When Panasonic launched the original G9 in 2017, it was a powerhouse for still photographers—a Micro Four Thirds beast with speed, resolution, and ergonomics that punched above its weight. Six years later, the G9 Mark II arrives not as an incremental update, but as a radical reinvention. This isn’t just a refresh—it’s a camera that bridges the gap between Panasonic’s photo-centric and video-driven lineages, adopting the S5 II’s phase-detection autofocus while retaining the compact charm of MFT.

The Lumix G9 II is the first camera in the Micro Four Thirds Lumix G Series to feature PDAF technology. In line with the growing need to produce highly creative artwork and photography using diverse methods, this new model creates high-resolution, high-quality images and rich colors straight out of camera. Furthermore, with a new auto-focus technology that combines Panasonic’s accumulated expertise in recognition technology with PDAF, this new model boasts significantly improved power and high-speed performance. The camera supports photographers from various fields using a system that can be combined with the compact and lightweight LUMIX G Micro Four Thirds lenses for ultimate flexibility.

Panasonic G9 II

Weight: 658g

Resolution: 25MP

Cards: Dual SD slots

IBIS: 8 stops

Price: €1400 - €1500

At the core of the G9 II lies a 25.2MP Live MOS sensor with an improved photodiode structure, the MkII exhibits a 15% improvement in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at ISO 6400. The camera employs a dual-native ISO architecture (100-25600, expandable to 50-25600), leveraging two separate amplification circuits to minimize noise in low-light conditions. This design ensures that dynamic range remains above 12.5 EV at base ISO, competitive with some full-frame counterparts despite the smaller sensor size.

The magnesium alloy chassis is both lightweight (658g) and resilient, with extensive weather-sealing (IP52-rated). Not as good as the OM System OM-3 which is IP53 rated but still very good. The grip design incorporates polycarbonate reinforcements, optimizing weight distribution without compromising durability.

Happily for me it shares the same battery as the DC-S9, which is perfect. The S9 also has an SD slot so I'm happy there too. The less I have to carry around the better my back feels so sharing components is important to me.

Images with the Olympus 12-100 f4 lens

Images with the Panasonic 35-100 f2.8 lens