Lumix S9vs OM-D E-M5 Mark II
Lumix
Lumix S9 (2024)
Starting from £1299 new
Best for Travel photographers, content creators & L-mount entry buyers
View Lumix S9
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?
Travel Photographers, Content Creators & L-Mount Entry Buyers — Lumix S9 (2024): The most compact full-frame camera available — a perfect travel and content creation companion with brilliant colour science.
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 S9 (2024)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame quality in the most compact package
- Content creators attracted to Real-time LUT and 10-bit video
- Photographers already in the L-mount ecosystem wanting a lightweight second body
- Lumix S5 II users who want something smaller for travel and casual shooting
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 s9 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the om-d e-m5 mark ii is the most affordable; only the om-d e-m5 mark ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S9 (2024) | OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £350 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 16MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 16.0MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with subject recognition | Contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 413g (with battery) | 417g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 124.6 × 73.9 × 52.8mm | 123.7 × 85.0 × 44.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen (touch drag AF) | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Leica L mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S9 | OM-D E-M5 Mark II |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | ||
| Portrait | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Macro | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| 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