Let’s tell you upfront that the Sony a7RII vs GH4 review is going to be a bloodbath! And trust us when we say that we mean that in every good way possible. Sony and Panasonic seemed to make it a do-or-die affair to knock the socks off every user who’d purchase the Sony a7RII or the Panasonic GH4. And we love it cos the customer wins!
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
These are two amazing pro cameras. And besides how they perform for photography (they both do great), these cameras are simply amazing for video. They both record amazing 4K video and the options to play with your video on these cameras are just endless. It’s obvious that Sony and Panasonic made these cameras to make a statement and they are making that statement boldly.
And there are more features to be wowed by on these mirrorless cameras. You’ll find out, by the time you read through this comparison, all the other features of these cameras that made it so difficult for us to choose one over the other.
So, are you ready for the battle between the Sony a7RII vs GH4 where these two cameras fight to the finish? Then come along with us!
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Comparison Overview
So you don’t have the time to go through the entire review? That’s okay. We’ve got you covered in our comparison overview.
A word of advice though, these are real expensive cameras (the a7RII especially) and as such you might be better off going through a thorough review before committing to any one of them. We wouldn’t want to have to deal with buyers’ regret afterwards now, would we? But hey, the choice is always yours to make.
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Where Both Cameras Get It Right
The Sony a7RII and GH4 have many areas where they do both great together. For instance, their viewfinders are sharp, their bodies are weather-sealed and they also feature microphone/headphone ports as well as AE bracketing.
For excellent image quality, these cameras both feature RAW support, and face detection focus as well.
And then for your convenience, these cameras come with articulating screens for taking photos and shooting videos conveniently and easily. There’s also wireless connection which allows you transfer or upload your files easily and quickly.
Finally, we like that these two cameras come with smartphone remote control.
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Where The Sony a7RII Does It Better
There are quite a number of areas where the Sony a7RII does it better than the GH4. The most obvious are the sensor size and sensor resolution. Unlike the GH4, the Sony a7RII has a full frame sensor with a resolution of 42 megapixels.
It also has more focus points, wider dynamic range, better color depth, and sharper screen resolution.
In low light, this camera also outshines the GH4 (no pun intended). This is thanks to its larger sensor pixel area, great low light ISO and full frame sensor.
As for image stabilization, the Sony a7RII comes with a sensor-shift image stabilization. Ad what’s even more amazing is that the system is a 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization system. So, it’s really amazing.
Of course, we also like that the camera comes with NFC connection for those times internet is absent.
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Where The Panasonic GH4 Does It Better
Well, the Panasonic GH4 comes with a built-in flash which is great for low light situations. It’s also easy to stow away when an external flash is overkill.
Another area where the GH4 does it better is in the LCD screen. This screen articulates fully and is also touch sensitive which we love. And then, of course, Panasonic beats Sony in the battery department. The battery of the GH4 lasts longer than the Sony a7RII even when shooting in 4K.
For convenience, the GH4 is far more portable than the Sony a7RII. It’s more compact and lightweight than the Sony a7RII.
On the GH4, time lapse recording is built-in unlike on the Sony a7RII where time lapse is only accessible on the Sony app.
Other features we loved was the flash sync port, 4K photo mode for fast-moving object, post-focus mode, and burst mode of 12 frames per second.
The final and biggest pro of the Panasonic GH4 is its performance in 4K. It’s one of the best you can probably get, not just at this price point, but maybe even in the market.
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Where Both Cameras Get It Wrong
These cameras do not share common cons.
These cameras do not share common cons.
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Our Opinion On The Price/Value Ratio
The Panasonic GH4 is the less expensive camera here. It sells for less than a thousand bucks. But, of course, it does not mean that the camera gives more value right? Well, the good news is that the GH4 does great in the value department. For such a low price, the 4K capability of the GH4 is simply out of this world.
The Sony a7RII is pretty high end costing nearly two thousand bucks. But looking at it from the upfront cost, you might be tricked into believing that the Sony a7RII is overpriced. But it isn’t. 42 megapixels, a full frame sensor, 4K video, and 5-axis image stabilization are quite solid features for the price.
So yeah, the camera is more expensive than the GH4. But overall, both cameras are quite balanced in their price/value ratio.
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Comparative Brand Strengths
So how does Sony perform vs Panasonic in the market? Well, the first thing to note about the camera industry is that it is mostly dominated by Japanese brands. Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, Fujifilm, all Japanese brands. And while the biggest of these brands especially in the North American and European markets are Canon and Nikon, other brands are also leaving their footprints in the sands of time as well. Sony and Panasonic are two of such brands.
