Is the High Resolution Mode just a Gimmick?

More and more cameras are supporting the Multi-Shot / Pixel Shift High-Resolution mode these days. But do you actually get more resolution? I've tested this multi-shot high resolution mode with mutlple cameras including the Lumix S5II, Lumix G9II, Fujfilm XH2 and I'll share with you everything I've found.

Camera gear I used to shoot this video:
Panasonic Lumix S5II | Lumix S 24mm f/1.8

0:00 What is Multi-Shot High Resolution Mode
3:22 More Resolution?
7:14 Moiré Pattern / False Colour
10:42 Noise
14:21 Dynamic Range
15:21 Downsides
16:22 Motion Blur
19:55 Extra Time
23:18 Image Artifact
24:31 AI Upscale vs high resolution mode
27:37 Final Thoughts

[TheRealRichardWong]

This was supposed to be a quick 5 mins video but I ended up spending three weeks working on it and it became a 30-minute video! 😵
Who has shot some multi-shot high-resolution photos? Do you like the results you got? Anything you don't like?
I want to say a big thank you to Charles Hull for helping me with the AI upscaling photos!

[AirGunWeb]

Hey there.. I just had a video shoot with my S5II and needed to use the HIGH REZ mode for my client, who needed banner-sized images. It's NOT a gimmick. The photos were vastly better and simply amazing. Product photos here I come.

Cheers
Rick

[mygconsultingyou]

Can I give 2 thumbs up??? This video is awesome! I am a GH6 user and this really helped me understand the limitations of the hi-res mode. I am now a subscriber!

[Nvan]

Mr Wong,
I just saw that you have just published your latest video dedicated to Panasonic's high resolution mode.
So I’m taking this opportunity to post this first comment to you, thanking you! The quality of your work is a true source of inspiration for us, the French LUMIX EXPERTS.

So thank you! And I hope to meet you one day at an upcoming global event hosted by Panasonic
Vincent.

[jorgenudvang]

Thank you for a very thorough video. I'm using hi-res mode with my G9 for many applications, like food, interiors, products etc. While I don't often need the high resolution, the fact that the files are much more robust (less noise, false colours etc.) gives me more headroom for editing, which is always very welcome.

[memzTV]

I used to use HHHR with the E-M1 Mark III and loved using it for static scenes and I'm so excited that the S5II has it! I think Panasonic did a good job!

[ljwaugh]

An excellent Review - Thanks Richard - very detailed and very interesting.

[jackoneil]

Perfect Richard! The most informational and definitive High-resolution mode video period!

[paololarocca]

one of the most interesting and useful photography gear video I have seen in the last year, well done!

[ШотаГоголи]

A good overview, subtlety in details is the main thing for professionals

[peterghdore]

Thanks for your insights. I own a OM-1 and a S5ii, and I love HHHR.
But there is one thing every reviewer seems to forget about introducing handheld HR on FF. In 2018 I bought my Pentax K1-II . Pentax already introduced it on its FF K-1 mk2 in 2018 as “Dynamic Pixel Shift Resolution”.
Keep up the good work.

[ליהלי-צנ]

Thank you, Richard, for this very methodic and comprehensive video.One of the reasons that I am buying the G9ii is because of this hand held h.r. mode .Very impressive results, taking the limitations into account, naturally. All the best.

[andrewhsu]

Thanks, Richard, for an excellent vido. It's very thorough and systematic. I especially liked the comparison between upscaling and high resolution mode. Great work!

[jeffreystulin]

This is an absolutely terrific video that answers many of my questions especially about the feasibility of using the multi shot mode for film scanning. I wish that I could give you one hundred likes! Thank you so much.

[miklosnemeth]

Really useful and entertaining video as usual from Mr Wong. Since I have my gorgeous Panasonic S9, I did my experimenting, too, I was able achieve some noticable results in 96m/12K (high-res) images. When the photo is down-converted to a 24m/6K JPEG, the "advantages" almost unnoticable. At 4K not visible, when uploaded to facebook or instagram noone can tell the difference, if the image was downconverted from a 96M pixel-shifted high-res file or a single-shot 24 file.
The only "meaningful" but special scenario I can imagine is that, say, you don't have a telephoto lens at hand, only a sharp enough lens like the Sigma 45f2.8 and a 24M FF camera, and you want to take photo of a far away scene, and you want to crop out a part of that scene to be able to read some text there. Then, you take a handheld high-res photo, and you can zoon in all the way, and if you are lucky, you may be able to read the far away message or banner.
When you just take a regular 24M photo you may not be able to read the far-away text, but with the high-res mode you might.
And actually it's dead easy with a Panasonic S9 with its handheld fully in-camera high-res mode, but, don't expect miractles. The far away "text" might be too far for a 24M camera and 45mm lens.

[KlausKusserow-ClassicalGuitar]

A massive knowledge burst combined with fine classical music? Richard Wong is the man to go🍀😃👍

[stefanmokrzecki]

Wow, you really did put a lot of work into producing this comparison. Thanks! I have the S5 and now tend to use the high resolution mode rather than stitch images. Being able to shoot handheld high resolution images with the S5 II would add another dimension to my shooting.

[Frederick-pp]

Nice test! Please keep this useful information sharing

[alantuttphotography]

Excellent coverage of this topic. Love all the comparisons! The only other comparison I might have done would be to compare the high-res mode to a multi-shot panoramic, where each shot covers a much smaller area of the overall image. I think that's the version that would give the best end result.

[ac]

Thanks for all the effort and details!✊