Panasonic Firmware Update for GH5 and GH5S and Panasonic-Leica 10-25mm F1.7 MFT Lens

by Jakub HanSeptember 29^th, 2018

Panasonic have not only announced their new full frame mirrorless cameras – the LUMIX S line – they also announced interesting news for the micro four thirds community: Firstly, there will be a new Panasonic firmware update for the GH5 and GH5S, which will improve the continuous autofocus function (AFC). Secondly, the company has announced the development of a new fast wide zoom lens – the Panasonic Leica 10-25mm f/1.7.

Panasonic Firmware Update for the GH5 (v.2.4) and GH5S (v.1.2)

Both announced firmware updates are about to be released in late October 2018. We will post the link to the update as it becomes available.

• The most significant part of the update, which applies to both the GH5 and GH5S, is the improvement of autofocus (AF) performance. With the previous firmware, there were cases where the focus point was shifted to the background while tracking the subject in AFC mode. The new firmware minimizes this problem. Tracking performance in continuous AF has been improved by optimizing the tracking algorithm. Now, the subject will be tracked even when actively moving, for example in sports scenes, where the focus previously shifted to the background.
• The second important improvement for both, the GH5 and GH5S fixes a bug in video recording operation. The one push AE (exposure setting) failed to operate when the shutter speed/gain was set to angle/ISO while shooting in Creative Video M mode. This bug has been fixed and one push AE works now.

Improvements for the GH5S only:

• Operating stability during variable frame rate (VFR) recording via HDMI output has been improved.
• Improvements of video recording performance – the image quality when using V-log for VFR recording in creative video mode has been improved. Also, the image quality when set to i.Dynamic (intelligent dynamic range control) has been improved.
• Improvement of operation under specific lighting conditions (fluorescent lights, etc.) – there were cases where the camera did not catch up with the change in brightness smoothly under specific lighting conditions such as fluorescent lights. This problem is now minimized with the new firmware.

Panasonic Leica 10-25mm f/1.7 MFT Lens

In the shade of the announcement of the LUMIX S series full frame mirrorless cameras, these news might seem a little forgotten. Panasonic, however, did not forget their large micro four thirds customer base. They announced the development of a new lens in cooperation with Leica – the fastest zoom lens in the Panasonic portfolio – the Panasonic Leica 10-25mm f/1.7 (full frame equivalent of 20-50mm).

This lens should feature superb image quality, which we know from existing Panasonic Leica lenses (like the Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 or the 25mm f/1.4 MFT lens). In the words of Panasonic: It should replace five fast prime lenses. That is how much they believe in the image quality of the lens.

Now, the news from Panasonic were just a development announcement. As you can see in our video interview, Panasonic only displayed a 3D-printed mockup lens here at Photokina. We have been informed that we should not expect the lens to come in the early 2019. Panasonic might have more info about the lens during next Photokina, which will be in May 2019.

What do you think of the new firmware updates or the new fast zoom lens from Panasonic? Did you experience any of the bugs, which the new firmware fixes? Are you planning to invest in the lens? Let us know in the comments below.