Panasonic GH4 vs Canon EOS M5

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Panasonic GH4 vs Canon EOS M5

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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 332.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Canon EOS M5 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon EOS M5 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the EOS M5.
Compare Canon EOS M5 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon EOS M5 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Panasonic GH5
Compare GH4 vs GH5
Compare Panasonic GH5 vs Canon EOS M5

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Differences

Panasonic GH4 advantages over Canon EOS M5

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Fast startup
~0.80 vs 1.2 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 295 shots
Capture more photos
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 9.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 27 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
11.8 fps vs 9.3 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Canon EOS M5 advantages over Panasonic GH4

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
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.
EOS M5 test data on DxO Mark GH4 test data on DxO Mark

1,262 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
60 mm vs 83 mm
Thinner
More dots on screen
1620k vs 1037k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More pixels
24.2 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos

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
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

Common Weaknesses

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 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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Read GH4 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read EOS M5 User Reviews

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Body Only (Black)
Kit with 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 Lens (Black)
Kit with 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 Lens (Black)

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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

Enthusiast-oriented compact camera body; Good image quality in most situations; Built-in electronic viewfinder; Impressive Dual Pixel CMOS AF; Very good overall performance.
High ISO image quality and dynamic range aren't quite up to par with some of its competition; No 4K video recording; Native EF-M lens selection is still limited; Below average battery life.
Read our Canon EOS M5 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

Canon EOS M5

Panasonic GH3

$787
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$798
4/3

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon EOS M5 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

Canon EOS M5

Olympus E-M1

$787
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$1099
4/3

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon EOS M5 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

Canon EOS M5

Panasonic G7

$787
APS-C

Larger sensor
NFC

$498
4/3

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Canon EOS M5 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

Canon EOS M5

Fujifilm X-Pro2

$787
APS-C

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M5 vs Fujifilm X-Pro2

Compared to Canon EOS M50

Panasonic GH4

Canon EOS M50

$998
4/3

Lens selection
Fast startup

$579
APS-C

Less expensive
Slower slow-motion

Compare Panasonic GH4 vs Canon EOS M50

Canon EOS M5

Canon EOS M50

$787
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

$579
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon EOS M5 vs Canon EOS M50

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