Lumix
Lumix S5 2020
Best for Professional video & hybrid shooting
£1699
list price · used from £498 at Wex Photo Video
Decision tools · Compare
Lumix S5 vs FX3
Quick take: The Lumix S5 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the Lumix S5 is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Sony
FX3 2021
Best for Professional video, documentary & cinematic filmmaking
£2999
new today at Wex Photo Video
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
Lumix S5 — Professional Video & Hybrid Shooting: 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.
FX3 — Professional Video, Documentary & Cinematic Filmmaking: The definitive run-and-gun cinema camera — A7S III sensor quality in a body built specifically for video professionals.
Who should buy what
Lumix S5 (2020)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
FX3 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional videographers and filmmakers who need cinema-quality colour science in a compact body
- Documentary and run-and-gun shooters who need 4K/120p and built-in XLR audio
- Sony A7S III owners who want a purpose-built video body alongside their stills camera
- Gimbal and drone operators who need a compact full-frame cinema camera
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | Lumix S5Lumix · 2020 | FX3Sony · 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699Best | £2,999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS (same as A7S III) |
| Resolution | 24.2MPBest | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/60p 10-bit V-Log/HLG, 5.9K anamorphic, 1080p/180p slow-motion | 4K/120p, 4K/60p 10-bit, 12-bit RAW output, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Contrast AF (DFD Technology), face/eye detection | Real-time tracking with subject recognition (human, animal) |
| Stabilisation | 6.5-stop IBIS (dual IBIS with Lumix S lenses) | 5-axis IBIS — 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 7fps mechanical, 9fps electronic (AFS) | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronicBest |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~640 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 714g (with battery and card)Best | 715g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 132.6 × 97.1 × 81.9mm | 129.7 × 78.0 × 84.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | None — monitor/external EVF use only |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" touchscreen, fully articulating |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| 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 (10Gbps), full-size HDMI, XLR via handle, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
Lumix S5
FX3
Portrait
6.9/10
5.7/10
Street
5.7/10
4.3/10
Travel
5.6/10
5.5/10
Wedding & Events
6.6/10
6.0/10
Vlogging & Video
5.2/10
6.1/10
Filmmaking
7.1/10
9.1/10
Documentary
6.7/10
8.0/10
Sports & Action
5.8/10
5.5/10
Landscape
6.9/10
4.7/10
Wildlife
6.1/10
5.8/10
Casual
4.5/10
4.9/10
Food
6.9/10
6.7/10
Macro
7.8/10
5.5/10
Architecture
7.0/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
7.3/10
6.7/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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