GH4vs D850
Lumix
GH4 (2014)
Starting from £349 new
Best for Video, independent filmmaking & documentary
View GH4
Nikon
D850 (2017)
Starting from £2199 new
Best for Landscape, wildlife & professional studio photography
View D850
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Video, Independent Filmmaking & Documentary — GH4 (2014): 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.
Landscape, Wildlife & Professional Studio Photography — D850 (2017): The finest DSLR ever made — 45MP, 9fps, and nearly 2000 shots per charge in a body that still outperforms most mirrorless cameras for battery life.
Who should buy what
GH4 (2014)
- 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
D850 (2017)
- Nikon F-mount lens owners who want the highest resolution DSLR before switching to mirrorless
- Landscape and wildlife photographers who value the optical viewfinder and outstanding battery life
- Professional photographers who need 45MP resolution without the price of a medium format system
- Photojournalists and event photographers with a large F-mount lens investment
Quick take: The d850 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the gh4 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | GH4 (2014) | D850 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £349 | £2,199 |
| Sensor | 16.05MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS |
| Resolution | 16.1MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, C4K/24p (first consumer camera with 4K), 1080p/96fps | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect DFD AF, face detection | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K |
| Stabilisation | None (no body IBIS) | None (relies on VR lenses) |
| Burst Rate | 12fps (AFS), 7fps (AFC) | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) |
| Battery Life | ~500 shots (CIPA) | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding |
| Weight | 560g (with battery and card) | 915g body only |
| Dimensions | 133.2 × 93.4 × 83.0mm | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.67× magnification | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Nikon F-mount (FX) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, 3.5mm mic jack, headphone jack, HDMI | USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | GH4 | D850 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Sports | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history