The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4: The Unofficial Quintessential Guide

I purchased the authors' book for the GH3, and find this book to be of similar caliber. The GH4 is a complex camera, and the manual provided by Panasonic is OK, but not comprehensive. This book goes into far more detail, and in most cases, explains many features that the Panasonic manual falls short with. I don't think every bit of information is entirely accurate, but for the most part, the book delivers much more than the owner manual.The authors don't appear to have extensive knowledge of video. Based on my experience shooting video on the GH4, some of their feature descriptions are inaccurate. The book is more useful for people shooting photos, but I believe the GH4's popularity is largely due to its outstanding video capabilities. Thus, I can't give the book 5 stars, as the video content falls a bit short. BTW, the book contains no info on VLOG, as that feature was added to the GH4 after the book was published.All things considered, I recommend this book as a supplement to the Panasonic owner manual. Of course, you can wade through the multitude of conflicting opinions ("facts" as some would believe) on many internet web sites and forums to glean information about the GH4. BTW, there are a couple Facebook GH4-specific groups. I think this book will set you straight on the majority of important details, and serve as a reference manual.Now get out there and shoot something!

The authors have a clear, well thought out style of writing that makes the subject matter as easy to understand as possible. Let's face it, the GH4 is a complicated camera, but there's no reason a beginner shouldn't buy one and grow into it. To my way of thinking, that actually makes more sense than buying a simple camera and then trading up or buying a succession of more and more capable cameras. That way, you no sooner get familiar with a camera then you're ready to get a new one. Why not just get a camera that will do the job and stick with it for a while?This book gives you the knowledge you need, step by step, to start using the camera effectively right out of the box, and then to start using the more advanced still and video modes. Frankly it will take study and practice, but eventually familiarity will come. The authors point out that there are two or three ways of changing practically every setting on the camera, and you should work out which ones you are personally most comfortable with. Once you've done that, and gotten some practice with using different capabilities, it's time to start customizing the controls to suit your usage. Otherwise, you'll be resetting the controls over and over as you learn new stuff.Dr. Matsumoto's background is similar to mine, so maybe we think alike. But I couldn't imagine a better guide for the amateur photographer.

This is an excellent, very readable and even pleasurable book to read. I bought it a couple days ago and started reading as soon as I opened the Amazon box. There is so much information and clarification in the book on how to take full advantage of this very sophisticated camera. I suggest you check out the Introduction and Recommendations in every chapter, before tackling the details--but don’t read in bed, you will be too excited to sleep and more likely will want to jump out of bed to start experimenting.The GH4 extensive capabilities are quite daunting to the novice (me). To paraphrase the authors in chapter 2: The complexity of the camera could discourage even the experienced users, but by turning on the Auto mode, you can take pictures immediately. Like most people, I just want to start playing with my new toy, and get comfortable with the basics, before jumping in to the incredible range of options.I like how the authors organized the information. Just because I don’t know a lot about photography doesn’t mean I don’t want a great camera that will allow me to take great pictures and videos and have fun learning photography. My eyes did not gloss over while reading the chapter on photography basics, so well written, it provides clear explanations of focus, aperture, shutter speed, file formats etc. This chapter alone was worth the price of the book for folks who approach tech manuals with fear, like me. (have your read your car’s manual?--so un-helpful). The index looks complete (a lousy index is a pet peeve of mine for many technical books).Super Users/Professionals will surely appreciate the book’s format. The camera’s commands are broken down in an organized progression from simple to more complex and include helpful suggestions. I like how they provide their own camera settings along with why they set them the way they do.I’ve started to mark the pages where I want to go back and experiment when I have time. This book is an invaluable resource for using the GH4 camera more effectively and creatively. Glad I bought it.

Great book , conversationally written - not manual type of writing. It’s a complicated camera with lots of features and the book discusses the admirably.

This is proving to be so very useful. I have just switched from using a Panasonic Lumix G6 camera to the GH4 and it's proving to be a truly fantastic camera - but it has so many options. This book, an "unofficial" user's guide, is very well written and produced - the authors are two knowledgeable and enthusiastic users of the camera who know it, and photography, inside out. There was no similar guide available for the G6 so this is, indeed, very welcome. I cannot fault it. One reviewer has said the authors cover too much basic knowledge. Well, they do cover all you need to know from basic to advanced. I enjoy this aspect even though I am a serious amateur; in fact, I can't see any other way to have written such a book. Well done to the two authors.

The manual contained much more detail than instruction book, and narative is clearly explained and well illustrated with photos and tables.The camera which this guide relates is quite complex and being able to refer to this book helps one to understand the camera menus and therefore get better use from it.Well worth a high rating, and I would have given it 5 stars, but, nothing is perfect.P.S. Returned the kindle version I'd first purchased as the photos depicted were not clear.

Essential to get to grips with a GH4. Though it is not comprehensive. It has more on stills photography and is a bit lacking on the finer points of video settings and capabilities and limitations.

Essential reading for the GH4 owner

good