Upgrade Guide
Lumix DC-G97→Lumix S5 IIX
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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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 S5 IIX
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Resolution24MP vs 20MP (+4MP)
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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Burst rate9fps mechanical, 30fps electronic (6MP crop) vs 6fps (continuous AF)
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Battery life~370 shots (CIPA) vs 300 shots (CIPA, estimated)
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 | S5 IIX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +3.0 | ||
| Street | +0.7 | ||
| Travel | +1.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +4.1 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +1.1 | ||
| Filmmaking | +3.3 | ||
| Documentary | +3.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | +3.4 | ||
| Landscape | +2.6 | ||
| Wildlife | +2.6 | ||
| Casual | -0.2 | ||
| Food | +1.3 | ||
| Macro | +1.9 | ||
| Architecture | +2.2 | ||
| Astrophotography | +3.1 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | DC-G97 | S5 IIX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £649 | £2,399 | |
| Released | 2024 | 2023 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 20.3MP Four Thirds CMOS | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 24MP | ↑ |
| Video | Unlimited 4K/30p, V-Log L pre-installed | 6K/30p Open Gate, 4K/60p 10-bit, ProRes RAW via HDMI — V-Log, LUT support | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with Depth-from-Defocus, face/eye detection | Phase-hybrid AF — improved over S5 with subject recognition | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS (4-stop) | 5-axis IBIS — 6.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps (continuous AF) | 9fps mechanical, 30fps electronic (6MP crop) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA, estimated) | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 530g (with battery and card) | 740g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | OLED EVF, 3.68M-dot, 0.78× | |
| Screen | Fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (UHS-II) | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See DC-G97 and S5 IIX 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 S5 IIX against your specific genres — not just specs.
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