Although both brands have their areas of core competence in the market, we will still give it to Sony. Sony is a bigger brand than Panasonic with more product offerings, more followers, and definitely the larger market share especially in Europe and North America.
Popular for its mirrorless full frame cameras, Sony has made a name for itself in the industry. And, in fact, there are those who believe that Sony might begin to give Canon and Nikon a run for their money someday. And with the looks of the Sony a7RII, it might not be hasty to conclude that someday might just be very imminent.
However, just as Sony is giving the bigger boys a run for their money, so is Panasonic. The brand that mostly manufactures crop sensors and four thirds is also venturing into full frame cameras.
In the industry, Panasonic is commended for its amazing video cameras. But for stills, the community seems to be divided. While the ship has sailed on the amazingness of Sony’s stills, it’s still a bit of a grey area when it comes to Panasonic.
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Comparison Table Of Major Specs And Features
Sony a7RII |
Panasonic GH4 | |
| Announcement Date | 10th June, 2015 | 7th February, 2014 |
| Sensor Size | Full Frame BSI-CMOS | Four-Thirds CMOS |
| Sensor Resolution | 42 Megapixels | 16 Megapixels |
| ISO | 1– – 25600 (expands to 50 – 102400) | 100 – 25600 |
| Lens | Sony E mount | Micro Four Thirds Mount |
| LCD Screen | 3 inch Tilting Screen | 3 inch Fully Articulated |
| LCD Screen Resolution | 1.229k dots | 1.036k dots |
| Touch Sensitivity | No | Yes |
| Continuous Shooting / Burst Mode | 5 Frames Per Second | 12 Frames Per Second |
| Video Resolution | 4K (3840 x 2160) | 4K (4096 x 2160) |
| Image Stabilization | Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization | No |
| Built-in Flash | No | Yes |
| Flash Sync Port | No | Yes |
| Post Focus Mode | No | Yes |
| 4K Photo Mode | No | Yes |
| Focus Points | 399 | 49 |
| Color Depth | 26.0 | 23.2 |
| Dynamic Range | 13.9 | 12.8 |
| Low Light ISO | 3434 | 791 |
| Sensor Pixel Area | 20.33µm2 | 14.12µm2 |
| AE Bracketing Range | ±5 EV | ±3 EV |
| NFC Connection | Yes | No |
| Support for UHS Memory Cards | UHS-I | No |
| Battery Life | 290 shots | 500 shots |
| Dimensions | 127 x 96 x 60 millimeters | 133 x 93 x 84 millimeters |
| Weight | 625 grams | 560 grams |
| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Which Situation Is Each Camera Best For?
This section ends our comparison overview section on the Sony a7RII vs GH4 review. After this, we go all in in the side-by-side review. So, if you can’t spare the time, after this section is a good place to stop.
Sony a7RII |
Panasonic GH4 |
| At 42 megapixels, 5 frames per second, and with a full frame sensor, the Sony a7RII makes a fantastic camera for taking beautiful portraits, landscapes and what have you. There’s no question that the Sony a7RII is an amazing photography camera. Whether in RAW or in JPEG, this camera did not fail to deliver. For photographers who are big on cropping, you’d want to get you a Sony a7RII. We are looking at 42 megapixels of sensor resolution. So, really what else do you need? There’s no AA filter here so photos are always sharp. You have plenty room to crop and you can print as large as you want, and that’s not hyperbole. At 625 grams, this camera isn’t a light thing. But compared to DSLRs in its class, this camera is quite lightweight. You can easily move it around. So, if you’re a photographer or a videographer looking for a quality camera to take around with you everywhere when you don’t feel up to a full time DSLR, then you might want to check out the Sony a7RII. It’s the textbook definition of “big things come in small packages.” For photographers and videographers that constantly shoot in low light situations whether weddings or concerts or the like, the Sony a7RII will not fail you. It comes with a full frame sensor, large sensor pixel area, and fantastic low light ISO which add up to give this camera a great score in low light capabilities. If you do 4K video and you have all the tools for the post-production, the Sony a7RII allows you record 4K in its XAVC-S codec at 100 megabits per second. Action/wildlife/sports photographers might be the only ones to miss out on this wonderful camera and that’s for one major reason. Although the camera comes with a fast max shutter speed and image stabilization, 5 frames per second is just too poor for serious action. | The Panasonic GH4, in comparison to the Sony a7RII is much more affordable even as a pro camera. So, this naturally puts the GH4 within the easy reach of more customers than the Sony a7RII. Also, in comparison to the Sony a7RII, the GH4 is a much more compact and a much lighter camera. This is because of its four thirds sensor which is even smaller than a crop sensor. So, if you’re really particular about a small, compact camera, then between the Sony a7RII vs GH4, you might want to consider the GH4. Another thing about