Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 vs Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 — Which Is Better?

The Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 are both 2017 mirrorless cameras built around the Micro Four Thirds mount, so they draw on the same native lens catalog. The G9 arrived later in the year and weighs less at 658 g, against 725 g for the GH5.

Their body dimensions are close, with the G9 measuring 137 x 97 x 92 mm and the GH5 139 x 98 x 87 mm. The difference amounts to millimetres in each direction, so both occupy the same category of bag space.

The G9 is the stronger choice for photographing fast action, because it shoots at 20 frames per second while the GH5 reaches 12. For a bird in flight or a sprinting athlete, the extra frames give more chance of catching the exact stride or wing position.

The GH5 answers with a shorter maximum exposure of 1/16000 second, twice as brief as the G9's 1/8000 second. That helps when shooting wide open in bright sunlight, such as outdoor portraits at a wide aperture. On the shared side, both offer 225 autofocus points, in-body stabilisation and a 3680000-dot electronic viewfinder.

Both cameras record video, and their maximum limits match, with 4K resolution and a 60 fps ceiling on each. That 4K resolution gives both room to crop a frame during editing without dropping below full HD sharpness.

The useful split is interval work: the G9 has a built-in timelapse function, while the GH5 does not, so the G9 handles day-to-night sequences without an external intervalometer. The G9 also records AVCHD in addition to MPEG-4 and MOV, which suits anyone maintaining older AVCHD footage alongside new clips.

The GH5 has the better rear screen for reviewing focus and detail on location, with a 3.2-inch panel of 1620000 dots against the G9's 3-inch, 1040000-dot display. That higher-resolution, slightly larger display shows more detail when confirming focus right after the shot.

Handling and connectivity features are shared rather than split. Both offer weather sealing for changeable conditions, a touch-sensitive, fully articulating screen for low-angle and vantage shots, plus Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless transfer and remote control. Neither has GPS, so neither geotags images on its own.

Storage is shared ground, as both cameras carry dual SD card slots rated for UHS-II cards. The same fast UHS-II SD cards work in either body, so card choice stays simple whichever you buy.

The batteries differ, and the G9 is the one that tops up over USB, which is convenient when charging from a power bank between locations. Their rated figures sit at 400 shots for the G9 and 410 for the GH5, a marginal gap, though each uses its own battery type so existing spares do not transfer.