Lumix S5vs D850
Lumix
Lumix S5 (2020)
Starting from £1699 new
Best for Professional video & hybrid shooting
View Lumix S5
Nikon
D850 (2017)
Starting from £2199 new
Best for Landscape, wildlife & professional studio photography
View D850
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Professional Video & Hybrid Shooting — Lumix S5 (2020): The S5 is an outstanding video camera that also takes excellent stills. 10-bit 4K/60p, dual native ISO and 6.5-stop IBIS in a weather-sealed body is a compelling package. The contrast-detect AF is its main weakness vs Sony and Canon — but for controlled shooting it doesn't hold it back.
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 (2020)
- Videographers who need 10-bit colour science in a full-frame body
- Photographers who shoot video as a second discipline
- Studio photographers who want full-frame IBIS at a lower price
- L-mount system users building a versatile kit
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 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S5 (2020) | D850 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £2,199 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | 4K/60p 10-bit V-Log/HLG, 5.9K anamorphic, 1080p/180p slow-motion | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast AF (DFD Technology), face/eye detection | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K |
| Stabilisation | 6.5-stop IBIS (dual IBIS with Lumix S lenses) | None (relies on VR lenses) |
| Burst Rate | 7fps mechanical, 9fps electronic (AFS) | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding |
| Weight | 714g (body, battery, card) | 915g body only |
| Dimensions | 132.6 × 97.1 × 81.9mm | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 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 (USB 3.2 Gen 1), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S5 | D850 |
|---|---|---|
| Video | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
More comparisons with Lumix S5
Camera family history