A potelyt.com – Photography & Imaging Resources
ad

When you use links on apotelyt.com to buy products,
the site may earn a commission.

PW

Panasonic GH5 II Comparison Review

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was revealed to the public in May 2021 and is equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. It offers a resolution of 20.2 megapixel.

camera

Is the Panasonic GH5 II a good camera? The GH5 II has a Camera Elo of 2823. This rating puts the GH5 II among the top 30 percent of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (Four Thirds cameras), the GH5 II ranks among the top 10 percent.

Headline Specifications
Panasonic GH5 II
Mirrorless system camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses
20.2 MP, Four Thirds Sensor
4K/60p Video
ISO 200 - 25 600
Electronic viewfinder (3680k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1840k dots
Swivel touchscreen
12 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization
Weathersealed body
400 shots per battery charge
139 x 98 x 87 mm, 727 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

ad

Body comparison with a credit card

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size of the Panasonic GH5 II vis-à-vis a credit card. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Panasonic GH5 II vs credit card front
GH5 II versus credit card top view
GH5 II and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Panasonic GH5 II alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

scroll hint
Body Specifications
#   Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic GH5 II 139 mm 98 mm 87 mm 727 g 400 Y May 2021 1,699 amazon.com
2.
 
Nikon Z6 II 134 mm 101 mm 70 mm 705 g 410 Y Oct 2020 1,999 amazon.com
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 III 134 mm 91 mm 69 mm 580 g 420 Y Feb 2020 1,799 amazon.com
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 II 134 mm 91 mm 67 mm 574 g 440 Y Sep 2016 1,999ebay.com
5.
 
OM System OM-1 135 mm 92 mm 73 mm 599 g 520 Y Feb 2022 2,199ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic G9 II 134 mm 102 mm 90 mm 658 g 390 Y Sep 2023 1,899 amazon.com
7.
 
Panasonic GH6 138 mm 100 mm 100 mm 823 g 360 Y Feb 2022 2,199 amazon.com
8.
 
Panasonic S5 133 mm 98 mm 82 mm 714 g 440 Y Sep 2020 1,999 amazon.com
9.
 
Panasonic G9 137 mm 97 mm 92 mm 658 g 400 Y Nov 2017 1,699 amazon.com
10.
 
Panasonic GH5 139 mm 98 mm 87 mm 725 g 410 Y Jan 2017 1,999ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GX8 133 mm 78 mm 63 mm 487 g 330 Y Jul 2015 1,199ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
padding

The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Panasonic GH5 II was launched in the US market at a price of $1,699. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

logo
Check GH5 II price at
amazon.com

Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

The Panasonic GH5 II features a Four Thirds sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Panasonic GH5 II among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.

Panasonic GH5 II sensor measures

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for most cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of alternatives.

scroll hint
Sensor Characteristics
#   Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Panasonic GH5 II Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.713.1113679
2.
 
Nikon Z6 II Full Frame 24.3 6048 40244K/60p25.014.4330394
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 III Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.313.1135676
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 II Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.712.8131280
5.
 
OM System OM-1 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.413.4155377
6.
 
Panasonic G9 II Four Thirds 25.0 5776 43365.7K/60p23.413.5171078
7.
 
Panasonic GH6 Four Thirds 25.0 5776 43365.7K/60p23.413.4155577
8.
 
Panasonic S5 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/60p25.114.5269794
9.
 
Panasonic G9 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.112.8113874
10.
 
Panasonic GH5 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.913.080777
11.
 
Panasonic GX8 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.512.680675
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
padding

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The GH5 II indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the GH5 II can use is 4K/60p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the GH5 II has an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 3680k dots. The viewfinder offers a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.76x. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Panasonic GH5 II and comparable cameras.

scroll hint
Core Features
#   Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Panasonic GH5 II3680 n3.0 / 1840 swivel Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
2.
 
Nikon Z6 II3690 Y3.2 / 2100 tilting Y 1/8000s 14.0/s n Y
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 III2360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 18.0/s n Y
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 II2360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 18.0/s n Y
5.
 
OM System OM-15760 n3.0 / 1640 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
6.
 
Panasonic G9 II3680 n3.0 / 1840 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
7.
 
Panasonic GH63680 n3.0 / 1840 full-flex Y 1/8000s 14.0/s n Y
8.
 
Panasonic S52360 n3.0 / 1840 swivel Y 1/8000s 7.0/s n Y
9.
 
Panasonic G93680 Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
10.
 
Panasonic GH53680 n3.2 / 1620 swivel Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
11.
 
