Short answer: the DMW-BLK22 is Panasonic’s most widely used camera battery, rated 7.2V / 2200mAh and about 16Wh. It covers the full-frame L-mount S5, S5 II and S5 II X as well as the M43 GH6, GH5 II and G9 II. The original GH5, the GH5S and the first G9 use the DMW-BLF19, which looks similar but has a different latch and contacts and cannot be swapped in. One BLK22 supports roughly half a day of moderate stills work, less when shooting video, so one in the body plus two spares is a dependable configuration for most users.
The sections below cover fitment, real runtime, spare planning and charging care. The quickest way to check which pack your camera needs is the model marking inside the battery compartment — more reliable than memorising the mount system.
1. Which bodies the BLK22 fits
What makes the BLK22 unusual is that it serves two mount systems at once: the full-frame L-mount S5 series and the M43 video flagships. Panasonic standardised the battery across the bodies it released from 2020 onward, which means a user upgrading within that range does not have to rebuild a whole set of spares.
| Body | Mount | Battery | Official CIPA rating (LCD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lumix S5 | L | DMW-BLK22 | About 440 shots |
| Lumix S5 II / S5 II X | L | DMW-BLK22 | About 370 shots |
| Lumix GH6 | M43 | DMW-BLK22 | About 360-380 shots |
| Lumix GH5 II | M43 | DMW-BLK22 | About 400 shots |
| Lumix G9 II | M43 | DMW-BLK22 | About 390 shots |
| Lumix GH5 / GH5S / G9 (original) | M43 | DMW-BLF19 | About 400 shots |
The figures come from official CIPA cycle testing; real use varies with screen brightness, in-body stabilization, burst shooting and wireless, so treat them as a basis for comparison rather than a guarantee.
Two mistakes are especially common. The first is treating the GH5 and GH5 II as sharing a battery, when only the GH5 II moved to the BLK22. The second is assuming that L mount always means BLK22, when the S1, S1R and S1H use the larger DMW-BLJ31, a completely different shape. Glancing at the marking before you leave the house is easier than remembering specs.
2. How far 16Wh goes in practice
At 2200mAh this pack sits in the upper-middle range for today’s mirrorless cameras, but Panasonic bodies are feature-dense and draw accordingly. By typical intensity, use falls into three bands:
- Stills-led work: one pack usually manages 300-400 shots; heavy EVF use, frequent playback or Wi-Fi transfer drops that to around 250.
- 4K video: the S5 II series and GH6 are no longer limited to 30-minute clips in most 4K modes, but a single pack typically records for 70-110 minutes, and high bitrates, stabilization and heat shorten that.
- 6K / ProRes / high frame rates: draw is close to double, and the body heats noticeably, so in practice temperature usually becomes the limit before the battery does.
That explains a common perception: video shooters often feel the battery is “not lasting”, when in fact continuous recording keeps the sensor and processor at full load, drawing far more than intermittent stills. Estimating spares by shooting type is more dependable than estimating by frame count.
3. A sensible spare plan
One BLK22 is not heavy, so two extra packs barely register on your shoulder while markedly reducing on-set anxiety. Plan in this order:
- Work out the session length: for a half day of stills, two packs including the one in the body are usually enough; for a full day out, a wedding or conference coverage, plan on three.
- Add separately for video: for long interviews and event coverage, budget one pack per 1.5 hours and keep one unopened as an emergency.
- Keep to one batch: mixing old and new packs makes the charge reading non-linear and tends to shut down abruptly around 20%, so rotate packs of the same batch.
- Consider external power: several bodies including the S5 II, GH6 and G9 II support USB-C PD input, so for fixed-position work a small PD supply running continuously is simpler than stacking batteries.
For long fixed-position shoots, an official vertical grip or a dummy battery (DC coupler) arrangement is also worth considering; for handheld work, light spares are the better answer. YO’s BLK22 is a middle-of-the-road value option with honest capacity figures and a properly specified protection circuit, suited as a supplement rather than a wholesale replacement for first-party packs.
4. Charging, cold and long-term storage
The BLK22 charges in the body or in a dedicated dock. When using in-body USB-C, make sure the supply supports PD — a plain 5V charger is very slow and may only hold the level steady during recording. The dock’s advantage is handling several packs at once, so everything is topped up before you leave.
Cold is a frequent issue for Panasonic users. Below 0°C a lithium pack’s internal resistance rises and the voltage sags, tripping a low-battery warning, and some of the charge often returns once it warms up. The winter routine is to keep spares in an inside pocket and rotate them; coming in from the cold, wait until body and pack reach room temperature before charging to avoid condensation. For a more systematic cold-testing method, see our minus 10°C battery test; the principle holds across brands.
For long-term storage, leave 40-60% charge and top up every three to six months. Do not charge a pack that has swollen or deformed — not uncommon on the BLK22, usually from being stored full at high temperature. More buying and care material for this model is on the DMW-BLK22 category page; if you also shoot Sony, the NP-FZ100 section has capacity and runtime data you can compare against.
FAQ
Can the GH5 use a DMW-BLK22?
The original GH5 and GH5S cannot — they take the DMW-BLF19, and only the GH5 II switched to the BLK22. The two packs are close in size, but the latch shape and contact positions differ, forcing one in can damage the compartment, and no working adapter exists. Always go by the marking inside the battery bay.
Are the BLK22 and BLJ31 interchangeable?
No. The BLJ31 is used by the S1, S1R and S1H and is larger in both size and capacity; the BLK22 serves the S5 series along with the GH6, GH5 II and G9 II. Even within the L-mount system, battery specs are not unified.
How long can one BLK22 record video?
It depends on resolution, bitrate, stabilization and temperature. Most bodies manage about 70-110 minutes of continuous 4K on a single pack, less with 6K or ProRes, and recording often stops on overheating first. For long sessions, rotate two or more packs and give the body cooling gaps.
Do third-party BLK22 packs show inaccurate charge levels?
Sometimes. Third-party communication chips and cell resistance differ from the original, and the usual symptoms are jumping percentages, a shutdown near 20%, or a “cannot use this battery” prompt. Favour packs that explicitly name the S5 II and GH6, and keep a return option open.