Upgrade Guide
Lumix DC-G97→Lumix S1R II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the DC-G97. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the S1R II
-
Resolution44MP vs 20MP (+24MP)
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
StabilisationImproved — 8-stop IBIS with Dual I.S. 2
-
Burst rate40fps electronic vs 6fps (continuous AF)
-
Battery life350 shots (CIPA, LCD) vs 300 shots (CIPA, estimated)
-
Generation1 year newer (2025 vs 2024)
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 | S1R II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +3.6 | ||
| Street | +0.7 | ||
| Travel | +1.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +4.6 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +0.4 | ||
| Filmmaking | +2.8 | ||
| Documentary | +3.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | +3.7 | ||
| Landscape | +3.4 | ||
| Wildlife | +3.0 | ||
| Casual | -0.5 | ||
| Food | +2.1 | ||
| Macro | +2.6 | ||
| Architecture | +3.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | +2.9 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | DC-G97 | S1R II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £649 | £2,699 | |
| Released | 2024 | 2025 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 20.3MP Four Thirds CMOS | 44.3MP full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 44MP | ↑ |
| Video | Unlimited 4K/30p, V-Log L pre-installed | 8K/30p (first for Lumix), 4K/120p (1.1x crop), 10-bit | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with Depth-from-Defocus, face/eye detection | Phase-hybrid AF (779 points) with AI subject detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS (4-stop) | 8-stop IBIS with Dual I.S. 2 | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps (continuous AF) | 40fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA, estimated) | 350 shots (CIPA, LCD) | ↑ |
| Weight | 530g (with battery and card) | 820g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | EVF, 5.76M dots | |
| Screen | Fully articulating touchscreen | Fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | L-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (UHS-II) | CFexpress Type B + SD (UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See DC-G97 and S1R 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 S1R II against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the DC-G97
Related buying guides