Sony A7R II VS Panasonic GH4 (S-log 2 VS V-Log) Which one is better?

Due to the YouTube Compression, here is the 1min Raw Video link attached below

Sony A7R II VS Panasonic GH4 (S-log 2 VS V-Log) Which one is better?

This is the Sony A7R II VS Panasonic GH4 video test. Different sensor size don’t usually worth talking about it. Because most of the time full frame will have a better result. Especially when the GH4 is already been out into the market for over 18 months. And the A7R II has just got into the market less than 2 months. So why these two cameras comparable? Firstly, both cameras are featuring internal 4K recording. Secondly both cameras have got super flat Picture Profiles (S-log 2 and V-Log). So I think its worth to give it a try which camera performs better?

Since both camera sensors size are so different. So I used the Metabones T SpeedBooster XL 0.64x adapter on GH4 so it effectively transforming the GH4 into a Super 35 format. Then I switched the A7RII in Super 35 mode too. (A7RII performs better in Super 35 mode anyway) So both cameras will look exactly the same in terms of the field of view. So what you guys think? Which camera do you think looks better?

DSI Pictures Entertainment 2015
Filmed and edited by Steve Chan
Special Thanks: Berni Law

[iviaverick]

Looks at the leaves in the trees at 1:50. Never thought I'd say it, but I actually think the GH4 looks better in most of these shots. Makes me glad I bought mine. The DOF and low light is obviously where the A7 series wins out though.

[AshlynAustin]

I've been researching for my next camera for some time now and I ALWAYS go back to the GH4. To the average person I'm sure the A7RII camera footage looks better but I feel like it's the difference between shooting JPEG and RAW files. JPEG is like shooting with the Sony, it's already altered in a way so you don't have to correct much in post. But shooting with the GH4 it's so much more flat and raw, you can really tell in this video all the extra information and detail it holds. GH4 has my heart.

[WhatAreYouBuyen]

GH4 has a lot better dynamic range than the Sony, this is clear when comparing the sky colors, the GH4 is more blue. They both look good, on youtube quality not much of a difference. But the GH4 is definitely going to produce much better video than the Sony, especially in bright daylight. I'm sure the Sony looks much better i low light of course. I don't often film in low light so for me, it's not an issue.

[Paulc]

I prefer the image of the a7RII, but I'm surprised at how well the GH4 competes with it. Especially because it's considerably cheaper and has been out a lot longer. Both look great.

[KotzeKotzev]

My God that V-log just destroyed the Sony A7Rii slog2 Please do a A7Sii slog3 VS GH4 VLOG is so curious to see what happens :)

[abcfilmfoto]

Gh4 for sure ! No banding and it has much details in shadows and higlights.

[IH]

I think the GH4 v-log looks better to most people because of the filmlike highlight rolloff.

[hihuy]

looks prettier with fade ins/ fade outs, but would be easier to see the difference in shots with - jump cuts.

[north]

Nice comparison - I'm curious what we're comparing here though. If we are simply looking at DR it appears the GH4 handles highlights much better, but the Sony offers more sharpness. Like others, I think the real test will be which one holds up to grading in post - especially as ISO 800. These are, I assume, completely ungraded - yes?
We just shot a short on the GH4 in V-Log at ISO400 this weekend and there is definitely some grain (noise), but it gives the picture some character - reminiscent of the GH13.

[fhehle]

A7R II looks better to me, but the GH4 sure looks good too. The GH4 is amazing considering its price.

[easiersaidthandone-showbus]

To those asking the questions about the A7rII, if the shooter used a grey card and waveform for setting exposure there would be a much more balanced result. Setting dissimilar cameras to the same exposure does not (ever) make for equal exposure due to the variations in camera sensitivity which is assigned by the manufacturer. Also GH4 would have been better served by not shooting through a speedbooster, using DCI 4K and a wider focal length.

[AndrewLomenzo]

The A7Rii seemed to have brighter/more washed out highlights whereas the GH4 seemed to retain more color in the highlights.
the A7Rii definitely performed much better in low light, but that's obvious.

[ERP_Klim]

also it is clear to see that in low light a7rii way better than gh4, and as a person watching this video on a 4k monitor, a7rii picture is actually sharper, thanks to youtube for very bad compression to 1080p

[ZetenyParadoXon]

Please make sure to upload these without the black bars so that people who have ultrawide monitors could watch them on full screen!

[sense-of-scale]

I'm shocked about how much sharper the GH4 is! Wow, didn't expect that.

[marbling]

WOW...GH4 is monster. V-Log save all white and black which sony losts...
+ GH4 is sharper definitely.

[wonderwall]

The GH4 seems to have more dynamic range and is even slightly sharper to my eye. How is this possible?

[leandrolefa]

I like your compositions. The shot @0:53 is incredibly beautiful.

[TheNationalTrails]

Great comparison. Thanks very much. Quite significant depth of field differences... The Sony has better depth of field even though both cams were shot in S35... Hmm? The GH4 noise floor is as strong as the sharpness, but the DR stands on it's own. Again, thanks very much. As a camera operator / owner / investor, this maybe the best vid I've ever seen on YouTube. ** I love the 10-bit output of the GH4, but I'm quite confident the noise floor will destroy it's extra bit depth. Anyone confirm? **

[JasonToddRoberts]

Im surprised how well the GH4 held up in low light. I haven't tried the 100 mbps yet.