• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 160 - 12,800
  • 35mm 860.4mm2
  • 16.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

Buy From

Differences

Panasonic G5 advantages over Nikon D4S

  • Less expensive
    $550 vs $5999*
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Nikon D4S advantages over Panasonic G5

  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 7.31 vs 3.75 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.20 vs 1.3 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 3020 vs 310 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/250 vs 1/160 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    10.6 fps vs 6.2 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    200 vs 18 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    409600 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Small, compact body with excellent focusing and exposure capabilities; Newly enhanced touchpanel LCD screen makes image capture and review a joy; Excellent HD video recording quality.

  • Some controls difficult to access; Too easy to activate menus and options while shooting; Lack of a microphone-in jack limits video recording usefulness.

  • Excellent, tank-like build quality; First-rate ergonomics a pro would expect; Superb performance with confident autofocus; Great image quality; Big, bright viewfinder with 100% coverage; Excellent battery life; Doubles as a powerful video capture tool

  • Fairly minor upgrade over the D4; Image quality improvements apply only to JPEG; XQD card format isn't broadly accepted; Consumer-friendly default JPEG processing may turn off some pros; Body is large and hefty (but that's normal for pro gear)

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D4

Panasonic G5
Nikon D4
  • $550
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $4500
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
Nikon D4S
Nikon D4
  • $5999
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • Higher extended ISO
  • $4500
  • 35mm
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • Bigger RAW buffer

Compared to Canon EOS-1D C

Panasonic G5
Canon EOS-1D C
  • $550
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $6989
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
Nikon D4S
Canon EOS-1D C
  • $5999
  • 35mm
  • Higher extended ISO
  • $6989
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • More cross-type AF points

Compared to Panasonic GH3

Panasonic G5
Panasonic GH3
  • $550
  • 4/3
  • Higher-res screen
  • $798
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Fast startup
Nikon D4S
Panasonic GH3
  • $5999
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $798
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen

Compared to Panasonic G6

Panasonic G5
Panasonic G6
  • $550
  • 4/3
  • $399
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Nikon D4S
Panasonic G6
  • $5999
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $399
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Less expensive

Compared to Olympus E-M1

Panasonic G5
Olympus E-M1
  • $550
  • 4/3
  • Internal flash
  • Shoots 60p video
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Nikon D4S
Olympus E-M1
  • $5999
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
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