the GH4 which makes it within the reach of more people than the Sony a7RII is its versatility. The GH4 can work with all kind of lenses regardless of the brand and, most times, without an adaptor. This means that you can simply get this camera without getting anything extra and simply work with your already-owned optics. So, so far, we have seen the Panasonic GH4 to be a pocket-friendly, user-friendly camera. In comparison to the Sony a7RII, it’s easier to work with regardless of your level of skill as a photographer or a videographer. For 4k videographers, the Panasonic GH4 is a wonderful camera that shoots 4K internally. This reduces your gear since you won’t have to carry an external HDMI recorder for each instance you have to shoot 4K. Plus, the 4k footage you get from this camera is every videographer’s dream! Being able to record at a bit rate twice as fast as the Sony a7RII, the professional videographer would enjoy playing with their footage whether it’s for green screen or intense graphic work. Its only Achilles’ heel as camera is its low light performance. If that’s more your scene, we recommend the Sony a7RII over the Panasonic GH4. Otherwise, in bright light, the GH4 does fantastic. It’s also a great choice for the action guys with a burst mode of 12 frames per second. |
| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Which Features Do They Have In Common?
We take a look at the Sony a7RII vs GH4 to find out the features they have in common. Check them out.
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 Common Feature 1: High ISO
The ISO range of the Sony a7RII and the GH4 are quite wide and their max ISOs are pretty high as well. According to Sony, the ISO of the Sony a7RII is expandable. We, however, don’t like to depend on that and, instead, work on the native ISO of a camera. In this case, the ISO of these cameras are plenty good enough. So, no problems.
In fact, chances are that you won’t ever even have to go beyond the 6400 stops mark, you know, because of noise. Having noisy, grainy photos or videos is something you want to avoid completely as it could render your photo or video unusable.
But even though you might not always need all the IS available to you on your camera it’s always a good thing working with a camera with a high ISO. This is because, it is observed that in a dark room, a camera with a higher ISO would always require less light to take a good photo than one with a lower ISO even when the shutter speed and aperture settings on the two cameras are the same.
That said, let’s see the ISO performance of the Sony a7RII vs GH4. We begin with the Sony a7RII.
We already know that Sony cameras perform well in the dark. Usually, the Sony a7RII has a fantastic run in low light when the ISO is set to 3200 stops. However, you can still get good photos with an acceptable level of noise at 6400.
Well, the same applies to the Sony a7RII, it also does great in low light at 3200 stops and acceptably well at 6400 stops where a little noise begins to creep in.
Now, all that said, we won’t recommend the Panasonic GH4 for low light photography or videography. It’s a better camera in ideal lighting or where the lighting is average at worst but never worse. Its low light ISO is 791 after all.
On the other hand, we have the Sony a7RII with a low light ISO of 3434. This camera also features a full frame camera, as well as a larger sensor pixel area. All these features work together to give the Sony a7RII an edge over the Panasonic GH4 in the dark.
So, whether it’s a dinner, a concert, or a wedding reception, anywhere lighting is sure to be bad or unpredictable, your better bet might be the Sony a7RII.
Get the Sony a7RII here! Get the Panasonic GH4 here!
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 Common Feature 2: 3 Inch Articulating Screen
Another common feature these cameras share is an articulating screen. LCD screens are a very important part of any camera as you well know. They help you to compose your scenes properly, when shooting videos or taking photos. They are basically the part of the camera through which you interact with your camera and your footage.
Articulating screens can come in different forms whether fully articulated or only partially articulated. Of course the different kinds have the levels of convenience they bring to a camera. In the Sony a7RII vs GH4 comparison, you find that the Sony a7RII comes with a tilting screen while the Panasonic GH4 comes with a fully articulated screen.
By virtue of the GH4’s fully articulated screen, it becomes a more intuitive and more interactive camera than the Sony a7RII. It also makes the GH4 an easier camera to shoot video with than the Sony a7RII, especially if you do all one-man videos. In essence, vloggers and the likes will find a friend in the GH4 with its selfie-friendly camera.
The Sony a7RII, on the other hand, only comes with a tilting screen. It doesn’t exactly flip to face the user so it might not be the best camera for shooting one-man videos.