Panasonic GX82360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

The LCD screen on the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD is hinged on the side and can be flipped out for odd-angle shots in both portrait and landscape orientation. Also, this fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment is often appreciated by videographers for its flexibility. Moreover, v-loggers like the design because the screen can be turned to be front-facing.

articulated screen
Flexible screen on the GH5 II

One feature that differentiates the GH5 II from many older cameras is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The GH5 II reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while cameras without IBIS have to rely on optical image stabilization in OIS-equipped lenses to achieve the same effect.

ad

Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

scroll hint
Input-Output Connections
#   Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Panasonic GH5 IIYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
2.
 
Nikon Z6 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2Y-Y
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1Y-Y
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.0Y--
5.
 
OM System OM-1Ystereo / monoYYmicro3.0Y-Y
6.
 
Panasonic G9 IIYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
7.
 
Panasonic GH6Ystereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
8.
 
Panasonic S5Ystereo / monoYYmicro3.2Y-Y
9.
 
Panasonic G9Ystereo / monoYYfull3.0Y-Y
10.
 
Panasonic GH5Ystereo / monoYYfull3.1Y-Y
11.
 
Panasonic GX8Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
padding

It is notable that the GH5 II has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Further information on the features and operation of the GH5 II can be found in the free online Panasonic GH5 II Manual or on the Panasonic support site.

ad

Expert reviews

While the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the GH5 II handle or perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

scroll hint
Review Scores
#    Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic GH5 II4.5/5..4.5/585/1004.5/55/5 May 2021 1,699 amazon.com
2.
 
Nikon Z6 II4.5/5..4/589/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2020 1,999 amazon.com
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 III5/5..5/583/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2020 1,799 amazon.com
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 II5/5+ +5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2016 1,999ebay.com
5.
 
OM System OM-15/5....87/1005/54.5/5 Feb 2022 2,199ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic G9 II............ Sep 2023 1,899 amazon.com
7.
 
Panasonic GH65/5+ +5/587/1005/55/5 Feb 2022 2,199 amazon.com
8.
 
Panasonic S54.5/5+ +4.5/588/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2020 1,999 amazon.com
9.
 
Panasonic G9..+ +5/585/1005/55/5 Nov 2017 1,699 amazon.com
10.
 
Panasonic GH54.5/5+ +..85/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2017 1,999ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GX85/5+..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jul 2015 1,199ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

logo
Check GH5 II price at
amazon.com

Panasonic GH5 II FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the GH5 II.

What type of imaging sensor is used in the Panasonic GH5 II?

The camera is build around a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.

Which image processing chip is used in the Panasonic GH5 II to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Panasonic equipped the GH5 II with the Venus 10 image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Panasonic GH5 II?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600.

Does the Panasonic GH5 II have a selfie-friendly screen?

Yes, the LCD-screen of the GH5 II is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II?

Panasonic mentions a shutter rating of 200 000 actuations for the GH5 II. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the GH5 II over, say, three years, one would have to take about 200 pictures each and every day.

How do I find the shutter count on my Panasonic GH5 II?

Panasonic embeds the number of shutter actuations in hidden menus. You can check the number of shots that your GH5 II has taken up to now by carefully following the steps described on the Panasonic GH5 II shutter count page.

Is completely silent shooting possible with the Panasonic GH5 II?

The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.

Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Panasonic GH5 II?

No, the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.

Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Panasonic GH5 II?

The GH5 II offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.

Does the Panasonic GH5 II feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Panasonic GH5 II for flash photography?

The GH5 II's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.

Does the Panasonic GH5 II support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-II cards, which provide for data transfer speed of up to 312 MB/s, in both of its card slots.

Which battery does the Panasonic GH5 II use?

The camera gets its power from the DMW-BLK22 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Is there a vertical grip available for the Panasonic GH5 II?

Yes, Panasonic offers the DMW-BGGH5 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.

Camera to camera comparisons

In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

~
    loader
    ad
    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Panasonic GH5 II
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date May 2021
    Launch Price USD 1 699
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 225 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 20.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5 184 x 3 888 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.34 μm
    Pixel Density 8.96 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter
    Movie Capability 4K/60p Video
    ISO Setting 200 - 25 600 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 25 600 ISO
    Image Processor Venus 10
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 79
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.7
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.1
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1136
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.76x
    Viewfinder Resolution 3680k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 1840k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen
    V-logging Friendliness Front-flip possible
    Touch Input Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peaking
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 12 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy200 000 actuations
    Silent ShootingElectronic Shutter
    Time Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer Built-in
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots
    UHS card support Dual UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 3.2
    HDMI Port full HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed body
    Battery Type DMW-BLK22 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)400 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 139 x 98 x 87 mm
    (5.5 x 3.9 x 3.4 in)
    Camera Weight 727 g (25.6 oz)

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

    You are here Home  »  CAM-parator  »  Panasonic GH5 II Review