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Panasonic GH5 vs Sony a1

Portability
59
Imaging
60
Features
89
Overall
71
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony a1 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
  • Released January 2017
  • Superseded the Panasonic GH4
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GH5 II
Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Boost to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Released January 2021
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Panasonic GH5 vs Sony a1 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Panasonic GH5 versus Sony a1, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the GH5 (20MP) and a1 (50MP) and the GH5 (Four Thirds) and a1 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The GH5 was revealed 5 years before the a1 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the GH5 scores versus the a1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5 over the Sony a1

 GH5 a1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1620k1440kClearer display (+180k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Panasonic GH5

 a1 GH5 
ReleasedJanuary 2021January 2017Fresher by 49 months

Common features in the Panasonic GH5 and Sony a1

 GH5 a1 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH5 features 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) while the Sony a1 has sizing of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GH5 versus Sony a1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the GH5 versus the a1.

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony a1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GH5 and a1 is 59 and 61 respectively.

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing merely by looking through specs. The visual here should offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH5 and a1.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GH5 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Sony a1 will render more detail because of its extra 30MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older GH5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH5 vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH5 Portrait photography details
Sony a1 Portrait photography details
76
focusing manually
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
88
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/400s)
fantastic MP (50 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH5
Street photography with Sony a1
74
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers touch focus
environment proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
79
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
weather proof
great ISO range (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH5 Sports photography information
Sony a1 Sports photography information
68
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
terrible battery life (410 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
90
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (30.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic MP (50MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
good battery life (530 per charge)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH5 Travel photography details
Sony a1 Travel photography details
68
environment proofing
supports bluetooth
offers touch focus
MP count good (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery life (410 CIPA)
73
good battery life (530 per charge)
weather proof
has bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
fantastic MP (50MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony a1 as a Landscape photography camera
75
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have low pass filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
has double storage slots
terrible battery life (410 shots)
88
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic MP (50 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
great ISO range (32,000)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
good battery life (530 CIPA)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH5 Vlogging advice
Sony a1 Vlogging advice
75
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
includes external microphone port
36
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
high quality video (7680 x 4320 resolution)
includes external mic support
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic GH5 vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH5 and Sony a1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5Sony Alpha a1
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 Sony Alpha a1
Class Pro Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2017-01-04 2021-01-26
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 50MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 8640 x 5760
Max native ISO 25600 32000
Max enhanced ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 225 759
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 133
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3.2 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,620 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 3,680 thousand dots 9,437 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.76x 0.9x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 12.0fps 30.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated 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 Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/400 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 7680x4320
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 725 gr (1.60 lbs) 737 gr (1.62 lbs)
Physical dimensions 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 77 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 807 not tested
Other
Battery life 410 photos 530 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs; 10 secs w/3 shots) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compatible) Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Card slots Dual Dual
Price at release $1,298 $6,498