New Panasonic LUMIX Firmware Adds BRAW WB Controls to GH5s and BGH1

Firmware Update

by Andrew ThibaultJuly 26^th, 2022

Subscribe to News

Panasonic has just released firmware version 2.5 for the LUMIX GH5s and version 2.4 for the LUMIX BGH1, adding BRAW white balance controls and more. Let’s take a closer look.

In the RAW wars, many critics have complained Blackmagic RAW or BRAW is not true RAW, pointing to a lack of white balance controls with some cameras versus ProRes RAW. For a more in-depth review of recording BRAW from the GH5s to the Blackmagic Video Assist, check out our previous article here.

If you’re like me, you gave up on BRAW white balance controls for the GH5s long ago, like a third Stone Roses album or a Back to the Future reboot. But the Netflix-approved BGH1 has evidently dragged the aging GH5s into the future, with a more professional post-production workflow in DaVinci Resolve.

My hopes were raised last month when Blackmagic Design released the Video Assist 3.7 update and Blackmagic RAW version 2.6, promising BRAW white balance controls for the GH5s and BGH1. But despite applying the aforementioned Blackmagic updates and upgrading to DaVinci Resolve 18, the white balance controls were still not available in the Camera Raw controls on the Color Page of Resolve.

Back to the Future

All that changed yesterday when Panasonic released firmware version 2.5 for the GH5s and version 2.4 for the BGH1. After testing the new firmware, I can confirm Panasonic has over-delivered on expectations.

Several presets are now available in the White Balance drop-down menu, including: Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Tungsten, Fluorescent and Flash. Additionally, the Color Temp and Tint controls are now unlocked in the Resolve Color Page Camera Raw tab, paving the way for a more professional post-production workflow.

Price and availability

The new firmware version 2.5 for Panasonic LUMIX GH5s and 2.4 for BGH1 are now available to download for free from the manufacturer’s website.

If you’ve been slow to adopt the Panasonic LUMIX GH5s – and I mean really slow – or maybe you want to pick up another one as a B cam, you’re in luck! The GH5s is currently on sale for $400 or £460 off respectively for a limited time on B&H and CVP.

It’s almost unfathomable that Panasonic continues to add highly sought after functionality to the GH5s over four years after the camera’s initial release.

Featured image credit: photo by Raül Santín on Unsplash / Editing by CineD

Are you a Lumix GH5s or BGH1 shooter? Have you tried out the new firmware? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.