Upgrade Guide
Lumix G85→Lumix Lumix S5
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the G85. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Lumix S5
-
Resolution24MP vs 16MP (+8MP)
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Battery life~470 shots (CIPA) vs ~330 shots (CIPA)
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Generation4 years newer (2020 vs 2016)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | G85 | Lumix S5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | -2.0 | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Street | -0.5 | ||
| Portrait | +1.5 | ||
| Wildlife | -2.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | G85 | Lumix S5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £1,699 | |
| Released | 2016 | 2020 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS (no low-pass filter) | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 24MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 4K/60p 10-bit V-Log/HLG, 5.9K anamorphic, 1080p/180p slow-motion | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, DFD technology | Contrast AF (DFD Technology), face/eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) | 6.5-stop IBIS (dual IBIS with Lumix S lenses) | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 7fps mechanical, 9fps electronic (AFS) | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~330 shots (CIPA) | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 426g (body only) | 714g (body, battery, card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.84M dots | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Leica L-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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