Panasonic GH5 Comparison Review
The Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was revealed to the public in January 2017 and is equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. It offers a resolution of 20.2 megapixel.
Is the Panasonic GH5 a good camera? The GH5 has a Camera Elo of 2884. This rating puts the GH5 among the top 20 percent of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (Four Thirds cameras), the GH5 ranks among the top 10 percent.
| Panasonic GH5 |
|---|
| Mirrorless system camera |
| Micro Four Thirds lenses |
| 20.2 MP, Four Thirds Sensor |
| 4K/60p Video |
| ISO 200 - 25 600 |
| Electronic viewfinder (3680k dots) |
| 3.2 LCD, 1620k dots |
| Swivel touchscreen |
| 12 shutter flaps per second |
| In-body stabilization |
| Weathersealed body |
| 410 shots per battery charge |
| 139 x 98 x 87 mm, 725 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.
Body comparison with a credit card
An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Panasonic GH5 vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. 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.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Panasonic GH5 alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) | Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic GH5 | 5.5 in | 3.9 in | 3.4 in | 25.6 oz | 410 | Y | Jan 2017 | 1,999 | | |
| Fujifilm X-H1 | 5.5 in | 3.8 in | 3.4 in | 23.7 oz | 310 | Y | Feb 2018 | 1,899 | | |
| Nikon D500 | 5.8 in | 4.5 in | 3.2 in | 30.3 oz | 1240 | Y | Jan 2016 | 1,999 | | |
| Olympus E-M1 II | 5.3 in | 3.6 in | 2.6 in | 20.2 oz | 440 | Y | Sep 2016 | 1,999 | | |
| Panasonic G9 | 5.4 in | 3.8 in | 3.6 in | 23.2 oz | 400 | Y | Nov 2017 | 1,699 | | |
| Panasonic G85 | 5.0 in | 3.5 in | 2.9 in | 17.8 oz | 330 | Y | Sep 2016 | 899 | | |
| Panasonic GX8 | 5.2 in | 3.1 in | 2.5 in | 17.2 oz | 330 | Y | Jul 2015 | 1,199 | | |
| Panasonic GH4 | 5.2 in | 3.7 in | 3.3 in | 19.8 oz | 500 | Y | Feb 2014 | 1,499 | | |
| Sony A7 III | 5.0 in | 3.8 in | 2.9 in | 22.9 oz | 610 | Y | Feb 2018 | 1,999 | | |
| Sony A9 | 5.0 in | 3.8 in | 2.5 in | 23.7 oz | 650 | Y | Apr 2017 | 4,499 | | |
| Sony A7 II | 5.0 in | 3.8 in | 2.4 in | 21.1 oz | 350 | Y | Nov 2014 | 1,999 | | |
| Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | ||||||||||
The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Panasonic GH5 was launched in the US market at a price of $1,999. 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.
check price at amazon
Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide
The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have 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 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 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.
Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for most cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). 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 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic GH5 | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/60p | 23.9 | 13.0 | 807 | 77 | |
| Fujifilm X-H1 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Nikon D500 | APS-C | 20.7 | 5568 | 3712 | 4K/30p | 24.0 | 14.0 | 1324 | 83 | |
| Olympus E-M1 II | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 23.7 | 12.8 | 1312 | 80 | |
| Panasonic G9 | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/60p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Panasonic G85 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 4K/30p | 22.8 | 12.5 | 656 | 71 | |
| Panasonic GX8 | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 23.5 | 12.6 | 806 | 75 | |
| Panasonic GH4 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 23.2 | 12.8 | 791 | 74 | |
| Sony A7 III | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 14.7 | 3730 | 96 | |
| Sony A9 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 24.9 | 13.3 | 3517 | 92 | |
| Sony A7 II | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.9 | 13.6 | 2449 | 90 |
Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The GH5 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the GH5 can use is 4K/60p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the GH5 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 tables below summarize some of the other core capabilities of the Panasonic GH5 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.
| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Size (inch) |
LCD Resolution (000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Mech Shutter Speed |
Shutter Flaps (1/sec) | Built-in Flash (yes/no) | Built-in Image Stab |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic GH5 | 3680 | n | 3.2 | 1620 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 12.0 | n | Y | |
| Fujifilm X-H1 | 3690 | Y | 3.0 | 1040 | full-flex | Y | 1/8000s | 14.0 | n | Y | |
| Nikon D500 | optical | Y | 3.2 | 2359 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0 | n | n | |
| Olympus E-M1 II | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1037 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 18.0 | n | Y | |
| Panasonic G9 | 3680 | Y | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 20.0 | n | Y | |
| Panasonic G85 | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 9.0 | Y | Y | |
| Panasonic GX8 | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0 | n | Y | |
| Panasonic GH4 | 2359 | n | 3.0 | 1036 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 12.0 | Y | n | |
| Sony A7 III | 2359 | n | 3.0 | 922 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0 | n | Y | |
| Sony A9 | 3686 | n | 3.0 | 1440 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 20.0 | n | Y | |
| Sony A7 II | 2400 | n | 3.0 | 1230 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 5.0 | n | Y |
One feature that differentiates the GH5 from many other cameras is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The GH5 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.
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 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Microphone |
Internal Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support | NFC Support | Bluetooth Support |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic GH5 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | full | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
| Fujifilm X-H1 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 3.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Nikon D500 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Olympus E-M1 II | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Panasonic G9 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | full | 3.0 | Y | - | Y | |
| Panasonic G85 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Panasonic GX8 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Panasonic GH4 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Sony A7 III | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Sony A9 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Sony A7 II | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - |
It is notable that the GH5 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.
Expert reviews
While the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the handling experience and imaging performance when actually working with the GH5. 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 (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog).
| Camera Model |
camera labs |
dp review |
ephoto zine |
imaging resource |
photography blog |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic GH5 | + + | 85/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Jan 2017 | 1,999 | |
|
| Fujifilm X-H1 | + | 86/100 | 4.5/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | Feb 2018 | 1,899 | |
|
| Nikon D500 | + + | 91/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Jan 2016 | 1,999 | |
|
| Olympus E-M1 II | + + | 85/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2016 | 1,999 | |
|
| Panasonic G9 | + + | 85/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Nov 2017 | 1,699 | |
|
| Panasonic G85 | + + | 84/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2016 | 899 | |
|
| Panasonic GX8 | + | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jul 2015 | 1,199 | |
|
| Panasonic GH4 | + + | 85/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2014 | 1,499 | |
|
| Sony A7 III | + + | 89/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2018 | 1,999 | |
|
| Sony A9 | + + | 89/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Apr 2017 | 4,499 | |
|
| Sony A7 II | + | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Nov 2014 | 1,999 | |
|
| Notes: (+ +) 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. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.
Panasonic GH5 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the GH5.
What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the GH5?
The camera is build around a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Panasonic equipped the GH5 with the Venus 10 image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the GH5?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600.
Does the camera have a selfie-friendly screen?
Yes, the LCD-screen of the GH5 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?
Panasonic mentions a shutter rating of 200 000 actuations for the GH5. 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 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 200 pictures each and every day.
Is completely silent shooting possible with the Panasonic GH5?
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?
No, the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 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?
The GH5 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 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 flash?
The GH5's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.
Does the Panasonic GH5 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 GH5 use?
The camera gets its power from the DMW-BLF19 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the GH5?
Yes, Panasonic offers the DMW-BGGH5 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Where can I find the best deals for the GH5?
Grey imports from Asia, as found on eBay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from Panasonic.
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.
| Camera Model | Panasonic GH5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
| Camera Lens | Micro Four Thirds lenses | |
| Launch Date | January 2017 | |
| Launch Price | USD 1 999 | |
| 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) | 77 | |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 23.9 | |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 13.0 | |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 807 | |
| Screen Specs | ||
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.76x | |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 3680k dots | |
| LCD Framing | Live View | |
| LCD Size | 1620k dots | |
| LCD Attachment | Swivel screen | |
| Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
| Shooting Specs | ||
| Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
| Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
| Continuous Shooting | 12 shutter flaps/s | |
| Shutter Life Expectancy | 200 000 actuations | |
| Silent Shooting | Electronic Shutter | |
| Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
| Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | |
| Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
| Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
| Second Storage Option | Dual card slots | |
| UHS card support | Dual UHS-II | |
| Connectivity Specs | ||
| External Flash | Hotshoe | |
| Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | |
| USB Connector | USB 3.1 | |
| 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 Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
| Battery Type | DMW-BLF19 power pack | |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 410 shots per charge | |
| Body Dimensions |
139 x 98 x 87 mm (5.5 x 3.9 x 3.4 in) |
|
| Camera Weight | 725 g (25.6 oz) |
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