GH5vs A7S III
Sony
A7S III (2020)
Starting from £2999 new
Best for Professional video & low-light filmmaking
View A7S III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Video, Filmmaking & Hybrid Shooting — GH5 (2017): 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.
Professional Video & Low-Light Filmmaking — A7S III (2020): If video is your primary discipline, the A7S III is the camera. 4K/120p at 10-bit in a weather-sealed body with a 9.44M dot EVF is an extraordinary package. The 12MP sensor isn't limiting for video — and it's usable at ISO 409,600 in a pinch.
Who should buy what
GH5 (2017)
- 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
A7S III (2020)
- Filmmakers and videographers who need 4K/120p at 10-bit
- Event videographers who shoot in dark venues regularly
- Documentary filmmakers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Hybrid shooters where video is primary and stills are secondary
Quick take: The gh5 has the highest resolution at 20mp; the gh5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | GH5 (2017) | A7S III (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £2,999 |
| Sensor | 20.3MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) |
| Resolution | 20.3MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/60p, C4K/30p, 1080p/180p; 10-bit 4:2:2 internal; unlimited recording | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect DFD AF, face/eye detection | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops; Dual IS 2 with compatible lenses (6.5 stops) | 5.5-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 12fps (AFS), 9fps (AFC) | 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording |
| Weight | 725g (with battery and card) | 699g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 98.1 × 87.4mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.68M dots, 0.76× magnification | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, headphone jack, HDMI | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | GH5 | A7S III |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Street | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with GH5
Camera family history