Hey guys, this is Leo Liang from LensClear. Whatever the reason for which you just joined us, welcome aboard! I am that crazy photographer out there who goes nuts about gears and the art behind the shoot. More than a job for me, I just love sharing photography at LensClear – where anything from photography courses killer ones should be discussed all the way down to must-haves in your camera accessories cabinet to lens filters.
Today, I talk about a camera that’s mostly the stuff of legends, a workhorse which managed to shake up the industry at its release: the Panasonic Lumix GH4. It’s now 2025, years from when it was initially launched. Some of you must be thinking, “Leo, why are you talking about a 2014 camera? Is that not some sort of ancient history in this fast-moving technological world?
That is an extremely fair question, and it’s exactly what we’re about to dive into: Is the Panasonic GH4 relevant in 2025? Can it still achieve professional results? More importantly, is it worth considering picking one up even now? I’ve spent some serious time revisiting the GH4 as of late, really putting it through its paces in a variety of shooting scenarios to give a real, hands-on perspective. Ditch dry spec sheets for a minute; let’s actually talk about this camera-for real usage, in today’s world.
Why Revisit the Panasonic Lumix GH4 Now? Does a Decade-Old Camera Still Matter?
As technology around cameras moves forward — rapidly — to more powerful models and features, some of the older cameras still transcend the very short upgrade cycles that are commonplace these days and make their ways to classic status. The Panasonic Lumix GH4 is just that kind of camera.
The GH4 was a groundbreaking camera upon its release in 2014, especially among videographers. It was one of the very first mirrorless cameras capable of shooting internal 4K video, at a price unbelievably accessible at the time. All of a sudden, high-quality 4K video, previously out of reach, landed in the laps of an entire class of professional videographers that needed to budget much, much more.
But it did so much more for 4K. The GH4 had an extremely solid feature set for both photographers and videographers. The compact size, the weather-sealed body, and extensive customization options turned this camera into a very capable tool for manifold shooting situations. As such, it gained an extremely loyal following and found a home in the gear bags of many professionals and enthusiasts.
Okay, so, why talk about the GH4 in 2025? Well, this camera still comes at an extremely remarkable value, especially on the used market. Core strengths remain solid: peerless video from such a device for its respective price class, solid build quality, and excellent ease of operation. For filmmakers or content creators on a tight budget, this camera is quite good; let alone advanced photographers, probably looking at this as possibly a reliable second body.
Think about it: photography and videography are not all about having the latest and greatest every time. It’s about knowing your gear, mastering your craft, and using tools that help tell your story. The Panasonic DMC-GH4 is such a tool, even in 2025, to still get the job done. Let’s dive deep to see specifically why.
Panasonic GH4 Specifications Deep Dive: How Does It Stand Technically?
All right, let’s get down to brass tacks and take a look at the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 technical specifications. Knowing what this camera has under its hood is quite necessary in determining if it is viable in 2025. Keep in mind that while technology goes fast, quite often a good backbone endures.
Sensor: The GH4 comes fitted with a 16.05-megapixel Digital Live MOS Sensor. It’s a Micro Four Thirds sensor, thus smaller than the APS-C and full-frame sensors. While megapixel count isn’t the end of the world, 16MP still is perfectly adequate for most online and print applications. However, the small sensor size actually equates to somewhat reduced dynamic range and low-light performance compared to larger sensor cameras. The upside is that this increases in sensor technology and image processing, which even in today’s cameras make it very capable indeed.
Processor: The Venus Engine FHD image processor is used. For its time, that was a state-of-the-art processor; it is what enabled the video capabilities and overall performance of the GH4. Newer processors are faster, but for general shooting, the Venus Engine in the GH4 is robust enough.
ISO Range The native ISO range of 200-25600 expands down to ISO 100. While certainly not class-leading by today’s standards, the GH4 nonetheless does provide images and video which are quite useable up through ISO 3200, and even as high as ISO 6400 if the need be in a pinch, provided, that is noise reduction techniques may judiciously be applied during post-processing.
