• 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 36.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600

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Differences

Sony A7R advantages over Panasonic GH4

  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 4.88 vs 3.75 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Better color depth
    25.6 vs 23.2 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    2,746 vs 791 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    14.1 vs 12.8 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Thinner
    48 mm vs 83 mm
    Thinner
  • More pixels
    36.4 vs 16.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Panasonic GH4 advantages over Sony A7R

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Less expensive
    $799 vs $1000
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (DCI) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Fast startup
    ~0.80 vs 2.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 530 vs 340 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/250 vs 1/160 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Less shutter lag
    0.19 vs 0.36 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    12.8 fps vs 4.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    Unlimited vs 15 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    11.8 fps vs 4.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    21 vs 15 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

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
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Both provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • 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
  • Headphone jack
    Both provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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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Review Excerpt

  • Incredibly small body for a fully-featured, full-frame camera; Resolution that rivals a medium-format camera; Excellent image quality even at very high sensitivities; Decent performance bearing in mind its extremely high resolution; Accepts existing Alpha-mount and E-mount lenses, and can optionally crop to APS-C image circle.

  • Extreme resolution makes focus and lens quality critical; Modest performance; Loud shutter; Lacks hybrid autofocus of the A7; Mediocre battery life when using electronic viewfinder; Slow X-sync; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.

  • 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.

The Competition

Compared to Sony A7

Sony A7R
Sony A7
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Higher effective ISO
  • More pixels
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
Panasonic GH4
Sony A7
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Panasonic GH3

Sony A7R
Panasonic GH3
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $798
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Panasonic GH4
Panasonic GH3
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $798
  • 4/3

Compared to Olympus E-M1

Sony A7R
Olympus E-M1
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Panasonic GH4
Olympus E-M1
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • On-sensor phase detect

Compared to Sony A7R II

Sony A7R
Sony A7R II
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Lighter weight
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Shoot 4K video
Panasonic GH4
Sony A7R II
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • Slower slow-motion
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Canon EOS RP

Sony A7R
Canon EOS RP
  • $1399
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $949
  • 35mm
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Bigger pixels
Panasonic GH4
Canon EOS RP
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $949
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
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