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IntroPanasonic's 25.2-megapixel Lumix G9 II arrived with a lot of fanfare, as it's the company's very first Micro Four Thirds camera with hybrid phase-detect autofocus. And from the first day of launch, Panasonic promoted it as the ultimate small-sensor wildlife and action camera, thanks to the hyper-fast 60 fps shooting speeds and relatively high resolution.However, I (and others) noticed that it held a lot of promise for content creators, too. The superior hybrid AF is also better for video than past models and it offers up to 5.8K 60p video, 4K at 120p, incredible stabilization and even SSD ProRes capture. On paper, it's superior to the company's vlogging-dedicated GH6, though it lacks the latter's fan and a few other minor features.That gives the G9 II a bit of an identity crisis. Is it the ultimate content creator camera, an action shooter's dream or the ultimate hybrid camera? To find out, I've got a retail camera with the final production firmware and RAW photo support.BodyPhysically, the G9 II is more like the full-frame S5 II than the six-year-old G9. Gone is the softer, rounded G9 design, in its place a more angular, hard-edged body. It's relatively large for a Micro Four Thirds camera, weighing 658 grams (OM system's OM-1 weighs 599 grams), though it has exactly the same heft as the original G9.The design is more businesslike than pretty, but I like the practicality of it. The ridged grip is secure, and it has every control you need, including a joystick, front, back and rear control dials, a setting dial, shooting dial and numerous buttons. A few things have changed from the G9, as the dual dial on the left is now just a single shooting dial, the on/off switch is in a better location and it has a front shooting dial. This is now a template for Panasonic cameras, so if you're used to models like the GH5, you'll adapt quickly.The menus are easy to use as well, but I wish it had a dedicated photo/video switch with separate controls. For instance, if you set V-log on video, that setting carries over to photos too - and you definitely don't want that. To keep photos and video apart, you'll need to employ one of the custom C" dial settings.The 1,840K dot LCD display fully articulates for vloggers and self-shooters, of course, and most controls are available by the touchscreen. It comes with a decent 3,680K dot OLED viewfinder that's on par with other cameras in this price range, like Fujifilm's X-T5. I'd prefer a little more EVF resolution on a flagship camera, particularly for bird shooting, but it's not bad.The G9 II uses the same battery as the S5 II, allowing for a middling 390 shots on a charge. Video endurance is better than the GH6, though, lasting nearly 100 minutes at 4K 60p.A feature I didn't expect is SSD recording. That lets you record high-bandwidth ProRes files to an external drive via the USB-C port. It does require some rigging, but is an amazing time saver, as you can edit the files directly with no transcoding needed. It also has a pair of SD UHS-II card slots, but no support for CFexpress like the GH6.There's a nice full-sized HDMI port, but the G9 II doesn't yet support RAW video recording. You also get microphone and headphone jacks, along with a USB-C port that supports 10Gbps transfer speeds and fast PD charging.PerformanceSteve Dent for EngadgetWith a new sensor and processor, the G9 II is a speed demon - but this is Panasonic's first crack at phase-detect autofocus. That does show at times, via issues like occasional lag and an AI feature set lacking compared to rivals.It can shoot RAW plus JPEG bursts with the mechanical shutter at up to 10 fps, or 60 fps in the SH60 electronic shutter mode with continuous autofocus. If you don't need that kind of speed (and don't want to fill the buffer up too rapidly), it also offers 20 fps bursts in electronic mode. Panasonic also introduced a pre-burst mode, which continuously cycles bursts through 1.5 seconds before you fully press the shutter - helping you catch a shot even if you're a bit slow.It has a large buffer that allows for over three second bursts at 60 fps and non-stop shooting with the mechanical shutter. However, it takes longer than other cameras to clear the buffer - up to a minute in some cases - due in part to the slowish SD ports. This can be quite annoying, as the camera effectively stops working while the buffer clears.Steve Dent for EngadgetStill, that kind of speed is impressive - provided the autofocus can keep up. Luckily, the new phase-detect system on the G9 II is mostly up to the task. Shooting at 60fps with eye-detection enabled, the large majority of my shots were in focus with a subject running toward the camera.It wasn't quite as reliable for more distant subjects when using Panasonic's new 200-800mm equivalent telephoto, and