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GH4 vs GH5

Quick take: The GH5 has the highest resolution at 20MP; the GH4 is the most affordable.

Where the GH4 wins

  • Cheaper new: £149 vs £309
  • Battery Life: ~500 shots (CIPA)
  • Weight: 560g (with battery and card)

Where the GH5 wins

  • Resolution: 20.3MP
  • Portrait: 5.4 vs 4.7
  • Wedding & Events: 5.4 vs 4.1
  • Filmmaking: 5.8 vs 4.6
  • Documentary: 5.6 vs 5.1

16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

GH4 — Video, Independent Filmmaking & Documentary: The world's first consumer 4K camera — the GH4 changed independent filmmaking and proved that broadcast-quality video didn't require a cinema camera budget.

GH5 — Video, Filmmaking & Hybrid Shooting: The GH5 redefined what a consumer video camera could do — 4K/60p and 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording made it the independent filmmaker's tool of choice for years.

Who should buy what
GH4 (2014)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Videographers and independent filmmakers who want the camera that started the consumer 4K era
  • Content creators looking for a capable 4K body at the lowest entry price
  • MFT system users who want the best video capability on a tight budget
  • Photographers interested in camera history — the GH4 is a landmark piece
GH5 (2017)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Independent filmmakers who need 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording without a dedicated cinema camera
  • YouTube creators who want 4K/60p, a fully articulating screen, and unlimited recording
  • Photographers who shoot primarily stills but need serious video capability as a second
  • GH4 owners who want 4K/60p and 10-bit — a significant step up
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification GH4Lumix · 2014GH5Lumix · 2017
Price £149 usedBest£309 used
Sensor 16.05MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS20.3MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS
Resolution 16.0MP20.3MPBest
Video 4K/30p, C4K/24p (first consumer camera with 4K), 1080p/96fps4K/60p, C4K/30p, 1080p/180p; 10-bit 4:2:2 internal; unlimited recording
Autofocus Contrast-detect DFD AF, face detectionContrast-detect DFD AF, face/eye detection
Stabilisation None (no body IBIS)IBIS — up to 5 stops; Dual IS 2 with compatible lenses (6.5 stops)
Burst Rate 12fps (AFS), 7fps (AFC)12fps (AFS), 9fps (AFC)
Battery Life ~500 shots (CIPA)Best~410 shots (CIPA)
Weight 560g (with battery and card)Best646g (body only)
Dimensions 133.2 × 93.4 × 83.0mm138.5 × 98.1 × 87.4mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.67× magnificationEVF, 3.68M dots, 0.76× magnification
Screen 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M dots
Mount Micro Four ThirdsMicro Four Thirds
Memory Cards Single SD UHS-I slotDual SD UHS-II slots
Connectivity USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, 3.5mm mic jack, headphone jack, HDMIUSB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, headphone jack, HDMI

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
GH4
GH5
Portrait
4.7/10
5.4/10
Street
5.3/10
5.0/10
Travel
5.2/10
4.9/10
Wedding & Events
4.1/10
5.4/10
Vlogging & Video
4.3/10
4.5/10
Filmmaking
4.6/10
5.8/10
Documentary
5.1/10
5.6/10
Sports & Action
5.7/10
6.1/10
Landscape
4.6/10
4.9/10
Wildlife
6.1/10
6.3/10
Casual
3.9/10
3.9/10
Food
5.2/10
5.9/10
Macro
5.4/10
7.1/10
Architecture
4.4/10
4.9/10
Astrophotography
4.4/10
5.0/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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