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Panasonic GH4

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
 
Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67

Panasonic GH4 summary

Panasonic GH4 is Panasonic's Pro Mirrorless digital camera first launched on February of 2014. The camera includes a 16MP, CMOS Four Thirds size sensor with a max resolution of 4608 x 3456.

Panasonic launched this model as a way to update the older Panasonic GH3 (Read Full Comparison) and then introduced the newer Panasonic GH5 (Read Full Comparison) in order to replace this model.

The GH4 is ranked #58 out of 70 in Pro Mirrorless cameras and over-all #198 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. You should look at our Smart camera finder to find camera listings based on your custom requirements.

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Below is a chart of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Panasonic GH4 history

The Panasonic GH4 is part of a family of digital cameras. You can view the full list underneath.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-GH6 front thumbnailPanasonic GH6
GH4 vs GH6
25MPFour Thirds14.0 fps2022
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-GH5-II front thumbnailPanasonic GH5 II
GH4 vs GH5 II
20MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2021
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Panasonic-Lumix-DC-G100 front thumbnailPanasonic G100
GH4 vs G100
20MPFour Thirds10.0 fps2020
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G95 front thumbnailPanasonic G95
GH4 vs G95
20.3MPFour Thirds9.0 fps2019
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-GH5S front thumbnailPanasonic GH5S
GH4 vs GH5S
10MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2018
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-G9 front thumbnailPanasonic G9
GH4 vs G9
20MPFour Thirds20.0 fps2017
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH5 front thumbnailPanasonic GH5
GH4 vs GH5
20MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2017
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G85 front thumbnailPanasonic G85
GH4 vs G85
16MPFour Thirds9.0 fps2016
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G7 front thumbnailPanasonic G7
GH4 vs G7
16MPFour Thirds7.0 fps2015
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH4 front thumbnailPanasonic GH416MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2014
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G6 front thumbnailPanasonic G6
GH4 vs G6
16MPFour Thirds7.0 fps2013
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH3 front thumbnailPanasonic GH3
GH4 vs GH3
16MPFour Thirds20.0 fps2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G5 front thumbnailPanasonic G5
GH4 vs G5
16MPFour Thirds6.0 fps2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G3 front thumbnailPanasonic G3
GH4 vs G3
16MPFour Thirds4.0 fps2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH2 front thumbnailPanasonic GH2
GH4 vs GH2
16MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G10 front thumbnailPanasonic G10
GH4 vs G10
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G2 front thumbnailPanasonic G2
GH4 vs G2
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH1 front thumbnailPanasonic GH1
GH4 vs GH1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2009
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G1 front thumbnailPanasonic G1
GH4 vs G1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2009
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Panasonic GH4 Pros and Cons

Here is a selection of upsides and downsides of the Panasonic GH4 based on factors which are oftentimes considered crucial in a digital camera.

change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
comes with HDMI support
comes with headphone jack
comes with mic jack
features touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has built in flash
high resolution screen (1,036 k dot)
high video quality (4096 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (560 grams)
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
OLED technology
screen articulates
screen size is decent (3")
selfie friendly screen
supports face detect focus
supports RAW files
supports tracking focus
touch screen
weather proofing
you can focus manually
has no phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
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Panasonic GH4 Sensor features

The Panasonic GH4 is run by the Venus Engine IX chip. The sensor specification on the Panasonic GH4 is 17.3mm x 13mm (Four Thirds). The 225 mm² sensor can capture 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9.

Photography Glossary

The CMOS sensor boasts 16 megapixels and features a standard ISO range of 200 to 25600. RAW photos are saved which means that you have more margin for error.

The image underneath displays the GH4's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The GH4 sensor comes with a crop factor of 2.1 and is shown in green.

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To get a sense of various aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic GH4 dimensions

Panasonic GH4 weighs 1.23 lb (560g or 19.75 ounces) and the overall size of the camera is 133mm x 93mm x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3"). The weight of typical Pro Mirrorless camera is 722g and the Panasonic GH4 is less heavy than various rivals.

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Underneath is a image of the Panasonic GH4 beside a soda to help you to have a feel for its size.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 dimensions scale

The top view just below will highlight the button layout on the GH4.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 topview buttons dials

Panasonic GH4 Lens features

The GH4 uses the Micro Four Thirds mount and has 162 lenses to pick from. Here is a few of the lenses we have in our database that will fit the GH4.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Sigma-50mm-F1.4-EX-DG-HSM-Four-Thirds lensSigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM50mmf/1.4 505g
Olympus-Zuiko-Digital-ED-14-35mm-f2.0-SWD lensOlympus Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm f2.0 SWD14-35mmf/2.0 915g
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Panasonic-Lumix-G-Vario-HD-14-140mm-F4-5.8-OIS lensPanasonic Lumix G Vario HD 14-140mm F4-5.8 OIS14-140mmf/4.0-5.8 460g
Rokinon-85mm-F1.4-Four-Thirds lensRokinon 85mm F1.485mmf/1.4 539g
Panasonic-Lumix-G-42.5mm-F1.7-ASPH-Power-OIS lensPanasonic Lumix G 42.5mm F1.7 ASPH Power OIS43mmf/1.7 130g
Panasonic-Lumix-G-Vario-12-60mm-F3.5-5.6-ASPH-Power-OIS-Micro-Four-Thirds lensPanasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS12-60mmf/3.5-5.6 210g
Photography Glossary
Panasonic-Lumix-G-Vario-7-14mm-F4-ASPH lensPanasonic Lumix G Vario 7-14mm F4 ASPH7-14mmf/4.0 300g
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Panasonic GH4 Connectivity

The GH4 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that feature NFC and Bluetooth support can easily be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You will be able to copy images and usually adjust camera settings without the hassle of connecting directly with the camera.

