Should a Panasonic GH5 user buy Sony A 7iii?

At the Cloud Foundry Summit, Boston, I upped my game and brought three cameras along with me – Panasonic GH5, GH5S, and G9. The G9 I had just purchased only a week prior and this conference was a great opportunity to test this camera in the field. It didn’t disappoint. Thanks to its amazing IBIS and trigger-happy shutter release button, I ended up using it for my all hand-held photos and videos. I slapped a 12-35mm lens on it for even greater reach.

But the real game was played in the video recording arena. I discovered great value in the non-stop recording feature of GH5/S as my interviews with Richard M. Stallman and Dr. Nic Williams of Stark & Wayne went far beyond the 29.59-minute threshold. I used my Samsung Note 8 to remotely control Lumix G9, so I could hit the record button in case my interviews crossed the time limit. I recorded a total of 11 interviews at the show. Out of those, only two went over the 30-minute time limit.

One feature kept me thinking: autofocus.

GH5/S are not known for their autofocusing capabilities. I had to use the Panasonic mobile app to remote control GH5 and GH5S to ensure everything was in focus. G9 did an excellent job of keeping up with focusing. I wish the other two cameras had decent face-detection autofocus like G9 then I would never have to worry about using tethering apps.

Interviewing Richard M Stallman, the founder of Free Software Foundation & author of GNU GPL.

Since I returned from the Summit, I have been contemplating purchasing the Sony a 7iii as the third camera. Sony a 7 iii will give me the extra space to shoot in low-light. I will be able to record shows where I need more autofocus (such as standing interviews where guests move in and out of focus). It will also allow me to record slow-motion shots with autofocus, which I need for b-roll shots.

I am fully aware of the pain that comes with the crossover between two different systems. But I have never been a one system guy. Never. I consciously go out of my way to ensure that I am not tied to nor am I dependent upon one system. I also tend to stay away from fanboyism. I have Sony PS4 Pro, Microsoft Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Nvidia Shield. I use Linux, macOS, and Windows on my desktops. I use iPad Pro, Pixel C, Chromebook. I carry, Galaxy Note 8, iPhone X and also have Pixel phones. The point is, I want to have a diverse ecosystem. I wouldn’t mind having both Sony a 7iii and Panasonic GH5/S family.

Pros of Sony a 7iii

A few features in Sony A 7 iii that will add value to my existing GH5/S combo:

Better autofocus
Autofocus during slow-motion (which will allow me to record graceful b-roll shots)
Great low-light performance due to full format
A great selection of ‘expensive’ lenses

Cons of Sony a 7iii

However, there are some serious issues with Sony cameras:

No flip out screen so I can’t keep an eye on recording status. But even with Panasonic GH5, I do use tethering to keep myself in focus, so I won’t be losing anything with that.
Complicated menus
The touchscreen is not fully functional
No tethering app for PC
Expensive and heavy lenses
Overheating in 4K mode

As expected, there are some trade-offs and some benefits. It all boils down to what features you need or require, and what compromises you can or cannot make. Going with Sony would also mean that I will have to invest in a new class of glass. Sony glass is not only expensive but also heavy. I am torn between the advantages and disadvantages.