GH4vs A7R III
Lumix
GH4 (2014)
Starting from £349 new
Best for Video, independent filmmaking & documentary
View GH4
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
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, Studio & Commercial Photography — A7R III (2017): The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
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
A7R III (2017)
- Landscape and studio photographers who need 42MP resolution at a used-price discount vs A7R IV
- Canon/Nikon DSLR professionals considering a mirrorless switch at a lower investment
- Commercial and product photographers who want full-frame resolution with IBIS for handheld work
- Portrait photographers who want the sharpest possible full-frame files for large print work
Quick take: The a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the gh4 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | GH4 (2014) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £349 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 16.05MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 16.1MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, C4K/24p (first consumer camera with 4K), 1080p/96fps | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect DFD AF, face detection | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | None (no body IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 12fps (AFS), 7fps (AFC) | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~500 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 560g (with battery and card) | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 133.2 × 93.4 × 83.0mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.67× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, 3.5mm mic jack, headphone jack, HDMI | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | GH4 | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Wedding | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with GH4
Camera family history