Panasonic Lumix G9II Review: Phase-Detect Autofocus Makes Micro Four Thirds a Wildlife System Again

Micro Four Thirds has one big advantage for wildlife and bird photographers: reach. The 2x crop factor turns a 100-400mm lens into the field of view of an 800mm full-frame lens, in a kit you can carry all day. The Panasonic Lumix G9II, announced in September 2023 at $1,899, finally pairs that reach with autofocus that can keep up.

It’s the first Lumix Micro Four Thirds camera with phase-detection autofocus, 779 points of it, the same system that transformed the full-frame S5II. That one change makes it a different camera from the original G9.

The sensor is a 25.2MP Four Thirds chip with dual output gain, shared in spirit with the video-focused GH7.

Video review: Gordon Laing

Built for fast subjects

60 fps electronic with continuous autofocus, 75 fps with focus locked, and 10 fps with the mechanical shutter. Pre-burst saves about 1.5 seconds of frames before you press the button, which is how you catch a kingfisher’s dive.

Subject detection covers people, animals, cars and motorcycles. Stabilization is rated at 8 stops for the body alone, among the best ratings of any camera here. Handheld shots at long focal lengths and slow shutter speeds are very achievable.

There’s a 100MP handheld high-resolution mode for landscapes and Live Composite for star trails and light painting.

Video is strong too

It doesn’t have a fan like the GH7, but it shares a lot of video power. 5.7K at 60p from the full sensor width, 5.8K open gate at 30p, 4K at 120p with a crop. 10-bit 4:2:2, V-Log, and ProRes 422 HQ recorded directly to an external SSD over USB-C. Raw output over HDMI to Atomos and Blackmagic recorders.

The body is borrowed from the S5II: deep grip, fully articulating screen, dual SD UHS-II slots, full-size HDMI and fast USB-C.

The tradeoffs

Low light. A Four Thirds sensor is a quarter the size of full frame, and noise rises faster above about ISO 3200. For dim forests at dawn, full-frame bodies have the edge.

Shallow depth of field is harder to get, though wildlife shooters often prefer more depth anyway.

The body is about 658 grams, larger than older Micro Four Thirds cameras, so some of the system’s size advantage moves to the lenses rather than the body.

Who should buy it

Wildlife and bird photographers who want long reach in a light kit. Hikers and travelers who want a fast, rugged camera. Existing Micro Four Thirds shooters with Panasonic or OM System lenses who want modern autofocus.

The OM System OM-1 Mark II is its closest rival, smaller and more rugged. Full-frame alternatives like the Nikon Z6III give better low light but need far bigger lenses for the same reach. For lightweight long-lens shooting, the G9II is one of the best values going.