Shutter Speed: Mechanical shutter speed from 60 sec.-1/8000 sec, electronic shutter up to 1/16000 sec. Usual range that would satisfy most of the demands in general photography.
The GH4 achieves autofocus via a Contrast AF system using DFD technology-Depth From Defocus. At the time it was fast and accurate. Generally, contrast AF systems are not quite as sophisticated as the phase-detection AF found on many cameras today, but the DFD technology helps this camera have quicker focus and decent tracking in video. Keep in mind that the performance of the autofocus is where cameras have notably improved.
Video Capabilities (Important!): Here’s where the GH4 truly shines. Internal 4K in 4096×2160 at 24p, and UHD 4K in 3840×2160 up to 30p in both MOV/MP4 formats. It also includes Full HD 1080p shooting up to 60p and slow-motion video at 96fps in 1080p. It critically supports high bitrates: 200 Mbps (ALL-Intra) and 100 Mbps (IPB), offering the best video quality and flexibility during post-processing. The camera also features clean HDMI output in 4:2:2 8-bit, enabling external recording with even higher quality codecs and bit depths. For its time-and still today-these are some amazingly good video specifications.
Body and Build: The GH4 features a magnesium alloy front diecast frame and is splash and dustproof. This is quite a hardy build that should see the camera shoot under most weather conditions and in the most demanding environments. It is not fully waterproof, but definitely more robust compared to many entry-level cameras and even some mid-range cameras.
Viewfinder and LCD: The camera is equipped with a 2,359k-dot OLED Live View Finder (LVF) and a 1,036k-dot 3.0-inch free-angle LCD touch screen. Both the EVF and LCD are clear and bright, making it comfortable to view and compose in a variety of lighting situations. The free-angle LCD is especially useful when shooting video and shooting from unusual angles.
Connectivity: Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity allows for wireless image transfer and remote camera control. Standard jack: HDMI, USB 2.0, microphone input, and headphone output.
In short, the GH4 may not be the most advanced camera in 2025, but it’s still quite capable. A 16MP sensor is adequate for most users’ needs, and the video functionality, especially in terms of internal 4K recording and high bitrates, is still one of its biggest strengths. The robust build and user-friendly interface further make it more attractive. Technically, the GH4 is very far from being obsolete.
Hands-on with the Panasonic GH4 in 2025: My Real-World Impressions
There are specs, but for all practicality, a camera is all about how it feels and performs in your hands. I spent a week shooting with the Panasonic Lumix GH4 in everything from street photography to some basic video work to bring you the freshest perspective in 2025. Here are my hands-on impressions:
Handling and Ergonomics:
The GH4 is well- and solidly built; the grip’s comfortable to hold onto and provides a secure hold, even with larger lenses. Controls logically fall under your fingertips, and the camera is highly customizable. I love that there are actual dials for mode, drive mode, and focus mode, not to mention the custom function buttons. The menu system, while far from the most modern, is logical and generally easy to use. The free-angle touchscreen LCD is great for shooting from unusual angles, particularly for video. In general, the GH4 is a camera that feels nice in the hand and is comfortable to use over longer shoots.
Image Quality (Stills)
For still photography, the GH4 produces pleasing image quality. The 16MP sensor captures images with good detail and sharpness, especially when paired with high-quality Micro Four Thirds lenses. Color rendition is generally accurate and pleasing. Dynamic range is decent for a Micro Four Thirds sensor of its generation, allowing for some latitude in recovering highlights and shadows in post-processing. Low-light performance is acceptable up to ISO 3200, though beyond that noise starts to be more noticeable. However, you can still get workable shots at higher ISOs if the exposure is not too bad and you use noise reduction software. For casual photography, travel, and even some professional jobs, the still image quality of the GH4 is more than sufficient.