Another thing about the screen of the Panasonic GH4 is that it is touch sensitive, a quality that’s conspicuously absent on the Sony a7RII, and indeed most of Sony’s cameras, including the pro cameras.
This feature also puts the Panasonic GH4 a step ahead of the Sony a7RII in that it’s easier to interact with your camera and your footage or photo. In fast scenes and at times where you need to make snappy decisions at the drop of a hat, the touch sensitive screen of the GH4 delivers well on that.
Finally, in screen resolution, this time, the Sony a7RII takes the prize. It’s quite sharper than that of the GH4.
Get the Sony a7RII here! Get the Panasonic GH4 here!
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 Common Feature 3: Dynamic Range
When we first saw the Sony a7RII in a well backlit scenery, we were quite impressed. This camera delivered quite well. But that doesn’t surprise us considering that this is a camera with a full frame sensor, and, therefore, an impressive dynamic range.
The Panasonic GH4 also does great in bright light. However, when we compared, we found out that we liked the performance of the Sony a7RII better than that of the Panasonic GH4 which, again, was kinda expected.
Being that the Panasonic GH4 is a small camera, thanks to its micro four thirds sensor, the camera also tends to lose some features due to its smaller size. One of such features is its dynamic range. The GH4 does not perform as well in the dynamic range department. So, in comparison to the Sony 7RII, it might lose more of the finer details of either your photo or video to the shadows or the highlights.
Usually, a good dynamic range falls between 12 and 14. This means that these two cameras do great in dynamic range department as the Sony a7RII comes in with 13.9 while the Panasonic GH4 comes in 12.8.
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 Common Feature 4: RAW Support
You probably took it for granted that these two cameras come with RAW support and if you did, you weren’t wrong. These are pro cameras after all and RAW support is only expected in such cameras.
The RAW photos these two cameras produce are completely amazing and you don’t even have to take our word for it. You only have to check out the various samples online to confirm for yourself.
We hope you’ve got your software applications ready if this is your first time shooting RAW. The RAW photos from these cameras would give you loads to work with. And since, they are RAW, you get to enjoy non-destructive editing. This means all the editing you carry out does not affect picture quality and it remains as is.
RAW photos are quite large in size which is one of the biggest reasons they are not commonly used. For instance, on the internet today, most photos you find are in JPEG. This is because such photos are smaller, and easier and faster to upload than RAW photos.
RAW photos, on the other hand, would have to be compressed and processed before sharing. While on JPEG, you already have several optimization processes carried out on it while taking the photo. So, the resulting photo is compressed and processed.
Get the Sony a7RII here! Get the Panasonic GH4 here!
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 Common Feature 5: Electronic Viewfinders
Since these two cameras are mirrorless cameras, it follows that they come with electronic viewfinders. Of course, there are mirrorless cameras that do not come with viewfinders. But we’re talking about pro cameras here. So, of course they come with electronic viewfinders.
And the viewfinders on these cameras are excellent. First off, the resolution is razor sharp. We are looking at cameras with a viewfinder of 2.359k dots. So looking through these viewfinders is practically like looking through an optical viewfinder. It’s super clear.
But, of course, since these are electronic viewfinders, they display more information than optical viewfinders which take out the guesswork of working with DSLR cameras.
As always, this camera does consume a significant amount of battery power and might not do as well as an optical viewfinder in the sun. But these ae things we’ve come to expect with electronic viewfinders. So, it’s not a big deal, right?
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 Common Feature 6: 1/8000 Second Max Shutter Speed
The Sony a7RII and Panasonic GH4 both have shutter speeds that go as fast 1/8000 second. That is super fast but not at all surprising since these are pro cameras.
And that’s not all, the shutter speeds of these cameras also go as slow as 30 seconds. So, the range of shutter speeds available for your projects are quite wide. This is good because it gives you room to pull all kinds of stunts when taking photos of all kinds of objects and subjects.
The higher shutter speeds available on each of these cameras are great for taking photos of moving subjects or objects. With a fast shutter speed, you can take a clean shot of a moving object frozen in motion. A slower shutter speed, on the other hand, will be affected by blurriness around the areas of motion.
The fast shutter speeds also make these cameras potential fantastic action cameras. Well, except for the Sony a7RII which is a bit handicapped because of its poor continuous shooting mode.
But slower shutter speeds also come in handy especially in situations where you need to let in enough light into the sensor. And sometimes, even the blur they create with moving subjects could be beneficial when trying to create that sense of speed.
Get the Sony a7RII here! Get the Panasonic GH4 here!
