Panasonic or Sony: Which is Best for Filmmaking on a Budget?
Choosing between Panasonic and Sony cameras on a budget can feel like an impossible dilemma. Both brands offer excellent value for money and have strengths in different areas. As a budding filmmaker with limited funds, you want a camera that can capture beautiful footage without breaking the bank. But with so many factors to weigh up, making the right decision is tough.
In this guide, we'll compare Panasonic and Sony across the key areas you need to consider when buying a camera on a budget. Looking at image quality, video features, autofocus, stabilization, and more. We'll highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each brand to help you determine which is the best fit for your needs and budget. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of which brand offers the most value for indie filmmakers and content creators getting started.
Price
When it comes to price, both Panasonic and Sony offer a range of options to fit different budgets. At the entry-level, Panasonic's Lumix G7 camera body starts at around £500, while Sony's a6000 model goes for about £450. For mid-range models, Panasonic's Lumix G85 runs around £700 while the Sony a6500 is priced at £900. On the high-end, Panasonic's Lumix GH5 camera body costs approximately £1,700 compared to Sony's a7S II at £2,400.
Overall, Panasonic tends to be a bit more affordable across the entry-level and mid-range offerings. Sony's prices start lower on the entry-level, but quickly jump up higher than Panasonic in the mid-range. At the high-end, both brands are fairly comparable.
When it comes to lenses, Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds lenses run cheaper than Sony's E-mount lenses. The kit lenses offered in bundles provide good value from both brands. Panasonic's 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens bundles in at around £200 extra, while Sony's 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens adds about £150 to the package.
For those considering a compact camera, the Sony RX100 V offers an excellent blend of performance and price. This camera is ideal for those who need high-quality imaging in a more portable package. It stands out in the compact category with its 1-inch sensor, fast autofocus, and capability to shoot continuous bursts at 24 fps, making it perfect for high-speed action shots. Despite its small size, the RX100 V delivers quality that rivals larger cameras, making it a preferred choice for professionals and enthusiasts seeking a powerful compact camera at a mid-range price point.
Image Quality
When it comes to image quality, both Panasonic and Sony offer excellent options in their budget camera lines.
In terms of sensor size, Panasonic has moved to using larger Four Thirds sensors in many of their newer mirrorless cameras, while Sony sticks with their APS-C sensors. The larger Four Thirds sensor can gather more light, giving Panasonic an edge for low light photography.
For resolution, Sony often offers more megapixels in their budget models. Their A6000 has a 24MP sensor for example, beating out the 16MP sensor in Panasonic's G85. More megapixels allow for more flexibility cropping and printing large.
In low light, the advantage goes to Panasonic and their larger sensors. The G85 can shoot up to ISO 25,600 while maintaining good image quality. The A6000 maxes out at ISO 25,600 but starts to show more noise at high ISOs.
Overall for image quality, Panasonic takes the edge thanks to the larger Four Thirds sensors in their budget offerings. But Sony still produces excellent results from their APS-C sensors, especially in terms of resolution.
Video Features
When it comes to video features, both Panasonic and Sony offer strong capabilities at this price point.
Codecs, Bitrates, Frame Rates
Panasonic offers AVCHD and MP4 codecs with bitrates up to 28Mbps and frame rates up to 60fps in 1080p.
Sony offers XAVC S, AVCHD, and MP4 codecs with bitrates up to 50Mbps and frame rates up to 120fps in 1080p. The higher bitrates and frame rates allow for smoother, higher quality footage.
Slow Motion & ISO Range
Panasonic offers 720p slow motion up to 120fps. The ISO range tops out at ISO 3200 in video mode.
Sony offers 1080p slow motion up to 120fps and 4K slow motion up to 30fps. The ISO range goes up to ISO 12800 in video mode, allowing for better low light performance.
Overall, Sony has more advanced video specs like higher bitrates, frame rates, slow motion options, and higher ISO. This makes the Sonys better suited for serious filmmaking requiring high image quality and flexibility.
For those particularly interested in Panasonic's video offerings, the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 stands out as a formidable option in the market. This camera elevates the video production capabilities of Panasonic's lineup, offering 4K video recording at 60fps and 10-bit internal recording which delivers a high degree of color fidelity. The GH5 also features unlimited video recording without overheating issues, making it ideal for continuous, professional-grade video shooting. With its robust build and extensive customizability, the GH5 continues to be a favorite among professional videographers and filmmakers looking for a reliable, high-performance camera.
Autofocus
When it comes to autofocus, both Panasonic and Sony offer solid performance, but there are some key differences to consider.
AF Point Coverage: Sony cameras tend to have more AF points spread widely across the frame. For example, the Sony a7 III has 693 phase-detection AF points covering 93% of the image area. Panasonic cameras have fewer AF points, like the Lumix GH5 which has 225 AF areas covering the central 80% of the frame. So Sony has an advantage here for wide AF coverage.
Tracking Performance: For still photos, Sony's AF tracking capabilities are excellent, using algorithms that can reliably track a moving subject and keep it in focus. Panasonic's DFD autofocus is also respectable for tracking, but Sony tends to be more advanced in this area.
AF in Video: Both brands allow autofocus during video recording and can smoothly transition between subjects. Panasonic's video AF relies on contrast detection so it's a bit slower, while Sony uses fast hybrid AF. Sony's eye AF and object tracking also work very well when shooting video. Overall Sony has a lead for video AF.