Video Performance (The Star of the Show):
This is where the GH4 truly shines, even in 2025. Internal 4K recording is still impressively good for a camera of this age and price. The video footage is sharp, detailed, and offers excellent color reproduction. High bitrate footage, especially ALL-Intra, offers ample data for post-production, including grading and color correction without significant artifacts. The different options for video recording include 4K/24p, 4K/30p, and 1080p up to 60p, which is flexible according to the project. It can also shoot slow-motion recording of 96fps in 1080p, great for creative video work.
The video autofocus is contrast-based, and while not as smooth or “sticky” as the phase-detection systems in newer cameras, it’s still quite usable, especially with single-point AF and careful focus management. Manual focus, of course, is always an option and often preferred for more controlled video work.
The GH4 is also well-made and weather sealed, which isn’t insignificant among video shooters accustomed to finding themselves in extreme temperatures and weather with some frequency. A clean HDMI output allows attaching external recorders for even more recording options-and longer recording time limits-although internal recording limits are already considerable.
Lenses and Micro Four Thirds System:
But the GH4 is further bolstered by access to a large and comprehensive Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem. Compact, low-cost primes and zooms all the way to high-end professional glass from Panasonic and Olympus, let alone third parties are available for this camera body. For GH4 users, this means almost unimaginable options as far as lenses go: from wide-angle landscapes to telephoto wildlife photography and everything in between. Smaller sensor size has an added effect on compact and light lenses, unlike an APS-C or full-frame system, making it very usable for traveling and handheld usage.
General Impression:
Shooting with the Panasonic GH4 in 2025 was a surprisingly positive experience. It is a camera that can still feel capable and relevant. Flashy, or technologically advanced, this camera is not on the market, but as a solid, reliable, highly functional tool, it can give very good results, especially in video. It gets out of your way and lets you create, which is what matters.
Panasonic GH4 for Video in 2025: Still a Budget Video Powerhouse?
Now, let me drill down into the video aspects of the Panasonic Lumix GH4 in context of 2025. As I mentioned earlier, video is where this camera really made its mark, and that is one of the more compelling reasons you may want to consider it even today.
Why is the GH4 still such a great camera for video?
Internal 4K Recording: Well, this still remains a trump card. Many cameras of this price bracket, even in 2025, will most likely not offer internal 4K recording or, if they do, it is heavily cropped or at limited frame rates. That this camera will record 4K internally with no significant crop is a big deal over others.
High bitrates up to 200 Mbps and ALL-Intra codec ensure very good quality of video and flexibility in post-processing, common for cameras of a much higher price class. The availability of the IPB codec will give a more resource-efficient option where file size is important.
The frame rates for the movies can range from 4K at 24p/30p, 1080p at up to 60p, and even 96fps for slow-motion shooting. From shooting movie materials to cinematic 24p, smooth 30p video, to slow-motion sequence, the GH4 has it all.
Clean HDMI Output: The 4:2:2 8-bit clean HDMI output allows users to connect recorders for capturing even higher quality video, possibly in ProRes or other advanced codecs. This takes the video capabilities of the GH4 up a notch further.
Microphone and Headphone Jacks: The GH4 features a microphone and headphone jack, recording video for far more advanced results; it offers the possibility of monitoring audio levels and recording sound of the best quality right inside the camera.
Focus Peaking and Zebra Stripes: Both of these are extremely useful features when it comes to manual focus and exposure control in video; while peaking underlines the area in focus, which makes manual focusing easier, zebra stripes will show you overexposure in a frame and how to avoid clipping highlights.
Limitations with the video that can be considered in 2025:
8-bit internal recording: No matter how good the video could be, internally the GH4 records only in 8-bit color depth. Most newer cameras nowadays shoot 10-bit, and some even shoot 12-bit, providing huge latitude in color grading and dynamic range for post-processing. For most forms of video, however, 8-bit is just fine if exposed right and one doesn’t need extreme color grading.
Contrast-Based Autofocus: To begin with, and as alluded to above, contrast-based autofocus is indeed less capable compared to newer phase-detection systems. Continuous autofocus tracking when shooting fast-action scenes is less reliable. However, for most applications in video, manual focus or careful single-point AF gives great results.
