Lumix
GH4 2014
Best for Video, independent filmmaking & documentary
£149
used today at Wex Photo Video
Decision tools · Compare
GH4 vs A1
Quick take: The A1 has the highest resolution at 50MP; the GH4 is the most affordable.
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.
Sony
A1 2021
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
£4199
new today at Wex Photo Video
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.
A1 — Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting: 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
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
A1 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | GH4Lumix · 2014 | A1Sony · 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £149 usedBest | £4,199 |
| Sensor | 16.05MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 16.0MP | 50.1MPBest |
| Video | 4K/30p, C4K/24p (first consumer camera with 4K), 1080p/96fps | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect DFD AF, face detection | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | None (no body IBIS) | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 12fps (AFS), 7fps (AFC) | 30fps electronic with full AF/AEBest |
| Battery Life | ~500 shots (CIPA)Best | ~430 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 560g (with battery and card)Best | 737g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 133.2 × 93.4 × 83.0mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.67× magnification | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, 3.5mm mic jack, headphone jack, HDMI | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, 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
A1
Portrait
4.7/10
8.2/10
Street
5.3/10
6.1/10
Travel
5.2/10
5.9/10
Wedding & Events
4.1/10
7.9/10
Vlogging & Video
4.2/10
—
Filmmaking
4.6/10
7.8/10
Documentary
5.1/10
7.6/10
Sports & Action
5.7/10
8.8/10
Landscape
4.6/10
7.6/10
Wildlife
6.1/10
8.7/10
Casual
3.8/10
4.8/10
Food
5.2/10
7.4/10
Macro
5.4/10
7.3/10
Architecture
4.4/10
7.9/10
Astrophotography
4.4/10
6.8/10
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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