Panasonic GH5 II vs Sony HX99
The Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in May 2021 and August 2018. The GH5 II is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the HX99 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (GH5 II) and a 1/2.3-inch (HX99) sensor. The Panasonic has a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 18 MP.
Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.
Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
Body comparison
The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Panasonic GH5 II and the Sony HX99. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony HX99 is considerably smaller (57 percent) than the Panasonic GH5 II. It is worth mentioning in this context that the GH5 II is splash and dust resistant, while the HX99 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.
The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the HX99 has a lens built in, whereas the GH5 II is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the GH5 II and their specifications in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog.
Concerning battery life, the GH5 II gets 400 shots out of its Panasonic DMW-BLK22 battery, while the HX99 can take 370 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-BX1 power pack. The power pack in the HX99 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.
The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.
# | 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. | Sony HX99 | 102 mm | 58 mm | 36 mm | 242 g | 370 | n | Aug 2018 | 449 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon R6 | 138 mm | 98 mm | 88 mm | 680 g | 360 | Y | Jul 2020 | 2,499 | amazon.com | |
4. | Canon G9 X Mark II | 98 mm | 58 mm | 31 mm | 206 g | 235 | n | Jan 2017 | 529 | ebay.com | |
5. | Nikon Z5 | 134 mm | 101 mm | 67 mm | 675 g | 470 | Y | Jul 2020 | 1,399 | amazon.com | |
6. | Nikon Z6 II | 134 mm | 101 mm | 70 mm | 705 g | 410 | Y | Oct 2020 | 1,999 | amazon.com | |
7. | Olympus E-M1 III | 134 mm | 91 mm | 69 mm | 580 g | 420 | Y | Feb 2020 | 1,799 | ebay.com | |
8. | Olympus E-M1 II | 134 mm | 91 mm | 67 mm | 574 g | 440 | Y | Sep 2016 | 1,999 | ebay.com | |
9. | Panasonic GH6 | 138 mm | 100 mm | 100 mm | 823 g | 360 | Y | Feb 2022 | 2,199 | amazon.com | |
10. | Panasonic S5 | 133 mm | 98 mm | 82 mm | 714 g | 440 | Y | Sep 2020 | 1,999 | amazon.com | |
11. | Panasonic G9 | 137 mm | 97 mm | 92 mm | 658 g | 400 | Y | Nov 2017 | 1,699 | ebay.com | |
12. | Panasonic GH5 | 139 mm | 98 mm | 87 mm | 725 g | 410 | Y | Jan 2017 | 1,999 | ebay.com | |
13. | Sony ZV-1F | 106 mm | 60 mm | 46 mm | 256 g | 360 | n | Oct 2022 | 499 | amazon.com | |
14. | Sony A7 III | 127 mm | 96 mm | 74 mm | 650 g | 610 | Y | Feb 2018 | 1,999 | amazon.com | |
15. | Sony HX95 | 102 mm | 58 mm | 36 mm | 242 g | 370 | n | Aug 2018 | 429 | ebay.com | |
16. | Sony WX800 | 102 mm | 58 mm | 36 mm | 233 g | 370 | n | Oct 2018 | 399 | ebay.com | |
17. | Sony HX90V | 102 mm | 58 mm | 36 mm | 245 g | 360 | n | Apr 2015 | 429 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The HX99 was launched at a lower price than the GH5 II, despite having a lens built in. 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.
Sensor comparison
The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units 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.
Of the two cameras under consideration, the Panasonic GH5 II features a Four Thirds sensor and the Sony HX99 a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the HX99 is 88 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 5.6. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.
With 20.2MP, the GH5 II offers a higher resolution than the HX99 (18MP), but the GH5 II nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.34μm versus 1.25μm for the HX99) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the GH5 II is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 8 months) than the HX99, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.
The resolution advantage of the Panasonic GH5 II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the GH5 II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Sony HX99 are 24.5 x 18.4 inches or 62.2 x 46.6 cm for good quality, 19.6 x 14.7 inches or 49.7 x 37.3 cm for very good quality, and 16.3 x 12.2 inches or 41.5 x 31.1 cm for excellent quality prints.
The Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 are ISO 80 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-6400.
Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.
For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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 adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.
