Lumix S5 IIvs D850
Lumix
Lumix S5 II (2023)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Hybrid video & photography
View Lumix S5 II
Nikon
D850 (2017)
Starting from £2199 new
Best for Landscape, wildlife & professional studio photography
View D850
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Hybrid Video & Photography — Lumix S5 II (2023): Phase-detect AF changed everything for Lumix — the S5 II delivers exceptional hybrid performance with 6K video and genuine full-frame value.
Landscape, Wildlife & Professional Studio Photography — D850 (2017): The finest DSLR ever made — 45MP, 9fps, and nearly 2000 shots per charge in a body that still outperforms most mirrorless cameras for battery life.
Who should buy what
Lumix S5 II (2023)
- Hybrid photographers who want phase-detect AF for the first time on a Lumix S body
- Video creators who want 6K and reliable subject tracking in a full-frame body
- S5 owners upgrading to the most significant Lumix full-frame update in years
- L-mount photographers who want the best value full-frame Lumix available
D850 (2017)
- Nikon F-mount lens owners who want the highest resolution DSLR before switching to mirrorless
- Landscape and wildlife photographers who value the optical viewfinder and outstanding battery life
- Professional photographers who need 45MP resolution without the price of a medium format system
- Photojournalists and event photographers with a large F-mount lens investment
Quick take: The d850 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the lumix s5 ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S5 II (2023) | D850 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £2,199 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | 6K/30p, 4K/60p, C4K/60p, V-Log | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS (up to 6.5-stop with OIS lenses) | None (relies on VR lenses) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 7fps mechanical | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) |
| Battery Life | 740 shots (CIPA) | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding |
| Weight | 740g body only | 915g body only |
| Dimensions | 134.3 × 102.3 × 90.1mm | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 3.68M dots | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Nikon F mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S5 II | D850 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Lumix S5 II
Camera family history