S1 IIvs D5
Nikon
D5 (2016)
Starting from £1800 new
Best for Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife
View D5
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Hybrid & Video — S1 II (2025): The S1 II is the full-frame L-mount hybrid camera Panasonic's system has been waiting for — phase-detect AF, 4K/120p, class-leading IBIS, and a professional build in one complete package. It addresses every weakness of the original S1 and positions Lumix firmly back in the conversation for serious hybrid shooters.
Professional Sports, Photojournalism & Wildlife — D5 (2016): Nikon's ultimate pro DSLR and a certified space traveller — the D5's 153-point AF, 12fps, and ISO 3,280,000 made it the weapon of choice for Olympic and space photography.
Who should buy what
S1 II (2025)
- Hybrid photographers who need excellent stills and serious video capability
- Video professionals who want full-frame quality with 4K/120p
- Landscape and portrait photographers who want maximum stabilisation
- L-mount system users upgrading from S1 or S5 II
D5 (2016)
- Sports and wildlife photographers with an F-mount telephoto investment
- Photojournalists who need the fastest, most reliable DSLR AF available
- Nikon system professionals looking for a flagship body at used prices
- Collectors of cameras with a documented space pedigree
Quick take: The s1 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the d5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | S1 II (2025) | D5 (2016) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,200 | £1,800 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 20.8MP |
| Video | 6K/30p, 4K/120p, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject recognition (human, animal, vehicle) | Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, up to 8 stops | — |
| Burst Rate | 30fps (electronic), 9fps (mechanical) | 12fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~3780 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 680g (body only) | 1405g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 100.0 × 91.5mm | 160 × 158.5 × 92mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 3.68M dots, 0.78× | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Nikon F mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual slot: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II | Dual XQD slots (XQD variant) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet (RJ-45), USB 3.0 |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | S1 II | D5 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Wedding & Events | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Street |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with S1 II
Camera family history