didn't initially lock in as fast as I'd like. The eye detect autofocus, however, was generally reliable for both human and animal subjects. It lacks a specific setting for birds, but the system does seem to automatically switch between birds and deer, for instance, if you're shooting in the woods.It can also track motorcycles and cars, and though I didn't test it on the former, it does a good job tracking vehicles. There's no auto" setting either like you'll find on Canon's latest models, so you have to go in and switch focus modes manually if you're shooting a pet and its owner.Steve Dent for EngadgetIn other words, Panasonic is off to a good start but has a way to go to catch up to Sony's ultra-reliable and more intelligent AF. I expect that to improve over time, though.If you're concerned about rolling shutter in electronic mode, don't be. Readout speeds are fast for a non-stacked sensor, so skew and other issues aren't an issue except in extreme situations like airplane propellers.Panasonic has included the same in-body stabilization system as the GH6, so it can reduce shake by up to 8 stops, or 7.5 stops with ultra telephoto lenses. It's very effective for shooting handheld, letting you grab photos at a quarter second or less with no blur.Image qualityThe G9 II has the same 25.2-megapixel resolution dual gain sensor as the GH6 but image quality for photos is better, with less noise at lower ISO levels.With five extra megapixels over the original G9, it takes sharper shots and provides some extra detail over rivals like the OM-1 - letting you crop in a bit more. JPEG colors straight out of the camera look great and require little retouching.The dual-gain sensor also makes it good in low light for a Micro Four Thirds Camera. Very little noise is visible up to ISO 1600, and it's well managed beyond that up to about ISO 12,800, as long as you expose correctly. That said, it's always better to have more light with a small-sensor camera, as noise levels can quickly get out of control, particularly with underexposed shots.RAW files are relatively easy to edit and give you room to dial down highlights or bring up detail in shadows. Again, the small sensor puts it at a disadvantage to full-frame cameras in that regard, however, as more noise will appear at higher ISOs.The G9 II now has a dynamic range boost function applied automatically. It uses both the high- and low-gain circuits, and combines them into one photo, HDR style. That helps boost dynamic range in bright sunlight and other tricky situations.The handheld high-resolution mode, meanwhile, combines multiple images into a single 100-megapixel shot, with no tripod required. It works surprisingly well for shots like landscapes with limited movement, drastically boosting resolution. I did notice that the high-resolution JPEG files have an artificial look when you zoom in though, as if the camera is trying to add non-existent detail. For that reason, I'd suggest enabling RAW when using the feature.Finally, Panasonic took a page from Fujifilm with a new black and white color profile called Leica Monochrome. It was developed in partnership with Leica, obviously, and features brighter highlights and more contrast. It's easily the nicest photo look" setting I've seen on any Panasonic camera (it's great for black and white video, too).VideoSteve Dent for EngadgetPanasonic might not want to hear this, but if I was a content creator looking for a Micro Four Thirds camera, I'd purchase this model over the like-priced GH6.Yes, the GH6 has a few advantages. It can capture ProRes video directly to CFexpress cards, while you need to rig up an SSD to do the same on the G9 II. It also has a fan that allows unlimited video recording, so it is better for event videographers. Finally, you can output RAW video to an external recorder.Aside from that, the G9 holds its own. Both can capture 5.7K at up to 60fps, or 120p 4K, and the G9 II supports 10-bit V-Log recording and 4K internal capture with high data rates and easy-to-edit I-frame files, exactly like the GH6. And you can do high-bandwidth ProRes recording via the USB-C port - again, just like the GH6.The lack of a fan limits the G9 II's recording times, but not substantially. 