So while both brands perform well for autofocus, Sony cameras tend to have more advanced AF capabilities, especially for tracking moving subjects and video recording. This gives Sony an edge, but Panasonic is still very capable in this area.
Stabilization
When it comes to stabilization, both Panasonic and Sony offer excellent options that allow for smooth, shake-free footage when shooting handheld.
Panasonic uses a combination of in-body and lens stabilization, called Dual I.S., in many of its cameras. This combines the stabilization of the lens with the 5-axis in-body stabilization provided by the camera sensor itself. Together, this can provide up to 6.5 stops of stabilization, allowing for incredibly steady shots even when filming while walking or moving.
Sony relies entirely on lens-based stabilization, as its cameras do not feature in-body stabilization. However, its Optical SteadyShot system is highly effective, providing up to 5 stops of stabilization depending on the lens. This smooths out shakes and vibrations when filming handheld or moving.
Both systems work very well for stabilizing video footage. Panasonic may have a slight edge for run-and-gun style videography thanks to its in-body stabilization. But Sony's system also delivers excellent results, so stabilization shouldn't be a major deciding factor between the two brands for video on a budget.
Form Factor
When it comes to form factor, both Panasonic and Sony offer excellent options for filmmakers on a budget. The size and weight of your camera and lenses will impact how easy they are to handle during shooting sessions.
In general, Panasonic cameras and lenses tend to be a bit larger and heavier than their Sony counterparts. For example, the popular Panasonic GH5 mirrorless camera weighs 1.6 lbs, while the comparably priced Sony a6600 weighs just 1.1 lbs. However, the larger size of Panasonic cameras means they offer excellent ergonomics and handling, with ample room for external controls. This makes them comfortable for long shooting days.
Sony's smaller and lighter weight designs allow for greater portability and discreet shooting. However, some users feel the smaller grip and button layout of cameras like the a6600 lead to a less secure and comfortable hold during filming. Lens size and weight follow similar patterns, with Panasonic's Lumix glass being larger and heavier than Sony's E-mount options.
Overall, Panasonic offers excellent ergonomics and handling in a larger form factor, while Sony emphasizes portability and compact size at the expense of some comfort. Filmmakers should weigh their needs for shooting comfort vs mobility when deciding between these two brands.
Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, both Panasonic and Sony deliver solid performance that will get you through a full day of shooting. However, Panasonic has a slight edge.
The GH5 uses a 1860mAh lithium-ion battery which Panasonic claims provides up to 400 shots per charge. In real-world use, you can expect to get between 60-90 minutes of continuous 4K recording.
Comparatively, the Sony A7iii has a 2280mAh battery with a CIPA rating of 710 shots per charge. For video, Sony claims you can record for approximately 90-120 minutes continuously in 4K.
So while the CIPA ratings might imply a big advantage for Sony, real-world results are quite similar. Both cameras can record for 60-120 minutes continuously depending on settings. However, Panasonic batteries are smaller and cheaper to buy spares.
Overall, both brands offer decent battery life for a long day of shooting. But Panasonic pulls slightly ahead for having cheaper spare batteries available.
Lens Selection
When it comes to lenses, both Panasonic and Sony offer a good selection of native lenses for their respective mounts.
Panasonic uses the Micro Four Thirds mount, which has been around for over a decade and has a huge array of native lenses available from Panasonic, Olympus and third parties. The smaller sensor size means lenses can be more compact and lighter than full-frame options. Panasonic's Lumix G lenses cover a range of focal lengths and apertures at reasonable prices.
Sony uses the E-mount for its mirrorless cameras. While the E-mount system is newer, Sony has rapidly expanded the native lens options in recent years. The FE lenses are designed for full frame while the E lenses are for APS-C cameras. There are excellent choices across the range from wide angle to telephoto. Sony's G Master lenses offer pro-level quality.
Both brands also offer adapters to use lenses from other mounts. Panasonic cameras can mount lenses from Four Thirds, Leica M, and more. Sony cameras can adapt Canon EF, Nikon F, and other lenses. Adapters allow you to use legacy lenses with full functionality. This gives you even more options, especially for professional lenses.
So in summary, both brands have great native lenses designed specifically for their mounts. And adapters provide additional flexibility. For filmmaking on a budget, you can find very capable lens options on both sides.
Conclusion
After comparing Panasonic and Sony cameras for budget filmmaking, it's clear that both brands have strengths and weaknesses.
Panasonic offers great value for money, with video-focused features like unlimited recording times and advanced codecs. The GH5 and G85 provide excellent 4K video quality in a smaller, lighter package. Autofocus and stabilization are also quite good on Panasonic models. However, battery life is shorter than Sony cameras. There are fewer native lenses available, though adapters open up more options.
Sony provides superb autofocus, great low light performance, and longer battery life. The A6400 and A6600 have the latest tracking and Eye AF. Image quality is excellent, though some may prefer Panasonic's color science. The larger APS-C sensor gives more background blur and dynamic range over the smaller MFT sensors. Sony has a much wider selection of high-quality native E-mount lenses. But the bodies tend to be more expensive than comparable Panasonic models.
Overall, for those on a tight budget, Panasonic likely offers better value, with great 4K video features in an affordable package. But for a bit more money, Sony gives superior autofocus, battery life, and lens selection. So if your budget allows, Sony cameras are recommended for their well-rounded performance. But Panasonic is still a great choice for dedicated video shooters who need professional features on a limited budget.