishes,
Lucas
Daniel J. CoxOn Oct. 13th, 2023
Thanks for the kind words Lucas. I’d be interested in testing the new Lumix camera. Unfortunately, there’s been no interest on Panasonic’s part to allow me to do that. But I’ll be getting my hands on one at some point and will let you know how it goes.
Luis MesaOn Oct. 4th, 2023
Daniel, I have the 80mm 1.7, and the 45mm 2.8. Both excellent. I do have the kit zoom 35-70 4.5-5.6, which I bought used for $380.00, a complete bargain, because it is very good, and very light. Also for full disclosure I bought a Nikon to Fuji adaptor for my very old manual 35mm Nikon lenses, the 50mm 1.4, the 105mm 2.5, and the 24mm 2.8. They are manual focus, but very small, and produce very good images. The adaptor was about $50 plus shipping from China, and works very well. No electronic contacts, but none needed. Both the 50 and the 24 I use at 35 mm format which still gives 61 megapixels, and the 105 I use with the full sensor with no vignette, and 101 megapixels. I have had to retrain myself for using manual focus after so many years using autofocus.
As I noted before the camera is challenged for action photography. However I used the Fuji almost exclusively as I took many street photography images while walking in London in early July, and the hit rate was higher than 80%.
Daniel J. CoxOn Oct. 13th, 2023
Thanks for your input Luis
Luis MesaOn Oct. 3rd, 2023
I have been using M4/3 since 2012. Love the format, the cameras and the lenses. Both Oly and Lumix, but mostly with Lumix Leica glass. The G9 disappointed me for BIF, and dark scenes, but for the rest is a wonderful camera. The OM-1 is my travel camera today. I went to a workshop last weekend and Lumix was one of the sponsors. I manage to borrow the G9 ii, and had it for about 3 hours. The problem was that for such a short time, I could not spend time understanding the menu, which at first glance was very different. So I ended up not using it very much. It felt good in the hand, the shooting was as expected, and since it was mostly a portrait workshop, I could not test the autofocus system for real action photography, but it was good for face and eye recognition. Unfortunately the Lumix representative was new to the brand and could not help me with the menu.
For photography that allows time to plan like portrait, landscape, etc., I have moved to the Fuji medium format, the GFX 100s, with only 2 primes. I also print my photographs so the medium format is great for definition. However it is not for action photography.
Daniel J. CoxOn Oct. 4th, 2023
Luis, which primes for the GFX100s do you have?
JayOn Sep. 19th, 2023
This is great news for MFt in general with one camera trying to leapfrog the other in terms capabilities etc. I have long come to the conclusion, for my work, to use a few different systems for the best things they can do in a particular genre. I dont believe any system excels in all genres of photography. But again, with a little more work and the talent of the photographer, we can hope to push each system to its limit and get the shots we desire. I am astonished by Om-1 with 12-100 lens as a one camera- one lens hiking / travel solution and soon the om-1 with 150- 400 will be my one cam lens for wildlife photography. I wish lumix and om systems shared their technology a little more to make lens and cameras truly compatible with each other in all aspects ( not just the mount) . But i guess they have their market share, shareholders and bottom line to look at. IMHO They would have been an even greater and a formidable competitor for other companies had they done so.
Dan, its Always a pleasure to read about your opinion and that of others on this board.
Jay
Daniel J. CoxOn Sep. 21st, 2023
Jay, thanks for your input. I agree with you on the OLYMPUS/Lumix relationship not working out as well as it should have. It became obvious after a couple of years working with Lumix that they were getting territorial
I suppose you could make the argument that it paid off since they’re considerably more successful in the Micro Four Thirds world than OLYMPUS when it comes to number of cameras sold. But both OLYMPUS and Panasonic are dwarfed by the other manufacturers.
Bill SmithOn Sep. 19th, 2023
Hi Dan…I have followed you since you had the G9. I myself have used the G9 for what it was truly meant to be used for…sports and action photography. In 2018 I moved from the old trusty 7D and 100-400…never to look back at Canon. I have two G9 bodies for Quinte Skyhawks football and use the 200mm f2.8 and the 35-100mm on those bodies.
There are a few things that will move me to upgrade to the G9mkii…first of course is the new autofocus system. Second is the small increase to 25mp. Next would be the small improvements such as moving the thumb joystick closer to the edge of the body, changing the eye sensor to the top of the view finder and un coupling the modes dial to two distinct dials…left and right.
Cant wait to pre order in October.
Great blog as usual.
Bill
Daniel J. CoxOn Sep. 19th, 2023
Thanks for your input Bill
MarkOn Sep. 19th, 2023
I had a G9 for a few years and really enjoyed that camera…certainly I didn’t use it much for birds or action but for landscapes it was great. So I do hope the new camera is better in all regards for all those who love Panasonic. I have been shooting mostly Olympus for I think 10 years now and gradually, they kept adding a lens here or there, and tweaking the cameras, where the fit for me just got better and better. Then came the 150-400 and ultimately the OM-1 thanks to OM Systems. I really don’t care much about the market anymore…with this combo I have pretty much everything I ever wanted all along. And it’s nice to finally be in a place like that as equipment goes.
