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Panasonic GH2 vs Sony A6500

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
68
Features
85
Overall
74

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Revealed March 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GH1
  • Later Model is Panasonic GH3
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Introduced October 2016
  • Superseded the Sony A6300
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Panasonic GH2 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Panasonic GH2 and Sony A6500, both Advanced Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the GH2 (16MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the GH2 (Four Thirds) and A6500 (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

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The GH2 was manufactured 6 years earlier than the A6500 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the GH2 matches up vs the A6500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Sony A6500

 GH2 A6500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Panasonic GH2

 A6500 GH2 
IntroducedOctober 2016March 2011More recent by 67 months
Screen resolution922k460kCrisper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Sony A6500

 GH2 A6500 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH2 offers physical dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) while the Sony A6500 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GH2 and Sony A6500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the GH2 compared to the A6500.

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the GH2 and A6500 is 70 and 81 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements purely by looking at a spec sheet. The visual below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH2 and A6500.

As you can see, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GH2 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A6500 will resolve extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older GH2 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH2
Portrait photography with Sony A6500
70
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
80
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Street photography advice
Sony A6500 Street photography advice
68
screen articulates
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
85
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
offers touch to focus
environment proof
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Sports photography highlights
Sony A6500 Sports photography highlights
46
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery life (330 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
77
silent mode (1/32,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery life (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Travel photography camera
62
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery life (330 shots)
74
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
offers touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
bad battery life (350 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography details
Sony A6500 Landscape photography details
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery life (330 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
80
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
bad battery life (350 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Vlogging details
Sony A6500 Vlogging details
71
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone port
does not have image stabilization
39
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes external microphone jack
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic GH2 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Sony A6500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Sony Alpha a6500
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2011-03-23 2016-10-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 425
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 15.60 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 442 grams (0.97 lb) 453 grams (1.00 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 60 85
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 13.7
DXO Low light rating 655 1405
Other
Battery life 330 images 350 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $1,000 $1,298