Panasonic GM5 vs Sony A6400

Cameras
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Panasonic GM5 vs Sony A6400

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

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GM5 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic GM5 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the GM5.
Compare Panasonic GM5 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic GM5 conclusion.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A6400 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A6400 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A6400.

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Differences

Panasonic GM5 advantages over Sony A6400

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~1.00 vs 1.8 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Thinner
36 mm vs 59 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
294g vs 519g
Lighter weight
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony A6400 advantages over Panasonic GM5

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

410 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
75 mm vs 64 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Higher max flash sync
1/160 vs 1/50 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
6 years vs 10 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Less shutter lag
0.12 vs 0.22 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.46x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.2 vs 16.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Faster JPEG shooting
11.0 fps vs 5.7 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
87 vs 56 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
11.1 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
42 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
102400 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
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Both provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
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

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
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
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read GM5 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A6400 User Reviews

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Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 16-50mm OSS lens
Kit with 18-135mm OSS lens

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Review Excerpt

Great image quality for a tiny camera; Excellent high ISO for its class; Built-in EVF; Built-in hot-shoe; Improved ergonomics; Improved image quality for long exposures; Improved burst rate with hybrid shutter; 1080/60p video.
Slightly bigger than GM1 (but not by much); No built-in flash; Shallow buffers with RAW files; Dynamic range not quite as good as some competing models; Below average battery life.
Read our Panasonic GM5 Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Sony A6400, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Sony A6400 Shooter's Report

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic GM1

Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GM1

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
In-camera panoramas

$479
4/3

Less expensive
Internal flash

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic GM1

Sony A6400

Panasonic GM1

$798
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$479
4/3

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A6400 vs Panasonic GM1

Compared to Panasonic GF7

Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GF7

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Hot shoe

$590
4/3

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic GF7

Sony A6400

Panasonic GF7

$798
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$590
4/3

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A6400 vs Panasonic GF7

Compared to Panasonic GX850

Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GX850

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Fast startup

$548
4/3

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic GX850

Sony A6400

Panasonic GX850

$798
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$548
4/3

Lens selection
Thinner

Compare Sony A6400 vs Panasonic GX850

Compared to Fujifilm X-T100

Panasonic GM5

Fujifilm X-T100

$898
4/3

Lens selection
Fast startup

$599
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Fujifilm X-T100

Sony A6400

Fujifilm X-T100

$798
APS-C

Slower slow-motion
Fast startup

$599
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A6400 vs Fujifilm X-T100

Compared to Sony A6100

Panasonic GM5

Sony A6100

$898
4/3

Lens selection
Thinner

$648
APS-C

Larger sensor
Shoot 4K video

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Sony A6100

Sony A6400

Sony A6100

$798
APS-C

Higher extended ISO

$648
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Sony A6400 vs Sony A6100

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