Upgrade Guide
Lumix DC-G97→Lumix GH4
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The GH4 improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most DC-G97 owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the GH4
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
Burst rate12fps (AFS), 7fps (AFC) vs 6fps (continuous AF)
-
Battery life~500 shots (CIPA) vs 300 shots (CIPA, estimated)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution16MP (down from 20MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | DC-G97 | GH4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.5 | ||
| Street | -0.3 | ||
| Travel | +0.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.3 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -1.3 | ||
| Filmmaking | -0.3 | ||
| Documentary | +0.4 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.1 | ||
| Landscape | +0.3 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.8 | ||
| Casual | -1.9 | ||
| Food | -1.0 | ||
| Macro | -0.8 | ||
| Architecture | -0.6 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.2 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | DC-G97 | GH4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £649 | £349 | |
| Released | 2024 | 2014 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 20.3MP Four Thirds CMOS | 16.05MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | Unlimited 4K/30p, V-Log L pre-installed | 4K/30p, C4K/24p (first consumer camera with 4K), 1080p/96fps | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with Depth-from-Defocus, face/eye detection | Contrast-detect DFD AF, face detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS (4-stop) | None (no body IBIS) | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps (continuous AF) | 12fps (AFS), 7fps (AFC) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA, estimated) | ~500 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 530g (with battery and card) | 560g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.67× magnification | |
| Screen | Fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (UHS-II) | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See DC-G97 and GH4 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the GH4 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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