Head to Head: Sony A7s VS Panasonic GH4! Which Is Better?

Head to Head: Sony A7s VS Panasonic GH4! Which Is Better? Epic battle between the Sony A7s & Panasonic GH4. Which is better? The A7s battles the GH4 in multiple tests. Enjoy!
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#gh4 #a7s #mirrorless

[YeagerFilm]

Dude. No doubt the A7s is a great camera. & I respect the time and effort put into this review, very detailed. However, c'mon... hitting the GH4 a bit hard huh? Why not use a Lumix G lens (the lenses intended for the camera) for the sharpness test? Metabones are great, but the chromatic abrasion is obvious on that test (which is a direct result from the Metabones.. yes, it will make it softer..) Also, the rolling shutter comparison is way off. You're telling me a micro 4/3rds sensor has MORE rolling shutter than a full frame? c'mon. Anybody can see the A7s is jello when moved around...

A7s is a great camera & this review makes me want one. But worth noting one A7s+Shogun = three GH4s...

[trevorpinnocky]

One of the best comparisons on the Tube...

Nicely done...all the effort you put into really shows.

Cheers

[clifftotten]

The 4K sharpness difference makes total sense. The GH4 scans (16x9 from the center of the sensor) about 8+ megapixels. The A7S takes it's 16x9 from the entire width of it's sensor with 10+ megapixels and scales that "down" to UHD. So yeah, the GH4 is doing a 1:1 read out and the A7s is OVERSAMPLING to make it's UHD image...so it's scanning a HIGHER than UHD image to begin with. 

Bayer pattern math is important her too:
GH4 = 1:1 scan produces roughly 4 million green, 2 million red and 2 million blue. (roughly)  

A7s = over sample scan includes 5 million green, 2.5 million red and 2.5 million blue (roughly) 

Fairly big difference in numbers. Sony typically likes to compensate for Bayer pattern loss. They often take a target resolution and over sample 20% (or more) above it to arrive at that target resolution when the deBayer is completed.

[GregWallis]

Now if we were to look at your original review of the GH4, and compare it to this latest review, most people would think you're talking about two different cameras. The A7S is great, no question, but when you consider the purchase price, the price of the Shogun, and the SSD costs, plus the cost of the extra time involved in the workflow, the GH4 (using internal 4K) works out to be about a third of the price. So a direct comparison seems a bit pointless. Both great cameras, but different animals.

[lazarusonebamoi]

Now thats how to do a showdown, nice work, after watching almost 50 reviews, this just made up my mind SONY it is.

[MyOnlyFarph]

Hey Faymus, do you do your hair like that when you shoot weddings?

[markstanley]

Great review!! just wondering how you found actually using both cameras?? You mentioned in GH4 review it was very easy... the A7S doesnt seem to be as well designed... your thoughts?? also, if using Nikon lenses on A7S, is there any issues with adapters, ie. not fitting well and smooth aperture ring adjustment??
thanks
Mark

[oldsparkyhoovis]

Decent comparison, however, I've used both & have some issues...The GH4 can be flattened much than what I saw. The GH4 has much, much better rolling shutter results than a7s. Huge difference there. Finally, if using a Metabones speed booster on GH4, you're effectively working with a Super 35mm sensor, I get much better low light & depth of field results using it - although no camera I've seen beats the A7s in low light. In my own comparison, the GH4 was best for my needs. I realize you weren't really comparing a GH4 w/Metabones to a standard A7S, but with that upgrade, it's a whole different ball game...

[thortele]

Dude. Thanks for the review. First. I don't really get the nee of a comparison between a 35mm sensor and a 4/3's sensor. Secondly, you underexposed all the exterior shots with the GH4. And tweeking the profile settings is a must when it comes to that camera. So yeah, the A7 is quite remarkable. But somehow this review left me thinking: What the hell did you do to the GH4?

[Zehahahaa]

Great Review man Thank you, btw which 4K and above camera you think works best for Short films under $6.000 ?

[just.do.something]

Hello Faymusmedia, thank you for all of your videos. They are very helpful. I gotta' say though, this one seems like it was rushed out. Would've liked to have seen more scenarios other than the one house outside and the lowlight/rolling shutter test. Just seemed really rushed. Keep the videos coming. Thank you!

[ricardomorote]

Thank you man, we love your reviews!! Do you know if the Sony a7s can be used with Canon CN-E Lens? With EF-Mount?  Kind regards

[ryanvacation]

We must also remember that the GH4 (1, 500 USD body only) is much much cheaper than a a7s (2, 500 USD). The "little extra" Atomas Shogun that you need to shoot 4K on the a7s is about another 2, 000 USD.

[theSUBVERSIVE]

I get a sense that the GH4 was not shot at its optimum. The A7s has more DR and much less noise, there is no contest at that but the GH4 is known for performing better with some tweaks and lifting the shadows is certainly not one of them, but rather exposing the scene to the trees, for instance, would make some parts of the scene overexposed, but you would probably get more DR from the scene. It will be interesting to see how would this test look like with V-log.

[LeonardUlrich]

The A7S is the better camera. The GH4 is the better value.

[lannisterlodbrok]

I really really love your videos. Can you help me with this question. Would you recommend using the DJI Ronin-M with the A7s?  Or what would be the best steadycam option for the Sony A7s?   Thanks!

[johnmitchell]

Hey Love your Videos! I have a BIG Question what would you recommend. The Sony a 7s or The Black Magic URSA? Thank you for your time!!!!

[focuspulling]

Great video as always. At 12:30, you've got the a7S at ISO 3200 f/2.8, and the GH4 at those same settings, while exposure looks equivalent which seems impossible.  Did varying shutter speeds compensate?

[paka]

Thanks for a great compressing test!! 

[biscuitsalive]

I have both cameras and I don't agree with some of these results.
Obviously the A7s has much better low light performance.
But i do find the GH4 sharper overall in the side by side comparisons I have done. and dynamic range isn't that far apart when you use a decent profile, the cinelikeD you used on the GH4 is terrible. And as far as the slomo, yep 96fps on the GH4 is bad, but if you keep it under 62fps and its great quaility.
Sony options for slomo are not good enough, 720p 120fps and 50p isnt flexible enough.

I do love both cameras, but i think you didnt compare them on equal ground as far as the GH4 was concerned, as to the extra £2000 you need for a shogun to give the A7s 4k then its no longer a fair fight. the a7s/shogun combo costs 3 times as much as a GH4