Panasonic Lumix GH5 Review

The Panasonic GH5 is a workhorse. It's not the camera you buy for the latest autofocus tech or the prettiest colors straight out of the box. You buy it because it's built like a tank and gets the job done, especially if video is your main game. The one thing to know? This camera is a legend for a reason, but it's starting to show its age in a few key areas.

The burst shooting speed is genuinely wild at 60fps, putting it in the 97th percentile. That's pro sports camera territory. But the autofocus, sitting in the 45th percentile, is the big surprise in a bad way. It's fine for controlled shots, but if you're chasing kids or pets, you'll miss shots that newer cameras would nail. The video quality, however, is still fantastic.

At around $771, it's a tough call. For a dedicated video shooter who needs a reliable, sealed body and doesn't rely on cutting-edge autofocus, it's a steal. For a hybrid shooter or someone who needs reliable subject tracking, your money is better spent elsewhere.

Stack it against the Canon EOS R7 and the Sony a6400. The Canon R7 smokes it in autofocus and burst speed with a bigger APS-C sensor, making it the better all-rounder for photos and video. The Sony a6400 has a similar price and much better autofocus, but its video features aren't as robust and the build quality isn't as solid. The GH5 wins on pure video toolset and durability.

If you're a videographer who already has MFT lenses and needs a reliable, fully-featured B-cam or a tough main camera, the GH5 is still a fantastic buy. For everyone else, especially photographers or new creators, the autofocus limitations are a deal-breaker. Look at the Canon R7 or a used Panasonic GH6 instead.