Upgrade Guide
Lumix GH5 II→Lumix S1R II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the GH5 II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the S1R II
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Resolution44MP vs 20MP (+24MP)
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StabilisationImproved — 8-stop IBIS with Dual I.S. 2
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Burst rate40fps electronic vs 9fps
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Generation4 years newer (2025 vs 2021)
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 | GH5 II | S1R II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +3.1 | ||
| Street | +1.1 | ||
| Travel | +1.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.6 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +0.6 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.6 | ||
| Documentary | +1.7 | ||
| Sports & Action | +2.3 | ||
| Landscape | +2.6 | ||
| Wildlife | +2.0 | ||
| Casual | +0.4 | ||
| Food | +2.1 | ||
| Macro | +1.5 | ||
| Architecture | +3.0 | ||
| Astrophotography | +1.9 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | GH5 II | S1R II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £899 | £2,699 | |
| Released | 2021 | 2025 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 20.3MP Four Thirds Live MOS | 44.3MP full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 44MP | ↑ |
| Video | Unlimited 6K/4K recording, 4K/60p, 10-bit 4:2:2, V-Log | 8K/30p (first for Lumix), 4K/120p (1.1x crop), 10-bit | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with Depth-from-Defocus (225 areas), face/eye detection | Phase-hybrid AF (779 points) with AI subject detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS with Dual I.S. 2 | 8-stop IBIS with Dual I.S. 2 | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 40fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 410 shots (CIPA) | 350 shots (CIPA, LCD) | ↓ |
| Weight | 727g (with battery and card) | 820g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF | EVF, 5.76M dots | |
| Screen | Fully articulating touchscreen | Fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | L-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-II) | CFexpress Type B + SD (UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See GH5 II 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.
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