The Panasonic Lumix GH series has been a game changer for run-and-gun video shooters. The GH4 was enormously popular because it offered 4K video in a small and affordable package, which is better than what most DSLRs came close to offering. DSLR shooters might recall how big a deal the Canon 5dMKII became for budget documentary and video-makers, with its 1080HD video capabilities and strong battery performance. The GH4 became the 4K option for that same market.

Now the flagship in the Lumix line is in its latest iteration. The latest GH5 perfects rather than revolutionises the series. That's a good thing for GH4 shooters, because it will be a camera you can pretty much pick up and start using straight away.

With its mirrorless design, the GH5 has fantastic ergonomics, although those used to larger DSLRs might find the camera a little diminutive in the hand. The layout is quite physical, with plenty of knobs and buttons like its predecessor. That's also a good thing if, like me, you prefer buttons to endless sub-menus. The weather-sealed body feels well made and up to professional abuse in the field.

The camera has in-body stabilisation, an increasingly common feature among mirrorless models that in practice makes getting sharp files in hand-held operation that much easier. 4K video is now in an uncropped format, perhaps one of the most significant improvements over the GH4, which cropped it.

Battery life was impressive – a key issue if you are using this camera primarily for video work. It seemed no different to the GH4 in daily operation, although there are reports that there has been a slight decrease in performance compared with the older model. The GH5 uses the same batteries, so the downturn decrease could be due to the use of the camera's cropped 6K video format, a new feature. I can see this machine being the go-to option for wedding videographers or documentary-makers needing to travel light.

The GH5 is a little underwhelming as a stills camera, although it's unfair to criticise it too much in this field because it was designed with video first in mind. The autofocus, though adequate, does not perform as well in low light situations as I would have liked. It is an improvement, however, over the GH4. If you are in the market for this camera, chances are you want a good video unit that can shoot stills, rather than the other way around. If not, try the Sony Alpha series or one of the leading full-frame DSLRs on the market.

Back to the camera's video capabilities: an affordable camera that can internally record 4:2:2 colour and 10-bit video is great news. There has also been an announcement to further improve those capabilities with firmware updates introducing a 400Mbps All-Intra codec and 4:2:2 10-bit support for 1080p.

If you already own or are familiar with the GH series and you are looking to upgrade, this is the camera you have been waiting for. An improved array of features and intuitive design mean the GH5 is a great option for video shooters.

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 carries a recommended retail price of $2999.