Panasonic has officially announced the first-ever digital camera with built-in 4K video recording — but caveat emptor.

The Lumix DMC-GH4, previewed as the "GH next" at CES and aimed at the "pro-consumer," is a Micro Four-Thirds interchangable-lens mirrorless camera. It's also a successor to the company's popular GH3 model, which remains in Panasonic's line. Price and availability will be announced in March, but figure on April and in the $1,300-$1,500 range.
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The GH4 can capture video in 4K (3,840 x 2,160) or cinema widescreen (4,096 x 2,160) resolutions in either MOV or MPEG-4 format. It's also capable of recording up to 10-bit, 4:2:2 video when its connected to an external video recording device — not yet available — or 8-bit 4:2:0 video to a ultra high-speed (UHS) SD XC card.
So why caveat emptor?
In its speed to get a 4K recorder out, Panasonic may have short-sheeted the 4K professional market for which the GH4 is intended. The GH4 will record full 4K — but "only" in 30p. Full 4K is actually 60p.
The GH4 also lacks 60p 4K output-compatible HDMI 2.0 output and HEVC/H.265 encoding, which is about 40 percent more efficient than current AVC/H.264 compression.
Using HEVC compression, 4K recording creates a file just a bit larger than that of a 2K recording of the same length, instead of a file twice-to-three times as large using AVC/H.264 compression. Both HEVC and HDMI 2.0 is or will be included in all UHD 4K TVs released this year, which means the GH4 starts out a step behind the 4K displays on which the footage will be played.
But the GH4 isn't alone in its lack of HEVC and HDMI 2.0; neither of the two 4K camcorders, the pro JVC GY-HMQ10U and the just-announced compact Sony Handycam FDR-AX100 include HEVC or HDMI 2.0.
Lacking HEVC and HDMI 2.0, all of these recorders are clearly first-generation releases. You can be sure video recorders with HEVC encoding are coming, perhaps in two weeks with the pending Mobile World Congress unveiling of the LG G2 Pro phablet, which is rumored to be the first smartphone with 4K video recording
Still, its 4K video recording capability in a mirrorless camera makes the GH4 a landmark product.
For still imaging, the GH4 will capture JPEG and RAW images via a 16-megapixel "Digital Live" MOS sensor and the company's Venus Engine processor, with 200-25600 ISO, 40 RAW or 100 JPEGs at 12 frames per second in the default AFS (single) burst mode, a target of .07-second auto-focus via Panasonic's Depth from Defocus (DFD) technology. That's .02 of a second faster than the GH3, 49-area focusing, Wi-Fi and NFC. The sensor's sub-50ms high-speed readout for burst mode shooting is twice that of the GH3. (Many of these specs are still tentative.)
Outside, the GH4 is similar to the GH3: There's a 3-inch "free angle" OLED screen with touch autofocus, and a 2360-dot OLED "live" viewfinder. Its magnesium alloy body is splash and dustproof, and the camera boasts a 200,000-shutter life, which Panasonic claims is twice the industry average.
Overall, the GH4 relatively light and well-balanced, with a well-labeled but not-too-crowded control layout.
Panasonic will also sell a number of accessories for the GH4, including a stereo gun/zoom mic. To aid professional videographers, Panasonic also will be selling an interface dock, the DMW-YAGH (price/availability TBA), which includes HD-SDI outputs capable of 10-bit/4:2:2 video with time code, both mono and stereo XLR inputs with volume controls and 12V DC power input scattered around its exterior, along with tripod mounts on the bottom.
Connecting the GH4 to the dock, however, might be a challenge — my Panasonic demonstrator fumbled with the pair for a couple of minutes before success.
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