Lumix S5vs A1 II
Lumix
Lumix S5 (2020)
Starting from £1699 new
Best for Professional video & hybrid shooting
View Lumix S5
Sony
A1 II (2025)
Starting from £6500 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
View A1 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.
Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work — A1 II (2025): The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
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
A1 II (2025)
- Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
- Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
- Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
- Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
Quick take: The a1 ii has the highest resolution at 50mp; the lumix s5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S5 (2020) | A1 II (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £6,500 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 4K/60p 10-bit V-Log/HLG, 5.9K anamorphic, 1080p/180p slow-motion | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/240p super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Contrast AF (DFD Technology), face/eye detection | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train |
| Stabilisation | 6.5-stop IBIS (dual IBIS with Lumix S lenses) | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) |
| Burst Rate | 7fps mechanical, 9fps electronic (AFS) | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 714g (body, battery, card) | 743g body only |
| Dimensions | 132.6 × 97.1 × 81.9mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S5 | A1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Video | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
More comparisons with Lumix S5
Camera family history