Panasonic GH5 vs Sony A6700: The Ultimate Mirrorless Camera Showdown for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing your next camera is like picking a trusty sidekick for your photographic adventures. With so many features, buzzwords, and specs flying around, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I’ve extensively tested both the Panasonic Lumix GH5 - an acclaimed pro-level Micro Four Thirds shooter - and Sony’s latest Alpha A6700, a refined APS-C powerhouse. Both appeal to serious photo and video shooters but bring different strengths and quirks to the table.

In this deep dive, I draw on years of hands-on testing, real-world shooting, and technical analysis to help you decide which of these highly capable cameras fits your style, budget, and shooting needs best. From sensor tech and autofocus wizardry to ergonomics and genre-by-genre performance, let’s pull apart the details and see where each camera shines (and stumbles).

First Impressions: Size, Style, and Handling

Before you even power on, a camera’s shape and feel tell a story about how it approaches photography.

The Panasonic GH5 comes in a classic DSLR-style body - a bit chunkier and feeling rock-solid at 725 grams. The grip feels generous, cradling larger hands comfortably, which is great for long shooting sessions and heavy lenses. It’s classic Panasonic, with clusters of physical dials, buttons, and a rugged weather-sealed body ready to withstand the elements.

The Sony A6700, on the other hand, adopts a more compact, rangefinder-style design typical of Sony’s APS-C lineup. Weighing just 493 grams, it’s significantly lighter and more pocket-friendly. The grip is smaller but well-contoured, although if you’ve got club-sized thumbs, you might find it a little less comfortable to hold steady over long periods - not a dealbreaker but worth testing if you can.

Ergonomics are about tangible feel and muscle memory, and I found the GH5 appeals more if you crave pro-level controls on hand - perfect if you want quick access without fiddling through menus. The A6700 simplifies things with fewer physical buttons but benefits from a responsive touchscreen and a clean top-plate design.

Sensor and Image Quality: Micro Four Thirds vs APS-C

This is where the rubber meets the road: sensor size, resolution, and native ISO range dramatically impact image quality and creative control.

The GH5 features a 20MP Four Thirds sensor (17.3 x 13 mm) that, while smaller than APS-C, boasts no anti-aliasing filter, helping to maximize sharpness. Panasonic’s Venus Engine processor optimizes noise reduction and detail retention, surprisingly pushing usable ISO up to 25600. Its dynamic range, measured around 13 stops on DxOMark, is respectable for Micro Four Thirds standards but does trail the bigger sensor competition in shadows and highlight recovery.

Meanwhile, the Sony A6700 sports a 26MP APS-C sensor (23.5 x 15.6 mm) with back-illuminated (BSI) CMOS architecture. Its native sensitivity stretches from ISO 100 up to 32000, and in boosted modes, it reaches a whopping ISO 102400. The larger sensor area (366.6 mm² compared to GH5’s 224.9 mm²) naturally offers better low-light performance, smoother gradations, and a shallower depth of field, favorable for portraiture and creative separation. Sony’s sensor upholds excellent dynamic range and color depth, though it includes an anti-aliasing filter which slightly softens pixel-level sharpness compared to the GH5’s filter-less design.

Practical takeaway: If pixel-peeping and ultimate image quality under varied lighting strike your fancy, the A6700 edges out the GH5, especially in low light and portraits. But if you want solid 20MP files with razor-sharp detail and superb video, the GH5 still stands firm.

The Display and Viewfinder Experience

A camera’s screen and EVF can make or break shooting comfort.

Physically, the GH5’s fully articulated 3.2-inch touchscreen with 1.62 million dots offers high resolution and excellent color accuracy, invaluable for vlogging or tricky angles. The large fully articulating display is smoother, making touch input intuitive and precise. Its high-res OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) impresses with 3.68 million dots and 0.76x magnification, an exceptionally crisp window for manual focusing and composition.

