Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 vs Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II — Which Is Better?
Side by side47 specifications |
Panasonic · Mirrorless · 20.3 MP · Micro Four Thirds · 4K video
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5
72
SCORE
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Panasonic · Mirrorless · 20.33 MP · Micro Four Thirds · 6K video
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II
73
WINNER
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| General | ||
Read the General ComparisonGeneralThe Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II is the 2021 successor to the 2017 Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5, and both are Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras. Their measurements are identical at 139 x 98 x 87 mm. The GH5 II weighs 727 g against 725 g for the GH5, a 2 g difference. | ||
Released ⓘRefers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale. |
2017 | 2021 |
Announcement date ⓘRefers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera. |
January 4, 2017 | May 25, 2021 |
| Camera type |  Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Camera size | 139 x 98 x 87 mm | 139 x 98 x 87 mm |
| Camera weight | 725 g | 727 g |
| Optics | 67/100 | 68/100 |
Read the Optics ComparisonOpticsThe GH5 II gives you more exposure control in bright light, because its native ISO range starts at 100 where the GH5 starts at 200. That lower base suits sunny portraits at wide apertures, and its expanded setting reaches ISO 50 against the GH5's expanded ISO 100. Beyond ISO, the stills specification is shared almost everywhere. Both pair a CMOS sensor in the Micro Four Thirds format with the Micro 4/3 mount, 225 autofocus points, 12 fps burst shooting, in-body stabilisation and a 1/16000 second maximum shutter. Each electronic viewfinder offers 3,680,000 dots, and resolution differs by only 0.03 megapixels, 20.33 on the GH5 II against 20.3 on the GH5. | ||
Megapixels ⓘThe higher the number of megapixels, the more detail the cameras sensor can capture. |
20.3 MP050 | 20.33 MP050 |
Image resolution ⓘImage resolution is measured in pixels and megapixels, width by height. The higher the number, the higher its resolution. |
5184 x 3888 | 5184 x 3888 |
Sensor type ⓘThe camera sensor captures light and records the image. Sensors vary in physical size, the number of pixels, and quality. |
CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size ⓘThe sensor size contributes to the overall quality as well as the dynamic and tonal range a camera can capture. As a rule of thumb, the more surface there is to read the light, the more information it will capture. |
13 x 17.3 | 13 x 17.3 |
Sensor format ⓘRefers to the most commonly used sensor sizes. |
 Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
Continuous shooting ⓘThe number of sequential frames per second the camera can write to the memory card when shooting in burst or continuous mode. |
12 fps045 | 12 fps045 |
Lens mount ⓘThe lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras. |
Micro 4/3 | Micro 4/3 |
Image processor ⓘThe image processor in the camera converts the information collected on the sensor for digital storage on the memory card. |
Venus Engine 10 | Venus Engine |
Aspect ratio ⓘThe aspect ratio refers to the proportional difference between width and height. The most popular aspect ratios are 3:2 and 4:3. |
 4:3 | 4:3 |
Min ISO ⓘRefers to the lowest native (or 'base') ISO setting. Lower ISO are less sensitive to light but make a cleaner image. |
20030200 | 10030200 |
Max ISO ⓘRefers to the highest native (or 'base') ISO setting. Higher ISO is necessary for low-light situations or night photography, but higher ISOs often introduce grain or noise. |
256003003280000 | 256003003280000 |
Min ISO (expanded) ⓘExpanded (or extended) ISO is a digitally enhanced feature available on some cameras. It allows you to push beyond the native ISO range if necessary. |
10030200 | 5030200 |
Max ISO (expanded) ⓘExpanded (or extended) ISO is a digitally enhanced feature available on some cameras. It allows you to push beyond the native ISO range if necessary. |
256003003280000 | 256003003280000 |
Minimum shutter speed ⓘThe minimum shutter speed will tell you the longest exposure your camera can take without using an external accessory. |
6044080 | 6044080 |
Max shutter speed ⓘThe maximum shutter speed tells you the length inside 1 second the camera will capture. These can sometimes be extended with accessories such as extra external batteries. |
1600080032000 | 1600080032000 |
Autofocus points ⓘAutofocus points show where the camera is focusing graphically as squares or brackets in Live View or on an electronic viewfinder. These points are also used for light meter readings. |
2250300 | 2250300 |
In-body stabilisation ⓘIn-body Stabilization means the camera has a certain technology embedded that counteracts camera shake. |
 Yes | Yes |
Viewfinder type ⓘThe viewfinder type is either electronic or optical. Electronic viewfinders will have a small screen in the viewfinder. Optical viewfinders will use prisms and mirrors to look through the lens. |
Electronic | Electronic |
| Viewfinder dots | 368000009900000 | 368000009900000 |
