I won't pretend to know much about this as I am not a raw shooter, but guess it's possible, though Panasonic already has pro-res raw, and the masses don't need anything beyond that. I think it is really more GH6 related as they had a similar flop with the GH3. In that case the core users had patched GH2's and there was little justification for paying more for a more professional body but lower bit rates. Maybe I am giving myself too much credit, but my little phase detect leak video did get noticed by many, including Panasonic as I was asked "who told you, phase detect would be in the GH6?". Thing is I get it now, the G9II was already pre-production (this is what I was being told about), and they thought the GH6 would get a pass on other specs with everyone not expecting phase detect anyways, as hardcore users were still fine saying "we don't need AF for Cinema". Well, I think I put a bit of kindling before the inevitable flames as suddenly everyone saw it may actually be coming, and even those claiming they didn't care, clearly did. So when it was released sans PDAF, it was enough of a let down to be essentially DOA in terms of expected or even minimal sales needed. But management is not going to let the team just say "it was a failure, we need to release GH6A (action) or some shit now and accept the loss. They have to push the stock out the door and likely do at least one or two small production runs to make it look like "due to the current global economy sales were lower than expected, however the timing of the G9II was better as the economy has stabilized. We Have Also Learned from the G9II that phase detect was more desired than we previously believed (har har), and data suggests that if we release a GH7 with phase detect before the end of 2024 it will be similar in sales as the now very sucessful G9II release." Thing is they weren't completely wrong to give it to the G9II. The G9 as I have mentioned before is widely successful in Japan with many bird photographers which is a huge market segment in Japan using that camera. Japanese camera people are slow to change camera's only doing so if there is a significant improvement that will greatly increase their experience. Two cameras more than any stand out far above others in the past half decade. The Z9 and now G9II. The Z9 first only appeared with 2 individuals in my go to spot shortly after the release. There was obvious interest from others, but they waited to see how the users felt after a couple months of use, and then 2 more popped up, a month later 6 more, and so on.. The G9II was like this, except one popped up, and a month later 10 popped up. Obviously a less prohibitive price is part of it, but again the G9 was hugely popular, and people who invested in that camera had allot more time to save their yen and justify the doubled price 10 years later. GH7 if indeed coming will be a very interesting test to see if micro four thirds still has staying power in the video crowd. Obviously allot of us here have a special place in our heart for these once little beasts, and I don't think they are going away just yet, but had they made the GH6 phase detect the timing would have been allot better as I think many die hards really just gave up at that point and moved on to aps-c or full frame. (I should probably make this rant a youtube video).

@mee

It is interesting to speculate that Panasonic is holding back on the GH7 until stock of the GH6 is mostly depleted.

Anyway, sales of the GH6 seems slow, in the summer of 2023 you still got a GH6 with firmware 1.0 from the retailer. Suggesting that all manufacturing was done in the winter of 2021/22.

I would certainly not try to take the next job as a fortune teller, regarding PDAF and the GH7. :-p

But m43 rumours now report that Panasonic has registered another two new cameras for dual band WiFi compliance in China.

The P2303A camera, wildly speculated to be the GH7, has yet to be announced after almost 6 months since the registration in late september 2023. This is not usual, suggesting a delay for unknown reason. Recall that also the GH6 suffered a long delay back in 2021/22.

The two new camera models is designated P2302A and P2304A. It's certainly plausible that one or both of these could be some sort of S1xxx mark II update, following up on the latest Leica announcement. If so look forward to some announcement in the may/june timeframe.

Adorama: GH6 is listed for $1300 now. So, $930 off the MSRP. 42 per cent off.

43 rumours informs that a new Panasonic camera was listed in China for RF compliance at the end of september.

https://www.43rumors.com/panasonic-registered-a-new-high-end-camera-model-in-china/

This could tie in with the current rumour about the GH7 setting sails for a mid november announcement as listed in the post from september 16.

I think it's only two possibilities if we ignore the rumour about the GH7 and just assume a new higher end model is a few weeks away: Its either the GH7 or a S1H replacement. And GH7 is in a more urgent need of a replacement IMO given the state of the market. It looks like the GH6 has sold really bad and was given only a single production run at the factory. The sensor is also a weak part in a feature rich camera body.

And I have read three GH7 rumours during the last six months and nothing on the "S1H replacement".

Coming soon with PDAF:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1786235-REG/panasonic_lumix_g9ii_g9_ii.html?sts=pi

UPDATE: It was brought to my attention that Panasonic is NOT exhibiting at IBC2023. At least not with an official location.

Given the photocentric style of the teaser it looks like its a "G9M2".

Some claims have been given that more Lumix cameras might be released this year.

Finally.

SEPTEMBER 12.

A new phase.

Just before IBC2023.

There was nothing new at IFA. Panasonic had a smaller booth which was just for press and retailers. Full Lumix range was on display, but there was no announcement. Not surprising given the missing rumours before the show.

New rumours, maybe the GH7 after all.

https://www.43rumors.com/some-wild-gh7-camera-and-om1-firmware-rumors/

In any case I will be in Berlin on September 1 for the IFA opening day.

@firstbase You got the DC-BGH1 box cam.

@EspenB

Sounds nice.