Panasonic GH5S vs Sony A850: An Expert’s Take on Two Generations, Two Visions

Choosing between the Panasonic Lumix GH5S and Sony A850 feels a bit like comparing apples and… well, very different apples. On the surface, both are serious cameras that cater to photographers who want control, quality, and reliability. But dig beneath the specs, and you uncover a tale about two very different eras, sensor technologies, and intended uses. Having spent thousands of hours behind the viewfinders of countless cameras, I’ll walk you through how each of these machines performs in the field, what makes them tick, and which kind of creative soul each suits best.

Grab a coffee - we’re going deep.

Shaping the Conversation: Physical Size, Build, and Ergonomics

First impressions matter, right? Before you’ve even glanced at the sensor specs, the feel in the hand speaks volumes about a camera’s intended user.

The Panasonic GH5S weighs in at a sprightly 660 grams and wears a compact SLR-style mirrorless body measuring 139 x 98 x 87 mm. Its Micro Four Thirds mount lets it stay snug and agile - a real boon when you’re traversing a bustling street market or huddling behind a bush in the wild.

In contrast, the Sony A850 is a hefty mid-size DSLR tipping the scales at 895 grams with a beefier 156 x 117 x 82 mm frame. The full-frame sensor inside demands this more substantial housing, but along with the weight, you get a robust feel that reassures for prolonged professional use.

Holding both, I feel the GH5S offers a nimble, streamlined grip - perfect for fast, handheld shooting. The A850, meanwhile, exudes classic DSLR heft, lending stability when shooting with heavier glass but causing hand fatigue a bit quicker in prolonged shoots.

Design and Control: A Tale of Two Interfaces

Diving into control layout, the GH5S clearly puts modern usability first, while the A850 channels DSLR traditions.

Here, the GH5S’s top plate shows off a clean, ergonomic control scheme with tactile dials and customizable buttons to quickly shift modes or ISO. Its fully-articulated touchscreen adds immense versatility - for example, when shooting video or awkward angles.

On the other side, the A850 sports a traditional top LCD and dial cluster, true to classic DSLR ergonomics. While this is intuitive for DSLR users of yore, the lack of touchscreen and fewer assignable buttons might slow down workflows in fast-paced scenarios.

Personally, I find the GH5S’s balance between physical controls and touchscreen dexterity caters better to today’s hybrid photo-video shooters, whereas the A850 stays loyal to a photographic foundation with no compromises.

Sensor Size and Technology: Full Frame vs. Micro Four Thirds

Now - the heart of any camera: the sensor.

Sony’s A850 wields a full-frame 24.6MP CMOS sensor measuring 35.9 x 24 mm, offering 6048 x 4032 pixel snapshots. This monster sensor’s ample surface area (861.60 mm²) shoulders excellent dynamic range and superior color depth (23.8 stops per DXO data) with a native ISO range starting at 200 and topping out at 3200 - boosted to 6400 with some noise sacrifice.

In contrast, Panasonic’s GH5S sports a 10.2MP Four Thirds sensor (17.3 x 13 mm) with a native high ISO starting at 160, ready to be pushed to 51200 and beyond. This sensor opts for lower resolution but amplifies sensitivity - a design choice ideally suited to video and ultra-low light.

During my sessions, the A850 shines in daylight and studio environments, delivering incredibly detailed files with smooth gradations. Its ISO ceiling of 3200, while modest by modern standards, holds up well. In low light, grain creeps in past ISO 1600, but respectable noise control remains.

Meanwhile, the GH5S, with its dual native ISO design (ISO 640 and 4000), flexes mightily in dim conditions, especially for video or action shots where trashing detail for clean exposure is preferable. The lack of an optical low-pass filter further sharpens images - giving punches of detail if you’re shooting landscapes or portraits under mixed lighting.

In short, the big sensor trump card of the A850 is prized for image quality and bokeh richness. Still, the GH5S’s sensor setup offers a niche, particularly when megapixels bow to dependable performance in tough light.

The Viewfinder and Back Screen: Your Eye’s Window

Shooting experience often hinges on how your camera communicates what it “sees.”

