During its heyday, the Panasonic GH5 was one of the best mirrorless cameras around, and going by its features, it’s still among the models you can’t go wrong with, which is nothing short of impressive considering it was released in 2015. However, the newer Panasonic GH6, which launched in 2022, basically took everything that made its older sibling good and built on it from there. But despite that and their age gap, it doesn’t exactly come out on top across the board.
Navigation
Panasonic GH6 vs GH5 Comparison Chart
| Model | Panasonic GH6 | Panasonic GH5 |
 |  | |
| Price | Check Price at Panasonic.com | Check Price at Panasonic.com |
| Display | 3″ LCD touchscreen | 3.2″ LCD touchscreen |
| Megapixels | 25MP | 20MP |
| Photo Resolution | Up to 5776 x 4336 | Up to 5184 x 3888 |
| Video Resolution | Up to 5760 x 2880 | Up to 3840 x 2160 |
| Shutter Speed | 1/32000 seconds | 1/16000 seconds |
| ISO Range | 100 to 25600 | 200 to 25600 |
| Lens Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Gyro Stabilization | Yes | No |
| Burst Shot | 75 fps | 12 fps |
| Battery Life | Approx. 360 shots | Approx. 410 shots |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 823g | 725g |
| Dimensions | 99.5mm x 100.3mm x 138.4mm | 87.4mm x 98.1mm x 138.5mm |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2017 |
Main Differences
On paper, the Panasonic GH6 beats the Panasonic GH5.
Right off the bat, the key Panasonic GH6 specs that set the camera apart include a faster shutter speed of 1/32000 seconds, a wider ISO range of 100 to 25600 and higher megapixel count of 25, offering a max photo resolution of 5776 x 4336 and a video resolution of 5760 x 2880. Moreover, it features gyro stabilization, and it can take pictures faster in burst shot mode, clocking in at 75 fps.
In comparison, the Panasonic GH5 has a 20-megapixel sensor, a shutter speed of 1/16000 seconds and an ISO range of 200 to 25600. It can take photos with a resolution of up to 5184 x 3888 and record videos up to 3840 x 2160. Also, it doesn’t have gyro stabilization, and its continuous shooting is at 12 fps.
But in the GH5’s defense, it has a larger 3.2-inch LCD touchscreen than the GH6’s three incher, and it’s lighter at 725g as compared to 823g with a sleeker body that measures 87.4mm x 98.1mm x 138.5mm as opposed to 99.5mm x 100.3mm x 138.4mm. Last but not least, it has a battery that’s rated to take up to 410 shots instead of only 360.
Click here for our list of the best mirrorless cameras.
Key Similarities
The Panasonic GH5 can still keep pace with the Panasonic GH6 in some ways.
As mentioned earlier, the Panasonic GH5 is still an excellent camera by today’s standards. Another way to look at it is the Panasonic GH6 is among the best because it’s essentially the same, but it comes with plenty of welcome improvements.
On that note, the two share a lot of similarities. First off, they’re both weather sealed, so they have a high degree of water and dust resistance. Also, they have the same top-notch image stabilization, RAW support and face detection focus.
In addition, the GH6 retains the tilting and swiveling LCD screen, which isn’t just for selfies but also for flexibility in framing other shots. It has a microphone and headphone jack too, allowing for better audio capture or sound quality for listening while recording videos. There’s a timelapse mode and slo-mo as well.
The lens mount of the GH6 is a Micro Four Thirds, the same as the GH5, meaning both are compatible with the same lenses. In other words, their lenses are interchangeable, so existing owners of the GH5 who bought equipment for it can continue using them with the GH6. Lastly, the two have dual card slots.
Considerations
The Panasonic GH6 may be better in general, but the Panasonic GH5 still has its charm.
With the Panasonic GH6, you’ll likely get a better shooting experience overall because of its faster shutter speed, wider ISO range and higher pixel count and maximum resolution for photos and videos.
That said, the Panasonic GH5 is still worth a look because of its slightly larger screen size and longer battery life. Sure, it’s five years older than the newer model, but it goes for almost half the price as the GH6 nowadays, which isn’t a surprise considering its age.
Last but not least, it should be noted that weight plays an important role in daily photography, especially if you’re taking your camera around from place to place. Technically, the GH5 has the upper hand in this regard, and while the difference isn’t that significant, it’s still an advantage nevertheless.
Verdict
The Panasonic GH6 is easy to recommend, and the same goes for the Panasonic GH5, even though it’s old.
Long story short, the Panasonic GH6 rolled out with a lot of improvements over its older sibling, and if money’s no object, then the decision is clear enough. However, the Panasonic GH5 isn’t exactly lagging behind. After all, it can still somewhat keep up with the newer iterations, and it’s often available at a steal now, making it a decent pick with a lot of bang for the buck.
FAQs
The Panasonic GH6 has a 25-megapixel sensor with a higher max photo and video resolution, as well as a wider ISO range and a faster shutter speed. However, the Panasonic GH5 has a longer battery life, a slightly bigger LCD touchscreen and a lighter body.
The Panasonic GH6 is rated to last for up to approximately 360 shots.
No, the Panasonic GH6 is a Micro Four Thirds camera.
Micro Four Thirds cameras have steadily been gaining popularity among professional photographers, though the most popular options are still full frame or APS-C cameras.