Lumix S5vs A7R III
Lumix
Lumix S5 (2020)
Starting from £1699 new
Best for Professional video & hybrid shooting
View Lumix S5
Sony
A7R III (2017)
Starting from £1799 new
Best for Landscape, studio & commercial photography
View A7R III
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, Studio & Commercial Photography — A7R III (2017): The camera that converted professionals to mirrorless — 42MP, IBIS, and 10fps in a body that still competes today.
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 III (2017)
- Landscape and studio photographers who need 42MP resolution at a used-price discount vs A7R IV
- Canon/Nikon DSLR professionals considering a mirrorless switch at a lower investment
- Commercial and product photographers who want full-frame resolution with IBIS for handheld work
- Portrait photographers who want the sharpest possible full-frame files for large print work
Quick take: The a7r iii has the highest resolution at 42mp; the lumix s5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S5 (2020) | A7R III (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 42.4MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 42.4MP |
| Video | 4K/60p 10-bit V-Log/HLG, 5.9K anamorphic, 1080p/180p slow-motion | 4K/30p (full-frame readout), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast AF (DFD Technology), face/eye detection | 399 phase-detect + 425 contrast AF points — real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 6.5-stop IBIS (dual IBIS with Lumix S lenses) | 5-axis IBIS — 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 7fps mechanical, 9fps electronic (AFS) | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~650 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 714g (body, battery, card) | 650g body only |
| Dimensions | 132.6 × 97.1 × 81.9mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Dual SD slots (one UHS-II) |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S5 | A7R III |
|---|---|---|
| Video | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Street | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Lumix S5
Camera family history