Daniel J. CoxOn Sep. 19th, 2023
Wow Mark, your comments were just about exactly what I would’ve written. Now that I have the 150-400mm along with the OM-1 there’s almost nothing more I need. I hope Panasonic gets a good response on this camera since it would be great for micro Fore third overall. That intern will help us with a OLYMPUS.
Jose KuhnOn Sep. 18th, 2023
The reason I used Micro Four Thirds to begin with was I need to research ADHD athletes in professional sports. The big issue is that the 6″ removable lens rule all major sports venues including golf, enforce made MFT the logical choice. The Panasonic 35-100mm F2.8 lens was the key. It allowed me to shoot videos, which most sports prohibit, without anyone knowing. I wanted to capture warmup and practice routines of ADHD pro athletes. I was never going to publicly share them (until recently where I share 2 clips of Bubba.)
I go in out without worry. Even the Panasonic 45-175mm with internal power zoom was perfect capturing shots and video from a long distance.
While I do have Olympus prime lens envy, everything else I am happy to stay in MFT and Panasonic especially with the G9 MKII.
Bubba Watson has always had tremendous feel where he maintains his experimental learning style in golf. Where he practices to be perfect is where he is inconsistent.
Daniel J. CoxOn Sep. 18th, 2023
Thanks for your input Jose. I always enjoy hearing how people use the microphone fridge equipment of different ways. It’s all about thinking outside the box.
Bill BurkholderOn Sep. 16th, 2023
Hi, Dan. I’ve spent the last few days watching every serious YouTuber who reviews cameras put the G9 II through its paces. It looks quite promising, enough so that I may ditch my GH4 and buy one in November.
The AF tests I’ve seen (birds, cars, motorcycles, airplanes…) are pretty compelling. They’re not perfect, but demonstrably better than the S5 II/IIX that the G9 II is based on. The reviewers all say it’s more than usable and light years ahead of any CDAF we’ve ever seen.
Of course, in a year or two, we will probably see a vastly matured Lumix PDAF system appear in other cameras. They have stressed that they’ve launched their last CDAF systems. Hybrid PDAF is their future.
Beyond PDAF, there are enough compelling features in this $1900 body that I have the itch. Even if the PDAF isn’t perfect at firmware 1.0, the 100MP stills feature is what I need it for. I’m digitizing old film for historical projects now, and while even 16MP is fine for old 35mm negs, 25.2 MP is better. But I need a LOT more for copying 120 formats and 4×5 film, and for copying flat art for posters.
Beyond stills, I record enough video that I need the advanced features in the G9 II. I had hoped for PDAF in the GH6, and still might get the inevitable upgrade to that when it comes.
The compelling attributes of Micro 4/3 — especially lightweight, high quality glass and a shared lens mount — will keep me in the system as long as I can keep using it.
Daniel J. CoxOn Sep. 19th, 2023
Great input Bill. Thanks for your the details on all the ways you use MFT and Lumix in particular. I’m hopeful the new G9ll is the real deal. I’ve decided to stick with Olympus for now. The OM-1 is so compelling with its better AF than previous Lumix cameras and most importantly the 150-400mm lens. The great news about both systems is we can mix and atch the lenses. I would be excited to test the 150-400m on the new Lumix camera but that’ not happening anytime soon it seems. I’m hopeful the Hi R3esooution feature on the G9ll works better than the Olympus version. It works on the OM-1 but it’s nowhere close to an actual 100 megapixel sensor. I’ve done tests with the OM-1 and the Hasselblad X2D. I need to post those results but there’s just no time anymore it seems.
PaulOn Sep. 16th, 2023
Thanks Dan,
I can’t wait when you’ll get your hands on G9II. It would be priceless review for everyone IMO.
Daniel J. CoxOn Sep. 16th, 2023
Thanks Paul. Interestingly, Lumix contacted me about three months ago and asked me if I’d be interested in seeing a new camera they had coming out. I told him that I would. But then emails went silent. No response whatsoever and I have no clue why. I’ve got other avenues to get my hands on one, so stay tuned.
Mircea BlanaruOn Sep. 13th, 2023
I am so happy the micro4/3 standard is still alive!!! I totally agree with your statements about this cameras!!! Yes, they can produce truly professional results… I feel sad you feel the autofocus can be slower then other companies cameras… For me, that I take pictures both with Panasonic and Olympus ones it doesn’t bother me at all as I am not too passionate to catch birds in full flight…So, even the new Panasonic camera looks very expensive for me, the smaller ones which have also a very high quality are quite affordable at least as S.H. items (in very good condition)… So long live micro4/3 standard and its users!!!!!