4K and 5.7K recording times are effectively unlimited at 30 and 60 fps. Even 4K at 120fps can go over 20 minutes, and few users would ever need that.And the G9 II does things the GH6 can't. The phase-detect AF is clearly superior for video, eliminating wobble and focusing much quicker (though the same AF caveats for photography apply). It also has a lower 500 ISO floor for dynamic range-boosted V-log recording, compared to ISO 2,000 for the GH6. That makes it more practical to shoot in sunlight, where the benefits of log and dual-gain are greatest.Steve Dent for EngadgetAs with the GH6, stabilization is excellent for video, though Sony's ZV-E1 is a touch better. Boost Mode provides near-tripod levels of smoothness for static shots only. Turning on E-Stabilization eliminates the need for a gimbal in some cases (though the electronic IBS on Sony's ZV-E1 is a hair better). That mode also corrects warping at the edges with wide-angle lenses, a first for mirrorless cameras. As a content creator myself, the stabilization alone would make me reach for the G9 II instead of potentially more capable cameras like Canon's R6 II - because I know I can capture great footage without a tripod.4K video is oversampled and thus very sharp, though the cropped 4K 120p is a bit softer. Dynamic range is outstanding in V-log mode, so it's easy to adjust later, especially at the base ISO 500. Colors are natural, and low-light capability is solid for a small-sensor camera thanks to the dual gain system. So video quality-wise, I have no complaints.That said, there are a few handy content creator features found on Sony and Canon cameras missing here, like Sony's dedicated product showcase and focus breathing compensation.Wrap-upSteve Dent for EngadgetWith all that, the $1,900 G9 II is one of the most capable hybrid cameras I've seen. The handling, speed and improved autofocus make it a compelling option for wildlife photographers. But the excellent video capabilities and quality makes it a great choice for content creators as well.Panasonic's main competition on the photography side is the $2,000 OM-1. The G9 II has more resolution, but the OM-1 has a faster stacked sensor. For photos, either is a good choice, depending on what you need. However, the G9 II is far superior for video.On the content creation side, Sony's $2,200 ZV-E1 is a clear rival, and is a touch better for vloggers. Panasonic's own GH6, currently discounted to $1,700, is another option. However, neither of those models can touch the G9 II on the photography side. Perhaps the best fully hybrid alternative would be Fujifilm's X-H2, as it offers both speed and video chops, but it costs $600 more. All told, if you're someone who tends to do both photography and video, the G9 II is a great choice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/panasonic-g9-ii-review-its-best-micro-four-thirds-camera-to-date-120020562.html?src=rss

A lot has changed in the two years since Facebook released its Ray Ban-branded smart glasses. Facebook is now called Meta. And its smart glasses also have a new name: the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Two years ago, I was unsure exactly how I felt about the product. The Ray-Ban Stories were the most polished smart glasses I'd tried, but with mediocre camera quality, they felt like more of a novelty than something most people could use.After a week with the company's latest $299 sunglasses, they still feel a little bit like a novelty. But Meta has managed to improve the core features, while making them more useful with new abilities like livestreaming and hands-free photo messaging. And the addition of an AI assistant opens up some intriguing possibilities. There are still privacy concerns, but the improvements might make the tradeoff feel more worth it, especially for creators and those already comfortable with Meta's platform.What's changedJust like its predecessor, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses look and feel much more like a pair of Ray-Bans than a gadget and that's still a good thing. Meta has slimmed down both the frames and the charging case, which now looks like the classic tan leather Ray-Ban pouch. The glasses are still a bit bulkier than a typical pair of shades, but they don't feel heavy, even with extended use.This year's model has ditched the power switch of the original, which is nice. The glasses now automatically turn on when you pull them out of the case and put them on (though you sometimes have to launch the Meta View app to get them to connect to your phone).Image by Karissa Bell for EngadgetThe glasses themselves now charge wirelessly through the nosepiece, rather than near the hinges. According to Meta, the device can go about four hours on one charge, and the case holds an additional four charges. In a week of moderate use, I haven't had to top up the case, but I do wish there was a more precise indication of its battery level than the light at the front (the Meta View app will display the exact power level of your glasses, but not the case.)My other minor complaint is that the new charging setup makes it slightly more difficult to pull the glasses out of the case. It takes a little bit of force to yank the frames off the magnetic charging contacts and the vertical orientation of the case makes it easy to grab (and smudge) the lenses.The latest generation of smart glasses comes in both the signature Wayfarer style, which start at $299, as well as a