The Panasonic Lumix GH4 is our Editors’ Choice for a beginner’s full-frame camera. It shoots smooth, sharp 4K footage and slow-motion 1080p with an autofocus system that covers almost the entire image sensor. It also excels in video, with smooth, sharp footage and great video quality.
The Sony a7 III is a high-end camera that feels very similar to the a7R III and has many of the same controls. It also has dust and splash resistance like all of Sony’s FE lenses. The only difference between the a7 III and the other cameras in this line-up is that it has an electronic viewfinder instead of an optical viewfinder.
The Panasonic Lumix GH4 has a number of advanced features that are not found on other cameras. One of these features is the EV dial, which can be used to change the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. The shutter release is also located on top of the handgrip, which makes it easier to use. Additionally, the grip has a control dial that can be operated with the right index finger. The rear counterpart of this control dial is slightly offset from the EV dial and can easily be turned with the right thumb.
The rear controls on the A7R III and A9 are the same as those on the newer a7R II and a7S. The C3 button and menu button are located above the rear LCD, just to the left of the EVF eyecup. On the right side, still along the top, are Shooting, AF-ON and AEL. Below that, between the rear thumb rest and the LCD, are the focus point selection joystick and Fn button.
The main dial on the camera is a flat, deep-grooved design that feels good to rotate. There is no dedicated drive mode dial like on the a9; Sony omitted that from the a7 series. The dial itself has deep grooves so you can turn it comfortably, and the rotation feels much better than the similar dial on the a7 II – there’s more resistance, and the dial is physically larger, so button presses provide better tactile feedback.
