Lumix S5vs OM-D E-M5 Mark II
Lumix
Lumix S5 (2020)
Starting from £1699 new
Best for Professional video & hybrid shooting
View Lumix S5
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?
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.
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 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
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 s5 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 S5 (2020) | OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £350 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 16MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 16.0MP |
| Video | 4K/60p 10-bit V-Log/HLG, 5.9K anamorphic, 1080p/180p slow-motion | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Contrast AF (DFD Technology), face/eye detection | Contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 6.5-stop IBIS (dual IBIS with Lumix S lenses) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 7fps mechanical, 9fps electronic (AFS) | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 714g (body, battery, card) | 417g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 132.6 × 97.1 × 81.9mm | 123.7 × 85.0 × 44.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S5 | OM-D E-M5 Mark II |
|---|---|---|
| Video | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Macro | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| 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