new, rounder Headliner" design, which sells for $329. I opted for a pair of Headliners in the blue shiny jean" color, but there are tan and black variations as well. One thing to note about the new colors is that both the shiny jeans" and shiny caramel" options are slightly transparent, so you can see some of the circuitry and other tech embedded in the frames.The lighter colors also make the camera and LED indicator on the top corner of each lens stand out a bit more than on their black counterparts. (Meta has also updated its software to prevent the camera from being used when the LED is covered.) None of this bothered me, but if you want a more subtle look, the black frames are better at disguising the tech inside.New camera, better audioLook closely at the transparent frames, though, and you can see evidence of the many upgrades. There are now five mics embedded in each pair, two in each arm and one in the nosepiece. The additional mics also enable some new immersive" audio features for videos. If you record a clip with sound coming from multiple sources - like someone speaking in front of you and another person behind you - you can hear their voices coming from different directions when you play back the video through the frames. It's a neat trick, but doesn't feel especially useful.The directional audio is, however, a sign of how dramatically the sound quality has improved. The open-ear speakers are 50 percent louder and, unlike the previous generation, don't distort at higher volumes. Meta says the new design also has reduced the amount of sound leakage, but I found this really depends on the volume you're listening at and your surrounding noise conditions.There will always be some quality tradeoffs when it comes to open-ear speakers, but it's still one of my favorite features of the glasses. The design makes for a much more balanced level of ambient noise than any kind of transparency mode" I've experienced with earbuds or headphones. And it's especially useful for things like jogging or hiking when you want to maintain some awareness of what's around you.Camera quality was one of the most disappointing features on the first-generation Ray-Ban Stories so I was happy to see that Meta and Luxottica ditched the underpowered 5-megapixel cameras for a 12MP ultra-wide.The upgraded camera still isn't as sharp as most phones, but it's more than adequate for social media. Shots in broad daylight were clear and the colors were more balanced than snaps from the original Ray-Ban Stories, which tended to look over-processed. I was surprised that even photos I took indoors or at dusk - occasions when most people wouldn't wear sunglasses - also looked decent. One note of caution about the ultra-wide lens, however: if you have long hair or bangs, it's very easy for wisps of hair to end up in the edges of your frame if you're not careful.The camera also has a few new tricks of its own. In addition to 60-second videos, you can now livestream directly from the glasses to your Instagram or Facebook account. You can even use touch controls on the side of the glasses to hear a readout of likes and comments from your followers. As someone who has live streamed to my personal Instagram account exactly one time before this week, I couldn't imagine myself using this feature.But after trying it out, it was a lot cooler than I expected. Streaming a first-person view from your glasses is much easier than holding up your phone, and being able to seamlessly switch between the first-person view and the one from your phone's camera is something I could see being incredibly useful to creators. I still don't see many IG Lives in my future, but the smart glasses could enable some really creative use cases for content creators.The other new camera feature I really appreciated was the ability to snap a photo and share it directly with a contact via WhatsApp or Messenger (but not Instagram DMs) using only voice commands. While this means you can't review the photo before sending it, it's a much faster and convenient way to share photos on the go.Meta AITwo years ago, I really didn't see the point of having voice commands on the Ray-Ban Stories. Saying hey Facebook" felt too cringey to utter in public, and it just didn't seem like there was much point to the feature. However, the addition of Meta's AI assistant makes voice interactions a key feature rather than an afterthought.The Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses are one of the first hardware products to ship with Meta's new generative AI assistant built in. This means you can chat with the assistant about a range of topics. Answers to queries are broadcast through the internal speakers, and you can revisit your past questions and responses in the Meta View app.To be clear: I still feel really weird saying hey Meta," or OK Meta," and