Panasonic LUMIX GH7 vs. LUMIX G9II – My Hands on Experience

Welcome back, folks. My name’s Shane. I recently posted my Panasonic LUMIX GH7 review online, and if you missed it, I’ll link it to this article below. Reviewing the GH7 got me thinking about my G9II and whether or not I would trade it up for the GH7. 

The GH7 makes the most sense for serious filmmakers; if you don’t have one, that’s the camera to buy. The active cooling and ProRes RAW recording is a no-brainer for serious productions or client work. For people shooting vlogs, YouTube content, or photography- the G9II might be the best option, and I’ll explain why.

The LUMIX G9II is Now Underrated!

Now that the GH7 is out, the G9II is arguably Panasonic’s most underrated current camera. It has 95% of what the GH7 has with all of the benefits of a smaller, lighter, and cheaper camera body – so don’t feel too bummed if you have buyer’s remorse – the G9II is great and also offers in my experience some benefits over the GH7 which we’ll talk about.

I should preface this by saying I own several LUMIX cameras, including the S5II, X, GH6, and the new S9. This video will come from hands-on experience with all of these cameras – it’s not just talking out my arse without using them.

Great Vibes around Micro Four Thirds

First, it feels great to have such a positive vibe online around Micro Four Thirds, and I’m glad many of the other review channels liked it as much as I did. Secondly, thanks so much for all the positive feedback on that video – I must have put 30 hours of work into it, and I appreciate the kind words and support. If you missed it, I’ll link it below, and you can watch it after this one. I’ve also put up several videos on the G9II since purchasing it in January of 2024. There’s more positive hype around the GH7 than I remember around the G9II release, which is great. Micro Four Thirds is so underrated, but it’s a great format, depending on your needs and budget.

Buyers Remorse for the Panasonic G9II?

From what I’ve seen in the comment section and talking to a few friends, there’s a bit of buyer’s remorse regarding folks who got the G9II. Honestly,  I initially felt a bit like that as well, but after using both cameras and thinking about it for a bit. You might still want to choose the G9II over the GH7 or vice versa, and if you don’t own either, I’ll give you a few things to think about that might make the difference to your decision. It’s really easy to get sucked into the hype, and you might end up spending more on features you’ll never use.

LUMIX G9II | B&H Photo  LUMIX GH7 | B&H Photo(Affiliate links)

Let’s start by talking about why I got the G9II. At the time, I had no idea the GH7 was coming, and I wanted a compact Micro Four Thirds camera with all the video features and autofocus we were all waiting for. I also wanted an OG-style Micro Four Thirds experience—the smaller form factor and design similar to a GH5, making it a great travel or handheld camera—and that’s why I got it.

After testing the review model, I found that the IBIS was mind-blowingly good, the color science was excellent, and it was a great hybrid camera. Sure, there’s no active cooling or ProRes RAW recording, but it records Apple ProRes, 5.8K open gate, and 5.7k up to 60p. This is Panasonic’s “Photo Hybrid Camera.” Haha

As I said in my initial review, the G9II was the GH6 we were all waiting for—it’s got all the stuff we wanted in a GH6, and the Phase Hybrid AF was better than the full-frame cameras until the recent firmware updates. I’ve used the G9II for plenty of projects, and the small form factor and robust recording modes make this a great choice for micro-four-thirds shooters.

Then, in walks the GH7, Micro Four Thirds’ new flagship video camera and arguably the best Panasonic has ever made. But is it for everyone? It’s also worth noting that it shares almost everything in common with the G9II, including the same sensor, same color science, same dynamic range, same low-light performance, and same phase detection autofocus in the body of the GH6.

There are some new AF modes on the GH7 over the G9II, but I am sure they will eventually come to the G9II in a firmware update. There’s more common ground with these cameras than what makes them different.  

Why You Should Buy the Panasonic GH7 over the G9II?

There are three main reasons for buying a GH7 over a G9II – The Active Cooling. This is a make-or-break situation for some folks shooting indefinitely or out in the field. ProRes RAW recording is the next main reason, and if you’re already set up for working with and storing terabytes of files, you’ll love it and, of course, the Airy Log3 profile.

Thirdly, some could argue that the CFEXpress Type B card slot also offers some advantages, but it will depend on what you plan on doing with the camera and if you like mismatched card slots.

The more I think about the three main reasons I would buy the GH7, the more I realize I might not need it. It’s a monster of a camera, no questions about it! Do I want one? Yes,  but is it worth the upgrade if you’re having issues with the G9II overheating and plan on shooting RAW?