# | 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 | 3888 | 4K/60p | 23.7 | 13.1 | 1136 | 79 | |
2. | Sony HX99 | 1/2.3 | 18.0 | 4896 | 3672 | 4K/30p | 20.6 | 12.1 | 1058 | 51 | |
3. | Canon R6 | Full Frame | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4k/60p | 24.2 | 14.3 | 3394 | 90 | |
4. | Canon G9 X Mark II | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 21.9 | 12.5 | 522 | 65 | |
5. | Nikon Z5 | Full Frame | 24.2 | 6016 | 4016 | 4K/30p | 25.3 | 14.3 | 2929 | 95 | |
6. | Nikon Z6 II | Full Frame | 24.3 | 6048 | 4024 | 4K/60p | 25.0 | 14.4 | 3303 | 94 | |
7. | Olympus E-M1 III | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 23.3 | 13.1 | 1356 | 76 | |
8. | Olympus E-M1 II | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 23.7 | 12.8 | 1312 | 80 | |
9. | Panasonic GH6 | Four Thirds | 25.0 | 5776 | 4336 | 5.7K/60p | 23.4 | 13.4 | 1555 | 77 | |
10. | Panasonic S5 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/60p | 25.1 | 14.5 | 2697 | 94 | |
11. | Panasonic G9 | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/60p | 23.1 | 12.8 | 1138 | 74 | |
12. | Panasonic GH5 | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/60p | 23.9 | 13.0 | 807 | 77 | |
13. | Sony ZV-1F | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.3 | 12.8 | 904 | 67 | |
14. | Sony A7 III | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 14.7 | 3730 | 96 | |
15. | Sony HX95 | 1/2.3 | 18.0 | 4896 | 3672 | 4K/30p | 20.6 | 12.1 | 1057 | 51 | |
16. | Sony WX800 | 1/2.3 | 18.0 | 4896 | 3672 | 4K/30p | 20.6 | 12.2 | 1070 | 51 | |
17. | Sony HX90V | 1/2.3 | 18.0 | 4896 | 3672 | 1080/60p | 20.2 | 11.6 | 738 | 47 | |
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the GH5 II provides a higher frame rate than the HX99. It can shoot video footage at 4K/60p, while the Sony is limited to 4K/30p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the GH5 II offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the HX99 (3680k vs 638k dots). The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Panasonic GH5 II, the Sony HX99, and comparable cameras.
# | 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 II | 3680 | n | 3.0 / 1840 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 12.0/s | n | Y | |
2. | Sony HX99 | 638 | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
3. | Canon R6 | 3690 | n | 3.0 / 1620 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 12.0/s | n | Y | |
4. | Canon G9 X Mark II | none | n | 3.0 / 1040 | fixed | Y | 1/2000s | 8.2/s | Y | Y | |
5. | Nikon Z5 | 3690 | n | 3.2 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 4.5/s | n | Y | |
6. | Nikon Z6 II | 3690 | Y | 3.2 / 2100 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 14.0/s | n | Y | |
7. | Olympus E-M1 III | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1037 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 18.0/s | n | Y | |
8. | Olympus E-M1 II | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1037 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 18.0/s | n | Y | |
9. | Panasonic GH6 | 3680 | n | 3.0 / 1840 | full-flex | Y | 1/8000s | 14.0/s | n | Y | |
10. | Panasonic S5 | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1840 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 7.0/s | n | Y | |
11. | Panasonic G9 | 3680 | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 20.0/s | n | Y | |
12. | Panasonic GH5 | 3680 | n | 3.2 / 1620 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 12.0/s | n | Y | |
13. | Sony ZV-1F | none | n | 3.0 / 922 | swivel | Y | 1/2000s | 16.0/s | n | n | |
14. | Sony A7 III | 2359 | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0/s | n | Y | |
15. | Sony HX95 | 638 | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | n | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
16. | Sony WX800 | none | n | 3.0 / 922 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
17. | Sony HX90V | 638 | n | 3.0 / 921 | tilting | n | 1/2000s | 10.0/s | Y | Y | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The HX99 has one, while the GH5 II does not. While the built-in flash of the HX99 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.
Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the GH5 II is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).
The Panasonic GH5 II has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.
