GH5vs A9
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
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 Sports, Wildlife & Action Photography — A9 (2017): The camera that changed professional photography — the A9's 20fps blackout-free burst and silent shutter proved mirrorless had definitively surpassed the DSLR.
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
A9 (2017)
- Sports photographers who want the original 20fps mirrorless at a lower used price than the A9 II
- Wildlife photographers who need blackout-free burst with fast, reliable tracking
- Sony FE system users who want a professional sports body
- Photographers interested in the camera that changed the industry
Quick take: The a9 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the gh5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | GH5 (2017) | A9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 20.3MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 20.3MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/60p, C4K/30p, 1080p/180p; 10-bit 4:2:2 internal; unlimited recording | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect DFD AF, face/eye detection | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops; Dual IS 2 with compatible lenses (6.5 stops) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 12fps (AFS), 9fps (AFC) | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 725g (with battery and card) | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 98.1 × 87.4mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.68M dots, 0.76× magnification | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, headphone jack, HDMI | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | GH5 | A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
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