| Video | 69/100 | 74/100 |
Read the Video ComparisonVideoThe GH5 II is the stronger choice for editors who crop or stabilise footage in post, because its maximum recording resolution is 6K against the GH5's 4K. That extra frame area gives a wedding or documentary shooter room to punch in and still deliver a clean 4K frame. The GH5 answers with speed, since its maximum video frame rate is 60 fps, double the GH5 II's 30 fps, making it the pick for slow-motion capture. The GH5 II adds a built-in timelapse capability the GH5 does not offer, and both cameras record MOV and MP4 files. | ||
Video ⓘIndicates if this camera is capable of recording video. |
 Yes | Yes |
Max video resolution ⓘThe best resolution this camera can capture video in. Modern cameras can capture up to 8K video. |
 4K |  6K |
Max video format ⓘVideo resolution measured by the greatest number of pixels possible in each frame, width by height. A higher resolution means more detail or clarity in your video. |
4096 x 2160 | 4992 x 3774 |
Max video frame rate ⓘHow many frames per second your video will capture. Most cameras have options for multiple frame rates, depending on the resolution you shoot in. For a general video, 24p or 30p is the standard, but more serious filmmakers may need a higher frame rate for creative effect. |
60 fps | 30 fps |
Timelapse built in ⓘA built in time-lapse mode will allow continuous shooting throughout a prolonged period of time to be compressed into a sped up video. |
No |  Yes |
Video file format ⓘDifferent cameras can record in various video file formats. The File format you record in can impact how you edit and use the files. |
MP4, MOV | MOV, MP4 |
| Features | 87/100 | 85/100 |
Read the Features ComparisonFeaturesThe GH5 II has the sharper rear screen for checking focus and detail, with 1,840,000 dots against 1,620,000 on the GH5, about 13.6 percent more. Its panel is 3.0 inches, slightly smaller than the 3.2-inch screen on the GH5, so the gain is in detail rather than size. The rest of the feature set matches. Both offer an articulating touch LCD, weather sealing, Wi-Fi with Bluetooth, live view and external flash support, while neither includes GPS or a built-in flash, so geotagging needs a phone or accessory on either body. | ||
Builtin flash ⓘA built-in flash will often be positioned right above the lens. This will automatically pop up when you activate it. |
✗ | ✗ |
External flash ⓘExternal flashes are often connected through a hot shoe at the top of a camera, or a cable at the side of the camera. |
 Yes | Yes |
GPS ⓘGPS features in a camera will include location metadata to each of your photographs. |
✗ | ✗ |
Weather sealing ⓘWeather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions. |
 Yes | Yes |
| Screen type | LCD | LCD |
Touch screen ⓘTouchscreen allows you to change camera settings and access menus with a swipe of your finger, instead of using buttons. |
 Yes | Yes |
| Screen size | 3.2" | 3" |
Screen dots ⓘScreen dots indicate the resolution of the LCD screen by including each sub pixel. |
16200001150001500000 | 18400001150001500000 |
Flip screen ⓘA flip screen (or articulating screen) is a second screen which can flip out from the side or top of the camera. This rotating screen allows you more freedom to take photos at different angles. |
 Yes | Yes |
Live view ⓘLive View feature allows you to see a continuous live video of what is being seen through your lens. |
 Yes | Yes |
Wi-Fi ⓘBuilt-in Wi-Fi allows you to connect your camera and share images wirelessly. |
 Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth ⓘBluetooth capabilities allow you wireless control of your camera with other external devices. |
 Yes | Yes |
| Storage & battery | 57/100 | 71/100 |
Read the Storage & battery ComparisonStorage and BatteryThe GH5 II supports USB charging, which the GH5 does not, so topping up from a laptop or power bank between shoots is straightforward. The two use different batteries, a DMW-BLK22 in the GH5 II and a DMW-BLF19 in the GH5, so spares and chargers do not carry across. Battery ratings differ only slightly, at 400 shots for the GH5 II and 410 for the GH5 under their test conditions. Both cameras carry two UHS-II-compatible SD card slots, which is welcome for long video shoots where capacity matters. | ||
| Memory card | SD / SDHC / SDXC (UHS-II compatible) | SD / SDHC / SDXC (UHS-II compatible) |
| Dual memory card slots |  Yes | Yes |
| Battery type | DMW-BLF19 | DMW-BLK22 |
Battery life ⓘApproximately how long this cameras battery will last measured by how many photographs you will be able to take. |
410 shots1505000 | 400 shots1505000 |
| USB charging | No |  Yes |
Read: Verdict
Verdict
Choose the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II if video flexibility drives the purchase. Its 6K maximum resolution suits cropping or reframing a 4K delivery, the built-in timelapse mode covers holiday and construction sequences without accessories, and USB charging plus a native ISO 100 base round out a practical upgrade.
Choose the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 when slow motion matters most, because its maximum video frame rate of 60 fps doubles the GH5 II's 30 fps. The shared Micro 4/3 mount means an existing lens collection works on either body.