Panasonic Lumix GH5 DC-GH5LK 2017

The GH5 is still one of the best video cameras you can buy for the money, as long as you don't need autofocus to do the heavy lifting. Great image quality, killer stabilization, and a price that's finally come down to earth.

The 20.3MP sensor sits at the 47th percentile in our database, which sounds mediocre until you remember this camera isn't about stills. It's about video, and there it lands in the top 20 percent. The 12fps mechanical burst is solid, the 5-axis IBIS is genuinely excellent, and that 3.7M-dot EVF is one of the best we've tested. But the real surprise is the autofocus. Panasonic's DFD system lands at the 36th percentile, which means it's fine for static shots but gets confused with fast-moving subjects. For a camera this good at video, the AF is the one thing that feels stuck in the past.

The Fujifilm X-H2S is the modern alternative if you want better autofocus and a bigger sensor, but you'll pay significantly more. The OM System OM-1 shares the micro four thirds mount and has better AF, but its video features don't match the GH5's internal 10-bit recording. The Sony a7R V and Canon EOS R6 Mark III are full-frame beasts that'll give you that shallow depth of field the GH5 struggles with, but they cost two to three times as much. If video is your priority and you're on a budget, the GH5 still holds its own against cameras that launched years later.

Pricing is all over the place right now. In the US you'll see it listed between USD 1,195 and USD 1,375 across two listings, and the lower end of that range is where the value really shines. In Canada the spread is even wilder, from CAD 1,946 to CAD 3,500. If you're paying anywhere near the top of that CAD range, stop. The best deal we're seeing is at the lower end of the US listings, and honestly, at USD 1,195 this camera is a steal for what it does.

The Panasonic GH5 is the camera that made indie filmmakers take micro four thirds seriously. Even years after launch, it's still a video workhorse that punches way above its weight class. The headline here is 4K at 60fps with 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording, no crop, and no recording limit. That combo was basically unheard of at this price point when it dropped, and it's still rare today. If you shoot video first and photos second, this thing deserves a hard look.

If you're primarily a stills shooter or you need autofocus that just works without babysitting, this isn't your camera. The AF performance is genuinely behind the competition, and the 20.3MP micro four thirds sensor won't give you the dynamic range or shallow depth of field of a full-frame body. Go grab a used Sony a7 III or a Fujifilm X-T4 instead. And if you want something you can toss in a bag for travel, the GH5's 1043g weight and mediocre travel score mean you'll feel every gram.

The GH5 is a video-first camera that still makes sense in 2025 if you know what you're getting into. The image quality is excellent, the stabilization is top-tier, and the internal codecs are genuinely pro-grade. But the autofocus is a real limitation, and the micro four thirds sensor means you'll need good lighting or fast glass to get that creamy background blur. If you're an indie filmmaker, YouTuber, or hybrid shooter who can work around the AF quirks, buy it. If you need reliable tracking autofocus or shoot mostly stills, look elsewhere.