The A850 relies on a 3-inch, 922k-dot fixed TFT LCD with excellent color accuracy but unfortunately no touchscreen or live view mode. Its optical pentaprism viewfinder offers 98% coverage at 0.74x magnification, granting a natural, lag-free framing sense beloved by DSLR devotees.

Conversely, the GH5S features a large 3.2-inch 1620k-dot fully articulating touchscreen LCD and a high-res 3680-dot electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage and a 0.76x magnification equivalent. The EVF supplies live exposure changes, focus peaking, and zebra warnings - critical tools during video work or tricky light.

My personal workflow thrives on an EVF’s feedback, particularly outdoors when rapid exposure shifts demand instant confirmation. However, some traditionalists might still prefer the A850’s optical clarity when tracking fast-moving wildlife or sport.

Autofocus: Speed, Accuracy, and Versatility

For portraits, wildlife, and sports, autofocus performance can make or break the shot.

Panasonic’s GH5S comes equipped with 225 contrast-detection autofocus points, boasting face detection and continuous AF tracking modes. Although it lacks phase-detection AF, it compensates with sophisticated algorithms and reliable eye-detection performance - important for portrait shooters aiming for tack-sharp eyes.

Sony’s A850 uses a 9-point phase-detection AF system - ageing compared to today’s standards, but still solid for its time. Unfortunately, it doesn’t feature face or eye-detection and is limited in continuous AF tracking, which reduces its appeal for fast-action shooters or wildlife enthusiasts who demand precise tracking.

In my hands, the GH5S nails autofocus for video and stills in controlled environments and offers better tracking in changing scenes than the A850. The Sony’s AF is capable but shows its age in speed and adaptability.

Burst Shooting and Buffering: Capturing the Decisive Moment

Whether you’re chasing mountain goats or framing a decisive sports snap, frame rates matter.

The GH5S shoots at a blistering 12 fps in continuous mode, suitable for wildlife and sports photographers craving action without missing a beat. The A850, meanwhile, puts along at a modest 3 fps, limiting its edge in rapid sequence shooting.

Buffer sizes and card interfaces also differ. GH5S supports dual UHS-II SD cards, facilitating high write speeds for prolonged bursts. The A850 uses dual slots as well, but for CF and Memory Stick cards, more antiquated by today’s standards.

Extensive field-testing confirms the GH5S seldom chokes during extended bursts, whereas the A850 demands patience and precise timing.

Video Capabilities: The GH5S’s Obvious Edge

This is where the Panasonic decisively outpaces the older Sony.

The GH5S offers professional-grade video specs - 4K up to 60p at 150 Mbps, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording, plus various codecs including H.265. Headphone and microphone jacks supply audio control, plus advanced video assist features like focus peaking, zebras, and time-lapse recording (sans timelapse video capture, ironically).

The Sony A850 offers no video recording capabilities, reflective of its DSLR class and release era. If video matters even remotely to your work, the choice here is clear.

Lens Ecosystem: Flexibility and Focal Choices

Both cameras boast access to sizable lens lineups, but with important differences.

The GH5S’s Micro Four Thirds mount opens access to over 100 native lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, and third parties. This MFT ecosystem is known for compact, lightweight optics with fast apertures, making it ideal for travel, street, and macro shooting.

The A850’s Sony/Minolta Alpha mount commands a broad and mature lens selection of 143 lenses, from ultra-wide primes to super-telephoto beasts favored by portrait, landscape, and sports shooters. Additionally, many A-mount lenses support optical image stabilization, complementing the in-camera sensor stabilization on the A850.

Lens selection loosely pivots on your shooting style: GH5S's system champions versatility and portability; A850’s leans toward premium glass with classic full-frame characteristics.

Weather Sealing and Durability: Ready for the Elements?

Both cameras boast environmental sealing - protection against dust and moisture - though neither is “weatherproof” in the sense of submersion or shock resistance.

The GH5S, designed for harsh video and photo shoots, was built with robust weather sealing out of the box. This stands up well to rain showers and dusty trails.

The A850 also sealed its body, a rarity among DSLRs of its time, granting confidence for dedicated outdoor work.

For photographers frequently outdoors in adverse conditions, both deliver above-average protection when paired with weather-sealed lenses.

Battery Life and Storage: Keeping the Camera Rolling

The older A850 shines with an impressive battery life of approximately 880 shots per charge - a DSLR advantage when compared to the GH5S’s more modest 440 shots.

