Panasonic Lumix G9 II (ES) vs Panasonic Lumix GH5 II (ES): read noise comparison

The Panasonic Lumix G9 II (ES) (Lumix DC-G9M2) was measured at 28 ISO settings from ISO 50 to ISO 25600. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (100) read noise is 9.71 DN, or 2.7 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 4000 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 12800 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 17,777 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 30.

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 II (ES) (Lumix DC-GH5M2) was measured at 25 ISO settings from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (200) read noise is 0.69 DN, or 3.8 electrons at the sensor. A second gain (dual gain) kicks in at ISO 12800, cutting input-referred read noise by about 1 stop. Read noise keeps falling across the measured range, so the camera isn't fully ISO-invariant there. Settings above ISO 12800 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 22,046 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 1110.