Lumix S5vs A7R II
Lumix
Lumix S5 (2020)
Starting from £1699 new
Best for Professional video & hybrid shooting
View Lumix S5
Sony
A7R II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Portrait, landscape & studio photography
View A7R 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.
Portrait, Landscape & Studio Photography — A7R II (2015): The A7R II transformed the A7R series — adding IBIS, 4K video, BSI sensor tech, and phase-detect AF in one generation. A landmark Sony camera.
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
A7R II (2015)
- Landscape and architecture photographers who want 42MP with IBIS for handheld shooting
- Portrait and studio photographers who need high resolution with improved AF reliability
- Sony FE system users who want a capable high-resolution body at a used price
- A7R I owners who need the stabilisation, 4K, and improved AF the original lacked
Quick take: The a7r ii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the a7r ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S5 (2020) | A7R II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 42.4MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/60p 10-bit V-Log/HLG, 5.9K anamorphic, 1080p/180p slow-motion | 4K/30p (S35 or full-frame), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast AF (DFD Technology), face/eye detection | 399 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 6.5-stop IBIS (dual IBIS with Lumix S lenses) | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 4.5 stops (first A7R with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 7fps mechanical, 9fps electronic (AFS) | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~290 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 714g (body, battery, card) | 625g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 132.6 × 97.1 × 81.9mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| 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, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S5 | A7R II |
|---|---|---|
| Video | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Architecture | — | |
| 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