Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 is a 2017 mirrorless camera built around a Micro Four Thirds CMOS sensor, the Venus Engine 10 processor and the Micro 4/3 lens mount.

The body weighs 725g and measures 139 x 98 x 87mm, while the 3.2-inch LCD flips out to help with framing.

Its stabilised sensor, 4K video recording and twin card slots suit photographers who want one body for both stills and footage, and who value the smaller kit that this sensor format allows.

Stills come from a 20.3MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS sensor, a resolution suited to prints and cropping. An Optics score of 67 is good, which places the camera around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics.

A maximum burst of 12 frames per second covers short action moments, though a maximum rate is a peak figure rather than a promise of sustained shooting. The 1/16000 maximum shutter speed gives useful headroom in bright light, though wide-open exposures still depend on conditions.

In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake, which steadies handheld stills at slower shutter speeds. It counters your movement, not the subject's, so moving subjects still need an appropriate shutter speed of their own.

Framing goes through a 3.68M-dot electronic viewfinder, a detailed display for composing and checking the scene before you press the shutter. The ISO range stretches to 25600 for dim interiors and evening work.

Video is a significant part of this camera's appeal. Recording reaches 4K resolution, and frame rates run as high as 60fps for smooth motion in fast scenes and some latitude to slow footage down. The two figures are separate maximums, so the combined recording mode matters when you plan a shoot.

Clips record in MP4 or MOV file formats, and in-body stabilisation reduces the shake from handheld filming, though it counters your movement rather than the subject's.

The Video score of 69 is good. One gap is timelapse: there is no built-in interval timer, so sequences cannot be automated in camera and would need another triggering method if you shoot them.

The Features score of 87 is very good. The 3.2-inch touchscreen carries 1.62 million dots, giving a sharp view for checking focus and playback, and it flips out from the body for framing at awkward angles.

The body is weather sealed, so dust and moisture on location are less of a worry. Sealing is not waterproofing, so prolonged heavy weather still calls for protection.

For connectivity, the camera includes WiFi and Bluetooth, allowing wireless links to other devices.

There is no built-in flash, so fill light indoors means adding an external flash, which the camera supports. GPS is also absent, so in-camera location tagging is unavailable, though a phone or separate device could still record locations.

Storage goes through two card slots that accept SD, SDHC and SDXC media, with UHS-II compatibility.

The DMW-BLF19 battery is rated at 410 shots, though the rating is not a promise of real-world endurance, so demanding days may call for a spare battery.

Charging relies on a dedicated charger rather than a USB cable, so topping up from USB power sources is not an option. Pack the charger for multi-day trips.

These points drive the modest Storage & Battery score of 57. The battery rating and the absence of USB charging are the main drags, while the twin slots work firmly in your favour.