The GH5 II writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the HX99 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The GH5 II features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the HX99 only has one slot. The GH5 II supports UHS-II cards (on both slots), while the HX99 can use UHS-I cards.
Connectivity 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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
# | Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Panasonic GH5 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
2. | Sony HX99 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
3. | Canon R6 | Y | mono / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
4. | Canon G9 X Mark II | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
5. | Nikon Z5 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
6. | Nikon Z6 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
7. | Olympus E-M1 III | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
8. | Olympus E-M1 II | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.0 | Y | - | - | |
9. | Panasonic GH6 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
10. | Panasonic S5 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.2 | Y | - | Y | |
11. | Panasonic G9 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.0 | Y | - | Y | |
12. | Panasonic GH5 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | full | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
13. | Sony ZV-1F | - | stereo / mono | Y | - | - | 3.0 | Y | - | Y | |
14. | Sony A7 III | Y | stereo / mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | Y | Y | |
15. | Sony HX95 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
16. | Sony WX800 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
17. | Sony HX90V | - | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - |
It is notable that the GH5 II has a hotshoe, while the HX99 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.
Studio photographers will appreciate that the Panasonic GH5 II (unlike the HX99) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.
The GH5 II is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic. In contrast, the HX99 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). There has not been a direct replacement model for the HX99 from Sony. Further information on the features and operation of the GH5 II and HX99 can be found, respectively, in the Panasonic GH5 II Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony HX99 Manual.
Review summary
So how do things add up? Is the Panasonic GH5 II better than the Sony HX99 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.
Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II:
- More detail: Offers more megapixels (20.2 vs 18MP) with a 6% higher linear resolution.
- Better image quality: Features a larger and more technologically advanced imaging sensor.
- Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
- More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
- Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
- Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (4K/60p versus 4K/30p).
- Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
- Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
- More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (3680k vs 638k dots).
- More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1840k vs 922k dots).
- More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
- Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
- Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 10 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
- Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
- Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
- More flexible: Accepts interchangeable lenses, so that lens characteristics can be altered.
- Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
- Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
- Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 2.0).
- More solid recording: Has a full-sized HDMI port for a sturdy connection to an external recorder.
- Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
- Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
- Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
- More modern: Reflects 2 years and 8 months of technical progress since the HX99 launch.
Arguments in favor of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99:
- Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the GH5 II necessitates an extra lens.
- More compact: Is smaller (102x58mm vs 139x98mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
- Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the GH5 II).
- Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
- Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
- Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
- More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
- More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in August 2018).
If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the GH5 II is the clear winner of the match-up (24 : 8 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.
How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic GH5 II and the Sony HX99 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.
In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the GH5 II or the HX99 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.
Expert reviews
This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings 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]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.
# | Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Panasonic GH5 II | 4.5/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | 85/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | May 2021 | 1,699 | amazon.com | |
2. | Sony HX99 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2018 | 449 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon R6 | 5/5 | + + | 4/5 | 90/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Jul 2020 | 2,499 | amazon.com | |
4. | Canon G9 X Mark II | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | 75/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2017 | 529 | ebay.com | |
5. | Nikon Z5 | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | 89/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Jul 2020 | 1,399 | amazon.com | |
6. | Nikon Z6 II | 4.5/5 | .. | 4/5 | 89/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2020 | 1,999 | amazon.com | |
7. | Olympus E-M1 III | 5/5 | .. | 5/5 | 83/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2020 | 1,799 | ebay.com | |
8. | Olympus E-M1 II | 5/5 | + + | 5/5 | 85/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2016 | 1,999 | ebay.com | |
9. | Panasonic GH6 | 5/5 | + + | 5/5 | 87/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2022 | 2,199 | amazon.com | |
10. | Panasonic S5 | 4.5/5 | + + | 4.5/5 | 88/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2020 | 1,999 | amazon.com | |
11. | Panasonic G9 | .. | + + | 5/5 | 85/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Nov 2017 | 1,699 | ebay.com | |
12. | Panasonic GH5 | 4.5/5 | + + | .. | 85/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Jan 2017 | 1,999 | ebay.com | |
13. | Sony ZV-1F | .. | .. | 4/5 | 78/100 | .. | 4/5 | Oct 2022 | 499 | amazon.com | |
14. | Sony A7 III | .. | + + | 4.5/5 | 89/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2018 | 1,999 | amazon.com | |
15. | Sony HX95 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Aug 2018 | 429 | ebay.com | |
16. | Sony WX800 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Oct 2018 | 399 | ebay.com | |
17. | Sony HX90V | 4/5 | + + | .. | .. | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Apr 2015 | 429 | ebay.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. 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. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.
