Panasonic
Lumix GX8
Weather-sealed rangefinder-style MFT body with 20MP sensor, tilting EVF, and 4K video.
$1,199
Released Jul 2015
Sony
Alpha 7 IV
33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.
$2,499
Released Oct 2021
Alpha 7 IV is 6.3 years newer.
Wins
Lumix GX8
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
2 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher RAW buffer depth (828 frames vs 30 frames)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 49)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 100 Mbps)
- BAlpha 7 IV has lower ISO min (native) (100 vs 200)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Lumix GX8
133 × 78 × 63 mm
487 g (1.07 lb / 17.18 oz)
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 × 80 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
Lumix GX8 is 19mm shorter and 17mm thinner than Alpha 7 IV but it is also 2mm wider.
Lumix GX8 is 171 g lighter than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 63mm Lumix GX8 · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Sensor size, to scale
Lumix GX8
17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds
225 mm² area
Alpha 7 IV
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
3.8× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Lumix GX8
Micro Four Thirds
130+
native lenses available
Alpha 7 IV
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
Lumix GX8
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 133.2, 77.9, 63.1
Card types
Adds SD UHS-I
Codecs
Adds MP4, AVCHD
Subject recognition
Adds Face, Eye
Weight
487 g vs 658 g — lower is better
AF frame coverage
100 % vs 94 % — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7 IV
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
RAW buffer depth
828 frames vs 30 frames — higher is better
AF points / zones
759 vs 49 — higher is better
Max video bit rate
600 Mbps vs 100 Mbps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
Subject recognition
Adds Bird, Insect, Car/Train…
AA filter
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Burst (electronic) — Both 10 fps
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Lumix GX8
Pros
- ✓20MP MFT sensor
- ✓Weather sealed
- ✓Tilting EVF
- ✓4K video
Cons
- –Large for GX line
- –Older stabilization
- –Superseded
Alpha 7 IV
Pros
- ✓33MP — more detail for cropping and print
- ✓10-bit 4K 60p (Super35 crop) / 4K 30p full-frame
- ✓Full-size HDMI port
- ✓759 phase-detect AF points
Cons
- –4K 60p requires Super35 crop
- –10fps burst lags behind R6 II at 40fps
- –Complex menu system
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, Lumix GX8 or Alpha 7 IV?
Alpha 7 IV scores 7.5/10 versus 2.5/10 for Lumix GX8 — 33MP — ample resolution.
What's the resolution difference between the Lumix GX8 and Alpha 7 IV?
Lumix GX8 is 20.3 MP and Alpha 7 IV is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 IV captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Lumix GX8 and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
Lumix GX8 has 4-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Lumix GX8 or the Alpha 7 IV?
Lumix GX8 reaches 10 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Lumix GX8 and Alpha 7 IV?
Lumix GX8 weighs 487 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the Lumix GX8 is 171 g lighter.
Do the Lumix GX8 and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
Lumix GX8: 4K up to 30p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Lumix GX8 and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
Lumix GX8: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 330 shots (CIPA) for the Lumix GX8 and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the Alpha 7 IV the edge.
How much does each cost?
Lumix GX8 launched at $1,199 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The Lumix GX8 is $1,300 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Panasonic and Sony press materials.