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 Common Feature 7: Focus Points
It’s common knowledge that mirrorless cameras are not the best or the fastest when it comes to speed. They are typically much slower than DSLRs to focus. However, technology has come a long way from when mirrorless cameras were first introduced. These cameras now compete favorably with DSLRS in terms of autofocusing.
Now, let’s run the comparison.
In the first place, the Sony a7RII has way more focus points than the Panasonic GH4. On the Sony a7RII, the number of focus points add up to 399 while those of the GH4 add up to 49 points. That’s a wide disparity and it also gives the Sony a7RII an edge over the GH4 when shooting moving subjects.
More focus points means that there is a greater tendency of the subject remaining in focus as they move from one part of the frame to another.
That said, let’s go to the Sony a7RII vs GH4 compare on this point proper.
Sony a7RII |
Panasonic GH4 |
| And then we come to the Sony a7RII, Sony takes autofocusing to a whole new level on the Sony a7RII. In fact, besides autofocusing, the camera also comes with eye focusing as well as face tracking. Even in low light where cameras normally struggle with fast focusing, the Sony a7RII still does pretty okay. The only small challenge we noticed with the Sony a7RII was focus hunting especially when shooting a video of a non-moving object in autofocus mode. It also occurs when taking photos of non-moving objects in AF mode as well. Focus hunting means that even when the camera has locked on to the precise point of focus, it keeps hunting for the “accurate point of focus” rather than “trust” that it has got it already. This can be a little annoying but there are ways to work around that. In video mode, turn off the AF mode once the initial focus has been locked on to especially if the subject is static. Also, for shooting stills, put off the continuous shooting to avoid focus hunting as well. But for moving subjects, the Sony a7RII performs excellently. By checking out contrast and face tracking, this camera is able to pin your exact location per time as you move. Something else the videographer and photographer would enjoy about this camera is how they also focus quite fast even with non-Sony lenses. Like the Canon EOS lenses, for instance. In video mode though, autofocus on different lenses is so slow, it’s practically useless. | When shooting non-moving, static subjects, the autofocus is best described as sublime. It also does well with moving subjects as well and does excellently with tracking a lot of motions that’s usually common in action scenes. In fact, for sport and action photography, the Panasonic GH4 comes prepared with a high write speed as well as a large buffer which enables it to keep up with all the many shots taken at a time. But we’re not sure about how this camera would perform in the wild though. We found that the camera found it easier focusing on cars and athletes than fast-flying birds traveling from a shorter distance away. To learn how to work with the GH4’s autofocusing, check out this tutorial below: |
Get the Sony a7RII here! Get the Panasonic GH4 here!
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 Common Feature 8: Continuous Shooting / Burst Mode
You get a continuous shooting mode whichever camera you settle for. However, the Panasonic GH4 is the clear winner in this category. It comes with an impressive 12 frames per second while the Sony a7RII only comes with only 5 frames per second. Sure, there are cameras with faster burst modes, however, the GH4 sure holds its own in this category all the same.
When it comes to sports and action photography, the Panasonic GH4 will do better than the Sony a7RII. 12 frames per second will do a good job of capturing all the moves across the screen whether for photo or for video.
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 Common Feature 9: 4K Video Resolution
The Sony a7RII and Panasonic GH4 both shoot in 4K even though the dimensions are quite different. The Sony a7RII shoots in the regular 3840 x 2160 pixels while the Panasonic GH4 shoots in 4096 x 2160 pixels. It does not affect much in the performance of these cameras. In fact, let’s get right to the comparison of the video quality of the Sony a7RII vs GH4 so you see what we’re talking about.