Many apps also give a Liveview and hit the shutter when you are not close to the camera. If the camera features a HDMI out, it could be attached to an external display. A good number of cameras enable you to charge the battery pack with the USB port.

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Panasonic GH4 Video features

The max video quality on the Panasonic GH4 is 4096 x 2160 and it can save in MPEG-4 and AVCHD file format. 2160p delivers a great quality for video recording. You can easily downsample to 1080p to get improved results. Be mindful of the large file sizes and ensure you own good SD cards with good write speeds. The body does feature both headphone and mic jack making it really valuable while capturing audio.

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Panasonic GH4 Weather Sealing

Panasonic GH4 features weather proofing making it a fantastic candidate to use in tricky conditions. This can be especially handy any time you are unsure about the conditions you might face in outdoor photography.

Panasonic GH4 Screen and Viewfinder

The Panasonic GH4 includes a 3" fully articulated display screen with a resolution of 1,036k dots.

The screen is selfie friendly to shoot self portraits and group shots if needed. Additionally the display screen is touch friendly which means that you can easily switch focus points and change settings with your fingers.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 screen and viewfinder Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The ViewFinder specs regarding Panasonic GH4 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • ViewFinder Resolution 2,359k dots
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100 percent
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.67x

In those sunny outdoor conditions that make the camera displays washed out and tricky to view, viewfinders can be quite valuable.

Panasonic GH4 Shutter features

Panasonic GH4 continuous shooting rate is 12.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/8000 seconds.

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Panasonic GH4 Flash and Hot shoe features

Panasonic GH4 has got both inbuilt flash and external flash support. The max flash sync is 1/250 seconds.

Panasonic GH4 Autofocus features

Panasonic GH4 has got only Contrast Detect AF and does not have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more snappier and precise than Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera includes Face detection which can be useful for people photography.

The Sensor includes 49 focus points to choose from. Panasonic GH4 has touch to focus. You are able to use your fingers to change where you focus. It also boasts Tracking AF for moving things. Panasonic GH4 can use manual focus in case it is needed in low light or you need more exact focus control.

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Panasonic GH4 Battery life

The battery pack (DMW-BLF19) on the Panasonic GH4 is fashioned to last for 500 images according to the CIPA specifications which is similar to its competitors. The usual Pro Mirrorless camera battery life is 460. Olympus E-M1X comes with the maximum (870) battery life in this class of cameras.

Underneath is a collection of Pro Mirrorless cameras that come with the strongest battery life:

Panasonic GH4 for specific forms of photography

The following diagram displays a outline of the Panasonic GH4 for specific forms of photography. To see more, have a look at the specific section underneath.

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH4

The Panasonic GH4 has a points tally of 71 which is above average, and means the camera is a fine option for portrait photos. Taking portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor specs, support for RAW photos and ability to use external lighting.

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you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats

Panasonic GH4 Street photography details

Getting a above average points tally of 71, the Panasonic GH4 is a respectable choice for street photography. A decent street photography camera comes with a perfect balance of picture quality and portability.

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fully articulated screen
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features touch focus
environment sealing
lighter than others (560 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization

Sports photography with Panasonic GH4

A above average sports photography score of 62 means the Panasonic GH4 is a respectable pick for taking photos of sports. A camera must have good focusing and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

Photography Glossary
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF

Panasonic GH4 as a Travel photography camera

Size is very important in picking a camera for travel. All things considered, the Panasonic GH4 gets a exceptional 77 for a travelling camera which makes it a wonderful pick for your vacations.

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lighter than competitors (560 grams)
environment sealing
comes with touch focus
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly

Panasonic GH4 Landscape photography highlights

If you're looking to buy a digital camera for landscape photography, the most important factor is going to be image quality. The Panasonic GH4 with it's above average grade of 72 as a landscape camera is a respectable choice among its competitors.

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focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
no image stabilization

Panasonic GH4 as a Vlogging camera

A vlogging camera really should offer a articulating display, microphone input and if possible image stabilization. Considering every thing, the Panasonic GH4 is a fine option as a vlog camera as it gets a very good score of 71.

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selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
comes with face detection autofocus
great video quality (4096 x 2160 pixels)
has external microphone socket
lighter than competition (560 grams)
no image stabilization

Panasonic GH4 Alternatives

If you need replacements to the GH4, below is a selection of the top ranked cameras that fall in to the family of Pro Mirrorless.

The line graph just below shows you a bird's eye view of the GH4 versus it's top scored competitors shown above.

These are various other cameras you may look into as alternative options. To look at a thorough comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Panasonic
Model
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4
Type
Pro Mirrorless
Revealed
2014-02-07
Body design
SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor Chip
Venus Engine IX
Sensor size
Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions
17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area
224.9mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW format
Max native ISO
25600
Lowest native ISO
200
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points
49
Lens
Lens mount
Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses
107
Crop factor
2.1
Screen
Range of screen
Fully Articulated
Screen sizing
3"
Screen resolution
1,036k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology
OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage
100 percent
Viewfinder magnification
0.67x
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
74
DXO Color Depth score
23.2
DXO Dynamic range score
12.8
DXO Low light score
791
Features
Min shutter speed
60 seconds
Max shutter speed
1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed
12.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
17.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash settings
Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync
1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (24p, 25p, 30p), 1920 x 1080 (24p, 25p, 30p, 50p, 60p), 1280 x 720 (24p, 25p, 30p), 640 x 480 (25p, 30p)
Max video resolution
4096x2160
Video file format
MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
560g (1.23 lb)
Physical dimensions
133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3")
Other
Battery life
500 images
Battery format
Battery Pack
Battery model
DMW-BLF19
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 secs (single or three-shot))
Time lapse feature
Storage media
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots
1
Pricing at release
$1,500