Aiming to impress stills photographers in the same way that the GH5 has wowed videographers, the new Panasonic G9 is a new flagship compact system camera aimed at enthusiast and professional users, making the bold promise to deliver "the highest picture quality in the history of Panasonic cameras".

After the release of the in early 2017, there followed a quiet period where nobody knew which direction Panasonic might take with its Lumix G series. In early November, the silence was broken with the exciting news that the manufacturer was about to launch its most advanced stills camera, which...

Superb design and handling; Excellent 4K & 6K photo modes; Well supported by Micro Four Thirds lenses; Offers high-resolution 40MP & 80MP modes

Positioning of AF toggle could be better; Lacks battery level indication as percentage; Burst shot mode descriptions aren't clear; No in-camera panoramic mode

The line between DSLR and mirrorless cameras continues to blur, with the Panasonic Lumix G9 gunning to be the first choice for pro photographers. In many respects, this is the camera to cease the disparity between the formats; it's almost like a "mirrorless DSLR".

Huge range of Micro Four Thirds lenses (incl; new 200mm f/2.8 Leica) ensure top image quality, Massive viewfinder and useful vari-angle LCD, 4K video and 6K stills modes, Super-fast burst modes, Accomplished continuous autofocus, Pinpoint AF mode

Viewfinder eyecup could fit tighter; Optional battery grip should offer two batteries; Smaller LCD screen than GH5; Smaller sensor than some rivals; No 'super raw' with post-focus adjustment (like Canon 5D IV

Overall, we consider the G9 the best camera Panasonic has made so far, particularly for enthusiast photographers who are mainly interested in shooting stills but also like to take high-resolution movies occasionally.

It seemed for a little while there, the two biggest players in the Micro Four Thirds world were splitting off into their own separate niches with Olympus going after the pro stills crowd by way of the EM-1 series and Panasonic, the pro video crowd with the GH series.

Just about any photographer craving a camera that can handle both high-speed still photography and 4K/HD-video duty; Anyone seeking complete control of their camera

Serious sports and action shooters; who would be better suited buying a camera with phase detect AF

I just received the Panasonic G9 that I've preorderd some time ago. It's hack of a camera! The first impression was, WOW this stays so good in the hand that I don't what to let it go. Leaving th jokes aside, I think it has the best ergonomy I've ever laid my hand on, period!

Panasonic commits to stills photography with its new high-speed, high-end mirrorless camera...

20/60fps continuous shooting; 4K UHD video; Fast and effective autofocus

Some viewfinder lag in burst mode; Smaller sensor than most rivals; Lacks DSLR battery life

Despite the GH5 being the company's most stills-orientated flagship camera so far, it's still seen by many as primarily a videographer's tool that just happens to also have a wealth of photography features on tap.

6.5-stop image stabilization; Up to 60fps burst shooting; Large viewfinder; Great grip and handling; Dual UHS-II card slots

ISO range could be broader; Reduced screen size compared to GH5; Battery level not shown as a percentage

One of the more interesting aspects about Panasonic's Lumix camera line-up is the way that each model - while often tilted towards different situations and contexts - inevitably informs the next.

Night mode; Shoulder-mounted information display; 6.5-stop stablization; 0.04-second autofocus; Weather-sealed design

Videographic capabilities not as robust as GH5

I wrote a recent review on the G 9 and remarked at what a wonderful camera it is. Please understand the 2 star rating was a mistake that I could not correct on my iPad. This is a 5 star camera for sure in my opinion. The uploaded images are jpegs straight out of the camera and not edited at all.