Upgrade Guide
Lumix GH4→Lumix Lumix S5 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the GH4. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Lumix S5 II
-
Resolution24MP vs 16MP (+8MP)
-
Burst rate30fps electronic / 7fps mechanical vs 12fps (AFS), 7fps (AFC)
-
Battery life740 shots (CIPA) vs ~500 shots (CIPA)
-
Generation9 years newer (2023 vs 2014)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | GH4 | Lumix S5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Portrait | +2.0 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Sports & Action | -3.0 | ||
| Landscape | +5.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | GH4 | Lumix S5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £349 | £1,999 | |
| Released | 2014 | 2023 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 16.05MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 24.2MP full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 24MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/30p, C4K/24p (first consumer camera with 4K), 1080p/96fps | 6K/30p, 4K/60p, C4K/60p, V-Log | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect DFD AF, face detection | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | None (no body IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS (up to 6.5-stop with OIS lenses) | |
| Burst Rate | 12fps (AFS), 7fps (AFC) | 30fps electronic / 7fps mechanical | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~500 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 560g (with battery and card) | 740g body only | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.67× magnification | 0.76" OLED EVF, 3.68M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Leica L-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See GH4 and Lumix S5 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 Lumix S5 II against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the GH4
Related buying guides
Camera family history