Lumix S1vs OM-D E-M5 Mark II
Lumix
Lumix S1 (2019)
Starting from £1499 new
Best for Landscape, studio & professional stills on L-mount
View Lumix S1
Olympus
OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015)
Starting from £350 new
Best for Travel & Landscape
View OM-D E-M5 Mark II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Landscape, Studio & Professional Stills On L-Mount — Lumix S1 (2019): Built like a tank with one of the finest viewfinders ever made — the S1 is the choice for photographers who prioritise build quality and IBIS over AF speed.
Travel & Landscape — OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015): The E-M5 II was the benchmark weather-sealed travel camera of its generation. The 16MP sensor is modest by today's standards but excellent in practice, and the 5-axis IBIS is genuinely useful. Weather sealing, a flip screen, and a high-res composite mode make it a practical companion. A highly capable used-market buy for travel and outdoor photographers who don't need the latest resolution numbers.
Who should buy what
Lumix S1 (2019)
- L-mount system photographers who want a rugged, weather-sealed full-frame body for demanding conditions
- Landscape and studio photographers who value exceptional IBIS and an outstanding EVF
- Video professionals who need V-Log and 4K/60p in a robust, weather-sealed body
- Leica SL users who want a more affordable second body on the same L-mount system
OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015)
- Travel photographers wanting compact + weather sealing
- Outdoor and landscape shooters
- Micro Four Thirds system users
Quick take: The lumix s1 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the om-d e-m5 mark ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S1 (2019) | OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,499 | £350 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 16MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 16.0MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals | Contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 9fps continuous with AF/AE | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 898g body only | 417g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 148.9 × 110.0 × 96.7mm | 123.7 × 85.0 × 44.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S1 | OM-D E-M5 Mark II |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Macro | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history