subscribe 0330 333 1113 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I 29 June 2019 45
CAMERA TEST Testbench
FEATURES 8/10
BUILD & HANDLING 8/10
METERING 8/10
AUTOFOCUS 7/10
AWB & COLOUR 8/10
DYNAMIC RANGE 7/10
IMAGE QUALITY 8/10
VIEWFINDER/LCD 8/10The crops shown below are taken from the area outlined above in red.
Luminance noise starts to creep into images around ISO 800, but detail
remains well preserved at this setting. A slight reduction in detail is obvious
at ISO 1600 and ISO 3200, with increased noise being observed in the latter
under close inspection. Those who regularly push up to ISO 3200 and
ISO 6400 will want to shoot in raw and apply noise reduction during
post-processing to reach the best results at these settings. Push beyond to
ISO 12,800 and ISO 25,600 and you get a noticeably noisy look to images, so
these should only be dialled in as a last resort or for emergency use only.Noise
RAW ISO 200 RAW ISO 800 RAW ISO 3200
RAW ISO 6400 RAW ISO 12,800 RAW ISO 25,600
Resolution
JPEG images captured at the lowest native sensitivity
setting of ISO 200 are capable of resolving up to
3,200l/ph, dropping slightly to 3,000l/ph by ISO 1600.
Studying our results from the G90’s, .RW2 files tells us
there’s an advantage to be had from shooting in raw as
opposed to JPEG. Our results tell us that 3,300l/ph is
resolved at ISO 200, while ISO 6400 produces a figure
of 2,800l/ph. The highest native setting of ISO 25,600
registered a figure of 2,200l/ph for JPEGs and
2,400l/ph for raw images.The G90’s 20.3MP Micro Four Thirds sensor puts in a respectable performance that matches
the results we recorded on the Panasonic Lumix G9. Noise is controlled very well at lower
sensitivities, with fractionally more detail being able to be squeezed out of the G90’s raw fi les
than its respective JPEGs. Those challenged by low-light scenarios can confi dently push to
ISO 1600 and ISO 3200 when required, but by ISO 6400 image degradation is much more
noticeable. Resolution fi gures show it’s capable of resolving 3,000l/ph right up to ISO 3200.
Lab results
Andrew Sydenham’s lab tests reveal just how the camera performs
Our cameras and lenses are tested using the industry-
standard Image Engineering IQ-Analyser software.
Visit http://www.image-engineering.de for more details.WE ADMIRED the Lumix G80 when we
reviewed it in 2016. Panasonic has made a
good camera even better with the G90 by
fi ltering down advanced features from the
excellent Lumix G9 and packaging them
inside a smaller and lighter body. The jump
in resolution from 16MP to 20MP is
the standout improvement for stills
photographers, while the V-Log L Photo
Style, headphone socket, slow motion
settings and unlimited record time will be
appreciated by movie makers who’d like a
good video spec for considerably less than
they’d spend on the Panasonic Lumix GH5.
Despite not having the same retro appeal
as Fujifi lm or Olympus models, the G90’s
SLR-like styling and revised button layout
makes it one of the best mirrorless cameras
at its price point from a handling perspective.
It lacks a joystick and the same solid feel you
get from the Fujifi lm X-T30, but the sizeable
grip does make it nicer to hold with telephoto
lenses. The default set-up is simple enough
to reconfi gure using the numerous function
buttons and the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity
works brilliantly with Panasonic’s Image App,
which has no lag in remote control mode.
The hasty focusing in favourable lighting
conditions and effective image stabilisation
are other areas where the G90 impresses.
Image quality is as good as you get on the
Lumix G9, although at £899 for the body
alone, it does feel overpriced at launch
(especially with the G9 costing £849 with
cashback at the time of writing). Those who’d
like a more muscular body, informative
top-plate display, 6K photo modes,
high-resolution mode, dual card slots for
backup, a larger battery and joystick will fi nd
the G9 offers better value for money for less.
To sum up, the G90 is very likeable. When
the current cashback deals for the G9 end
and the G90’s price drops a bit, I can see it
being a popular choice with those who’d like
to own a lightweight and feature-packed
Micro Four Thirds camera for everyday use.Verdict
Here we show details from our
resolution chart test pattern
(above). Multiply the number
beneath the lines by 200 to give
the resolution in lines per
picture height.
RAW
ISO 25,600RAW
ISO 6400RAW
ISO 1600RAW
ISO 100RecommendedThe crops shown below are taken
from the area outlined above in red