Lumix S5 IIXvs A9
Lumix
Lumix S5 IIX (2023)
Starting from £2399 new
Best for Professional video, filmmaking & hybrid shooters on L-mount
View Lumix S5 IIX
Sony
A9 (2017)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
View A9
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional Video, Filmmaking & Hybrid Shooters On L-Mount — Lumix S5 IIX (2023): The S5 II with ProRes RAW and 6K Open Gate — the most serious L-mount video tool in a portable, weather-sealed body.
Professional Sports, Wildlife & Action Photography — A9 (2017): The camera that changed professional photography — the A9's 20fps blackout-free burst and silent shutter proved mirrorless had definitively surpassed the DSLR.
Who should buy what
Lumix S5 IIX (2023)
- Video professionals who need ProRes RAW output and 6K Open Gate in a portable L-mount body
- L-mount filmmakers who want USB power for extended recording without battery changes
- Hybrid shooters who need both 24MP stills quality and professional video specs in one camera
- S5 II users who specifically need ProRes RAW support for their post-production workflow
A9 (2017)
- Sports photographers who want the original 20fps mirrorless at a lower used price than the A9 II
- Wildlife photographers who need blackout-free burst with fast, reliable tracking
- Sony FE system users who want a professional sports body
- Photographers interested in the camera that changed the industry
Quick take: The a9 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S5 IIX (2023) | A9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,399 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 6K/30p Open Gate, 4K/60p 10-bit, ProRes RAW via HDMI — V-Log, LUT support | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Phase-hybrid AF — improved over S5 with subject recognition | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6.5 stops | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 9fps mechanical, 30fps electronic (6MP crop) | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 740g body only | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 134.3 × 102.3 × 90.1mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 3.68M-dot, 0.78× | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C with power delivery, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks, HDMI full-size | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S5 IIX | A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with Lumix S5 IIX
Camera family history