Upgrade Guide
Lumix S9→Lumix GH4
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the S9. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the GH4
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
Battery life~500 shots (CIPA) vs ~310 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution16MP (down from 24MP — 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 | S9 | GH4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -2.6 | ||
| Street | -1.6 | ||
| Travel | -1.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -1.9 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -2.9 | ||
| Filmmaking | -2.4 | ||
| Documentary | -1.8 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.7 | ||
| Landscape | -1.9 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.6 | ||
| Casual | -2.5 | ||
| Food | -2.4 | ||
| Macro | -2.7 | ||
| Architecture | -2.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | -3.2 | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | S9 | GH4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £349 | |
| Released | 2024 | 2014 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 16.05MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 4K/30p, C4K/24p (first consumer camera with 4K), 1080p/96fps | |
| Autofocus | Phase-hybrid AF with subject recognition | Contrast-detect DFD AF, face detection | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | None (no body IBIS) | |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 12fps (AFS), 7fps (AFC) | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ~500 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 403g (body only) | 560g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.67× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen (touch drag AF) | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Leica L mount | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See S9 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.
Other upgrades from the S9
Related buying guides
Camera family history