Other camera comparisons
Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Canon 6D Mark II vs Sony HX99
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- Canon R8 vs Panasonic GH5 II
- Canon SX540 vs Sony HX99
- Fujifilm GFX 50S vs Sony HX99
- Nikon D3400 vs Sony HX99
- Nikon W150 vs Panasonic GH5 II
- OM System OM-1 II vs Panasonic GH5 II
- OM System TG-7 vs Panasonic GH5 II
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Specifications: Panasonic GH5 II vs Sony HX99
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.
Camera Model | Panasonic GH5 II | Sony HX99 |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | Fixed lens compact camera |
Camera Lens | Micro Four Thirds lenses | 24-720mm f/3.5-6.4 |
Launch Date | May 2021 | August 2018 |
Launch Price | USD 1,699 | USD 449 |
Sensor Specs | Panasonic GH5 II | Sony HX99 |
Sensor Technology | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor Format | Four Thirds Sensor | 1/2.3" Sensor |
Sensor Size | 17.3 x 13.0 mm | 6.17 x 4.55 mm |
Sensor Area | 224.9 mm2 | 28.0735 mm2 |
Sensor Diagonal | 21.6 mm | 7.7 mm |
Crop Factor | 2.0x | 5.6x |
Sensor Resolution | 20.2 Megapixels | 18 Megapixels |
Image Resolution | 5184 x 3888 pixels | 4896 x 3672 pixels |
Pixel Pitch | 3.34 μm | 1.25 μm |
Pixel Density | 8.96 MP/cm2 | 64.04 MP/cm2 |
Moiré control | no AA filter | no AA filter |
Movie Capability | 4K/60p Video | 4K/30p Video |
ISO Setting | 200 - 25,600 ISO | 80 - 3,200 ISO |
ISO Boost | 100 - 25,600 ISO | 80 - 6,400 ISO |
Image Processor | Venus 10 | BIONZ X |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 79 | .. |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 23.7 | .. |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 13.1 | .. |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 1136 | .. |
Screen Specs | Panasonic GH5 II | Sony HX99 |
Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | Electronic viewfinder |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | 100% |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.76x | |
Viewfinder Resolution | 3680k dots | 638k dots |
LCD Framing | Live View | Live View |
Rear LCD Size | 3.0inch | 3.0inch |
LCD Resolution | 1840k dots | 922k dots |
LCD Attachment | Swivel screen | Tilting screen |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
Shooting Specs | Panasonic GH5 II | Sony HX99 |
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | Contrast-detect AF |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | no Peaking Feature |
Continuous Shooting | 12 shutter flaps/s | 10 shutter flaps/s |
Electronic Shutter | up to 1/16000s | no E-Shutter |
Time-Lapse Photography | Intervalometer built-in | no Intervalometer |
Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | Lens-based stabilization |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | Built-in Flash |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | MS or SDXC cards |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | Single card slot |
UHS card support | Dual UHS-II | UHS-I |
Connectivity Specs | Panasonic GH5 II | Sony HX99 |
External Flash | Hotshoe | no Hotshoe |
Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | no PC Sync |
USB Connector | USB 3.2 | USB 2.0 |
HDMI Port | full HDMI | micro HDMI |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | no MIC socket |
Headphone Socket | Headphone port | no Headphone port |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | Wifi built-in |
Near-Field Communication | no NFC | NFC built-in |
Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | Bluetooth built-in |
Body Specs | Panasonic GH5 II | Sony HX99 |
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | not weather sealed |
Battery Type | Panasonic DMW-BLK22 | Sony NP-BX1 |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 400 shots per charge | 370 shots per charge |
In-Camera Charging | no USB charging | USB charging |
Body Dimensions |
139 x 98 x 87 mm (5.5 x 3.9 x 3.4 in) |
102 x 58 x 36 mm (4.0 x 2.3 x 1.4 in) |
Camera Weight | 727 g (25.6 oz) | 242 g (8.5 oz) |
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