Upgrade Guide
Lumix Lumix S1→Lumix Lumix GH5 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The Lumix GH5 II improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most Lumix S1 owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the Lumix GH5 II
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Burst rate12fps mechanical, 75fps electronic (RAW) vs 9fps continuous with AF/AE
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Battery life900 shots (CIPA) vs ~380 shots (CIPA)
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Generation2 years newer (2021 vs 2019)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution20MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S1 | Lumix GH5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape | — | ||
| Portrait | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Sports | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Lumix S1 | Lumix GH5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,499 | £899 | |
| Released | 2019 | 2021 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) | 4K 60fps 10-bit, C4K 24fps 10-bit, live streaming | |
| Autofocus | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals | 225-point contrast-detect, DFD technology | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 6.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps continuous with AF/AE | 12fps mechanical, 75fps electronic (RAW) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | 900 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 898g body only | 727g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | EVF 0.76× 3.68M-dot | |
| Screen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M-dot | |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | 2× SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
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