Sony a7RII |
Panasonic GH4 |
| Okay, so everything you need to record great video on the Sony a7RII are present on the camera. And then again, Sony is also known for making excellent cameras for video. There’s the microphone input through which you can connect a microphone. This allows you to record your best quality audio which is important for any video. As for focusing, we already explained that the Sony a7RII does great for autofocusing in video mode. If you’re recording a moving subject, the face tracking eye focusing, plus contrast help the Sony a7RII to always pin the location of the subject while they move. For non-moving subjects though, focus hunting could affect autofocusing. This is why we’d advise that you turn off continuous focus once the initial focus has been achieved. Now, to the video proper. This camera shoots in 4K using Sony’s XAVC-S codec. This format allows you record at a high bitrate of about 100 megabits per second which is quite impressive. It records this both in both full frame and in a 35 millimeter crop. The Sony a7RII only records at 60 frames per second in 1080 pixels. This isn’t mind-blowing in these quarters because the camera is a pro camera. But it also records in 120 frames per second in 720 pixels. Also, you get to achieve dual recording with the Sony a7RII. You can record both in high quality XAVC as well as in low quality mp4 720 pixels for those times you need a faster upload. | The Panasonic GH4, on the other hand, records ultra HD/DCI quality 4K internally which is lovely. This is great since you wouldn’t have to carry an external HDMI recorder around. This makes for a more convenient travel. Even in 4K setup, the Panasonic GH4 still allows you record in 1080 pixels. You simply crop the different framing options while still in 4K and you get that. Now, when it comes to bitrate, the GH4 beats the Sony a7RII thereby making the GH4 the better camera in most situations. The GH4 records at 200 megabits per second intra. And not just that, there are other bitrate options as well with which you can record your footage internally as well. At 200 megabits per second, you get enough material for post-production work. Green screen, intense graphic work, color grading and the likes, this camera over-delivers thanks to its 200-megabit bitrate. Furthermore, the GH4 is really versatile working nicely with all kinds of lenses as well as adapters and speed boosters. Finally, the fully articulated, touch-sensitive screen of the GH4 makes it a more interactive, intuitive, and user-friendly camera for shooting videos. Vloggers and the likes would definitely enjoy shooting with the Panasonic GH4. Professionals as well. Maybe even more than the Sony a7RII. |
This video also compares the NX1 but it compares the GH4 and the ARII as well.
Get the Sony a7RII here! Get the Panasonic GH4 here!
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 Common Feature 10: Weather-Sealed Bodies
Weather-sealing is what keeps your camera rugged and durable against the elements. When these cameras are used in the outdoors especially. They are constantly exposed to moisture and dust. This could affect the performance of the camera in the end which is why weather-sealing is important.
The layering of vulnerable parts with rubber keeps the camera safe from moisture and dust. It also ensures that the camera is usable under slight rain.
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 Common Feature 11: Time Lapse Recording
Time lapse recording is a great feature with which you can create mesmerizing videos of time lapse. On the Panasonic GH4, the camera has the time lapse recording feature built-in.
However, on the Sony a7RII, the time lapse recording is not built-in. Instead, you’d have to get it on the app. This is a small issue as it takes you some time to download it from the app store, set it up and all of that. But, in the end, with both cameras you get time lapse recording.
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 Common Feature 12: AE Bracketing
When it’s tricky to get perfectly exposed shots due to unsteady light or varying contrasts, AE bracketing comes into play. Thankfully, both cameras come with AE bracketing. This feature allows you take a range of shots with different degrees of exposure. This way, you can choose the exposure that works best for you
In the Sony a7RII vs GH4 comparison though, the Sony a7RII does better with its AE bracketing range. The Sony a7RII has a AE bracketing range of ±5 EV while the GH4 has a range of ±3 EV.
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 Common Feature 13: Wireless Connection
For snappy transfer of your files from your camera to your computer or other devices, the built-in WiFi on these cameras makes that happen. Especially in the Sony a7RII which supports UHS-I memory card, transfer of files is pretty speedy transferring at a rate of more than 100 megabytes per second.
Now, the Sony a7RII also has an additional advantage in that it comes with NFC connection. With a single tap of a button, you can get your camera to immediately pair with other devices. And in the absence of internet, you can still transfer your files quickly.
Finally, both cameras feature smartphone remote control which is pretty cool.
Get the Sony a7RII here! Get the Panasonic GH4 here!
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Features Unique To Each Camera
We will now compare the Sony a7RII vs GH4 to find out the unique features each of these cameras bring to the contest.
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Features Unique To The Sony a7RII
Full Frame Sensor
The Sony a7RII comes with a full frame sensor while the GH4 doesn’t. A full frame sensor has so many benefits which the Sony a7RII also benefits from.
Thanks to its sensor, the Sony a7RII takes a more encompassing view of the field of view than the GH4. This makes the camera great for taking photos of landscapes and architectural structures.
The camera also gives photos a shallow depth of field that is aesthetically pleasing. A full frame sensor, therefore, makes this camera great for portraits.
Besides that, the full frame sensor of this camera also gives it a better performance in low light as well as in dynamic range. It, therefore, makes sense how the Sony a7RII beats the Panasonic GH4 in the areas afore-mentioned.
Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization
The Sony a7RII comes with an image stabilization system that is characteristic of Sony cameras. Sony is known for favoring sensor-shift image stabilization. And this system is a good one especially because it saves the photographer some cost.
This is because, with an image stabilization system that is built-in, you can practically use any kind of glass you want and your image would be stabilized.