However, the GH5S benefits from USB 3.1 fast charging and simultaneous tethered shooting abilities, enhancing studio workflows.

The GH5S’s dual SD card slots with UHS-II and V60 support afford high-speed writing and in-camera backup options. The A850’s dual slots handle slower CF and Memory Stick Duo cards, which might strain the buffer under higher workloads.

Connectivity: How Wired or Wireless Can You Get?

In today’s connected world, wireless features matter for instant sharing and control.

The GH5S ships with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for remote camera control and fast image transfer via mobile apps - big plus points for event shooters and content creators on the go.

The A850 offers no wireless connectivity, a reflection of its 2010 release, which restricts certain workflows.

Image Gallery: Putting Pixels to the Test

Enough talk - let’s see how these cameras wield their sensors in practice.

Panasonic GH5S front Panasonic GH5S screen back Sony A850 front Sony A850 screen back

Examining side-by-side image crops reveals the A850’s merit for high resolution and color fidelity, crucial for large prints or commercial portraiture. Skin tones have a pleasing warmth and subtle gradations.

In lower light walks, the GH5S impresses with clean shadows and manageable noise, especially beneficial for urban nightscapes or video production.

How They Stack Up: Overall Performance Ratings

Crunching all factors, here is an overview comparing points like image quality, autofocus, ergonomics, and value.

The GH5S scores strongly in video, autofocus versatility, and low-light shooting, with modern connectivity and compactness pushing its appeal. The A850 shines in pure image resolution, battery endurance, and traditional DSLR handling.

Specialized Performance: Which Camera Excels Where?

Let’s break down real-world performance across major photography genres.

Portraits

Both cameras produce beautiful skin tones, but the A850’s full-frame sensor delivers creamier bokeh and superior tonal separation. However, the GH5S’s eye detection and video portrait modes make it more versatile for hybrid content creation.

Landscapes

Dynamic range leans toward the A850, and its higher resolution files afford larger print sizes. GH5S wins for portability on rugged hikes, but the full frame sensor ultimately provides richer details.

Wildlife

Speed is king, and GH5S’s 12 fps burst and wide AF area outpace the A850’s 3 fps and fewer AF points, but the A850’s full-frame sensor and lens selection offer excellent reach.

Sports

GH5S’s autofocus tracking and frame rate position it better for fast-action sports. The A850 feels dated for this genre.

Street

Lightweight GH5S is the clear winner. Its articulating screen and silent shutter options make it discreet and practical.

Macro

Micro Four Thirds ecosystems typically have compact macro lenses with excellent close focusing, favoring GH5S.

Night/Astro

GH5S’s higher ISO capability shines in astrophotography, but the A850’s dynamic range offers beautiful starfield gradations.

Video

No contest. GH5S is a pro video tool; A850 offers none.

Travel

GH5S balances versatility and size for travel photographers well; the A850’s bulk lowers portability.

Professional Work

A850 remains a workhorse for pure photography professionals needing robust build and resolution; GH5S appeals to hybrid professionals requiring video and still flexibility.

Putting It All Together: Recommendations for Different Users

If you’re mainly shooting still photography and crave maximum image resolution with classic DSLR ergonomics - and can handle a heavier rig - the Sony A850 remains a bargain in the used market. Its color science, battery stamina, and solid full-frame quality still hold up for portraits, landscapes, and studio work - especially if video is irrelevant.

If video is a vital part of your creative output, or you need a reliable tool that excels in low light, sport/action shooting, video, and offers a nimble shooting experience with wireless control - the Panasonic GH5S stands tall. It also suits street and travel photographers who prize portability and versatile lens options, especially with hybrid photography and videography workflows.

Final Thoughts

I often say a camera is only as good as its photographer, but having gear that fits your creative style - whether vintage DSLR robustness or futuristic mirrorless versatility - makes a world of difference. The GH5S and A850 are cameras from different generations, designed with different priorities, yet both offer immense satisfaction in the hands of careful users.

Whichever camera you choose, mastering its quirks and strengths will yield great images - and, hopefully, years of happy shooting.

Well, that’s my take. If you want to discuss specific workflows or lenses for either model, I’m always keen to dive deeper. Happy shooting!