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Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A500

Portability
62
Imaging
50
Features
82
Overall
62
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Panasonic GH5S
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 660g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Released January 2018
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Updated by Sony A560
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Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A500 Overview

The following is a comprehensive comparison of the Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A500, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the GH5S (10MP) and the A500 (12MP) is pretty similar but the GH5S (Four Thirds) and A500 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The GH5S was introduced 8 years after the A500 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH5S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the GH5S matches up against the A500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5S over the Sony A500

 GH5S A500 
RevealedJanuary 2018August 2009Newer by 102 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1620k230kClearer screen (+1390k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Panasonic GH5S

 A500 GH5S 

Common features in the Panasonic GH5S and Sony A500

 GH5S A500 
Manual focus Very exact focus

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH5S features outer dimensions of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") along with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs) while the Sony A500 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the GH5S compared to the A500.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH5S and A500 is 62 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reviewing technical specs. The pic underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the GH5S and A500.

As you can tell, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GH5S having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Sony A500 will deliver greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The newer GH5S provides an edge in sensor tech.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH5S as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
62
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
low MP (10MP)
63
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Street photography info
Sony A500 Street photography info
68
screen articulates
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
environment sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Sports photography details
Sony A500 Sports photography details
56
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/16,000s)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not have phase detect auto focus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Travel photography advice
Sony A500 Travel photography advice
61
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch focus
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
43
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery life (520 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Landscape photography details
Sony A500 Landscape photography details
63
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
two card slots
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
60
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (520 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH5S
Vlogging with Sony A500
68
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
has face detection focus
good video quality (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does have external microphone socket
lack of image stabilization
9
lack of video recording
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Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH5S and Sony A500
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5SSony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2018-01-08 2009-08-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine 10 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3680 x 2760 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 51200 12800
Max enhanced ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 160 200
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 225 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3.2 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,620k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 3,680k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.76x 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 12.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Max video resolution 4096x2160 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 660 grams (1.46 lb) 630 grams (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 440 photographs 520 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model DMW-BLF19 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs w/3 images) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (UHS-II V60 cards supported) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Dual Single
Cost at release $2,498 $638