For optical image stabilization where the stabilization is in the lens, it could become quite expensive to maintain as you can only use IS lenses on your camera. And those things are not cheap.
Like the name suggests, sensor-shift occurs upon the shifting of the sensor to compensate for camera shake. So, when the accelerometer notices an involuntary shake of the camera, it detects the intensity and the direction of the shake and then moves the sensor to compensate.
Now what makes the sensor-shift stabilization of the Sony a7RII even more amazing is that it is a 5-axis image stabilization system. This means that it stabilizes images on all planes: left, right, up, down, and rotational.
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
42 Megapixel Sensor Resolution
It does not come as a surprise that the Sony a7RII has a sensor that sharp. If you know Sony very well, then you know that Sony has the alpha R series which contains high resolution cameras. 42 megapixels definitely makes the Sony a7RII a high sensor camera.
At this resolution, this camera produces well detailed photos that are really beautiful to see. And the great thing about it is that you can crop as much as you want. You can also print in really large sizes as well.
Besides that, with a high resolution camera, you can easily downsample your photos without losing too much quality. So, say you need to reduce the size of your photo for faster upload on the web for instance, high resolution photos would not suffer the loss of quality so much.
At 42 megapixels, the Sony a7RII can print photos in sizes up to 16 by 24 inches perfectly which you have to admit is pretty large. In fact, this camera can also print in other sizes up to 40 by 60 inches as well. Maybe not perfectly, but at pretty good quality nonetheless.
Get the Sony a7RII here! Get the Panasonic GH4 here!
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Features Unique To The Panasonic GH4
16 Megapixels
The resolution of the Panasonic GH4 is pretty poor especially for a pro camera. So, you probably understand why not many people are crazy about stills from the GH4 or Panasonic cameras in general.
This is not a camera you want to go for if you do a lot of cropping or you print in large sizes. You’ll lose a lot of quality.
In fact, we generally consider the Panasonic GH4 more of a video camera that a photography camera. So, it’s just as well for us.
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Micro Four Thirds Sensor
The Panasonic GH4 comes with a micro four thirds sensor which is a pretty small sensor. It measures at a size of about 17.3 x 13 millimeters. So, it’s pretty small and makes for a smaller camera.
Generally, cameras with four thirds sensors are small, compact, and easier to carry around. And you can see that in the weight and size of the GH4 vs Sony a7RII.
Because of their size, four thirds sensors create photos with pretty tight fields of views and almost non-existent depth of field. So, compared to full frames, the quality of photos from a four thirds sensor might not be quite as good as that of the full frames.
Get the Sony a7RII here! Get the Panasonic GH4 here!
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Unique Pros
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Pros Unique To The Sony a7RII
- The sensor of this camera is a full frame which means it naturally fares better than the four thirds sensor in low light, dynamic range, and in depth of field.
- 42 megapixels are enough for aggressive cropping and printing large sized photos.
- Comes with more focus points, better dynamic range, better low light ISO, and better color depth.
- The LCD screen resolution of the Sony a7RII is quite sharp and sharper than that of the GH4.
- This camera is better in low light thanks to its full frame sensor, and larger sensor pixel area
- Also comes with NFC connection.
- Wider AE bracketing range.
- Supports UHS memory cards.
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Pros Unique To The Panasonic GH4
- The Panasonic GH4 comes with a built-in flash which is great for certain situations where an external flash would be overkill.
- The LCD screen of this camera is fully articulated and touch sensitive as well.
- In burst / continuous shooting mode, the GH4 is the better camera. At 12 frames per second, it works for action shooting.
- Battery life is way better on the Panasonic GH4.
- With a smaller sensor, the GH4 is lighter and more compact.
- Time lapse recording is built-in.
- Also comes with a flash sync port in addition to an external flash shoe.
- 4k photo mode to capture fast-moving subjects.
- Post-focus mode allows you to select or change your focal point after the photo has been taken.
- 4K video mode is much better on the GH4.
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Unique Cons
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Cons Unique To The Sony a7RII
- This camera lacks a built-in flash.
- LCD screen isn’t touch sensitive, neither does it articulate fully.
- The battery life of this camera is poor.
- Time lapse recording isn’t built-in, you’d have to get the Sony app first.
- It’s the more expensive camera.
- Does not come with a flash sync port.
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Cons Unique To The Panasonic GH4
- Lacks an image stabilization system.
- Sensor resolution is quite poor for a pro camera.
- Not quite great in low light.
- No NFC connection.