Lowlights: The GH4 uses a Micro Four Thirds sensor, which is good but no match for bigger sensors when it comes to low-light performance. If you shoot video in very poor lighting conditions, the better options may be moving on to cameras with larger sensors.
Who does the GH4 still offer the ideal video for in 2025?
The GH4 is super affordable for budget filmmakers and content creators in the used market and thus a very good way to get into high-quality 4K video. It will be of particular interest to indie filmmakers, YouTubers, and other web content purveyors in search of professional-level video on a budget.
The GH4 can be quite an excellent learning tool for students and learners in the field of photography or videography due to its many features, great image and video quality, and relatively easy usage. It will enable students to learn the fundamentals of photography and videography without breaking their bank accounts.
With its robust build, reliable performance, and versatile video capabilities, the GH4 is suitable for both documentary and event videographers. Compact dimensions and weather sealing are further advantages when shooting in the field.
Conclusion: The Panasonic GH4 is a beast for video, even in 2025, considering the current pricing. It does have some limitations when compared with cameras of an extremely latest design, but core video capabilities are still great and very relevant in 2025. If you are in the market for an affordable camera capable of professional-quality 4K, the GH4 should definitely be on your radar.
The Verdict: Is the Panasonic Lumix GH4 Still Worth Buying in 2025?
So, we’ve reached the crucial question: Is the Panasonic Lumix GH4 still worth buying in 2025? My answer is a resounding YES, but with some important caveats.
The GH4 is still worth it if:
You are a videographer or a creator mostly: If you shoot tons of videos, do tons of videography, or you are a creator looking for a super affordable camera that can deliver very good 4K video, the GH4 is still a fantastic camera for you. At its used price today, it’s still a very, very competitive device to go internal 4K recording, high bitrates, and versatile frame rates.
You’re on a tight budget. The GH4 can be found on the used market at very reasonable prices. Your money gets you quite an exceptional combination of features and performance, especially with regard to video. It is a very good route for getting professional-quality video with no huge investment.
You like a big, chunky camera, with a heft to it: the GH4 feels hewed from the solid rock. Constructed from a magnesium alloy with weather sealing, this is surely a strong, reliable camera you can shoot with into most kinds of conditions. If you do need something capable of handling more wear and tear, then there’s always the GH4 that’s good.
You want access to the Micro Four Thirds lens system: Everything from super compact, cheap options all the way through high-end professional glass-with a frankly staggering amount of choices available in the Micro Four Thirds system. If ultimate versatility and compactness is critical to you, then this system-and by association, the GH4-is your perfect choice.
You are a student or learning photography/videography: The GH4 is actually a very good learning camera in that it offers a lot, is relatively easy to use, and provides great image and video quality at an affordable price.
The GH4 probably isn’t the best fit if:
You only want the best possible low light performance. For all its improvements, the low-light performance on the GH4 is simply okay-not class-leading, particularly compared to full-format cameras. Those shooting frequently in very low light might consider migrating to cameras boasting larger sensors.
The best autofocus is what you want, and it’s only contrast-based with the GH4, which just isn’t as sophisticated as phase-detection systems of newer cameras. If you really want the best autofocus tracking, you’re better off with more modern cameras.
You need internally recorded video-10-bit or above: GH4 is able only to perform internal 8-bit recording. In that matter, one does need 10-bit or greater recording depth then other new models do offer. With tremendous color upsurge and dynamic range-increase, just excellent for pro color grading.
Conclusion:
The Panasonic Lumix GH4 will definitely test your patience regarding credibility that a good camera takes time. Even in 2025, this is a capable and very versatile camera, especially when it comes to doing video. What really makes this camera incredibly attractive for budget filmmakers, content creators, and everyone who wants a fine and functional camera is its availability on the used market. It’s a camera that for so many real-world shooting scenarios is “good enough” is perfect. Not to be unvalued as a classic camera, the Panasonic GH4 still can bring excellent images and great footage. Happy shooting!