haven't yet done so in public. But there is now, at least, a reason you may want to. For now, the assistant is unable to provide real-time" information other than the current time or weather forecast. So it won't be able to help with some practical queries, like those about sports standings or traffic conditions. The assistant's knowledge cutoff" is December 2022, and it will remind you of that for most questions related to current events. However, there were a few questions I asked where it hallucinated and gave made-up (but nonetheless real-sounding) answers. Meta has said this kind of thing is an expected part of the development of large language models, but it's important to keep in mind when using Meta AI.Karissa BellMeta has suggested you should instead use it more for creative or general interest questions, like basic trivia or travel ideas. As with other generative AI tools, I found that the more creative and specific your questions, the better the answer. For example, Hey Meta, what's an interesting Instagram caption for a view of the Golden Gate Bridge," generated a pretty generic response that sounded more like an ad. But hey Meta, write a fun and interesting caption for a photo of the Golden gate Bridge that I can share on my cat's Instagram account," was slightly better.That said, I've been mostly underwhelmed by my interactions with Meta AI. The feature still feels like something of a novelty, though I appreciated the mostly neutral personality of Meta AI on the glasses compared to the company's corny celebrity-infused chatbots.And, skeptical as I am, Meta has given a few hints about intriguing future possibilities for the technology. Onstage at Connect, the company offered a preview of an upcoming feature that will allow wearers to ask questions based on what they're seeing through their glasses. For example, you could look at a monument and ask Meta to identify what you're looking at. This multi-modal" search capability is coming sometime next year, according to the company, and I'm looking forward to revisiting Meta AI once the update rolls out.PrivacyThe addition of generative AI also raises new privacy concerns. First, even if you already have a Facebook or Instagram account, you'll need a Meta account to use the glasses. While this also means they don't require you to use Facebook or Instagram, not everyone will be thrilled at the idea of creating another Meta-linked account.The Meta View app still has no ads and the company says it won't use the contents of your photos or video for advertising. The app will store transcripts of your voice commands by default, though you can opt to remove transcripts and associated voice recordings from the app's settings. If you do allow the app to store voice recordings, these can be surfaced to trained reviewers" to improve, troubleshoot and train Meta's products."Karissa BellI asked the company if it plans to use Meta AI queries to inform its advertising and a spokesperson said that at this time we do not use the generative AI models that power our conversational AIs, including those on smart glasses, to personalize ads." So you can rest easy that your interactions with Meta AI won't be fed into Meta's ad-targeting machine, at least for now. But it's not unreasonable to imagine that could one day change. Meta tends to keep new products ad-free in the beginning and introduce ads once they start to reach a critical mass of users. And other companies, like Snap, are already using generative AI to boost their ad businesses.Are they worth it?If any of that makes you uncomfortable, or you're interested in using the shades with non-Meta apps, then you might want to steer clear of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Though your photos and videos can be exported to any app, most of the devices' key features work best when you're playing in Meta's ecosystem. For example, you can connect your WhatsApp and Messenger accounts to send hands-free photos or messages but can't send texts via SMS or other apps (Meta AI will read out incoming texts, however). Likewise, the livestreaming abilities are limited to Instagram and Facebook, and won't work with other platforms.If you're a creator or already spend a lot of time in Meta's apps, though, there are plenty of reasons to give the second-generation shades a look. While the Ray-Ban Stories of two years ago were a fun, if overly expensive, novelty, the $299 Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses feel more like a finished product. The improved audio and photo quality better justify the price, and the addition of AI makes them feel like a product that's likely to improve rather than a gadget that will start to become obsolete as soon as you buy it.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses-review-instagram-worthy-shades-070010365.html?src=rss