Panasonic LUMIX G9 → Panasonic LUMIX G9 II
Is the upgrade worth it? Every change on the spec sheet, and an honest read on who should bother.
The bottom line
The Panasonic LUMIX G9 II is the direct successor to your Panasonic LUMIX G9, released 6 years later. Across the full spec sheet it improves 8 items and steps back on 4. The changes that matter most: burst jumps from 20fps to 75fps; resolution rises from 20.3MP to 25.2MP; 4K goes from 60p to 120p. The Panasonic LUMIX G9 II lists at $1,899 (the Panasonic LUMIX G9 launched at $1,699, and older bodies typically sell for well under launch price on the used market). If several of the gains below map to how you shoot, this is a substantial step up; if none do, your current body keeps doing everything it does today.
Upgrade to the Panasonic LUMIX G9 II if…
- ✓You shoot action, sports or wildlife — 75fps burst plus dedicated subject-tracking AF keeps up with fast, erratic movement where 20fps would drop frames.
- ✓You shoot video seriously — it brings smoother 120p 4K vs 60p.
- ✓You shoot in low light or indoors — AF that focuses down to -7 EV gives it the edge after dark.
Stick with the Panasonic LUMIX G9 if…
- •None of the headline changes map to what you actually shoot — the camera you own doesn't get worse when a successor launches.
What changed (23 items)
↑ 8 improved · ↓ 4 stepped back · → changed without a clear better/worse
| Spec | Panasonic LUMIX G9 | Panasonic LUMIX G9 II |
|---|---|---|
| Imaging | ||
| →Sensor Type | Digital Live MOS | BSI CMOS |
| ↑Effective Resolution | 20.3 MP | 25.2 MP |
| Exposure Control | ||
| →ISO Range (Native) | 200 – 25600 | 100 – 25600 |
| →ISO Range (Extended) | 100 – 25600 | 50 – 51200 |
| Still Image Capture | ||
| ↑Continuous Shooting | 20 fps | 75 fps |
| Video Capture | ||
| →Max Resolution | 4K | 5.7K |
| ↑4K Recording | Up to 60p | Up to 120p |
| ↑1080p Recording | Up to 180p | Up to 240p |
| →Log Profiles | V-Log L / HLG | V-Log / HLG |
| →HDMI Output | Micro (Type D) | Full-size (Type A) |
| Focus | ||
| ↑Phase Detect Points | 225 | 779 |
| ↑Low Light AF | -4 EV | -7 EV |
| ↑Vehicle AF | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | ||
| ↓EVF Magnification | 0.83x | 0.8x |
| Monitor | ||
| ↑LCD Resolution | 1.04M dots | 1.84M dots |
| Interface | ||
| →Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| →Bluetooth | v4.2 | v5.2 |
| →USB | USB-C 3.1 | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 |
| General | ||
| ↓Price (MSRP) | $1,699 | $1,899 |
| →Dimensions | 136.9×97.3×91.6 mm | 134.3×102.3×90.1 mm |
| ↓Battery Life (EVF) | 400 shots | 370 shots |
| ↓Battery Life (LCD) | 440 shots | 400 shots |
| →Battery Type | DMW-BLF19 | DMW-BLK22 |
What stayed the same (25 items)
Everything below is identical on both bodies — if these are what you buy a camera for, the Panasonic LUMIX G9 already has them.
Ready to buy?
Panasonic LUMIX G9 (keep or buy used)
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Panasonic LUMIX G9 II
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Frequently asked
Is it worth upgrading from the Panasonic LUMIX G9 to the Panasonic LUMIX G9 II?
The Panasonic LUMIX G9 II is the direct successor to your Panasonic LUMIX G9, released 6 years later. Across the full spec sheet it improves 8 items and steps back on 4. The changes that matter most: burst jumps from 20fps to 75fps; resolution rises from 20.3MP to 25.2MP; 4K goes from 60p to 120p. The Panasonic LUMIX G9 II lists at $1,899 (the Panasonic LUMIX G9 launched at $1,699, and older bodies typically sell for well under launch price on the used market). If several of the gains below map to how you shoot, this is a substantial step up; if none do, your current body keeps doing everything it does today.
What are the biggest improvements of the Panasonic LUMIX G9 II over the Panasonic LUMIX G9?
Across the spec sheet the Panasonic LUMIX G9 II improves 8 items. The most significant: 75fps burst plus dedicated subject-tracking AF keeps up with fast, erratic movement where 20fps would drop frames. it brings smoother 120p 4K vs 60p. AF that focuses down to -7 EV gives it the edge after dark.
What does the Panasonic LUMIX G9 still do just as well as the Panasonic LUMIX G9 II?
25 spec items are identical between the two, including sensor size (Micro Four Thirds), image processor (Venus Engine), lens mount (Micro Four Thirds), mechanical shutter (1/8000), electronic shutter (1/32000), flash sync speed (1/250). If those cover your needs, the older body remains fully capable.
Does the Panasonic LUMIX G9 II give anything up compared to the Panasonic LUMIX G9?
Yes — 4 items on the spec sheet move the other way: evf magnification (0.83x → 0.8x), price (msrp) ($1,699 → $1,899), battery life (evf) (400 shots → 370 shots), battery life (lcd) (440 shots → 400 shots).
Full side-by-side spec table →Panasonic LUMIX G9 II full specs →