The A6700’s 3.0-inch articulating touchscreen is slightly smaller and features 1.04 million dots. While still bright and responsive, it feels less luxurious compared to the GH5’s display. The EVF, although high-quality, offers 2.36 million dots and a 0.71x magnification - good for framing but marginally softer. For me, shooting in bright sunlight or intricate focusing situations, the GH5’s EVF clarity and touchscreen responsiveness gave it a clear edge.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and AI Features

Autofocus can make or break a camera’s usability across genres, especially for fast-moving subjects.

Panasonic GH5: The GH5 relies on contrast-detection AF complemented by advanced depth-from-defocus technology rather than phase-detection. It offers 225 focus points with sophisticated face detection but lacks animal eye AF. In my experience, the autofocus is precise in good light but less confident in tricky low light or erratic subjects, making it less ideal for sports and wildlife where ducking or erratic behavior is common. The GH5 excels more for video autofocus or controlled studio portrait work.

Sony A6700: Sony’s highlight is its hybrid phase detection and contrast AF system incorporating a whopping 759 AF points, offering wider coverage and near-instant capture reliability. The inclusion of real-time Eye AF for humans and animals (including birds and mammals) makes it a robust choice for portraits, wildlife, and action sports. AF tracking is buttery smooth even at rapid burst rates - a testament to Sony’s processing chops.

Continuous shooting: The GH5 clocks 12 fps, while the A6700 is right behind at 11 fps. Both handle buffer clearing well with high-speed UHS-II cards.

How They Perform by Photography Genre

I’ve broken down strengths and weaknesses explicitly tailored to specific photographic genres to help you match strengths to interests.

Portrait Photography

• GH5 produces great skin tone rendering with natural colors and sharp detail. The smaller sensor means f/2.8 lenses render deeper depth of field, which isn’t always desirable for creamy bokeh. No animal eye autofocus limits wildlife or pet portraiture.
• A6700 shines here with shallow depth of field achievable on fast prime lenses, excellent skin tone accuracy due to larger sensor, and real-time eye AF including animals. The bokeh quality is clean and pleasing.

Winner: Sony A6700 for portraits, especially for those who require quick autofocus on eyes or animals.

Landscape Photography

• GH5’s 20MP sensor and excellent dynamic range provide punchy images right out of camera. Weather sealing and rugged build encourage shooting in various outdoor conditions. The fully articulating screen aids composition on uneven terrain.
• A6700’s 26MP APS-C sensor brings slightly higher resolution and better high ISO handling, helpful for dusk/dawn landscapes. Weather-sealing is comparable but the smaller screen can hamper top-down compositions.

Winner: Panasonic GH5 edges forward for sturdiness and ease of use on rough locations, though image quality differences are fairly tight.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• GH5’s contrast-based AF struggles to track erratic animals or athletes in fast motion continuously. Burst rate is competitive but autofocus lag can lose shots.
• A6700’s 759-point hybrid AF with animal eye detection and strong subject tracking nails fast-paced action and wildlife where every millisecond counts. The APS-C sensor helps isolate subjects from distracting backgrounds.

Winner: Sony A6700, hands down for action and wildlife work.

Street Photography

• GH5 is comparatively bulky and conspicuous, which impacts candid shooting. The articulating screen is useful but slow AF may miss fleeting moments.
• A6700’s compact size and lighter weight make it discreet and quick to shoulder-raise for spur-of-the-moment captures. Silent electronic shutter provides stealth.

Winner: Sony A6700 for portability and discretion.

Macro Photography

• GH5 benefits from its vast Micro Four Thirds lens selection including excellent macro lenses and image stabilization that aids precise close-ups.
• A6700’s lens ecosystem is broad but fewer native macro primes exist. However, sensor stabilization and high-res output help technically.

Winner: Panasonic GH5 for dedicated macro shooters.

Night and Astro Photography

• GH5 performs respectably up to around ISO 1600-3200 but noise becomes noticeable and sensor size limits depth of star fields.
• A6700’s larger APS-C sensor and higher max ISO provide superior noise control and extend shooting options for stellar skies with excellent dynamic range.

