Upgrade Guide
Lumix DC-G97→Lumix GH5 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The GH5 II improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most DC-G97 owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the GH5 II
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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Burst rate9fps vs 6fps (continuous AF)
-
Battery life410 shots (CIPA) vs 300 shots (CIPA, estimated)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (20MP)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | DC-G97 | GH5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.5 | ||
| Street | -0.4 | ||
| Travel | +0.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.0 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -0.2 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.2 | ||
| Documentary | +1.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.4 | ||
| Landscape | +0.8 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.0 | ||
| Casual | -0.9 | ||
| Food | — | ||
| Macro | +1.1 | ||
| Architecture | +0.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | +1.0 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | DC-G97 | GH5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £649 | £899 | |
| Released | 2024 | 2021 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 20.3MP Four Thirds CMOS | 20.3MP Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 20MP | |
| Video | Unlimited 4K/30p, V-Log L pre-installed | Unlimited 6K/4K recording, 4K/60p, 10-bit 4:2:2, V-Log | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with Depth-from-Defocus, face/eye detection | Contrast-detect AF with Depth-from-Defocus (225 areas), face/eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS (4-stop) | 5-axis IBIS with Dual I.S. 2 | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps (continuous AF) | 9fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA, estimated) | 410 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 530g (with battery and card) | 727g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | EVF | |
| Screen | Fully articulating touchscreen | Fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (UHS-II) | Dual SD (UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See DC-G97 and GH5 II next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the GH5 II against your specific genres — not just specs.
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