Identical Image Quality

The video recording modes in the MOV and MP4 options are the same, and there are many of the same video modes in the ApplePro Res menu, which means the image quality is identical in the same modes. The color science, dynamic range, and rolling shutter were identical in my testing, and the result will be the same. Unless you need the RAW recording, the image quality on the G9II is the same as the GH7.

Overheating Issues?

The tradeoff with the G9II is that it was designed as a photo-hybrid camera. This is Panasonic’s way of saying it doesn’t have active cooling. Can the G9II overheat? Yes, but it takes quite a lot. There are a few scenarios where I have had it overheat, and others have. If you plan on recording more than 20 minutes of 4k120p, the camera can overheat.

I also got the G9II to overheat shooting in direct sunlight on a hot day, and I’ve heard that it can overheat when connected to an external monitor while recording internally. Black camera bodies can heat up a lot in the sun; they absorb the heat, so just be mindful of this no matter which camera you’re using.

G9II Heat Durability

I shot my initial G9II videos in Perth when it was 40 degrees Celsius, and it never overheated on me due to the cloud cover. However, it will depend on the shooting mode and weather conditions. I’ve never had it overheat in the studio or overheat when recording for long periods inside, even when connected to an external monitor.

This conversation alone might be enough for most people to get the GH7, but after five months or more with the G9II, it’s not something I think about unless it’s in the middle of summer, shooting outside on a hot day—then I would take my S5IIX with the Active Cooling.

I used the G9II not long ago for a guitar shop walkthrough video on my other YouTube channel. I shot with it for hours on a tripod and indoors, shooting clip after clip; it performed great. I shot all of this at 4k50p in 4:2:2 10-bit while using the S&Q Mode at 4K100p for coverage, and it had no problems with overheating.

One of the big benefits of the G9II is the S&Q mode on the camera. This allows you to keep phase detection autofocus up to 4K at 120p while the footage is slowed down in-camera. The GH7 has a Variable Frame Rate mode, which is supposed to look better on paper, but I don’t see it.

VRF/S&Q Modes Explained

VFR mode returns the camera to Manual Focus in the same modes in which the G9II has autofocus. The S&Q menu is also much easier to use than VFR mode on the GH7, so the win here goes to the G9II. There is a difference in the maximum frame rate, though – the GH7 can shoot in VFR to 300p in HD, whereas the G9II, it can shoot to 240p. Whether that makes a huge difference to you is up to you. For me, 4K 100 or 120p with autofocus on the G9II is awesome.

G9II Media Card Slots are Better (for me)

Another thing I like about the G9II is the matching media card slots. This allows you to travel with one media card type and easily back up on the fly, like with the GH5 or GH5s. I much prefer two matching card slots on a camera, but let me know what you prefer and why in the comment section.

Size and Weight

Size and weight are considerations for those who travel or like to pack light. Again, this is where the G9II wins, coming in at 668 grams instead of the 810 grams of the GH7. At the same time, this isn’t much on paper. The G9II is thinner and smaller, which frees up your bag’s room. For this reason, if I go back overseas to shoot my guitar shop series, I could see myself taking a pair of G9 Mark II cameras.

The size does positively affect handling for long periods, and while the Gh7 is very comfortable, you will notice the difference in the size and bulk of the camera over a full day for those working with tripods; it won’t make any difference, but for travel, the G9II is still my first choice.

Would I Buy a Panasonic LUMIX GH7?

Now, let’s talk about whether or not I’ll be buying a GH7. Being the camera desperado that I am, I will pick one up at some point, haha. I shoot a lot of multi-camera stuff, and while I’ve considered selling my GH6 a few times, I think a G9II/GH7 pair would be a great combination for dual camera setups when I don’t want to shoot full-frame. 

RAW Recording

I know already that I am not going to take advantage of the internal RAW recording in the GH7; I am looking at it as a camera I can leave on a tripod in the park on a hot day and have to stress less about it, and it has all the autofocus advantages of the G9II. If you’re a photographer or hybrid shooter – the G9II will get you most of the way there, and knowing Panasonic, they will no doubt update the Autofocus modes in the G9II to match the new vehicle trackings found in the GH7.

Two Very Similar Cameras

The message of this video is that these two cameras are very similar – they are so much closer than people realize, as they share essentially the same guts internally. While there are some admissions on cooling and codecs on the G9II, it’s still a beast of a hybrid camera.

I now see the G9II as a smaller, more compact GH7 that will get the job done for most vloggers, YouTubers, and travel scenarios. Let me know what you think if you have purchased a G9II. I have no plans to get rid of mine, but I know what I know now about the GH7 – these two cameras will work great together. Thanks for checking out my comparison.

LUMIX G9II | B&H Photo  LUMIX GH7 | B&H Photo(Affiliate links)