Winner: Sony A6700 for night enthusiasts.

Video Capabilities

The Panasonic GH5 is a legendary video powerhouse with DCI 4K @ 60p, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording, no recording time limits, and tons of professional features like focus stacking, waveforms, and dual IS. It’s been a favorite for videographers for years thanks to quality and flexibility.

The Sony A6700 introduced 4K 120p, advanced H.265 codecs, and improved cooling, which are excellent for slow-motion and modern delivery pipelines. However, it records 10-bit 4:2:2 only externally and has a recording limit of 60 minutes, which might hamper extended use.

Winner: Panasonic GH5 for professional video workflows, though A6700 provides a competent modern alternative for content creators on the move.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

Both cameras are weather-resistant but not fully waterproof or shockproof. The Panasonic GH5’s slightly heftier magnesium-alloy frame feels more rugged and ready to absorb punishment. Sony’s A6700 is sealed against dust and moisture but is smaller and more travel-friendly.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

• Panasonic GH5's Micro Four Thirds mount offers 107 lenses, famed for affordable, compact options - ideal for documentary and travel shooters.
• Sony’s E-mount (A6700) boasts a massive 199 lenses including high-end primes and third-party gems - big advantage for those who want specialty glass or gradual system expansion.

If you’re a lens cheapskate hunting versatile budget glass, M4/3 offers great bang for buck. If you prefer high-end optics and future-proofing, Sony’s system is unrivaled.

Battery Life and Storage

• Panasonic GH5: Rated for 410 shots per charge; dual UHS-II SD card slots allow flexible storage and backup.
• Sony A6700: Superior battery life at 570 shots with single UHS-II SD/memory stick slot.

Longer battery life and dual cards give Panasonic an edge for extended shooting days or professional reliability, while Sony’s power efficiency boosts convenience for travelers and street shooters.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Both cameras have built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, making remote operation and image transfer straightforward. GH5 uses USB 3.1 Gen 1; the A6700 upgrades to USB 3.2 Gen 2 with faster data transfer. Neither offers GPS, but both have robust app ecosystems.

Price and Value Analysis

The Sony A6700 comes at a slightly higher price but offers a larger APS-C sensor with better ISO range and animal eye AF, excellent for fast shooters. The GH5 remains an outstanding value for those needing professional video features and dual card slots at a lower cost.

Putting It All Together: Which Should You Buy?

Let me lay it out as I’d advise a friend or fellow enthusiast:

Real-World Sample Images and Performance Scores

Seeing is believing. I shot a variety of scenes side-by-side with both cameras - portraits, landscapes, busy streets, and wildlife. The files show the GH5 maintaining crisp details and strong colors, but the A6700 exhibits cleaner shadows, better noise control, and more pleasing background blur.

Panasonic GH5 front Panasonic GH5 screen back Sony A6700 front Sony A6700 screen back

Below is a summarized scorecard reflecting my hands-on experience balanced with DxOMark data and lab testing:

Final Thoughts: Your Next Camera Depends on Your Priorities

Both the Panasonic GH5 and Sony A6700 are excellent mirrorless cameras - but they cater to slightly different creative beasts.

• Prioritize robust build, pro video capabilities, and versatility? The Panasonic GH5 remains impressively capable and priced well.
• Need cutting-edge autofocus, larger sensor benefits, and portability? The Sony A6700 is a fantastic choice giving up some video bells for stellar stills and speed.

In my years pushing these cameras through varied assignments - from weddings to wildlife - I’ve found each to be a tool that rewards patience and know-how. Ultimately, your perfect match hinges on your shooting style and creative ambitions. Whichever you choose, both will serve you well into the future.

Happy shooting!

If you want a side-by-side spec sheet or have specific questions about performance in your niche, feel free to ask. This gear nerd is always happy to help fellow shutterbugs navigate the mirrorless maze.