Glossary
1
4
A
B
The amount of data recorded per second of video, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Higher bitrate means more data is captured per second, resulting in less compression, more detail, and more latitude for colour grading.
The visual quality of the out-of-focus areas in a photograph, particularly the rendering of background blur. Determined by lens aperture, focal length, subject distance, and the optical design of the aperture diaphragm.
Blackmagic Design's proprietary partially-debayered video format used in the Pocket Cinema Camera series. Combines the colour and exposure latitude of RAW recording with compressed file sizes and tight integration with DaVinci Resolve.
A sensor design where the wiring layer is moved behind the photodiode layer, allowing more light to reach each pixel and improving low-light performance and dynamic range compared to standard front-side illuminated sensors.
C
The algorithm used to encode and decode video data. Different codecs offer different trade-offs between file size, image quality, editing performance, and compatibility. Common M43 codecs include H.264, H.265, ProRes, and Blackmagic RAW.
An autofocus method that moves the lens until it finds the position of maximum contrast in the scene, indicating sharpest focus. Accurate but slower than phase detection, as it requires the lens to hunt through the focus range to find the peak.
A multiplier relating a camera sensor's size to the 35mm full-frame standard. The Micro Four Thirds crop factor is 2x, meaning a 50mm M43 lens gives the same field of view as a 100mm lens on full-frame.
D
The range of distances in a scene that appear acceptably sharp in a photograph, controlled by aperture, focal length, focus distance, and sensor size.
Panasonic's coordinated stabilisation system that links lens OIS and body IBIS to divide correction work across axes, achieving better combined performance than either system alone.
The range of brightness a camera can capture in a single exposure, from the darkest shadow detail to the brightest highlight before either goes completely black or completely white. Measured in stops; higher is better.
E
A small display in the camera eyepiece that shows a live feed from the sensor, including real-time exposure, white balance, and depth-of-field preview before the shutter is pressed.
An autofocus mode that detects and locks focus on a human or animal eye within the frame, maintaining that lock as the subject moves. Part of the broader subject recognition AF category.
F
A fixed focal length lens with a wide maximum aperture, typically f/1.4 or faster, that admits significantly more light than zoom or kit lenses and enables shallower depth of field.
The distance in millimetres from a lens's optical centre to the image sensor when focused at infinity, determining the angle of view and image magnification.
A change in the apparent field of view that occurs when a lens shifts focus. As the lens focuses closer or further, the focal length effectively changes slightly, causing the image to appear to zoom in or out. Undesirable in video.
The predecessor camera system to Micro Four Thirds, introduced in 2003 by Olympus and Kodak. Four Thirds cameras use DSLR-style bodies with a mirror box, the same 17.3 x 13mm sensor size, and a larger lens mount that is incompatible with M43 without an adapter.
The focal length or aperture value that would produce the same field of view or depth of field on a 35mm full-frame camera, calculated by multiplying the M43 value by the 2x crop factor.
A rear camera display on a side hinge that rotates freely in multiple directions, including facing directly forward, making it essential for vlogging and solo video work.
G
H
An OM System and Panasonic shooting mode that uses sensor-shift to capture multiple frames at sub-pixel offsets and merge them into a single image with resolution far exceeding the sensor's native megapixel count.
A flash mode that allows the camera to sync with the flash at shutter speeds above the standard flash sync limit, typically 1/250s. Enables fast shutter speeds with flash for outdoor portraits at wide apertures or action shots with fill flash.
The nearest focus distance at which a lens at a given aperture keeps everything from half that distance to infinity acceptably sharp, maximising depth of field for landscape and architectural photography.
I
L
An OM System in-camera shooting mode that combines multiple long exposures into a single image, adding only light that is brighter than the base exposure. Used for light trails, star trails, and lightning without overexposing the sky or background.
An OM System in-camera feature that simulates a neutral density filter by compositing multiple exposures in real time, allowing slower shutter speeds without overexposure in bright conditions — without any physical filter attached.
A flat, low-contrast video recording gamma curve that compresses tonal range to preserve highlight and shadow detail for post-production colour grading.
M
The ratio between the size of a subject as projected onto the sensor and its actual real-world size. A 1:1 magnification means the subject is projected life-size onto the sensor. Higher magnification ratios allow smaller subjects to fill the frame.
The widest opening available on a lens, expressed as an f-number, determining its maximum light-gathering ability and minimum achievable depth of field.
The shared lens mount standard used by all Micro Four Thirds cameras and lenses. Defined by Olympus and Panasonic, it has a 44mm inner diameter and 19.25mm flange distance, and is an open standard any manufacturer can license.
An open mirrorless camera and lens standard jointly developed by Olympus and Panasonic in 2008, defined by a 17.3mm x 13mm sensor, a 44mm mount diameter, and a 19.25mm flange distance.
O
P
An unusually thin and flat prime lens designed to minimise system size, typically at the cost of maximum aperture compared to standard prime designs at the same focal length.
A lens that maintains focus when the focal length is changed. A parfocal zoom stays sharp when zooming during a shot. Most photographic zoom lenses are varifocal and shift focus when zoomed, making in-shot zooming impractical without refocusing.
An autofocus system that uses dedicated sensor pixels to detect the direction and magnitude of defocus in a single reading, enabling faster and more decisive focus acquisition than contrast detection.
An OM System pre-burst shooting mode that begins buffering frames when the shutter is half-pressed, then includes frames from before the shutter was fully pressed in the final burst. Used to capture fast-starting action that would otherwise be missed.
Apple's professional intra-frame video codec, widely used in broadcast and film post-production. Each frame is stored independently, making it fast to edit and colour grade. The Panasonic GH7 is the first M43 camera to record ProRes internally.
R
Video recorded with minimal in-camera processing, preserving the raw sensor data or a very close approximation of it. Provides maximum latitude for colour grading and post-production at the cost of very large file sizes and significant processing requirements.
A distortion effect in electronic shutter mode where fast-moving subjects appear skewed or leaning because the sensor reads pixel data line by line rather than all at once, capturing different parts of the frame at slightly different moments.
S
The physical dimensions of a camera's image sensor. Larger sensors capture more light per pixel at the same aperture, producing better noise performance and allowing more background blur. Micro Four Thirds uses a 17.3 x 13mm sensor.
A sensor architecture that bonds a separate high-speed memory and processing layer directly beneath the image sensor, enabling much faster readout speeds. This allows higher burst rates, reduced rolling shutter in electronic shutter mode, and faster autofocus.
An AI-based autofocus mode that identifies and continuously tracks specific subject types including humans, birds, and animals using machine learning models running on the camera processor.
T
An autofocus mode that locks onto a subject and continuously adjusts focus to keep it sharp as it moves across the frame. Essential for wildlife, sports, and any subject that changes position or distance during shooting.
An automatic flash exposure system where the camera meters the flash output through the lens during the exposure and adjusts power to achieve a correct exposure. Eliminates the need to calculate manual flash settings for each shot.