For all the 4K fever in TV land, there haven't been many options for normal people who want to capture ultra-HD video. Panasonic's new mirrorless Lumix DMC-GH4 has the aesthetics and ergonomics of an interchangeable-lens still camera, but it's also the largest-sensored 4K video-capture device yet (for consumers, at least).
The GH4 is built around a brand-new 16-megapixel sensor that Panasonic says produces very little visual noise and eliminates the 'rolling shutter' effect you get with other CMOS-sensored cameras when panning from side to side or capturing fast-moving objects. The sensor is the same size as the one found in previous iterations of the video-savvy Lumix GH series - smaller than APS-C, but bigger than the 1-inch-type sensor in Sony's Handycam AX100 4K camcorder.
In addition to the 3840 x 2160 resolution supported by most first-generation 4K/Ultra HD TVs, the GH4 is able to record at an even higher resolution of 4096 x 2160 with a 17:9 aspect ratio. Those are the specs supported by the 4K digital movie projectors at your local cinema and professional 4K monitors. In 'Cinema 4K' mode, which records as MOV or MP4 files, the GH4 tops out at a frame rate of 24fps with a robust 100Mbps bit rate. At 3840 x 2160 resolution, it can record at both 30fps and 24fps, both at 100Mbps and saved as MOV or MP4 files.
Even if you're not interested in 4K, this still looks like a standout video-capture device. In 1080p mode when capturing MOV/MP4 files, the GH4 captures data at an astonishing 200Mbps bit rate - about seven times more data than what's supported by AVCHD 2.0/AVCHD Progressive format. And in 1080p mode, you can ramp up the frame rate to 96fps, which should come in handy for those super-slow-motion action and sports videos. To handle all that data crunching, the GH4 is built around a brand-new quad-core image processor.
But to get good use out of all that high-speed data shuttling, you're going to need a brand-new card or two. According to Panasonic, you must use an SDHC/SDXC card with the Ultra High-Speed (UHS) Speed Class 3 rating when recording 4K or 1080p at a bit rate of 100Mbps or greater. Those storage cards aren't readily available yet, and they're likely to cost a pretty penny.
Like previous cameras in the Lumix GH lineup, the GH4 will offer full manual controls for video (as well as aperture-priority, shutter-priority, and programmable auto modes) and an accessory shoe on top for compatible microphones and lights. It has a 3.5mm microphone port built in, and there will be an XLR adaptor sold separately to support professional-level microphones.
Even if you're dead-set on buying it, you'll still have to wait. The GH4′s availability date hasn't been announced yet, and it's still a mystery as to how much you'll need to 4K over for it.
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