Panasonic GH4 vs Sony A6500

Cameras
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Panasonic GH4 vs Sony A6500

4/3 224.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GH4 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic GH4 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the GH4.
Compare Panasonic GH4 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic GH4 conclusion.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A6500 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A6500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A6500.
Compare Sony A6500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A6500 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Panasonic GH5
Compare GH4 vs GH5

Succeeded by the Sony A6600
Compare A6500 vs A6600

Compare PANASONIC GH5 vs SONY A6600

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Differences

Panasonic GH4 advantages over Sony A6500

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$998* vs $1598
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Fast startup
~0.80 vs 1.3 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

530 vs 350 shots
Capture more photos
Higher max flash sync
1/250 vs 1/160 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
12.8 fps vs 11.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 231 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony A6500 advantages over Panasonic GH4

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Slower slow-motion
120 fps vs 96 fps
Supports slower slow-mo
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A6500 test data on DxO Mark GH4 test data on DxO Mark

1,405 vs 791 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Thinner
53 mm vs 83 mm
Thinner
More pixels
24.2 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bigger RAW buffer
110 vs 21 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
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
Slow-motion videos
Both provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

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Adorama
Read GH4 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A6500 User Reviews

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Body Only

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Body Only
Kit with 18-135mm lens

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Review Excerpt

Excellent still image quality for its class; Fantastic, highly-detailed video quality; Superior video recording chops with 4K video (both Cinema 4K and Ultra HD); Responsive all-around performer with great AF performance and burst shooting; Rolling shutter is minimal with 60p and 30p video; Splash- and dust-proof magnesium alloy body; Built-in Wi-Fi with NFC.
High ISO performance not as good as some APS-C models (IQ drops quickly past ISO 3200); Overall still image quality not significantly better than the GH3; Sluggish buffer clearing with RAW files; Rolling shutter noticeable on 4K video; Not as compact as most mirrorless cameras.
Read our Panasonic GH4 Review

Comfortable, premium body with good controls; Touch-screen for subject selection; Hybrid image stabilization system; Excellent image quality; Better high ISO JPEGs than the A6300; Extremely fast 11.1 fps burst capture; Very deep buffers for raw and JPEG alike; 4K video capture with no pixel binning
Pricey for an APS-C camera; JPEG colors aren't the most accurate; Very slow buffer clearing; Laggy touch-pad AF function; Poorly-placed movie button; No headphone jack; Mediocre battery life
Read our Sony A6500 Review

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic GH3

Panasonic GH4

Panasonic GH3

$998
4/3

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$798
4/3

Compare Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic GH3

Sony A6500

Panasonic GH3

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$798
4/3

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A6500 vs Panasonic GH3

Compared to Olympus E-M1

Panasonic GH4

Olympus E-M1

$998
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

$1099
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Panasonic GH4 vs Olympus E-M1

Sony A6500

Olympus E-M1

$1198
APS-C

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

$1099
4/3

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A6500 vs Olympus E-M1

Compared to Panasonic G7

Panasonic GH4

Panasonic G7

$998
4/3

Fast startup
NFC

$498
4/3

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic G7

Sony A6500

Panasonic G7

$1198
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$498
4/3

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A6500 vs Panasonic G7

Compared to Fujifilm X-Pro2

Panasonic GH4

Fujifilm X-Pro2

$998
4/3

Lens selection
Less expensive

$1300
APS-C

Larger sensor
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Panasonic GH4 vs Fujifilm X-Pro2

Sony A6500

Fujifilm X-Pro2

$1198
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Touchscreen

$1300
APS-C

Higher max flash sync
More dots on screen

Compare Sony A6500 vs Fujifilm X-Pro2

Compared to Sony A6300

Panasonic GH4

Sony A6300

$998
4/3

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

$846
APS-C

Less expensive
Slower slow-motion

Compare Panasonic GH4 vs Sony A6300

Sony A6500

Sony A6300

$1198
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Touchscreen

$846
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Sony A6500 vs Sony A6300

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