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Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A550

Portability
62
Imaging
50
Features
82
Overall
62
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Panasonic GH5S
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 660g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Revealed January 2018
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched December 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A100
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Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A550 Overview

Below is a in depth review of the Panasonic GH5S and Sony A550, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the GH5S (10MP) and A550 (14MP) and the GH5S (Four Thirds) and A550 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The GH5S was introduced 8 years later than the A550 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH5S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a quick summation of how the GH5S grades versus the A550 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5S over the Sony A550

 GH5S A550 
LaunchedJanuary 2018December 2009More recent by 99 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1620k922kClearer screen (+698k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Panasonic GH5S

 A550 GH5S 

Common features in the Panasonic GH5S and Sony A550

 GH5S A550 
Focus manually More exact focus

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH5S offers outer dimensions of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") and a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs) and the Sony A550 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GH5S and Sony A550 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the GH5S against the A550.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A550 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GH5S and A550 is 62 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to see the difference in sensor measurements purely by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH5S and A550.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GH5S using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A550 will provide greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The fresher GH5S will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH5S
Portrait photography with Sony A550
62
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
low MP (10 megapixels)
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Street photography factors
Sony A550 Street photography factors
68
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with focus via touch
weather proofing
good ISO range (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH5S
Sports photography with Sony A550
56
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
no phase detect autofocus
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low battery pack (480 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Travel photography highlights
Sony A550 Travel photography highlights
61
weather proofing
supports bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
52
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (480 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Landscape photography factors
Sony A550 Landscape photography factors
63
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
no anti-alias filter
good ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
66
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low battery pack (480 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH5S Vlogging features
Sony A550 Vlogging features
68
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does have external microphone jack
lack of image stabilization
9
no video shooting
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Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH5S and Sony A550
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5SSony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Type Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2018-01-08 2009-12-09
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine 10 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3680 x 2760 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 51200 12800
Max enhanced ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 160 200
RAW files
Minimum enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 225 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3.2 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,620k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 3,680k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.76x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 660g (1.46 lb) 632g (1.39 lb)
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 rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 807
Other
Battery life 440 pictures 480 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLF19 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs w/3 images) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (UHS-II V60 cards supported) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Two Single
Retail cost $2,498 $749