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Panasonic GH5 vs Sony A850

Portability
59
Imaging
60
Features
89
Overall
71
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Panasonic GH5
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 725g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Revealed January 2017
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GH4
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GH5 II
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Revealed April 2010
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Panasonic GH5 vs Sony A850 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Panasonic GH5 versus Sony A850, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the GH5 (20MP) and the A850 (25MP) is pretty well matched but the GH5 (Four Thirds) and A850 (Full frame) provide different sensor sizes.

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The GH5 was revealed 6 years later than the A850 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the GH5 matches up vs the A850 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5 over the Sony A850

 GH5 A850 
RevealedJanuary 2017April 2010More recent by 82 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1620k922kCrisper screen (+698k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Panasonic GH5

 A850 GH5 

Common features in the Panasonic GH5 and Sony A850

 GH5 A850 
Focus manually More precise focus

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH5 provides outside dimensions of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 725 grams (1.60 lbs) whilst the Sony A850 has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

See the Panasonic GH5 versus Sony A850 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the GH5 versus the A850.

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony A850 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GH5 and A850 is 59 and 54 respectively.

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to visualize the gap between sensor measurements only by looking at technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH5 and A850.

As you have seen, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GH5 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony A850 will give you more detail because of its extra 5MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The younger GH5 provides an edge in sensor technology.

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH5 Portrait photography information
Sony A850 Portrait photography information
76
has manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
72
you can focus manually
MP count great (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH5 Street photography info
Sony A850 Street photography info
74
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with touch focus
weather proofing
very good ISO range (25,600)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH5
Sports photography with Sony A850
68
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
terrible battery (410 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
71
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count great (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH5 Travel photography advice
Sony A850 Travel photography advice
68
weather proofing
has bluetooth
comes with touch focus
resolution is good (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
55
environment proof
MP count great (25MP)
no Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH5 Landscape photography information
Sony A850 Landscape photography information
75
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
does not have low pass filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count great (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
has dual storage slots
doesn't have liveview
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH5 Vlogging highlights
Sony A850 Vlogging highlights
75
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
does have external microphone port
9
can't record video
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Panasonic GH5 vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH5 and Sony A850
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Type Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2017-01-04 2010-04-15
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 25MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 6048 x 4032
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 225 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3.2 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,620 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 3,680 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 98%
Viewfinder magnification 0.76x 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 12.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Redeye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On w/Redeye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Redeye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) -
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 None
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 725g (1.60 lbs) 895g (1.97 lbs)
Physical dimensions 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 77 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.9 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.0 12.2
DXO Low light rating 807 1415
Other
Battery life 410 pictures 880 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs; 10 secs w/3 shots) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compatible) Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots 2 2
Cost at release $1,298 $0