- Does not support UHS memory cards.
Sony a7RII V GH4 – Common Pros
Sony a7RII |
Panasonic GH4 |
| Wireless connection for fast upload and transfer of photos and videos. Also comes with NFC connection in case of the absence of internet. | Also comes with built-in WiFi. |
| Also comes with an articulating screen. | Same goes for the GH4. |
| The Sony a7RII comes with an external flash shoe which is great for those times when the built-in flash isn’t enough. | The GH4 also comes with external flash shoe. |
| Comes with a sharp electronic viewfinder. | Same goes for the GH4. |
| Comes with RAW support. | Same here. |
| Face detection focus allows the camera identify human faces for the best exposure. | Also applies here. |
| The LCD screen resolution is sharp. | Same here. |
| Microphone and headphone ports are present | Also present on the GH4. |
| Weather-sealed for protection against the elements. | Also comes weather-sealed. |
| AE bracketing is present on this camera. | Also present on the GH4. |
| You get smartphone control with this camera. | Same with the Panasonic GH4 |
| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
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| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Common Cons
The Sony a7RII and GH4 do not share any common con.
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – General Feeling Among Users
Sony a7RII |
Panasonic GH4 |
| The Sony a7RII is a much-loved camera and you can tell from all the five star reviews that trailed its entry into the market. You can believe us when we say that many of the customers who loved the Sony a7RII were happy campers. Initially, the price of the camera was a bit scary for many. This is not a cheap camera, after all But we did notice that, later, as they began to use the camera they found it to be worth the price. Many were able to achieve a lot playing with this camera. The quality of the images was amazing to photographers who used this camera. In fact, a particular customer was so impressed by the quality of images they got, they dubbed the sensor of the Sony a7RII “the best sensor in the world.” But there were a few complaints as well. For instance, the menu was a little annoying for some to use. Many didn’t find it cool having to navigate through the menu which they found to be cluttered and difficult to understand. Battery life was another pain point too. But then again, it’s common knowledge that Sony’s batteries suck. So, we guess most saw that coming. Barring those though, users mostly loved their camera. A few said it was overpriced but many felt the camera was worth every cent. And they were in the majority. So, overall, great run with the Sony a7RII. | Again, another camera with many happy campers. The compactness and light weight of this camera made it a much-loved camera among the customers. Of course, anything for less luggage is always welcome. The versatility of the camera was also another feature that customers commended. The fact that they were getting an affordable camera added to the fact that it works with all kinds of glass wasn’t missed by most users. They were happy to find that they could use all kinds of glass or get a fairly inexpensive adapter if need be. Unlike with the Sony a7RII where many had complaints about the battery life, customers enjoyed a long-lasting battery with this camera. Even shooting in 4K, the camera still seemed to last long which made many impressed. Of course, there were also complaints as well. For instance, the way the autofocus performed less than standard in video mode bothered some. And then the low light capability of the camera also wasn’t much loved. Many felt like Panasonic could have done better in that regard. But, in general, Panasonic seemed to have done well by its customers. There were many 5 star reviews and users found the camera worth their money. |
| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
Sony a7RII Vs GH4 – Conclusion
We’re almost certain that you’ve made up your mind on what camera to get between the Sony a7RII vs GH4. However, we’ve got our opinion as well and we think it might help you as well. You might want to pay attention, but of course, the ball is always in your court.
If we were to choose between the Sony a7RII and the GH4, it would be a really tough one but we would go for the Sony a7RII. We think it’s a better overall camera than the GH4. It covers more bases than the GH4. From photography mode to video mode, the Sony a7RII is the better camera.
But then there’s the GH4. Although a great camera, the camera does not seem to be so great for stills in our opinion. However, in video mode, this camera is literally a beast and trumps the Sony a7RII hands down.
Hence, here’s our conclusion.
If you’re looking for a camera strictly for videography, then we will not hesitate to recommend the Panasonic GH4 immediately. It will blow your mind. However, just refrain from using it in low light.
But if you need something that will come through for you in all kinds of situations from stills to videos to low light, the Sony a7RII is your guy. Its video mode might not be as good as the GH4 but it is great, nonetheless. And, like we said, overall, the Sony a7RII is more of an all-rounder than the GH4.
And talking about versatility, we’ve said that the Sony a7RII is an all-rounder but when it comes to lenses, the GH4 is more versatile. The GH4 easily adapts to any kind of lens unlike the Sony which is more selective with more expensive and less ubiquitous lenses.
| Get the Sony a7RII here! | Get the Panasonic GH4 here! |
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