Upgrade Guide
Lumix GH5 II→Lumix S5 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The S5 II improves across 4 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most GH5 II owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the S5 II
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Resolution24MP vs 20MP (+4MP)
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Burst rate30fps electronic / 7fps mechanical vs 9fps
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Battery life740 shots (CIPA) vs 410 shots (CIPA)
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Generation2 years newer (2023 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 | S5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +2.5 | ||
| Street | +1.1 | ||
| Travel | +0.9 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.1 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +1.3 | ||
| Filmmaking | +2.1 | ||
| Documentary | +1.7 | ||
| Sports & Action | +2.0 | ||
| Landscape | +1.8 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.6 | ||
| Casual | +0.7 | ||
| Food | +1.3 | ||
| Macro | +0.8 | ||
| Architecture | +2.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | +2.1 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | GH5 II | S5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £979 | £1,399 | |
| Released | 2021 | 2023 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 20.3MP Four Thirds Live MOS | 24.2MP full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 24MP | ↑ |
| Video | Unlimited 6K/4K recording, 4K/60p, 10-bit 4:2:2, V-Log | 6K/30p, 4K/60p, C4K/60p, V-Log | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with Depth-from-Defocus (225 areas), face/eye detection | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS with Dual I.S. 2 | 5-axis IBIS (up to 6.5-stop with OIS lenses) | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 30fps electronic / 7fps mechanical | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 410 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 727g (with battery and card) | 740g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF | 0.76" OLED EVF, 3.68M dots | |
| Screen | Fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Leica L-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-II) | Dual SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See GH5 II and S5 II next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the S5 II against your specific genres — not just specs.
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